A Peace of Tata

Asking our Tata to describe himself would result in humble words
"I am a simple man, " he would say
"Who is blind in one eye and can't see out of the other."
The he would flash his little boy grin for being so clever

Underground for over 40 years he toiled
Intense was the heat
The camaraderie of men
The depths of the earth
... his daily reality
When he ascended to earth's surface at the end of his shift
He entered the heart of his domain

In his heart, he was a gypsy
Lover of adventure
Taker of journeys
Fearless of an endless road
Knowing every back road in Southern Arizona
And the treasures they beheld
Usually taking his journeys solo
To explore or to ponder
If invited we would jump at the chance to go along
Not knowing what there was at the end of the road
But knowing there would be a story to tell

In his mind, he was a philosopher
A lover of words
Written or spoken
He used and loved them all like friends
His philosophies of love, acceptance and kindness he shared with us
Anytime we were willing to watch or listen

In his hands, was his power
Immense size they conveyed an obvious strength
Strong enough to crush earth
Bring grown men to their knees
Strong enough to intimidate by balancing his whole body onto
But that was only a disguise
The true power of his hands resided in their grace
Graceful enough to be the first cradle for a newborn addition to the family
Graceful enough to scoop ice cream for you until you burst
Graceful enough to wipe your tear or stroke your hair
Until you felt like everything was going to be all right

In his spirit, he was a volume of contradictions
He was a lover and a fighter
A loner and a family man
A disciplinarian and a teddy bear
He was both the cowboy and the Indian
He analyzed, debated, appreciated and understood both sides
Creating the environment to do the same

Tata is in his brand of heaven now
His Lazyboy chair
Western novel sitting on the arm
Boxing match on the television
A lap generous enough for us all
Finally getting that long awaited hug from his oldest daughter
Able to share an arm wrestle with his son
And nearby, a path beckoning his gypsy heart to go for a stroll

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Tata's favorite Western book by Louis Lamour:

The Realness of You

The realness of you
Not the recurring fairy tale chronicled to your friends
Not the buoyant depiction a mother paints
Not the lights – the soaring details of your life
Not the potential of who you could be

The realness of you
Pain you orbit your life about
Baby that exhibits itself in your cravings
Science project that you call home
Puppies who are frantic for your lap

The realness of you
Person you can’t face in the reflection
Woman who acts like a girl
Depression you wear like a shroud
Sweatshirt you wear until it is limp

The realness of you
Stifled cry for comfort
Know-it-all  armor over your heart
Cagey friends you just met
Ignoring the hands reaching out

 

The realness of you
Dread of growing up
Permitting the little girl to stomp on your life
Looking for the quick fix
Surrounded by family who loves you still

An Echo in the Bone

by Diana Gabaldon

The seventh book in the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone, continues the 18th century story of Claire and Jamie.

Claire Randall is a modern-day time traveler, who in previous volumes has traveled back and forth between the 20th and 18th centuries.  In this latest installment, she remains in the 18th century, in order to be close to her Scotsman husband, Jamie Fraser.

This story was enriched by the strength and longevity of their relationship.  Their bond and knowledge of each other is tighter than ever. We see a depth in their relationship that is closer to real life.  The sex was not as frequent or adventurous (which I
 missed), but they are getting older and this is a reality for many of us.  Their lives have more layers - children, grandchildren and many more people who rely on their wisdom and authority.

Clair is still seen as a "white witch", due to her ablity to heal and know the future. While Jamie, has softened a bit - more contemplative and less fiery.  No worries, he's still the sexy, kilt-wearing hunk of a man that we have come to love.

We see much more of the family - Brianna, William and Iam play big parts in this story.  And, we can't forget the lovelorn, Lord John Grey - he has still got it bad for Jamie - and that's always a good thing.

Diana Gabaldon, has once again hopped back and forth between the two hundred years in a smooth and seamless manner.  This time she tells the story through letters written from Claire and Jamie to Brianna.  Brianna and Roger are now living in the family home, Lollybrach, in Scotland and they have painstakingly preserved the letters and kept them in order through the centuries.

William, Jamie's unknowing illegitimate son, is a duplicate of his father.  He is serving and quickly rises in the British Army and has grown to be a courageous and respected leader.  He is very close to his adopted father, Lord John Grey, who continues to hob-nob with the rich and famous.  I enjoyed the cameo appearance of a nude Benjamin Franklin. His intelligence and eccentric beliefs we quite entertaining.

Ian Murray, Jamie's nephew, who in past volumes lived and married among the Native Americans, was extremely valuable when it came to getting out of a bind - which Jamie and Claire notoriously find themselves in at irregular frequency.

I would highly recommend this latest volume of the Outlander series. Less smut, more history, always entertaining.

29 Gifts

Did anyone see Cami Walker ont he Today Show this week? She was diagnosed with MS and followed a therapy given to her by her spiritual guide.

Here's her story:
I'm a writer, artist and healer who lives in Los Angeles, California. I worked in advertising for "the big boys" for a long time, helping companies who already have millions of dollars make millions more. After about 15 years of focusing on making money for these giants, I found myself feeling empty, unfulfilled and struggling with a serious health condition (Multiple Sclerosis) that required I stop living my over-driven lifestyle. Now my focus is on helping build companies and community projects that are spiritually-centered and wildly profitable on all levels. I created the 29-Day Giving Challenge to encourage my friends, family, clients and hopefully many strangers to give back to our communities--and as a way to help me heal.
___
The concept is: GIVE A LITTLE EACH DAY. MAKE A BIG IMPACT.
Give one thing away each day for 29 days. Share your stories about how it impacts your life to focus on giving. Join the 29-Day Giving Challenge today. Why? Because to see our world change, we have to do something to change our world. Plus, the best way to attract abundance into your life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude. Be an important part of the global giving movement that inspires more generosity on our planet.
___

On the Today Show, Ms. Walker stated that she used to use a cane to walk with and now no longer needs it. She credits this miraculous turnabout to giving. I do not agree her disagree with her methods, however, the spirit of giving is always a good thing, regardless ofyour motivation.

Please go to: http://www.29gifts.org/ if you are interested in finding out more.

Meatless Monday for Your School or Business

Hello,

As a local business owner and mother of 5, I would like to encourage you, your business and/or school to help spearhead the tremendous efforts of Meatless Monday. I am not affiliated with Meatless Monday, I am simply inspired by the phenomenal efforts of the organization and hopeful about getting our city involved in this positive, nutritional and exciting adventure – in the process, setting healthy standards for families and students in our community!

Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. Its goal is to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.

There are many powerful benefits to going meatless once a week. It may reduce the risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help lessen our carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel. As a side benefit, it will cut the cost of food – just by having one meatless meal a week!

Consider the success of the Baltimore City Public Schools’ Meatless Monday program (recently showcased on ABC News). Its 80,000 students now have the chance to start each week with fresh, whole produce. Plus they can learn about plants and animals by visiting the system’s 33-acre teaching farm. As most of these students grow up in an urban setting, this is a rare, exciting opportunity for them. Other initiatives are underway at Northern Kentucky University and Harvard University, to name just two. Each school has its own objectives, and is free to use the program as it sees fit.

So what would you need for your business or school district to participate? Simply the will to improve the health of your students and the health of the planet – plus save your schools a good deal of money along the way! People ask what can be served on Meatless Monday? Most children/people enjoy pasta with red sauce, bean burritos, veggie chili and veggie burgers – these are just a few examples. It could also be a healthy way to enjoy fresh, local produce – which would be a huge boost for the whole community!

I hope you are inspired by this invitation and are willing to embrace this important, healthful program. If your schools or businesses would like to bring healthy, meatless options to your cafeterias or lunchrooms, we are all here to help. Please contact me at 520-572-0081 for more information, and together (along with Meatless Monday) we can develop a program that will suit the district’s needs!

Sincerely,

Ana Lewis

Meatless Mondays

Every Monday, for the past few years, my family and I have gone Meatless on Mondays. It was an easy tihng to do as a family and little did I know it would have such an impact on the ways that we would all eat in the future.

As a result, I just kept going meatless... it was for me. I laugh when I think about how selfish I felt when I initially began eating this way. Wouldn't I be ruining family dinners? What about Thanksgiving? Christmas Eve? Dinner at friends and families homes? You know what, it's no big deal. It was silly that it was holding me back, until one day, I just couldn't eat any flesh anymore. A delicious and warm clam chowder literally made me gag and I ended up throwing it away.

Today, I never, ever eat meat of any sort - beef, pork, lamb, poultry, seafood - all of it is totally safe around me, cuz it's not going to end up on my plate.

The result? Maintaining a healthy weight (not my perfect weight, but it's close), having more energy and feeling more like I am just being ME... that's the best of all.

Please join us on Meatless Monday and see how it affects your life. It will not only benefit your family, but also your pocketbook and health.

Women on the Verge

Sometimes you have to go back to your roots in order to feel like you are on the right path.

Several years ago, a group of us women met on a wonderful site named Pleiades. We discussed business, balancing business and family lives. We utilized each other's services and many of us still do business together to this date... more than 10 years later, even though Pleiades closed long ago.

After meeting all of these wonderful women on Pleiades, I opened the site, Women on the Verge (in 1999). We got so many requests for links, we were unable to keep up with demand, so we closed the site down. It is now open again in a Web 2.0 format and ready for your input.

Please go to Women on the Verge.net and sign yourself up for free. Meet women like you, even if a you are oceans away from each other. Make friends based on your heart - not skin color, looks or anything surface. Welcome!

Top 10 Yoga Bodies

Um no--not that type of body! These days, most people are so fixated on all things physical that they neglect their subtle bodies. The fact is that every one of us actually has 10 bodies, and they're all equally important. The !0 Body model, like the chakras, describes us in a multi-dimensional sense. Keep 'em all fit and toned with a regular Kundalini Yoga practice!

1. Soul Body - Our soulful self, uncomplicated and pure. It represents conscious attachments and 'nostalgia for the Infinite.' It lives forever

2. Negative Mind - It calculates possible pitfalls in any situation. It's the urge to merge and represents pure devotion.

3. Positive Mind - Our optimistic impulse. It represents expansion and magnamimity. This is the gift that keeps on giving.

4. Neutral Mind - The meditative or yogic mind. Dispassionate overview and non-reactivity. The ability to witness the play of life and not get caught up in duality is to be liberated and grounds for ecstasy.

5. Physical Body - This represents balance and the ability to sacrifice: putting our bodies on the line to be Divine. 5 is a teaching number.

6. Arcline - Extreme focus. Life radar. Quickness of thought and penetrating quality of mind. Protects us against external negativity and ill will.

7. Magnetic Field - The beauty and brightness of our personal presence. Uplifts everyone within our spheres of activity.

8. Pranic Body - Endless energy. Fearlessness and healing.

9. Subtle Body - Our rarefied self. Fine tuning. Inspired creativity. Not bound by time and space. Perceives the whispers of Creation.

10. Radiant Body - Personal Majesty. Ability to comport oneself like a King or Queen. Nerves of steel. Ability to stand out and take a stand.

Bonus Body: 11. Mastery: Your Destiny is your Deliverance.

This is an excerpt from the latest newsletter from Ana Brett and Ravi Singh. Please sign up for their email list for wonderful monthly yoga tips and fun. http://www.raviana.com/

Celebrating Meatless Monday Boosts Savings

New reasons to celebrate Meatless Monday may lie in your pocketbook. Here's an excerpt from the website, MeatlessMonday.com that gives us some very real reasons to make the commitment to give up meat once a week.:

Tough times call for bold measures. Sometimes, though, the most innovative solutions are the easiest ones to implement. People looking to save money during this recessionary period need look no further than what they place on their plate. By cutting meat just one day a week, we can put more green in our pockets!

Here at the Meatless Monday office we did an informal survey of how much our families save a month by going meatless on Monday. By substituting beans, legumes, eggs, nuts and seeds for meat, the numbers add up. $80-100 a month, according to our little survey.

Medical nutritionist Lory Hayon of The Fertility Center of Las Vegas completed a cost analysis of a steak dinner for four versus vegetarian chili stuffed potatoes, which ran only $6.29. He concluded “‘if the average family of four spent $20 per meat-containing meal, seven days per week, they could reduce their grocery bill on average by $30 per week, or $1500 per year, by making three meals per week meatless.”

These numbers speak for themselves...

Read the entire article here.: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/cutting-meat-boosts-cash/

Epsilon Q1 2009 U.S. Email Trend Results: Performance Remains Stable

Open Rates Up 11.2% from Same Time Last Year

DALLAS, TX — July 8, 2009 — Epsilon today released its Q1 2009 U.S. Email Trends and Benchmarks Results which show an increase in open rates for the third quarter in a row, with 12 of the 16 industries measured seeing an increase over Q1 2008.

The quarterly analysis is compiled from 6 billion emails sent by Epsilon in January, February and March 2009, across multiple industries and more than 200 clients. The analysis combines data from both of Epsilon’s proprietary platforms, DREAM and DREAMmail.

According to Kevin Mabley, Senior Vice President of Strategic Services, Epsilon, "Coming off of the holiday season and facing a challenging economy at the start of the year, email marketing continues to perform well and provide stable results. The clients who continue to see strong results are those that segment their subscriber base and deliver timely, relevant information. Likewise, more companies are using triggers and transactions to drive highly targeted messages and these companies tend to outperform their peers.”

Survey Highlights:

• Deliverability continues to remain stable at 94.1%, up from 93.4% in Q1 2008.
• Open rates increased to 22.1%, up 11.2% from the rate of 19.9% in Q1 2008.
• Click rates increased 4.0% overall from last quarter to 6.1%.
• Business Products and Services, Consumer Packaged Goods, Pharmaceutical, Telecom and General Retail all saw an increase in all three major metrics – deliverability, opens and clicks – compared to last year.
• None of the industries measured saw a decline across all three metrics.

# # #

Co-Op Web Ad - first look

I love this new ad created for us by Fat Trees for the Tucson Culinary Festival program. Isn't it beautiful?!?

Top 10 Ways to Reduce Your Karmic Footprint

Note to Reader: This is an excerpt from the email I received today from Raviana.com. Please sign up to receive their emails monthly. They are loaded with beautiful information. "They call him Captain Karma. He's the Lord's own right hand man. He's the one who put the worm in the apple that you stole from the fruit stand." --- Khalsa String Band 1. Practice Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. Kundalini is known as the yoga of awareness. Awareness is the key to the direct experience of how everthing is connected. When you practice Kundalini Yoga, especially the meditative practices, you are literally burning off karma, incurring new blessings, cultivating compassion, and paving the way for a brighter day, and life for you and all! 2. Know that most everything has a back story. Feeling rage against the person that just cut you off in traffic? Maybe they're distracted because earlier that day their boss went off on them and they just had to sit there and take it. When we give people the benefit of the doubt the Universe is very forgiving with us too! 3. Make conscious decisions as a matter of course. If you are reading this you are a yogi. Wean yourself off of that 'just one more time,' mentality. Everything counts: every moment, every breath, every action. But don't equate discipline with the kind of self-denial which makes you a matyr to your self. A life of spirit is the perfect balance between celebration and discipline! 4. Consider gravitating towards a vegan lifestyle. If you've been practicing Kundalini Yoga then the idea of giving up animal products is probably already percolating in you, but maybe your old habits have precluded that leap. Diet and lifestyle are not ends in themselves or the "answer," but how you live makes a huge difference. Humanity is evolving and picking up speed! Animals are evolving too, they always have been. If something has a mother, as the argument goes, we shouldn't kill it. There is no taste sensation that you you will miss on a vegetarian diet! 5. Intention is everything. Do good as it's own reward. Always do your best as its own reward. If you are expecting a reward let it be that you have made life a little easier for someone and let that be more than enough. This is called Karma Yoga. The path of selfless service. 6. Celebrate people's gifts! Everyone has something which makes them special. When we support people in their unique talents we are helping to cultivate Destinies and our own. Next time someone invites you to their art opening, try to go! 7. Turn it off. Tune in. Rock out! Be selective with your exposure to popular media. Most TV is like mental fast food and gives your mind the same value in nutrition! Instead of using the remote and zoning out, turn it off and see what happens. You may just find yourself doing something fun and creative like redesigning your space or you may get a sudden urge to dance your dance, or maybe write your own uplifting screenplay, or book! Using your creativity is instant Good Karma! 8. The old masters were pretty savvy! For instance, the Five Precepts of Buddha are commitments to abstain from violence, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication. Buddha made a vow to meditate under a tree until he got an answer to the cause for human suffering. Part of his enlightenment was the realization that human suffering is caused by the vicious circle of karma and our attachment to it. 9. Whenver the opportunity presents itself, teach people what you have found works for you. Yogi Bhajan said that if you want to master something, teach it. If someone complains to you about their stress level, offer to show them what they can do about it. If you know someone trying to quit smoking, teach them the joys of yoga breathing! If you have experienced things which have made a difference for you, get out there and spread the light! 10. Be Positive! Most of the Karma we create ememates from the negative emotions we hold on to. Kundalini Yoga and meditation help us to be present and frees us from the pain of the past! So... onward and upward with a smile and open heart! See the soul in everyone. Sat Nam!

Support Meat Free Monday. Eat less meat for a better planet

What is Meatfree Monday?

It's a food campaign to encourage the nation to help slow climate change by reducing their meat consumption by having at least one meat free day a week.

Having a MEAT FREE day every week is a simple way to start making a real difference in the world. The more people who join in, the more difference we can make.

How to help Support Meat Free Monday Eat less meat for a better planet

Hot Times in the City :: Co-Op Web - June 09 News

Be Great

I have been spending some additional times in my volunteer gigs lately, as I truly believe that one way to get out of our own way is to put others first. "Be Great" is the inspirational line being used by the Boys and Girls Club right now and it is something for all of us to keep in mind in our daily lives. Below you will witness our Website Makeover, the Flash intro, focusing on the Youth of the Year (congratulations TJ!), that we donated to the B & G Club of Tucson. We really like the way it came out, and hope that you do, too.

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention my recent experiences as a brand-new CASA. I spent the morning recently observing some very courageous people and it was pretty amazing. I went through about a half a box of kleenex, but was totally inspired by the parents I saw overcoming some pretty dire circumstances and managing to for the most part, to rise above, pull themselves up by their bootstraps and still have hope that they will and are able to fulfill their dreams and make them finally come true.

This month, I rose above in my own little way and it felt pretty good. I am now officially certified as a Master Project Manager (MPM) and Project Manager E-Business (PME). I am truly excited about this and it only took me 15 years to complete this achievementt. Haha... sad, but true.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate all of our customers who are currently taking advantage of the potential of Twitter, please feel free to contact us anytime you are ready to move to the next level and make it work even better for your e-business.

I am suffering from my usual case of "idea-rhea", so please stayed tuned for some very exciting things to come. Just a warning...

If you have any questions and topics that you would like for me to address, please feel free to email us at contact@co-opweb.com .

Peace,
Ana Lewis, CEO, MPM, PME

ana@co-opweb.com
http://www.co-opweb.com

please follow us:
Twitter

Facebook


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Witness a Website Makeover  
Boys and Girls Club of Tucson: the positive place for kids
                                           

After reading Mission Statement of the Boys and Girls Club, you can understand why we have chosen them to be one of our sponsored non-profits for the past year.

MISSION

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson is to provide building-centered programs, professional staff, and a safe environment to assist youth in developing self-esteem, values, and skills.

OVERVIEW

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson is facility-based, employs youth development professionals supplemented by part-time staff and volunteers, and offers daily access to a broad range of programs in five core program areas:

• Character & Leadership Development
• Education & Career Development
• Health & Life Skills
• The Arts
• Sports, Fitness, & Recreation

We do not handle all of their e-business efforts, however we do help with a few items that we are especially proud of and mostly thankful to be associated with this amazing organization.

Here are the items that we help in:
1. Website - any Flash and video additions

2. Email Marketing - to the general list and the Board

3. Creation of an Email Opt-in sign up capability

4. I became a member of the Associate Board, Marketing Committee, so I can make suggestions on the fly.

We have many more things in the works, so please visit the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson and witness the results of this Website Makeover http://bgctucson.org.

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The Best Things on the Internet Are Free!

1. Snagfilms - Watch free documentaries from your web browser http://www.snagfilms.com/

2. LinkedIn - yes it's less flashy than Twitter, but it has it's actually one of the best online networking tools. http://www.linkedin.com/

3.YouTube - why has it taken me so long to list this one? I use it almost daily to do research. It's a gem. http://www.youtube.com
4. Tweetdeck - your personal browser for connecting you with your contacts across Twitter, Facebook and more. http://tweetdeck.com/beta/

5. Super Geek Alert! Lynx Viewer - This service allows web authors to see what their pages will look like (sort of) when viewed with Lynx, a text-mode web browser (like a mobile phone). http://www.delorie.com/web/lynxview.html/

___________

Time to Twitter

OUR TWITTER TEAM CAN MAKE YOUR BUSINESS SHINE!

                                
Starting from scratch or even if you have already created your Twitter account,

we can run with it and make it even more amazing for you -- taking it to the next level.


Here's what we offer:

Set up and work Twitter, includes:

a. creation (create a personal design) of twitter account, anticipated 1000 followers in 3-4 weeks, with 5-20 'tweets' a week.

b. creation of squidoo lens.

c. basic SEO on some real competitive keywords.

d.est 30 hours over 3-4 weeks @ $25 an hour (this is an introductory rate and is subject to change) =  $750


Contact Joli today to take advantage of this Introductory Offer! contact@co-opweb.com 

I'm Bona-fide!

Today I received word that I am officially certified as a Master Project Manager (MPM) and Project Manager E-Business (PME). I am truly excited about this and it only took me 15 years to achieve this. Haha... sad, but true.

Here are my new certification images I can use on my website and
literature. I am also going to put all of those obnoxious letters after my name... ah heck yeah. :)

Thank you,
Ana Lewis, MPM, PME

Co-Op Web's April News :: Spring Forward

Springing Forward :: Co-Op Web - April 09 News

Work, work, work

Sometimes you just have to take some time off, and sometimes you just have to be grateful that you are busy and keeping out of trouble.

Today I am writing to you on my birthday. It happens every year, whether I am ready for it to spring itself on me or not. This year, my dear friend, Helen is insisting that I take the day off, but thankfully we are busy today. So that day off thing is not to be - and for that I am ever grateful.

I have been so anxious to tell all of you how much I am loving Twitter. I am extremely endeared toward this amazing service, as it reminds me of back in 1994, when I first started in the Internet. It's community, it's sharing and it's free. Everything I love about the Internet is all right here. I have been so inspired by the people I am following and everyday I look forward to their brilliance and fun. Please see the Introductory Special at the bottom of this email to see how we can help your business join in on the Twitter fun at a super great rate.

If you have any questions and topics that you would like for me to address, please feel free to email us at contact@co-opweb.com .

Peace, 
Ana Lewis
ana@co-opweb.com
http://www.co-opweb.com

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Witness a Website Makeover

Mission Statement: Gadabout commits excellence to you, our clients, and our community.

Pamela McNair-Wingate opened the first Gadabout Salon in 1979 with a staff of eight in an 800 square feet space. It had seven hair stations, one manicurist, a receptionist and a make-shift facial room. Today the Kansas City born hair designer oversees an impressive multi-million dollar, award-winning business that includes seven salon locations in Tucson including Gadabout Man, Arizona’s first day spa for men, as well as VerVe, an Aveda Lifestyle Concept Salon and Salone Gadabout in Alberobello, Bari, Italy.

Megan Davis and the staff at Gadabout SalonSpas have been committed to their Mission Statement in every step of the process in creating their website functions and design capabilities. Not a week goes by that we don't have updates to the site and ideas flying about like popcorn. They listen to their guests and and a result, the website has grown and become an even more important and utilized communication and marketing tool.

Here are some of the main items implemented in this month's Website Makeover.:

1. Update overall tone of the site. Gadabout SalonSpas is very elegant and state-of-the-art in everything that they do. We needed to translate that elegance to the web site, as well as include some new features in the site.

2. Create a friendlier navigation and layout of the page on the most traffic and increase the focus on Community.

3. Add the capability to make Reservations online.

4. Add a company Intranet. Currently this is utilized to showcase an in-salon video via the Internet on a flat-screened TV of Gadabout's menu of services and products.

5. Add Twitter!

6. Create the Gadagirl Simply Beautiful Contest - where women in all ages can enter themselves to win some fabulous prizes.

Please visit the Gadabout SalonSpas site this month and witness the results of this Website Makeover http://gadabout.com
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The Best Things on the Internet Are Free!

1. YogaToday - Wake up each morning to a free one-hour yoga class from beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming. http://www.yogatoday.com/

2. Goodreads - the largest social network for readers in the world. They have over 2,000,000 members ranging from casual readers to bona-fide bookworms. http://www.goodreads.com/

3. Serious Eats- is a website focused on celebrating and sharing food enthusiasm through blogs and online community. http://www.seriouseats.com/

4. Nymbler - Choosing a baby name just got more inspired, thanks to an ingenious calculator that uses phonetics to give you fresh ideas. http://nymbler.com/

5. TinyURL - Web addresses are annoyingly long and unwieldy — especially when you're displaying search results from just about any website. If you want to cut a seemingly infinite URL down to size, head to: http://tinyurl.com/

6. Mobaganda - Evite is out. Mobaganda is in. Launched in May, 2008, this new site simplifies online party invitations and RSVPs. http://mobaganda.com

7. Urban Dictionary - The language you really need to know to keep up — in the U.S. anyway — is street lingo. Examples are: "boyfriend bomb" (when the woman you are interested in reveals that she has a boyfriend) or "text support" (encouragement from friends sent via text message). http://www.urbandictionary.com/

8. Modern Feed- A huge warehouse of TV shows available to watch on your computer. From classics (Dark Shadows anyone?) to current shows.  http://www.modernfeed.com/

___________

Time to Twitter

OUR TWITTER TEAM CAN MAKE YOUR BUSINESS SHINE!

Starting from scratch or even if you have already created your Twitter account,
we can run with it and make it even more amazing for you -- taking it to the next level.

Here's what we offer:
Set up and work Twitter, includes:
a. creation (create a personal design) of twitter account, anticipated 2000 followers in 3-4 weeks, with 5-20 'tweets' a week.
b. creation of squidoo lens.
c. basic SEO on some real competitive keywords.
d.est 30 hours over 3-4 weeks @ $25 an hour (this is an introductory rate and is subject to change) = $750

Contact Joli or Julie today to take advantage of this Introductory Offer! contact@co-opweb.com
___
Co-Op Web | 9121 E. Tanque Verde, Suite 105-194
Tucson, AZ 85749 | 520 572 0081
http://www.co-opweb.com

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CoOpweb
Experts in the Internet Industry Since 1994

Co-Op Web's March News :: Keep Calm and Carry On

Stiff Upper Lip Meets Mind Showers

"Keep Calm and Carry On" - these are the words from a British Poster, circa 1939. Seems appropriate in our times now, and I love how these words reek of British restraint and stiff upper lip.

This month, my blog has carried the same theme. I have talked about how important yoga is in times like this (actually any form of movement is ultra-important right now.) Or, how about a "mind shower"? That's for days when you see more dark than light - drink a ton of water - at least 8 glasses and flush that negativity (literally) away.

Here, at Co-Op Web, we are right here with you, all along the way. We will "keep calm and carry on" and you will, too. It's the strength of our community and our spirit that will get us through the cycle of life and experiences - together. Thank you!

To see find out more "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster, please go to, http://theworld.org .

If you have any questions and topics that you would like for me to address, please feel free to email us at contact@co-opweb.com .

Peace,
Ana Lewis
ana@co-opweb.com

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Witness a Website Makeover

Dana Park, an elegant shopping village in Mesa, Arizona, started construction in 2003. This means, not only the website was being constructed, but the entire shopping village was too! Throughout the construction and after, Triple 5 of Arizona made sure we had enough information to successfully build a comprehensive web site - utilizing architect's renderings and plans, updated photos, including information on every merchant, event and all the while, being available to help potential and current tenants.

Dannel Prutch and the staff at Triple 5 of Arizona have truly been instrumental in the success of this site. Not a week goes by that we don't have updates to the Happenings page and tenant information to keep current. They listen to the tenants and and a result, the website has grown and become an even more important and utilized communication and marketing tool for Dana Park and the it's community.

Here are some of the main items implemented in this month's Website Makeover.:

1. Update overall tone of the site. The actual village is very elegant in under-stated and neutral tones with the colors from nature being the focus. Water features, terra cotta pots, granite and palm trees make this a very special place. We needed to translate that elegance to the web site, as well as include a new, bolder logo to the overall feel.

2. Create a friendlier navigation and layout of the page on the most traffic - the Happenings page.

3. Add a Job Bank. The tenants now add in their own job postings (free of charge) so that site visitors can easily see job openings and how to apply.

4. Add a Tenant Intranet. Triple 5 is able to more easily communicate with the tenants via this online Intranet. A similar Intranet was also installed for their sister mall, Gilbert Town Square.

Please visit the Dana Park Village Square site this month and witness the results of this Website Makeover

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The Best Things on the Internet Are Free!

1. Newseum - Front Pages from top Newspapers throughout the US. http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/

2. GasBuddy.com - can help you find cheap gas prices in your city. http://www.gasbuddy.com/

3. Howcast - How-to videos with a sense of humor. http://www.howcast.com/

4. PsychCentral - DIY tests for your own self-help support. http://psychcentral.com/

5. TripKick - Insider tips about hotel rooms - which ones are the best within a hotel within major cities across the US. http://www.tripkick.com/

6. Wikipedia - what the Internet is all about. Everything. http://wikipedia.org/

7. Zeer - We've all heard the saying "you are what you eat." But how many of us really know what we're putting in our bodies? http://www.zeer.com/

8. Get Rich Slowly Blog - The most inspiring money blog.http://getrichslowly.org/blog/

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Having a Positve Attitude

I was watching Jean Chatzke on TV the other day and she said the most important financial tip she could give anyone right now is to have a positive attitude.

Sounds easy on most days, but today, it's been a little bit challenging. It's been quiet today. I can usually take it on a beautiful spring day like today. Just open the doors and work on one of my pet projects, but today I have let fear creep in and I have been clinging to my positive attitude like a bad love affair. Not in the healthiest way.

So, I started looking for ways to make my attitude turn around, and here's what's working. I am taking a mind shower. Sound weird? It's done by simply drinking a lot of water. Flushing out all that fear and negativity - literally. Try it, it helps. Drink those 8 glasses of water and let them bathe your insides.

Never underestimate the power of a positive attitude. A friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. She said that when she would go to the doctor, you could almost divide the room in half - the survivors and the non-survivors because of their attitude. She survived. Thank goodness.

I get resumes everyday right now. I loan money on Kiva.org to small businesses. How do I choose who I will loan to or hire? Look at their faces and smiles. I posted the photo of my favorite Kiva.org loan recipient, Clementine. Look at her! That woman has a great attitude -- and she paid back her loan faster than any of the other 12 I have loaned to. I would loan again to her anytime.

Have a good day and if the recession is getting to you, take a mind shower.

Sat Nam,
Ana

Top Ten Yoga Tip to Weather the Recession

Some of my favorite Kundalini Yoga teachers are Ravi and Ana. They have created a wonderful line of DVDs for practicing at home and I have quite a collection of them. I received an email from one of my teachers, Julianne Montano and it included an email excerpt from RaviAna.com. This is so wonderful, I had to share:

Top Ten Yoga Tips to Weather the Recession

1. Commit to daily Kundalini Yoga & Meditation (even if you only have 15 minutes!).
Kundalini Yoga done daily can help you stay, in spite of external pressures, in a very positive place which will then become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
2. Opportunities always exist. As long as there are human beings there will be social networks and there will be commerce. Kundalini Yoga will give you the awareness and confidence to perceive and act on the opportunities around you.
3. Now is a good time to practice lightening your load and simplifying your life. Do you really need a new pair of skis when your current pair are perfectly fine?
4. Don't let the media's gloomy forecasts color your thinking. Everything is cyclical. There will be an upswing as assuredly as spring will come.
5. Many people base their self worth on their economic station in life. Times like these are a blessing in disguise, because they allow us to go deeper to find out who we really are.
6. Know that because your identity is Infinity, abundance is your birthright.. Abundance is much more than your net worth. It's the recognition of Infinity in you.
7. Keep your Navel Center strong. More than anything else, this will help you be victorious, accomplish great things, and orchestrate positive outcomes.
8. Call your local house of worship, dept. of social services, or community center, and ask how you can be of service to those in need.
9. There is a powerful technique which flies in the face of logic but allows you to create a relationship with the source of all abundance. It's called tithing. Commit to giving a percentage of your income to a good cause or those in need, even when not convenient. It's a law of the Universe that those who give will always have.
10. Bottom line: we're hoping that your yoga practice is helping you to love yourself, no matter where you are with regard to the circumstances of your life. Give yourself the same patience, love, understanding, and encouragement you would give to a dear friend, loved one, or stranger in need!

Road Trip!

Are you thinking of taking a trip over Spring Break this year? How do you budget for a trip in this economy?

In my attempts to get my husband and I out of town, I have discovered a really wonderful tool online that I would like to share. It's called "Cost to Drive". Input your starting and end points and the "Galculator" will tell you the exact distance, the driving time, how much it will cost and even your carbon footprint from the trip.

It's 70 degrees and I am on Facebook

I had resisted the Facebook fever forever. It was a place for my college-age kids to hang-out online. It was a place to not waste time. I had it in my mind it was like MySpace... ugh! It is not.

I have been able to touch base with people I haven't seen in decades. Funny people. Wonderful people. Spirited people. My people.

Thank you Facebook for providing us all with a really great place to connect and re-connect.

Getting Down to Business

Today I sent out my first business newsletter of the year. It's been an interesting year so far. We have already seen two of our customers close shop. It's challenging to see some of our friends and colleagues be hurt by this economic challenge.

For anyone that is in business for themselves or is thinking about it, this newsletter is loaded with helpful information for getting the most from the Internet.

Please check it out by clicking here.