As a featured blogger in the Dental Community at www.wellsphere.com, I am entered in the People's Health Blogger Awards and I'm asking for your votes.

Please go to my blog at www.gotteeth.blogspot.com and hit the "Vote Now" button in the left column. Then come back and check out my blog about dental health.

Thank you.

DONE and happy to do so, they also asked why I was voting for your book and I told them why in no uncertain terms. Happy to do it, the book is something different and sorely needed.

Saundra I voted for you. Good luck sweetie.

Saundra, your site won't open for me and froze. I'll try again later.

Thank you Chatty and Sandpiper. Please keep trying MustangGal. I appreciate you.

mustang, you might want to try again. I was there and it worked for me. Happy to vote for you Saundra.

Done it. Good luck with all you do!

Two other people had trouble voting Mustang, but it seems to be worked out.

Thanks, Dotsie and Jabber.

Voted!!! Good luck and let us know the results..

Voted. I still get a chuckle everytime I see the cover of your book. Good luck!

I voted Saundra! Good luck

Any news Saundra? Please keep us posted. Ladies who haven't voted yet, please do, its importatnt to our BWS actiuve member, cyber sister, and friend.

Good luck Saundra! You have my support!

Thank you for bringing this back up. Sadly many votes are not showing up. I got a late start in this because of my surgery in November and my computer crashing but I expected their system to work for me. It's working for other people in the running.

A friend forwarded 2 emails to me showing that her vote did not go through and I forwarded them to Dr. Geoff who started Wellshpere. I'm hoping they can resolve this issue so my votes count.

Voting continues through January 15 and I am pleading with you to try again in the next week. Thank you all. As far as I'm concerned, you already made me a winner.

Chatty's and Dotsie's votes went through and a few others who I do not know. Since I don't know the names you may use "outside" I can tell you that I see no votes from the following names:

Sandpiper, Mustang Gal, Meredithhead, Edelwiss3, jabber, Dee and Anno.

Hi. I voted, had to sign up and sign in, but it seems like it went through. Great job, Saundra.

Thank you, PL. Your vote went through. Wuuhoo!

Saundra, is it possible it won't take a vote from out of the country? I filled out all the blanks, and then came click to vote, but no reaction. I tried it twice.. from the start...but it doesn't like me...waaaaaa!

My vote went through, EW. I just clicked and it was acknowledged easily. It did not offer me anything to fill in though. Good luck, Saundra!

I'm in the Top 20 now!

I don't know what's wrong with the system, Edelweiss. Someone else told me that she voted today and I don't see her vote and she's here in Daytona Beach.

Please try again, Lola. You have to fill in your email address and you'll get a welcome message.

Thank you everyone.

I voted and left a message why I voted for you, in particular. I said because she lets me be the Queen of Ha-Ha....okay, so that's not what I wrote....But...I did say nice things about your book and your efforts to keep us smiling!

Love ya gal and so glad to see you back!

I voted again, Saundra. This time, it asked me to fill in the message box and other details below it. The result was the same as EW. Strange though that it was not the case the first time. I e-mailed support@wellsphere.com and voted from there. E-mailed them twice for good measure.

"I have been trying to cast my vote for my favourite health blogger but your web site won't let me. I live in London and vote for Saundra G of www.gotteethguide.com and www.gotteeth.blogspot.com"

www.gotteeth.blogspot.com

Just checking to see why it was not in blue and underlined in my previous post.

Eh? Now why is that...?

That was awfully nice of you to make such an effort, Lola.

Best wishes, Saundra! I signed up and voted...

Lola, you are extraordinary. Thank you for all of your efforts. Lady Jane, thank you too. JJ's vote and comment went through. Thank you, Queenie.

I received an email from Wellsphere that they are trying to find and restore my missing votes. I'm on the Jimmy Buffet train now and laughing.

Houston, we have contact! I tried again and...it went through!!!

Lola, you just don't give up, girl. That's determination. Thank you. You moved me to #15.

Added my vote Saundra. Good luck and keep smilin'.

I'm #13 now and thank you all. I'd love it if more people would vote and get me off the dreaded #13 that I'm so happy to have.

I was laid off yesterday. No job, no benefits, still shocky. Getting all medical/dental done this month. Hope to get my head back together in a few days.

I voted way back in the beginning. They only allow one vote per IP address, right?

I am so sorry to hear about your layoff. I thought about you when I kept hearing reports of real estate issues and not many people are buying time shares right now, I guess. Smart to get your medical and dental done while you can.

Please let us know how we can support you and help you through this time.

K

Hey I have another email addy, lets see if I am able to vote a second time...

Aha!!!!! It went through yet again. I was able to get in two votes so far using my second email address. GOOD LUCK!!

Chatty, you're a very bad girl I'm happy to say.

K, I don't think I saw your vote. About my job elimination, I've had several breakdowns so far and seem unable to focus. All normal I've read. Maybe I should start another post because:

I have learned that I am unable to make an informed decision about whether to take the severance package offered (very low) or file for unemployment because you cannot find out what you would get if you filed for unemployment until you file.

That's the way the corporations want it and that's what the legislature and attorneys gave them. I went to the One Stop Center which is not worth stopping at. They gave me the number for the State Department Agency for Workforce Innovative which is not innovative. They told me that the company did not have to offer a severance package, which I alreday knew.

I think that corporations make decisions in their behalf and not on their employees behalfs because it's better for the company. Call me crazy.

And the only way to find out what you qualify for on unemployment is to file for it, which I can't do unless I waive the severance package. I cannot make an informed decision because that's how the system is set up. That's also how we, the peole, are set up.

K, I'm so grateful for your support I may not cry again today.

I'm so sorry to read about losing your job, Saundra. I'll try to surf a calculator on the www. I'll google JJ's friend "Google" and try to find out for you. I'll be back.

Found one, Saundra. Hope it helps.

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/datazone_uicalc_index

I was just thinking Saundra maybe it would be best to take the unemployment because then you are eligible for other things like food stamps. The severance package comes in only ONCE, but unemployment lasts for months and even longer if you reapply and they feel you're eligible. Many people are getting extensions due to this crappy economy we are all suffering from. Just a thought! I am praying for you.

Lola, that's a great resource for Saundra.

Saundra, if you think you'll be employed somewhere else soon, go for the severance. But if you're not sure, I'd go with unemployment. Chatty is right, the states have been extending the benefits because of the economy.

Hugs....

Lola, you're amazing. Good news/bad news. I only worked 32 hours a week (mostly). The calculator gives 2 choices, whichever is closest to the hours a person worked: 24 or 40 hrs/wk - 32 is exactly 8 hours either way so I would get $140/wk or Nothing depending on who makes the decision.

$140/wk is much larger than the package I was offered (unemployment runs for 26 weeks). Or Nothing. Chatty is right (you're right, girl) about extra benefits.

What about the base period I read about and didn't understand?

I know that losing a job is up there on the list of biggies and I'm really feeling it at my age. Why am I thinking about the lyrics to "Should I stay or should I go" as in take it or leave it and take my chances. Heck of a decision isn't it.

I know they don't want to pay and I won't be employed anywhere. No jobs here and I'm not really able to work at a desk 8 hours a day because of all the injuries I suffered at that job. AndI sure don't want to apply for Disability.

You know...............it's a crying shame that a bunch of us boomer women can't find a happy living house and just all move in together and share the rent, phones, cable, etc., and some cook, some clean (that wouldn't be me) and so forth. If the area where we lived were low enough on the COL (cost of living) we could rent a big house and have plenty of space and the expenses would be quite low.

Shame...crying shame.

I clean and enjoy yard work, but I don't cook? Hey, if there's a pasture for my horse, big screen HDTV, and enough bathrooms to accomodate us gals, call me!

Yahoo, the vote went through this time.

Saundra, I'm so sorry to hear about your lay off. Florida has been hit hard with unemployment. I think I read somewhere it is one of the worst States in this respect. Maybe this is the reason for you to move. You one mentioned you wanted to go back to your birth city. Would you ever consider that?

Here's what I found on your query re base period, Saundra.

"You must have worked and earned wages during the first four of the last five calendar quarters (beginning in January, April, July and October). These five quarters are known as the “base period.” During that time period, you must:

Have been paid wages in two or more calendar quarters

Have total wages during the base period of at least 150% of the wages during the highest quarter in the base period

Have earned at least $3,400 during the base period"

http://miami.about.com/od/gtfindajob/a/unemployment.htm

Hope it helps and I am always glad to help.

[quote=Dancing Dolphin]Lola, that's a great resource for Saundra.
[quote]

Google is JJ's friend and any friend of JJ's is my friend. LOL!!!

Lola, again amazing finding Florida info from England. I may still be in shock because I don't understand this sentence.

"Have total wages during the base period of at least 150% of the wages during the highest quarter in the base period"

Our own Dancing Dolphin called me today and we had a wonderful talk and laughed. I thoroughly enjoyed her company.

JJ, in the 60s your idea would have been called a commune and that's how lots of those flower children lived. In Isreal they're called a Kibutz. It works, I'm in, I cook. You can bet our boomer bottoms we'll be eating well. I know JJ and Chatty cook, too.

I haven't cried today. I haven't made a decision either. One moment at a time. Love you all.

Saundra, here's how you do the math on that one:

1. Figure your total wages from the past 15 months. (October of 2007 through December 2008.)

2. Determine which quarter was the highest for income during this 15 month period.
a. Oct, Nov, Dec - 2007
b. Jan, Feb, Mar - 2008
c. Apr, May, June - 2008
d. July, Aug, Sept - 2008
d. Oct, Nov, Dec - 2008

3. Is the highest quarter at least 150% higher than your complete 15 month total? For example, let's say you made $20,000 for the 5 quarters. Maybe some quarters you made only $2,000 but the highest quarter you made $5,000. Was the total ($20,000) 150% higher than your biggest quarter ($5,000)? In this example, the answer is YES.

Good luck! Let us know if you need anything.
K

Math was always my worst subject. I found the numbers on the company website and I think the answer is YES. It's late so I'll do it again in AM.

Love and blessings.

Anyone looking at this scenario who hasn't voted for me for the People's Health Bloger Awards, please go to www.gotteeth.blogspot.com to vote. It's until the 15th. Click the "Vote Now" button and fill in the blanks for my everlovin' thanks.

I used Chatty's idea and voted again under another email address. Twicky twicky!

Aaah Ha, that was you. Thank you. We have another bad girl. I think there are lots of us bad girls here and we just need an oportunity to express ourselves.

And I mean bad in the very best possible way.

oops....me, too!

Bad girls, bad girls, whatcha gonna do.
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you.

Anybody remember the Bad Boys song? I liked it.

Thanks for the tip - I have five email addresses so 2 down and 3 to go. Don't you just love being bad??!!

I voted for you Saundra a week or so ago, I hope that the sad things you have been going through lately have been just a set up for you to be more open for better opportunites to come...

Edelweiss, I can't go back to Vancouver BC. It's more expensive now than Tokyo & NYC. My other home was Los Angeles - just as expensive. No family anway, which really makes a home. I think I'll take a chance and apply for unemployment, clear my head, and ...I just don't know today. I feel like I'm going through the 5 stages of grief each day, without the bargaining.

You bad girls are just the best.

OMG! I feel my suggestion has led some of you ladies astray, but ain't it fun???? PLus Saundra deserves to win by hook or by crook...

Saundra, I'm so sad to hear about your job. Even if they were idiots and not nice to you, at least it was a paycheck.

Hi Ms. M. If you voted for me as MEB or MIJ it's there. If not, you didn't complete the sign in for Wellsphere and there's no vote from you. Jackie, did you get through all the info to make your vote count?

Maybe the universe is rearranging things for all of us. The PR anouncement stated that 4,000 employees were being let go across the country.

I've lost sleep and had a creepy coppery taste in my mouth for a few days, I think from stress. Yesterday I learned that my COBRA payments for medical/dental will be $446 month. Oooouch!!! I accepted the severance package and signing up for unemployment today. Don't know how much/little I'll get but it'll be better than a sharp stick in my eye. I wonder who got the first sharp stick in the eye and who recorded it so we could have that saying.

The voting has been extended through January 31, ladies. Please let your friends and families know. Thanks, blessings, & love.

Chatty, you didn't go astray. You're right on target.

Kathryn, thank you for your lovely comment on my blog.

I'd like the comments on my blog to show, but you have to click to see them. Anyone know how to do this on Blogger?

That was my vote and post from MIJ, Saundra. I have bookmarked your blog and, though I hadn't read it before, I meant what I said, because I know your writings will help me. I have some major dental problems and no insurance.

See Saundra, you're helping another person!

Thank you, MIJ.

The point of my book and blog is to help others, Dotsie. Getting the word is an on-going project. Being invited by Wellsphere.com to be a featured blogger helped as does posting on BWS. I have to do more posting about dental health here.

Is that a resolution?

reopening topic - sorry

Saundra, I did sign as MEB. Don't ask LOL but yeah, that's my vote.

Thank you, Ms. M. I saw it. Still hanging at #11 and feeling good about it.

I'm bringing this up for a last plea for votes for the People's Health Blogger Awards. Voting ends January 31. I'd love to win and I need my boomer sisters help. Please take 2 mintues to make a difference if you haven't already voted.

Go to my blog at www.gotteeth.blogspot.com and hit the "Vote Now" button. Just fill in the blanks for my ever lovin' thanks. You don't have to leave a comment unless you want to. Anyone perusing and not posting is welcome.

Thank you and keep smiling.

Hummm, how can I vote yet again???? LOL...

Chatty, today I found out that yet another person tried to vote for me and the system wouldn't let him. He tried twice.

If anyone is unable to get their vote through, please save the page and send it to me and I will forward it to "them" and they will make the votes count. They have already had to retrieve votes that didn't get through.

I can't believe I'm screaming that all my votes should be counted...I sound just like those politicians, and it's true, all my votes should be counted. I didn't expect this experience to be negative in any way. Kinda like life, isn't it?

It's probably called internet CHAD, Saundra.

Well you should have gone up 1 more vote. I did find a way to vote again, lol!!!

Yes, Dear Chatty, I got your vote. How about the rest of you watching and not posting. It's okay. You can use you initials, nobody will know who you are, and It will help.

Thank you.

I am not sure if mine went through or not. Anyway, I should be there as Wisdom&Life.

Cheers,
Cathi

Thank you, Cathi. Your vote went through.