BER is here!

Cant believe few more days its officially Fall Season. Looking forward for Thanksgiving Day this year. Its gonna be a fabulous one I guess since hb's family are planning to have a get together party on that said event. BTW, I misses the Christmas in the Philippines. I know, how excited we were when its September 1st every year. It means that the long Christmas holiday officially begins and its started with the early dawn Christmas Songs. I remembered I used to woke up early just to turn on the radio and listened the Christmas songs played on the radio. Sigh, how I wish we were celebrating Christmas there but its impossible LOL since we went back home last Summer.

Prettiest Fall Foliage Drives

Central Arizona

Climbing 4,000 feet in less than 80 miles, US Highway 89 offers a dramatic transition from Arizona desert to high mountain and mesa country where the trees run riot each fall. From Prescott’s biker bars and Jerome’s art galleries to Sedona’s celebrated red-rock cliffs and New Wave vibe, there are plenty of distractions along the way. Among the best places to catch fall foliage are Oak Creek Canyon and Red Rock Crossing near Sedona.

Upper Hudson and Lake Champlain, N.Y.

NY State Highway 9N between Saratoga Springs and Plattsburgh is a match for anything in New England, a rambling road that zigzags through the eastern Adirondacks and along the shore of Lake George and Lake Champlain. There’s plenty of history along the way, including the Saratoga battlefield and Fort Ticonderoga, as well as the swish social scene in Saratoga.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Fall foliage reflected in lakes and rivers is the forte of Michigan’s wild and rugged Upper Peninsula. US Highway 41 meanders across the U.P. from Menominee on Lake Michigan to the Keweenaw Peninsula on Lake Superior. Autumn icons along the zigzag route include Hiawatha National Forest and the golden Tunnel of Trees.

The Ozarks, Ark.

One of several great autumn drives in the region, Arkansas State Highway No. 7 meanders from Lead Hill to Hot Springs through the color splashed Ozark National Forest and secluded Ouachita Range. The mountain town of Jasper is a hub for fall hiking, biking and horseback riding in the region, as well as kayak, raft and johnboat trips down the Buffalo National River.

West Elk Loop, Colo.

Many of the state’s 25 scenic highways and byways offer superb fall foliage, especially those that follow rivers and streams through the Rockies. One of the best is West Elk Loop, a noose-shaped route that takes in Carbondale, Crested Butte, Gunnison and other historic Wild West towns. Starting out from Aspen or Glenwood Springs, the 205-mile drive takes at six-eight hours.

Black Hills, S.D.

Highest point between the Rocky Mountains and Western Europe, the Black Hills have all the ingredients for the perfect autumn drive — plentiful trees, endless views and rich local history. The hills are best explored on two scenic byways — the 68-mile Peter Norbeck and the 20-mile Spearfish Canyon — on either side of Mt. Rushmore. Spruce, aspen, birch and oak are among the local trees that transform come fall, although the ubiquitous Ponderosa pine (dark when seen from the surrounding prairie) is what gives the hills their name. Base your stay in the town of Custer for the Peter Norbeck drive and Deadwood for the Spearfish Canyon journey.

Green Mountains, Vt.

“For the quintessential New England experience,” says Jamie Jensen, “head for Route 100, which runs north-south along the spine of the beautiful Green Mountains.” Here you’ll find “classic combinations of rolling pastures, rustic red barns, white clapboard churches, quaint villages and covered bridges.” Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak adds, “Vermont has the most brilliant display of fall colors I've ever seen. Cutting through the Green Mountains on Highway 89 is spectacular.” The authors of "The Most Scenic Drives in America" add another endorsement for this Northeast route; Bob Dolezal (who is also the author of the guidebook "Where the Birds Are") explains that it’s prime avian territory, and says the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Richmond is worth a visit.

Better Half Tag

I snagged this tag from fellow blogger. I find it cute and loves to answer these questions in behalf of my partner.

Here goes:

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? – Discovery, History and Religious Channels for sure.

2. You’re out to eat, what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? –Blue Cheese Dressings

3. What’s one food he doesn’t like? –Balut LOL

4. You go out to eat and have a drink, what does he order? –Food for sure he never drinks

5. What shirt size does he have? – XL

6. What shoe size does he have? – 12

7. What is his favorite type of sandwich? – Ham and Cheese

8. What would he eat everyday if he could? – Mashed Potatoes

9. What is his favorite cereal? – Cheerios

10. What would he never wear? – Tight Shirts

11. What is his favorite sports team? – Cavalier with Lebron James

12. Who did he vote for? – Pres. Barack Obama

13. Who is his best friend? – ME! defenitely!

14. What is something he does, but you wish he wouldn’t do? –Shave every morning!

15. What is his heritage? –Caucasian

16. You bake him a cake, what kind of cake? –Upside Down Cake

17. Did he play sports in high school? – yes, Boxing LOL

18. What could he spend hours doing? -its Summer time, he loves to mow the grass and often outside.

19. What is the unique talent that he has? –He loves to writes religious poems.

20. What’s his type of coffee? - Black without sugar

Feel free to snag this tag!

Chinese Fried Rice

I really tempting to order for food delivery at the Chinese Restaurant this morning after seeing this Egg fried rice with vegetables. Boy, I never give up eating it alone without any side dish. I try to cut off my carbohydrates intakes so I have to swallow my own saliva and thinking of eating the fried rice that hard to resist! Hmmm yummy!

Miss Venezuela is Ms Universe 2009

Miss Venezuela was the fairest of them all once again, winning the 2009 Miss Universe crown for the second year straight and the sixth time since the pageant's creation.

Dressed in a flowing red gown, 18-year-old Stefania Fernandez hugged the runner-up from the Dominican Republic and danced in joy as her victory was announced Sunday.

The crown briefly fell to the floor as it passed from one Venezuelan beauty to the next.

But Fernandez said there was time for outgoing Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza to whisper in her ear that she must have worked hard for Venezuela to win consecutive crowns.

The other top-five finalists were runner-up Ada Aimee de la Cruz, followed by Miss Kosovo, Droga Ganusha; Miss Australia, Rachael Finch; and Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez.

The new Miss Universe is from the city of Merida in the west of a beauty-obsessed South American country where hard-fought pageants are something of a national sport, with contestants widely dissected by the public and the media.

Fernandez said she did not know whether Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez would receive her. He did not meet with Mendoza when she won and made no public statements at the time.

The top 15 Miss Universe finalists appeared in bathing suits before the final 10 were chosen for the evening gown segment.

The on-stage hosts were Billy Bush, co-anchor of "Access Hollywood," and Claudia Jordan, a former Miss Rhode Island USA who has appeared on several TV shows. Judges included actor Dean Cain and supermodel Valeria Mazza.

Miss China, Wang Jingyao, was named Miss Congeniality and Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, won Miss Photogenic.

Many contestants have suffered from dehydration in recent weeks, and Jewel Selver, Miss Turks and Caicos, went home Saturday to recuperate, said Esther Swan, Miss Universe spokeswoman.

Small Chili

I'm sure the Filipino's are familiar with this kind of chili that we have in PI. I am still looking for it in here in but unfortunately nothing I can buy it even at the Asian stores that my friends told me. If I am allowed to brought some of them when I went back in the US I am surely bring a couple of years supply for my own consumptions lol. There's a lot of chili's in the store but I prefer this kind of variety and its good for sawsawan with chop tomatoes and onion with it.

13 Easy Ways to Save 200 Calories a Day

By incorporating even one of these smart tweaks from diet and nutrition writers into your day, you could lose up to 20 pounds a year!

Substitute Yogurt for Mayo

“When making tuna salad, use 2-percent Greek yogurt, about 75 calories for half a cup, instead of mayonnaise, about 450 calories for half a cup. Greek yogurt has the same texture and creaminess as mayonnaise but far less fat and calories. I use the tangy Greek yogurt as a lower-cal replacement anywhere I’d regularly use sour cream or mayo.” — Leah Sipher-Mann,

Skip the Cheese

“Build a healthier sandwich: Hold the cheese because two slices can add up to well over 200 calories. Load your sammie with low-calorie veggies or go gourmet with slices of apple and pear.” —Susi May, FitSugar

Make Over Your Milkshake

“I love milk shakes, but at 420 calories for a small strawberry fast-food shake, they can be a real diet breaker. So when I’m in the mood for one, I blend a cup of 1-percent milk with a cup of unthawed, unsweetened frozen strawberries and a teaspoon of agave nectar for a delicious and satisfying cold treat. It’s only about 170 calories, which is a savings of 240 calories.” —Diana Swallow, Scale Junkie

Save Your Salad with Salsa

“When ordering salad out, ask for salsa or pico de gallo instead of dressing. Many restaurant-size servings of dressing have around 300 to 500 calories. Using salsa, even half a cup of it, will likely save you hundreds of calories and dozens of fat grams—half a cup has 35 calories and almost no fat. And salsa rocks on salads.” —Lisa Lillien, HungryGirl

Beat the Office Munchies

“Every afternoon at work, I tend to want a snack. With small chocolates in my coworker’s nearby office—five mini chocolate bars are 210 calories!—and a vending machine down the hall that’s calling my name, I avoid the temptation by chewing a piece of fruit-flavored sugar-free gum. Sugar-free gum comes in all kinds of fun, tropical flavors these days like sangria and pina colada, so I feel like I’m indulging even though I’m not.” —Jenn, Fit Bottomed Girls

Embrace Water

“Many people forget that calories you drink count too, so I try to be aware of what I consume in liquid form and drink as much zero-calorie water as possible. Simply cutting out a 20-ounce bottle of regular soda saves more than 200 calories. Plus, when I’m hydrated, I can more accurately tell whether I’m actually hungry.” —Erin, Fit Bottomed Girls

Pop Your Own Corn

“Next time you go to the movies, bring your own popcorn. Microwave kernels in a brown paper bag and use a little nonstick spray. Season them to suit your mood: savory with garlic powder and sea salt, sweet with cinnamon and a few dark chocolate chips, or ‘cheesy’ with sea salt, chili powder and nutritional yeast. It’s delicious and tastes just like cheese with fewer calories!” —Gina Harney, Fitnessista

A Breakfast of Champions

“Instead of the average 450-calorie cream-cheese bagel, I have a Thomas’ English muffin with two tablespoons of fat-free cream cheese for a similar taste that saves about 300 calories.” —Karolina Starczak, NeverSayDiet

Invest in a Steamer

“Food steamers save calories and your time. Before I got my steamer, which has multiple layers, so you can cook your entire meal at once, I would usually pan-fry salmon in oil or butter or cover it in sugary teriyaki sauce and bake it. Both of those methods add so many unnecessary calories. Now when I get home from work, I throw veggies, brown rice and salmon with a lemon slice and some fresh parsley in the steamer. It absorbs all the flavor, and it tastes so fresh that way. It takes 15 minutes, so I avoid fatty takeout.” —Lara Baldwin, Thinspired

Slim Down Your Strawberry Shortcake

“In the summer, I particularly love strawberry shortcake at a barbecue. I bake my own angel-food cake, slice it thin and throw it on the grill for a few minutes instead of using a biscuit—that cuts about 100 calories right there. Then I use a balsamic reduction—cook the vinegar down slowly until it’s about half the volume it was originally—and drizzle it over the strawberries and cake. The flavors are so elegant, and no one misses the whipped cream, which would usually tack another 100 calories onto the dessert.” —Katherine Tweed, That’s Fit

Give Mashed Potatoes a Healthy Twist

“For me, mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. To make your potatoes healthier, try using equal amounts of potato and another mashable vegetable, like cauliflower or turnips. Not only is this reducing the calorie content, but you’re also adding extra nutrients to your plate. To add even more flavor, replace butter and whole milk with a small amount of tahini and some fat-free yogurt.” —Melanie Thomassian, Dietriffic

Create Your Own Chips

“Instead of snacking on tortilla chips and salsa, I make my own pita chips in the toaster oven. I cut a whole-wheat pita into small triangles, spray them with no-calorie cooking spray, sprinkle with salt and toast for about two minutes. They taste just as good as regular tortilla chips but without the added calories and fat. You can even add garlic salt, cinnamon or paprika to jazz them up.” —Tina Haupert, Carrots ‘N’ Cake

Coffee, Hold the Milk

“Instead of a latte, order your coffee drink Americano style, which is espresso with water instead of milk. A 12-ouce Americano is 10 calories versus the same-size latte made with whole milk, which comes in at 180 calories. Nix the sugar—two packets are 30 calories—and you’ve saved yourself 200 calories.” —Stephanie Quilao, Noshtopia

America's Deadliest Jobs

Top 5 America's Deadliest Jobs

Getty Images/Mary Knox Merrill

1. Fishers and Related Fishing Workers The Job: Capture aquatic animals in large quantities. The Dangers: Extreme weather, large equipment, drowning The Fatality Rate*: 128.9 Total Fatalities in 2008: 50 *per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers

AP Photo/Diether Endlicher

2. Logging Workers The Job: Cut down and trim trees for sale and transport. The Dangers: Falling trees, cutting equipment, difficult terrain The Fatality Rate*: 115.7 Total Fatalities in 2008: 82 *per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers

AP Photo/Gary O'Brien

3. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers The Job: Operate planes and helicopters. The Dangers: Testing equipment, emergency response, crashes The Fatality Rate*: 72.4 Total Fatalities in 2008: 90 *per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers

iStockphoto.com

4. Structural Iron and Steel Workers The Job: Mold, set and handle metal construction materials. The Dangers: Heights, heavy materials, welding The Fatality Rate*: 46.4 Total Fatalities in 2008: 36 *per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers

AP Photo/Mark Wilson

5. Farmers and Ranchers The Job: Grow and cultivate livestock and crops. The Dangers: Heavy machinery. The Fatality Rate*: 39.5 Total Fatalities in 2008: 317 *per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers

America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up

Low crime, strong schools, green spaces, and fun activities are key ingredients for a happy childhood. Our selections appear below, in our list of America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up: appear below, in our list of America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up:

Virginia Beach, Va.

Junior adventurers will love Virginia Beach, Va. This community of 434,000 residents in the southeastern part of the state has a low crime rate, a solid school system, and 35 miles of majestic beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. "It's kind of neat to be able to come home from work, make a call to my wife or son, grab a bucket of chicken or some sandwiches, and then go out on the bay and have dinner," says Greg Ward, who works for a marketing firm that represents the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Children can explore an impressive ecosystem of threatened and endangered species—including bald eagles and loggerhead sea turtles—in the 9,000-acre Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The warm summers and mild winters provide plenty of opportunities to hike, bike, and picnic your way through the 19 miles of scenic trails over at First Landing State Park. And after checking out the sand tiger sharks and the cow-nose rays at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, children can catch an educational picture in its 3-D IMAX theater.

And in early September, the community is launching an online resource—VBparents.com—designed to keep parents plugged in to local health and school news, while ensuring that they are up-to-date on all of the community activities available to their kids. "There are lots of great parenting resources out there. This one is going to be specific to raising your child and your family within the city of Virginia Beach," says Jenefer Snyder, city of Virginia Beach GrowSmart coordinator. "We are constantly going to be connecting it back to community services, activities, events, programs, and classes."

Madison, Ala.

Of the roughly 43,000 residents in the friendly, churchgoing town of Madison, Ala., about 12,000 are under 18 years old. And this bedroom community of Huntsville, Ala., offers no shortage of outlets to keep these young folks active. "There is an event almost every weekend—whether it is in Madison, Huntsville, or Madison County—that families can attend," says Paul Finley, the mayor of Madison. Children can take advantage of the area's expansive outdoor amenities: watching beavers plunge into Bradford Creek or rabbits dart through the 130-acre Rainbow Mountain Trails park. And if they behave well enough, perhaps some lucky children can even persuade their mom and dad to send them to Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in nearby Huntsville.

Overland Park, Kan.

Just 12 miles outside of Kansas City, Mo., is the lovely community of Overland Park, Kan. This family-friendly suburb in America's heartland has a four-season climate and is opening a 12-field, artificially turfed, fully lit soccer complex in the late summer. "Soccer is a big sport in this community," says Mayor Carl Gerlach. Meanwhile, at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, kids can visit nearly 200 farm animals, toss a bobber into a fishing pond, or take a ride in a horse-drawn wagon. The 17-mile-long Indian Creek Trail makes for a great bike ride. At the same time, sports fans are only a short car ride away from a Kansas City Chiefs football game or a Kansas City Royals baseball game. In addition, "we have three different school districts in Overland Park," Gerlach says. "All three have been nationally ranked and won awards."

San Jose, Calif.

With 9 square miles of green spaces, 300 days of sunshine a year, and four different professional sports franchises to follow, San Jose, Calif., has everything you need for a happy childhood. At just over 1 million residents, San Jose considers itself the capital of Silicon Valley, but it doesn't take a computer scientist to understand the city's appeal to kids. San Jose is the country's safest big city, and although it's certainly expensive—the median home price is $449,000—the city offers all sorts of great activities for children. Rather than chasing its skateboarders away, San Jose has embraced them by opening six public skateboarding parks, including Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park, the largest one in the state. And at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, children can experience everything from theater to gardening.

Boston

With an exciting history and a boatload of activities, Boston is a great option for parents looking to raise children in a big city. Kids will marvel at the African penguins in the New England Aquarium, gawk at the humpback whales on a whale-watching tour, and erupt as the Red Sox take the field at beautiful Fenway Park. At the same time, Boston is one of the safest large cities in the country.

Rochester, Minn.

With about 100,000 residents, the safe, friendly city of Rochester, Minn., has enough activities to tire out even the most energetic youngsters: 85 miles of trails for in-line skating, 3,200 acres of public parks for touch football, and 56 different playgrounds. "It's a huge sports town," says Brad Jones, executive director of the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau. Fortunately, the area's big sport—hockey—is well-suited for Rochester's chilly winters. "We [also] have two hockey complexes, one with four rinks under one roof and the other with two," Jones says. "We have the National Volleyball Center located here, and it's always hopping with volleyball tournaments and trainings."

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

It would be tough to find a safer community than Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where the crime index is about a fifth of the national average. And with a solid school system, plenty of fun activities, and affordable housing costs, this eastern Iowa city can keep your kids happy without emptying your wallet. Tim Boyle, the executive director of the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the city's manageable size—it has just 123,000 residents—allows its young people to get involved in a variety of different activities. "The thing that I like about Cedar Rapids is you could end up with a junior or senior in high school who is an offensive tackle on the football team and has the lead in the spring musical," Boyle says. In addition to a strong music program in its public schools, the area has more than 50 public tennis courts, more than 75 parks, 23 sand volleyball courts, and even a BMX dirt track. During the winters, which can get extremely cold, children can remain active on three indoor soccer fields and five ice-skating rinks.

Denver

Whether they prefer snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains, biking through America's largest city park system, or heading over to Invesco Field at Mile High for a Broncos football game, Denver is a wonderful place to be a kid. Also among the country's safest big cities, Denver has 300 days of annual sunshine, eight different professional sports franchises, and countless opportunities for fishing, white-water rafting, and horseback riding.

Plano, Texas

With 7,000 faculty and staff members serving 55,000 students in this Texas community, the Plano Independent School District has achieved national recognition for its strength. The Department of Education has handed 24 of its schools National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence awards, and 99 of its seniors were named semifinalists in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program. "We have a wonderful park system here in our community that has always been very much focused on youth sports, whether it is soccer or baseball or basketball," says Mayor Phil Dyer. Meanwhile, the community's less costly lifestyle—median home prices are just $213,900—means there should be enough cash left in the budget for the 50-minute trip to Arlington, Texas, for a Dallas Cowboys game.

Edison, N.J.

Working parents in Edison, N.J., can take advantage of the township's expansive after-school programs, which expose youngsters to a host of activities, including magic, piano, cooking, and arts and crafts. More than 30 area parks have facilities for tennis, basketball, soccer, and other sports. At the same time, this community of about 100,000 also offers organized youth leagues for everything from softball to lacrosse.

Supermarket Brands vs. National Brands: Which Taste Better?

Frozen lasagna

Stouffer's, $1.44 per serving

Great Value (Walmart), 88 cents per serving

Winner: Tie Stouffer's cheese is more flavorful, and there are more flavors from herbs (though some taste dehydrated). Great Value lasagna tastes sweeter, and the pasta is firmer, a plus.

Dijon mustard

Grey Poupon, 5 cents per serving

GreenWise Market Organic (Publix), 3 cents per serving

Winner: Tie Each is tasty in its own way. The Grey Poupon is hotter and moderately sour, and has more of a bite, like horseradish. The Publix has well-blended, well-rounded flavors and is slightly sweet and moderately salty. We'd be happy with either on a hot dog or in a dressing.

Salsa

Old El Paso Thick n' Chunky Medium, 17 cents per serving

Kirkland Signature (Costco) Organic Medium, 10 cents per serving

Winner: Store brand A chunky tomato salsa with crisp vegetable pieces, cumin, and smoky flavors, Kirkland is better overall: more complex, and just plain tastier. Old El Paso has stewed flavors, with onion and jalapeño pieces.

Whipped topping

Cool Whip, $1.58 per container

Great Value (Walmart), 87 cents per container

Winner: Store brand Testers gave the edge to Great Value because it has a little less chemical aftertaste. Both have an artificial-vanilla flavor.

Au gratin potatoes

Betty Crocker, $1.85 per package

Great Value (Walmart), 92 cents per package

Winner: Store brand Neither packaged potato-and-cheese combination is anything to write home about, but our trained tasters said that the Great Value has more potato flavor. The knock against Betty Crocker: It's mealy and starchy, with a dehydrated-potato impression.

Brownie mix

Duncan Hines Family Style Chewy Fudge, $1.95 per package

Market Pantry (Target) Fudge, $1.32 per package

Winner: Tie Both are moist and have decent cocoa flavor, though you'd never confuse them with brownies from a good bakery.

Granola

Quaker Natural Granola Oats, Honey & Raisins, 30 cents per serving

America's Choice (A&P) 100% Natural Granola Oats, Honey & Raisins, 34 cents per serving

Winner: Name brand Flavors in Quaker's cereal are fuller, more complex, and well rounded. It has crunchy oat clusters, chewy raisins, and almond slices. America's Choice has fewer clusters, less-tasty raisins, and more coconut flavor. It didn't stand up as well to milk, either.

Raspberry preserves

Polaner All Fruit 100% Natural Fruit Spread, 15 cents per serving

Kroger, 12 cents per serving

Winner: Tie They're of similar quality, but the Polaner has more of a cooked or stewed flavor, while the Kroger is sweeter and leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste. Both have crunchy seeds. The texture of both varied from jar to jar.

Vegetable juice

V8, $2.81 per bottle

365 Organic Vital Veggie (Whole Foods), $2.67 per bottle

Winner: Name brand Both are tomato based, but the similarity ends there. The V8 is less salty and has fresher and more identifiable celery and carrot flavors. The green vegetables in the 365 Organic are nondescript, and the juice itself is salty and slightly bitter.

10 Surprising Minimum-Wage Jobs

1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Bottom 10% earn: $8.79 per hour U.S. median salary: $11.41 per hour Job description: Assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. Transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.

An EMT may pull you from a car wreck and keep you alive on your way to the hospital -- and maybe for as little as $9 an hour? New EMTs must be brave, decisive, compassionate, and knowledgeable. Fortunately, their salaries go up after they get some experience under their belts.

2. Pharmacy Technician

Bottom 10% earn: $7.88 per hour U.S. median salary: $9.93 per hour Job description: Assist pharmacist in preparing and dispensing medication. Prepare dosage medications for dispensing into bottles and unit dose packaging. Collect patient information for prescription and billing. Select, prepare and stock medications.

Do you find all of those little pills confusing when you have more than one to take? Your local pharmacy technician processes hundreds of prescriptions a day and absolutely must keep the blue ones separate from the green ones. The wrong dose or medication can have possibly fatal consequences. These folks deserve a big thank-you for the work they do, but they'd likely settle for a raise.

3. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Bottom 10% earn: $8.12 per hour U.S. median salary: $9.81 per hour Job description: Provide basic patient care under direction of nursing staff. Perform duties, such as feed, bathe, dress, groom, or move patients, or change linens.

When grandpa or grandma requires full-time care in a facility, or you end up in the hospital for surgery or an extended stay, a CNA might be the person you interact with most and rely upon for your essential needs. Plus, these dedicated individuals also often provide a little human interaction when the hours in the hospital seem too long.

4. Preschool Teacher

Bottom 10% earn: $8.19 per hour U.S. median salary: $10.50 per hour Job description: Instruct children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, daycare center, or other child development facility. May be required to hold state certification.

Have you ever been at a preschool or daycare facility and thought, "Wow, that teacher is so patient and caring." That's because preschool teachers are responsible for a group of active, inquisitive kids who get hungry, have occasional meltdowns, or don't feel like sitting down -- all day long. These folks are critical to your child's development and education. And, they may not make enough to support themselves without a second job or income. 5. Amusement Park Ride Operator

Bottom 10% earn: $7.49 per hour U.S. median salary: $8.74 per hour Job description: Perform variety of attending duties at amusement facility. May operate amusement concessions and rides.

You wouldn't be surprised to buy a hot dog at the fair from a young person making close to minimum wage, but what about the person running your favorite ride -- the one with all the loop-dee-loops, drops and spins? It's surprising that these workers don't make much more than their concession-stand counterparts considering the complexity of some of the rides they're operating.

6. Line Cook

Bottom 10% earn: $7.25 per hour U.S. median salary: $8.98 per hour Job description: Prepare and cook food in a restaurant. Duties of the cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

In the fast-paced work environment of a restaurant kitchen, line cooks ensure that meals are prepared to the chefs' exacting standards. Often these folks have completed pricey degrees at culinary schools and this is their first job after graduation. They're skilled with knives and the finer points of making a cream sauce. Yet, their wage is sometimes better suited to heating up a frozen dinner.

7. Lifeguard

Bottom 10% earn: $6.89 per hour U.S. median salary: $8.18 per hour Job description: Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes to provide assistance and protection to participants.

Do you have the strength and skill to pull a drowning person from a crowded lake and resuscitate them? Lifeguards must be able to perform this important task, plus spend long hours getting kids to stop running on the edge of the pool and make sure lap swimmers share their lanes properly. Lifeguards literally help everyone stay alive.

8. Nanny

Bottom 10% earn: $7.51 per hour U.S. median salary: $10.31 per hour Job description: Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and child-care institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.

Most people agree that you can't put a price tag on a parent's work because it takes full focus and energy to do well. So why is it that nannies often earn so little for taking care of those same children? From getting kids up, dressed and fed in the morning to making sure they arrive on time to piano lessons and soccer practice, nannies often exhibit the exceptional patience and resourcefulness needed to keep a family running.

9. Automobile Mechanic

Bottom 10% earn: $7.78 per hour U.S. median salary: $10.95 per hour Job description: Repair automobiles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. Master mechanics repair virtually any part on the vehicle or specialize in the transmission system.

When you take your car in to be repaired, you expect the mechanic -- whether brand new or a seasoned pro -- to quickly identify the problem and get your car back on the road again. It's complicated work that requires a great deal of knowledge, skill, and attention to detail. In time, most mechanics earn more for their toil.

10. Tax Preparer

Bottom 10% earn: $7.16 per hour U.S. median salary: $9.15 per hour Job description: Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses without the background or responsibilities of an accredited or certified public accountant.

What you do or do not tell Uncle Sam during tax season is very important for your bank account and your peace of mind. Maybe you do your own taxes, but many people trust their tax returns to someone else. A tax preparer enters all of your data into your forms before an accountant double-checks their work. It's an important job that needs to be done right.

NOTE: While pay rates vary from state to state, the jobs listed generally pay at or near minimum wage. Included, as well, is a job description from PayScale.com that lists job duties and the national median hourly rate a person makes in their first year on the job, according to PayScale.com. Some people earn less than this rate.