Saturday, July 31, 2010

Apartment Renting With Pets

If you’re a pet owner who is considering a move to an apartment there are certain things you must be keep in mind. First, whether or not your pet will be accepted by most landlords depends primarily on the type, size and personality of your pet.

Dogs:

If you own a large dog, apartment living is probably not for you. Not only will accepting landlords be hard to find, but your dog will not be happy in the confined space of an apartment. A large dog needs room to exercise and play, neither of which is usually available in an apartment setting.

If you plan to move to an apartment, make sure your dog is one that will adapt easily to this change in environment. Usually smaller, lap dogs are the best choice. However, even smaller dogs can cause problems.

If your dog barks or whines a lot you may well find yourself at odds with the landlord, as well as with other tenants. Many times your dog only causes a disturbance because it’s lonely or bored. If you’re gone during the day, you can sometimes alleviate these problems by hiring a pet walker to come in and give your dog attention and exercise.

You must also keep in mind that most apartment complexes have leash laws so you will have to accompany your dog each time it goes outside. Since most complexes don’t have areas where it’s safe for your dog to run free, this is as much a matter of your dog’s safety as it the protection of other tenants.

Cats:

Cats are the pets of choice for apartments. Most are not as socially oriented as dogs and are quite happy left on their own. As long as your cat has a nice spot to curl up and take a nap, space isn’t an issue. More than likely your pet is a house cat so frequent trips outside aren’t required.

But you must realize that some landlords do not accept cats any more willingly than they do dogs. Some have a strict “no pets” rule. If that’s the case, don’t consider renting there. If your pet is discovered you may be evicted and/or fined.

Other Pets:

“Pocket pets” such as fish, birds, and reptiles usually don’t pose a problem when it comes to renting. However, you should still check with your prospective landlord to make sure.

General Tips:

Landlords who do accept pets often require a pet deposit. This is intended to cover any damage your dog or cat does to the premises, as well as additional cleaning that may be necessary when you leave the apartment.

If you’re searching for apartments that accept pets, there are many places to go for help. You’ll find lots of websites and message boards dedicated to this subject. You can also enlist the help of a local realtor or relocation specialist who usually have lists of “pet-friendly” apartments. Just make sure you’re clear on the policy regarding pets before you sign any rental agreement.

If you take into account your pet’s needs, as well as those of your landlord, you’ll be much more likely to find an apartment that meets your needs.

Happy apartment hunting!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Apartment Locators or Apartment Database Sites – Which is the best for you?

When you do a search on a Search Engine for "apartments" you are going to come across two types of Website resources; apartment locator sites and apartment database sites. Which is the best for you? Well, that depends on what your needs and circumstances dictate. It also has a great deal to do with your privacy comfort level.

The Apartment Locator Site:

If you are relocating to an area of the country that is totally new for you, someplace where you are unfamiliar with neighborhoods, schools, job centers, transportation, etc., then the apartment locator may be your best choice. These folks respond to your query by making telephone contact with you. You will describe your circumstances, needs, budget and other preferences. The apartment locator is usually extremely knowledgeable about the area and the local rental market. They will be quite helpful in finding you rental accommodations that suit your particular needs. In most cases, this will be a totally free service. The apartment locator is normally paid a commission or “finder’s fee” from the landlord or rental agent. With regard to your privacy, however, keep in mind that you are required to share your telephone number with the apartment locator and be open to the idea of personal contact. You need to decide if, or how much, that is acceptable to your sense of privacy.

The Apartment Database Site:

Unlike apartment locators, apartment database sites offer a broad selection of on-line apartment listings. They give you intricate descriptions of apartment complexes including, but not limited to, maps, amenities, rent ranges, contact information, etc. Pictures of the apartment units, inside and out, are usually included. An excellent amount of data helps you decide if any particular rental unit meets your needs and satisfaction. When you are moving to an apartment that is located within your present living area or when you are relocating to an area that you are totally familiar with, an apartment database site might be the one for you. Most require a simple registration process which usually asks for name and email address. You need not submit your telephone number and you will not be contacted personally by anyone. Like the apartment locator, most apartment database sites are free to you. Sometimes you are even offered a bonus of $100.00 or more if you list their site as your referring source when you sign your apartment lease.

So, which is better for you, the apartment locator site or the apartment database site? The answer to that question is answered by your own unique needs, desires, situation and limits of personal privacy.

Good luck on your apartment search and good luck in your new apartment.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Ants: A Nuisance Best Handled By Professionals

If ants showed up only at picnics, perhaps they'd be easier to tolerate. Instead, they can make their way through the tiniest gaps and appear unwelcome in most any area of the home. As the number-one "nuisance pest" in the U.S., ants enter homes to find food and water. This means that no matter how your home is constructed, where it's located or how old it is, it could be invaded by ants.

"We hear from frustrated callers every week who have unsuccessfully tried every do-it-yourself ant control product on the shelf," note James and Morris Carey, nationally recognized experts on home building and renovation, and hosts of the syndicated radio show "On the House." "When you add up the time and money they've spent trying to rid their homes of ants, it would have been less expensive and a whole lot easier to call a pest professional to get it done right, the first time."

"Effective ant control begins with a professional inspection and treatments using the most technologically advanced products available," advises James. Adds Morris, "Professional treatments such as Phantom® insecticide and Termidor® insecticide/termiticide are both undetectable, allowing the ants to pass through the treated zone and become carriers, spreading the treatment to other ants they contact. A pest professional can apply Phantom to trouble spots inside your home, and Termidor around your home's foundations to reach the outdoor nests where the ants live. Most ant species are controlled within a week of application."

According to the Carey Bros., homeowner mentality is quickly shifting toward this time-efficient, affordable, peace-of-mind outlook that comes with having a pest professional tackle ant invasions. Today, the sight of a pest management vehicle signifies a determined, intelligent means of detecting and ridding a home of a pest that poses a major threat to homes, apartments and other structures.

Be Part Of The Solution

Ants need food and water, and they need a way to gain access to your home. Since they can be very persistent, you need to be just as persistent by taking some simple steps towards controlling these nuisance pests. Inside: Clean up spilled food and beverages, take out the trash, and rinse out jars and containers before you place them in trash cans and recycling bins. Outside: Seal doors and windows, keep rain gutters clean to prevent moisture inside walls, and trim trees and shrubs away from your house.

Phantom and Termidor treatments can be made only by licensed pest professionals who have been trained and certified to use the products.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Answers to Common Questions About a Home Care Agency

Many people unexpectedly find themselves in situations where they need help from child care providers, caregivers, companions, or home health aides. Because most of us don't have experience navigating the realm of domestic professional services, it's often difficult to know where to turn. A good home care agency can be a godsend, providing us with highly qualified assistants and much-needed peace of mind. Here, then, are answers to common questions about a home care agency...

Who Uses a Home Care Agency?

The best home care agencies serve a variety of people, such as professional couples, single parents, retired seniors, the terminally ill, and those who are developmentally or physically challenged.

For example, a professional couple might require the services of a nanny, who can care for their children, as well as do light housework and cook. A single parent may need child care providers who can come in and help when two hands and one heart just aren't enough. A mother who works from home could use a mother's helper to run errands, help with meals, and do the laundry.

For adult children whose parents are infirm, a home health aide can provide respite from the responsibilities associated with caring for elderly parents. For adult children who live a long distance from their parents, having a caregiver can bring peace of mind. And seniors who prefer to live at home rather than in a retirement home or assisted living facility can often use a helping hand.

What Services Does a Home Care Agency Provide?

You can think of a home care agency as a kind of employment agency, in that it provides highly qualified child care providers, nannies, a home health aide, a nurse aide/assistant, and other types of caregivers.

In the realm of health care, assistance can encompass everything from medication supervision to incontinence assistance and from meal planning to accompanying someone to doctors' appointments. Child care can incorporate everything from babysitting to full-time live-in nannies.

A good home care agency provides caregivers for a wide range of needs, including short-term or long-term, part-time or full-time, and live-in or live-out. They should also be able to accommodate your needs in terms of the times of day you need assistance, such as day shifts, swing shifts, or overnight service.

How Do I Know Providers are Qualified?

It's crucial to find a home care agency that has rigorous screening procedures. All home care providers, for example, should have verifiable references, an impeccable background check, a clean driving record, and CPR training. If you need a Certified Nurses' Assistant or a Certified Home Health Aide, the agency should provide you with their credentials.

In addition to the caregiver's qualifications, you should ensure that he or she is a good "fit" with your loved one. Therefore, the home care agency should give you the opportunity to interview several qualified providers, either in your home or in the agency's office. Only when you are comfortable with both the caregiver's qualifications and their personality should you consent to hire him or her.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Answers to Common Questions About a Home Care Agency

Many people unexpectedly find themselves in situations where they need help from child care providers, caregivers, companions, or home health aides. Because most of us don't have experience navigating the realm of domestic professional services, it's often difficult to know where to turn. A good home care agency can be a godsend, providing us with highly qualified assistants and much-needed peace of mind. Here, then, are answers to common questions about a home care agency...

Who Uses a Home Care Agency?

The best home care agencies serve a variety of people, such as professional couples, single parents, retired seniors, the terminally ill, and those who are developmentally or physically challenged.

For example, a professional couple might require the services of a nanny, who can care for their children, as well as do light housework and cook. A single parent may need child care providers who can come in and help when two hands and one heart just aren't enough. A mother who works from home could use a mother's helper to run errands, help with meals, and do the laundry.

For adult children whose parents are infirm, a home health aide can provide respite from the responsibilities associated with caring for elderly parents. For adult children who live a long distance from their parents, having a caregiver can bring peace of mind. And seniors who prefer to live at home rather than in a retirement home or assisted living facility can often use a helping hand.

What Services Does a Home Care Agency Provide?

You can think of a home care agency as a kind of employment agency, in that it provides highly qualified child care providers, nannies, a home health aide, a nurse aide/assistant, and other types of caregivers.

In the realm of health care, assistance can encompass everything from medication supervision to incontinence assistance and from meal planning to accompanying someone to doctors' appointments. Child care can incorporate everything from babysitting to full-time live-in nannies.

A good home care agency provides caregivers for a wide range of needs, including short-term or long-term, part-time or full-time, and live-in or live-out. They should also be able to accommodate your needs in terms of the times of day you need assistance, such as day shifts, swing shifts, or overnight service.

How Do I Know Providers are Qualified?

It's crucial to find a home care agency that has rigorous screening procedures. All home care providers, for example, should have verifiable references, an impeccable background check, a clean driving record, and CPR training. If you need a Certified Nurses' Assistant or a Certified Home Health Aide, the agency should provide you with their credentials.

In addition to the caregiver's qualifications, you should ensure that he or she is a good "fit" with your loved one. Therefore, the home care agency should give you the opportunity to interview several qualified providers, either in your home or in the agency's office. Only when you are comfortable with both the caregiver's qualifications and their personality should you consent to hire him or her.

Monday, July 26, 2010

An Overview of Handicapped Bathtub Options

There are several bathtubs on the market today specially designed for handicapped bathers. Many have special features that allow those with special needs to use the tubs without assistance. Purchasing one of these handicapped bathtubs can allow your loved one to regain their independence and dignity.

One of the more popular types of tubs is the “walk-in” bathtub. This tub is usually designed to fit in about the same space as a traditional bathtub, but allows the user with mobility issues to step into the tub through a gate-like door. Allowing the user to step into the tub reduces injuries caused by climbing over the wall of a traditional tub. Additionally, the walk in bathtub is designed with a seat and handheld shower head for convenient and safe use. The user does not need to lower themselves to the floor, only onto a seat. After sealing the door with a knob or button, the bather can relax comfortably and safely and take advantage of optional features like hydrotherapy, temperature control and self-drying features.

Those with more severe mobility limitations and wheelchair users may appreciate another popular handicapped bathtub model. On these models, the doors open outward to make them even easier to use, and the “sit and pivot” style allows wheelchair users to transfer themselves to the tub with ease. Popular features can be installed, and these units also offer temperature control, optional whirlpool or hydrotherapy features and safety bars.

There are companies that will convert your existing bathtub for handicapped use as well. These conversions often involve cutting a door into an existing bathtub or reducing the outer wall and installing steps. The reviews of these conversions have been mixed, and if safety is your primary concern, a bathtub designed for handicapped use is most likely your best choice.

Providing your handicapped loved one with a bathtub designed for their use can help them live a more independent life, while ensuring their safety and dignity.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

2nd Anniversary Gifts - Cotton Anniversary Gift Ideas

Almost two years have passed since you both said “I do” and now your 2nd wedding anniversary is coming up, and as so many times before on occasions that etiquette requires the exchanging of gifts, you get stuck in a gift tunnel vision. An example is the spouse who buys flowers for every birthday, anniversary or holiday. Now don’t get me wrong, flowers are great, and so is filet mignon but I don’t want it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Get the point? Mix it up, put a little thought into it. It’s not as hard as you might think and you might even have fun, your spouse will appreciate a gift that shows you put some thought and consideration into its purchase.

Traditionally, cotton is the symbol for the 2nd year wedding anniversary. Cotton symbolizes the sweet and smooth flowing of the couples’ relationship. When the couple celebrates their 2nd year of being together, they are closer to one another. They are sweeter than the last year. Time may change them for the better. It is right to make the cotton the right gift idea suggestion for this wedding anniversary.

Cotton is a durable, versatile and highly flexible material. These are the qualities of the couple in a successful marriage. Moreover, cotton symbolizes great prosperity.

O.K. now we know that we need to put some thought into this gift and it should probably be made of cotton, I can hear you saying “How am I going to find a thoughtful gift made out of cotton?” Well don’t freak out just yet. Through the miracle of internet shopping and speedy home delivery gone are the days of having to settle for what the local stores had to offer, now the world is at your finger tips, literally.

Here’s a few tips to get you started

Personalized cotton wedding throw.

Personalized cotton towels.

Personalized cotton briefs and underwear.

Cotton Roses

Cotton hammock big enough for two.

Embroidered Quilts

Embroidered cotton t-shirts or jackets

Personalized Photo Pillows

Personalized Photo t-shirts

My favorite would have to be the Cotton Roses, why? Simple, the roses say “I love you” and the cotton says you loved your spouse enough to find roses made of cotton. Just do a search for any of the items above on your favorite search engine and you’ll have your perfect gift before you know it.

Next week we’ll tackle the third year wedding anniversary.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

¿Será ud un buen padre o madre para sus hijos?

Ser padre o madre no es tan fácil como parece. Se necesita reconocer que la persona que traemos al mundo es una persona que necesita de ayuda por varios años, además necesita de atención amor y comprensión.

Es difícil comprender cómo en la edad media se solía tratar a un niño de la misma forma que se le trataba a un adulto. Hay diferentes libros que comprueban esa teoría y diferentes autores tanto de literatura como de poesía. Hablamos de Charles Perrault, los hermanos Grimm, y otros escritores que plasmaron su cultura y sociedad desde el siglo 17 en adelante.

Hay varios libros que fueron escritos en esa época y que muestran como era el trato de los adultos con los niños, desde que edad los niños empezaban a trabajar, y como fue la evolución de la vestimenta, carácter y vida de un menor hasta nuestros tiempos.

El libro Daniel campeón del mundo "Danny Champion of the World" muestra uno de los ejemplos de libros escritos para niños que muestran el trato de su padre hacia su hijo y el mal ejemplo que se promueve hacia el acto del robo. Esa misma idea y la idea original fue escrita para adultos bajo el nombre de Campeón de mundo "Champion of the world" que después de unos años fue traducido por el mismo escritor Roald Dahl a una versión para niños.

En la versión para niños fue escrita en un lenguaje mucho mas entendible para los niños pero igual lo que ocurre es contenido para adultos y no para niños, hay escenas de venganza, robo, complicidad etc.

¿Cómo es posible que se escriba un libro en el que un padre le mal ejemplo a su hijo? Es obvio que los padre siempre quieren lo mejor para sus hijos pero en la realidad hay padres que se olvidan de esa frase y simplemente trata a sus hijos como personas ya maduras, teniendo el niños apenas 5 o mas años.

Cuando me refiero a mal ejemplo es a las cosas que hacen los padres delante de sus hijos y no se dan cuenta de los problemas que pueden causarle al niño en su infancia y además cuando ya sea grande y tome sus propias decisiones.

Si un padre, fuma en frente de sus hijos y no le importa que los afecte, si juega en un Casino Online todo el día, si un padre golpea a su mujer delante de los hijos, ¿qué se puede esperar de este niño cuando sea grande? Hay varias opciones, o que el niño crezca y cuando tenga a su familia haga exactamente lo mismo porque es algo que el ya vivió y le parece algo muy normal o por lo contrario que diga que el no quiere ser y actuar como su padre o simplemente ser indiferente a lo que le ocurrió cuando era niño.

Ahora padres, pónganse a pensar en qué quieren que sus hijos se conviertan cuando sean grandes. Desen cuenta que la mayoría de los niños toman sus padres como un modelo y quieren ser como ellos cuando grandes; entonces piensen un poco y cambien sus actitudes contra aquellos que toman su ejemplo a diario. O lo mejor es que antes de tener un hijo piensen bien si Uds. son un buen ejemplo para aquel ser que va a nacer y si Uds. pueden con la responsabilidad de ser padres y criar a niños que sean personas de bien.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Anniversary Gifts - Following the Traditional Anniversary Gift List

People love to celebrate anniversaries, being together another year shows that they truly love each other and they continue to strengthen the bonds and celebrate their union year after year. A lot of couples celebrate this special occasion by giving gifts to each other that symbolizes their anniversary, like "paper" for the 1st year and "leather" for the 5th year. Although following the "Traditional Anniversary Gift List" can sound easy at first, but it can be very difficult and frustrating trying to follow the list for some years.

Sure the Silver, Golden and Diamond anniversaries are easy, its pretty well spelled out. But what about anniversaries like the "Paper" (1st) anniversary or "Steel" (11th) anniversary? These can be difficult for a woman and almost impossible for a man shopping for the perfect gift that will show their love and appreciation of their partner. So with the summer months which are the busy season for weddings and anniversaries approaching fast I thought this would be a good time to start covering each of the years and their symbolic gift.

"Paper" is the traditional symbol of the first year wedding anniversary.

Since the traditional symbol for the 1st wedding anniversary gift is paper, you'll need to start "thinking outside the box" if you're going to follow this list successfully.

Some cheaper but very thoughtful gifts of paper would be homemade coupons good for a massage or breakfast in bed, poetry or love letters hand written on nice stationary, homemade greeting cards.

In the moderate price range could be books that would be of interest to the recipient, photographs, you can order a copy of the newspaper from the wedding date that shows what was going on the day of your wedding, tickets to a show or sporting event, posters, board games, puzzles, gift certificates to their favorite stores, stationary, tickets to concerts, or my favorite - paper roses.

While gift cards and gift certificates are acceptable gifts for a couple, I would NOT recommend this as a gift to a spouse, this is your first anniversary together and you need to put a little more thought into it than giving something as impersonal as money.

I personally think that "paper roses" are one of the best first year anniversary gifts available, for two reasons, one - you have the romance and intimacy of roses, two - your able to stay with the "traditional" list of anniversary gifts. A bonus to this idea is that unlike real roses this gift can last forever. I am not talking about artificial flowers here, these are paper roses that are hand made especially for first year anniversaries, you can even have them personalized.

On the more expensive end would be airline tickets to a dream vacation, an oil painting from your wedding photograph, fine art prints.

Just remember, you can express your love and feelings without giving expensive gifts, just put a little thought into it. Love is still the best gift, it is costless yet so pure and irrevocable.

Next week I'll cover the 2nd/Cotton anniversary.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

"Pushy" Deaf Kid's Mom

There are some things that we as persons, born on this planet, have no control over. Our own birth defects are included in that scenario. While there are those who believe that we ourselves choose what obstacles we must face and overcome in this life, prior to our earthly birth, I am not one who buys that. I did not choose to be born deaf.

Be that what it may, I was entered this world with a 70% hearing loss in both ears. It didn’t take my Mother long to recognize my hearing deficiency. She had been born a hearing impaired person too. My Mother determined that her child would not hide his deficiency, as she had been allowed to do.

Mom, as a child, had many siblings. Most of her sisters were older than she so hers were hand-me-down clothes. Poor, nearly deaf, she had taken a back seat in classrooms in an effort to not call attention to herself and her perceived inadequacies. Always, when called upon by a teacher, Mother would say, “I don’t know…” As she later told me, “The alternative answer would have been even more humiliating, I didn’t hear!”

I would never be allowed to make such an unwise determination. Every year, the first day of grammar school, Mother would march me before the teachers and tell them, in no uncertain terms, “This boy can not hear. I want him in a front desk, and I don’t want him moved around the room!”

As any otherwise normal kid would, I hated it. I asked her, “Why do you have to make such a big thing about this? I hear alright,” I insisted.

“Of course you do,” was her reply. “Because, I love you, I want you to hear what your teachers say and not have the articulation problems that I’ve had learning to form your own words correctly.

I didn’t really comprehend, until later, the significance of the second part of Mother’s answer. But yeah, I knew that she did love me. Even though I often resented the seating restriction, I was ever to be found occupying a front desk.

As a direct result of my “Pushy Mother’s intervention,” I was not distracted by classroom conversations which were not part of the curriculum. I couldn’t get away with anything because the teachers would catch me. And, I learned to properly pronounce most words because I “Heard” them. Mother’s vocabulary was excellent, her speech clear, as she had invested many childhood hours in a dictionary, looking up words that she felt she might need with emphasis on pronunciation. In grade school, I was spared that responsibility which I would not have taken upon myself anyway.

It wasn’t until high school that I learned to be stupid in my selection of where to sit. I never even considered that perhaps misunderstanding assignments, or not hearing what instructors actually said, had something to do with how hard I had to struggle.

Later, I was witness to what might have happened to me if not for having a “Pushy Mom.” A cousin inherited the same type of hearing loss I was born with. His mother didn’t bother to be pushy on this issue. He was shuffled along through school and treated like someone with a learning impairment. No wonder, for when he spoke he sounded retarded.

For a while, as an adult, I sold hearing aids. When I checked my cousin’s hearing, it was virtually identical to my own. Only then, did I fully comprehend and appreciate the wonderful gift my mother had given me by being “Pushy.”

If you have a child that doesn’t have excellent hearing, consider becoming a “Pushy Parent,” if only on this one issue. It is one thing that you can do for your child ~ on this planet ~ to level the playing field while he or she is too young to appreciate it.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

America's Breadbasket: Crystal Meth

Methamphetamine is an addictive drug made in home labs. When taken by mouth, snorted, injected or smoked, it produces intense pleasure by releasing excessive amounts of the brain’s reward chemical – dopamine. The euphoria that it produces is longer lasting than even cocaine, and meth users are reluctant to give up this highly addictive central-nervous-system stimulant.

As one addict explains, “Sex became an endurance sport I couldn’t get enough of -- I felt great so much of the time I couldn’t even think of a downside.” If perfect euphoria is the ultimate self-indulgence, then meth can be labeled Chemical Masturbation.

It’s not enough that meth addicts lose brain cells but keep living happily ever after; it’s the wake they leave behind if they have been ‘cooking’ their own product.

We have property legislation regarding mold, and disclosure covering asbestos and radon, but only voluntary warnings concerning exposure to contaminants left behind after a meth lab has been dismantled. Home labs are vanishing, but not the meth! Some states like Oklahoma are voluntarily labeling ex-meth lab addresses, but for most unsuspecting home buyers this still holds a “buyer beware” sticker.

Property owners are warned to exercise caution and use the safest possible cleaning practices in dealing with a former meth lab residence as there is no guarantee that it is one hundred percent free of remaining contamination. Owners of apartments, mobile homes, sheds, garages, vehicles and even hotel/motels are at risk. Tenants move in, set up their lab because it doesn’t take any chemistry expertise to manufacture their own meth. Of the 32 chemicals that can be used in varying recipes, one-third is extremely toxic.

When they move on or the lab is closed by authorities, it takes a special team in moon suits and breathing equipment to cart off the chemicals and equipment. Even with these measures, there is no guarantee that the location will ever be fit to re-inhabit.

The owner is left with contamination of absorbent materials such as carpeting, drapes and ductwork which can accumulate vapors that are dispersed though the air during the cooking process. Further, are the waste products generated during meth manufacture. Some of these products are thrown along the sides of roads in or in neighboring back yards – but most are dumped down sinks, drains, and toilets. They contaminate sewer systems and are leached into streams and rivers.

The innocent victims of a meth lab are two: parents who are alcoholics or addicted to other drugs may keep their lives glued together for decades, but ice addicts rarely can. The “ice” children suffer neglect as well as undeserved beatings from parental addicts that are out of control. They play on carpets where meth residue is prevalent. Their bedding, clothing and the very air they breath is contaminated with meth; far more dangerous than second hand cigarette smoke.

The second innocent victim is the unsuspecting home buyer or renter who tries to live in an ex-meth lab home. It may begin with a burning in the respiratory tract, eyes, ears, or nose. Next comes severe burning of the hands and feet accompanied by nausea and sleeplessness. As a renter the answer is simple but the new home buyer is stuck with their mistake. If you want to live, your only choice is to hang the key and suffer the credit damage of a repo.

Even burning these buildings to the ground will not save the land on which the lab was operating. Ground contamination is still unmeasured, and it will take years to determine percentages that are supposedly “acceptable” to human occupation. What began in 1973 by mid-western bikers and truckers to stay awake on long journies, has now spread north to Oregon and east to Atlanta (now referred to as Meth City).

Looking back, one can study a nuclear contamination map and see areas that cannot be inhabited for years. It looks like spotty blemishes such as Chernobyl or Three Mile Island. A meth contamination map looks like measles. It’s becoming obvious that we cannot incarcerate our way out of this meth problem. Legislators in Washington, meanwhile, don't seem very concerned. They prefer lining up to denounce the use of steroids in Major League Baseball.


2006 Esther Smith

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Anniversary Gift Shopping - Try Sending Flowers Online

Sending flowers to someone you love is probably the most popular and common practice in a relationship. Almost every relationship or anniversary has a memory that involves flowers. This is because flowers are very easy to find and is a gift that brings a natural smile to anyone’s face. Nature’s masterpiece, that’s what flowers are, they paint the fields and the meadows with their color and fill the air with their fragrance. Now when you present flowers to your special someone, it is like you are giving them a piece of that art. When you send flowers to some one you remind them that they are precious to you and that you see them as one of Mother Nature’s miracles and masterpieces.

The great news is, you could be in a long distance relationship, you could be on a business trip or you’re at your office and you decide to send someone special flowers. All you have to do is go online and search for a site that features online flower delivery. These sites contain pictures of the many bouquets and flower arrangements that they have for online flower delivery. If you decide to order online, you will have the benefit of ordering from online florists that have access to thousands of florists all over the world that can have your order arranged in no time. Online flower delivery is fast, efficient and a great way to send someone flowers. If you order at a designated cut-off time, the flower you ordered may be delivered on the same day.

Check out the different sites that offer online flower delivery. Compare the services they offer and the areas where they can deliver. Some good online flower delivery websites can handle special requests. So when you have finally settled on a site where you want to order online flower delivery there are some things that you may need to get ready. Have your major credit card on hand and ready. Prepare to give out your billing address, your credit card number and expiration date.

Next, pick out the bouquet or flower arrangement that you want to have delivered. Online flower delivery sites have a multitude of pictures that shows the flower arrangements that they do. Browse on through them and see also some accessories such as baskets, figurines, balloons, small stuffed toys that you may want to include in the arrangement. Good online flower delivery sites have descriptions beside the pictures as well as the prices. Once you have decided on which flowers to buy, you can now click the “put in basket” or “buy” button.

You can now put the name of the recipient and the address where you want it to be sent. You can also attach a little message with the flowers you have just purchased. Write down what you want to tell the person to add a little personal touch.
Online flower delivery services are very invaluable and convenient when you want a flower delivered fast to someone. Sites are open 24 hours a day so it does not matter wherever you are in the world, the site will be open regardless of time zones. Reminding someone that you love them, you miss them and you are thinking about them is as easy as 1-2-3 and is just a mouse click away. Check them out now and make someone happy.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Anniversary gift basket

Marriage anniversaries remind you of the social union of two people who start their journey of life. It reminds them of the freshness of the relationship after a few years of marriage. If the marriage anniversary is many years since the wedding day, it revitalizes the love and commitment of the couple towards each other that has stood since a long time. Such occasions are usually celebrated and therefore the gift given on marriage anniversary is not a casual affair.

Normally anniversary gifts include flowers, candles, photo frames, cakes, luxury boxes but there are some other exciting gift ideas around. A novel gift idea for such moment would be gifting the newspaper of the wedding day that shall remind them of the happenings of the world on the day they go wedded. You can also pamper the couple with bed and breakfast vouchers, cruise or resort tickets for two so that they spend a few days away from the busy routine life. You can prepare the gift basket that includes artworks like pencil sketches of the couples, watercolor or oil painting that are good emotional gift ideas.

You can also include wine bottles that carry the name of the couple and some message or Mr. and Mrs. Chocolate shaped candies, collections of happy ending romantic movies are some other exciting ideas. The anniversary gift basket can be filled with things such as flowers, chocolate candies, and perfume bottles or else you can also make a gift basket of your own whereby you can buy bulk candy from the store and fill the basket. You can also make choice of the basket a little different too because a child will be happy with a backpack filled with candies instead of an ordinary basket whereas a woman will find other cosmetic or handbag useful. Men will prefer a travel bag. You can purchase bulk candy from stores or can order online from a number of online stores that provide the service.

For more information, log on to customgiftbasket.info

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Angel Perfume will make you feel fantastic

Angel Perfume will make you feel fantastic
The Thierry Mugler design house founded an exceptional perfume called Angel perfume in 1992. Its fragrance is incredibly refreshing as well as oriental and also woody and obviously very womanly. With vanilla sandalwood blended with patchouli and a few fruity notes that contained melons, peaches, plums and fresh citrus this fragrance is without doubt one of the best found on the marketplace today.


Be ready for compliments
As name says itself, Angel perfume is a very heavenly smelling perfume that will directly remind one of angels in heaven and its scent is such that it calls for wearing it all through the day. Anybody that gets a hint of its odor will definitely pay compliments and most will enquire what this romantic fragrance is called, though not every fragrance suits everyone. Nevertheless, trying out Angel perfume is certainly well worth your time and money, and seeing that its designer Thierry Mugler would like to see women who are not only entirely clad, but who also smell perfect, this is surely an amazing perfume that meets these ends.


Thierry Mugler came up with five beauty products of great innovation that were sold under the name of Secrets D’Angel In the year 1999, and they integrated sprays for the body, masks for face and hair to make sure that women not only walked in good looks, but also smelt that much more stunning as well.
Angel perfume will be a great addition to any lady’s beauty makeup and once worn it will leave many pleasing memories to not only the wearer, but also to those around the wearer. So, if you are into designer perfumes and are looking for something out of the regular, then Angel perfume will be your preference as it is also high up on the list of best selling perfumes and its fragrance has a lot to do with its success.
With Angel perfume, you can start your day in heavenly fragrances that will last through the day and the wearer will feel like she is walking in heaven just like an angel. In fact, Angel perfume is the best as far as patchouli and sandalwood based perfumes is concerned and with this perfume you will be sure to love it more than you will hate it. If you have any remaining doubts about Angel perfume they will easily be dispelled when you find out that it was this perfume that toppled Chanel No. 5 from the top most position in France way back in 1998, which only shows the great appeal such a perfume has on consumers.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

An Open Letter To The American Granny

Copyright 2006 Mike Patrick Jr, MD

Dear Granny,

We know you mean well. Really, we do. And we acknowledge that your well-meaning often translates into wonderful actions. You support America's first-time moms with your experienced advice, you volunteer to watch grandkids when they're too sick to attend daycare, and you have taken on the noble responsibility of raising grandchildren fulltime when their parents are sick or neglectful or imprisoned. What's more, you take on this job at a time when you should be enjoying the freedom of retirement. For these actions, we salute you. Really, we do.

However, it has come to our attention that at other times your well-meaning has turned into persistent nagging. In an effort to protect your grandchildren from the idiocy of their parents, you have gone overboard. Now before you dismiss our complaint as the ramblings of a bunch of disrespectful youngins, please allow us to describe a few concrete examples of the problem.

Let's start with diet. Could you please limit your complaints to once a month? We know full well that you believe Little Johnny is starving. But you know what? We don't share your concern. It's okay if you feel his ribs. In case you haven't noticed, there's a bit of a weight problem in America today. Surprised? You shouldn't be. After all, how many years did you pile on the food and tell us to clean our plates? Our pediatrician tells us it's healthy for toddlers to graze--as long as they get a healthy diet with all the food groups over the course of several days. Eating only when you're hungry and stopping when you're full is a good habit to foster. Feeling guilty about throwing out left-overs is not. Sure, there are starving kids in other parts of the world. You taught us that. What we didn't get was the connection between our table scrap and those starving kids. Were you going to box up the left-overs and send them to Africa? No. So please forgive us for skipping that lesson.

Next, let's talk feet. So what if they turn in or point out a little? We'll show our doctor and we'll let him do an examine. If he says they're fine, we're going with that, and we wish you would too. Look, we understand back in your day kids wore special shoes and braces to straighten out their feet. But lots of other kids didn't get those special shoes and braces. And you know what? Most of their feet straightened out just fine. Those that didn't straighten out completely had few long-term problems. Most could walk and run and jump and skip just fine. Our doctor will keep an eye on the feet, and if he's concerned he'll send us to an orthopedic specialist. You voiced your concern. We heard it. Now, please, drop it.

One more example: Ears. The infections aren't our fault. We don't smoke around Little Johnny, and he doesn't go to daycare anymore (since you agreed to watch him). Our pediatrician says those two things are the biggest ones we can control. The ear infections aren't from water or wind or change of weather. They're from mouth bacteria that get into the middle ear through the Eustachian tube, a natural connection between the throat and ear. Little Johnny has a floppy Eustachian tube. Bacteria go up the tube and get trapped when the tube flops closed. Add a little mucus from smoke or allergies or viral infections, and the situation gets worse. You can't get rid of the mouth bacteria--they're supposed to be there. Get rid of them and you'll invite thrush to grow, and we don't want that either. We'll keep doing the antibiotics as long as our doctor tells us to, and when he suggests surgery, we'll go with that. The antibiotics don't stain teeth or stunt growth. Sure, antibiotic resistance is a problem. We understand that. We appreciate your keeping up with the medical literature. Still, if our doc says it's best to stick with them, that's what we'll do.

As we draw this letter to a close, please understand our aim is not to offend. After all, you were an excellent parent. You raised us. You have lots of experienced advice to share. But let's face it, raising four kids is not the same as seeing 30-40 kids a day. Our pediatrician's advice wins over yours. You may not agree with him. That's fine. But please, let it go and stop nagging us.

Love always,

Your Children

Friday, July 16, 2010

An Introduction To Gourmet Gift Baskets

A creative and unique concept, easily customized to suit an individual, the gourmet gift basket can be a delightful expression of any sentiment. Usually, a gift basket has a collection of items attractively presented and based on a common theme.

Loaded with goodies, a gift basket is sure to please, especially when in doubt about what to give. For special people, this personalized gift is ideal. Wouldn’t you say that the thrill of receiving numerous thoughtful presents is often greater than opening just one? The variety of choices available in gourmet gift baskets is truly unbelievable. Be it Christmas or Hanukkah, birthdays or business, there is something for any occasion or holiday!

Consisting of the finest food and beverages, exotic and adventurous, gourmet gift baskets are hugely popular as ideal gifts. For Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays, there are Kosher gift baskets. Or, for Christmas, there are hampers with cookies to cakes, liqueurs to chocolates, caviar to cheese–all delectable. Chocolate gift baskets with Belgian manons, French bonbons, Swiss treats, exquisite chocolates with enhanced fruit and nut flavors, chocolate pretzels and cookies, candy canes, tasty truffles in great shapes and lovely wrapping are all simply heavenly for the chocoholic. There are elegant gift baskets of assorted wine and cheese; premium choices like Dom Perignon Champagne, CK Mondavi Chardonnay, CK Mondavi Merlot, or Moet and Chandon White Star Champagne; cheese from around the world—endless choices such as American Humboldt Fog; Blue cheese like Roquefort; Belgian Chimay with Beer; English Dorset drum cheddar or White Stilton with Apricot; Brown Ale cheese; champagne cheese like Brie; Dutch Dorothea; Italian cooking cheese like Reggiano or Parmigiano; French Camembert or Gruyere; German Tilsit; and so many more. Versatile in every way— in taste and texture, in origin and in combination, there is no better gourmet gift!

Do not forget an array of meats either: fresh, smoked, grilled, stuffed, roasted, and cooked in different regional styles. Consider unusual choices like venison, elk, kangaroo, or delicious variations of poultry, pork, lamb, and beef or veal. These gourmet meats are unmatched in quality. With smoked fish, caviar, lobsters and shrimps, a seafood basket is a delicious fiesta for the seafood lover. Flavorful and healthy teas or coffees and savory condiments are also exciting picks.

The list is endless; you can make anything special if you put your heart and mind into it. Celebrate life and all its special events with a memorable gourmet gift basket.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

An Easy Way Out: Eight Reasons Why You Should Pre-Plan Your Funeral

Most people want to put off thinking about their funerals. However, you can save your loved ones a good deal of hassle by doing some of the planning in advance. Here are eight reasons why it's a good idea to have a prepaid funeral plan.

1. Your wishes will be carried out.

What you want to happen will take place. This is vitally important to most people.

2. The Funeral Director's costs are fixed from the outset so your family will be spared financial obligations - nothing hidden!

You'll know that your funeral director will not be able to increase their fees agreed with you by contract.

3.You can choose the plan you want and you can specify your own 'extras'.

You can plan your pre-paid funeral plan to your own satisfaction.

4. You spare your family from difficult decisions

Who really wants to make those decisions apart from the person themselves?

5.Your own finances may be improved

You may be entitled to benefits form local authorities if your total finances are below certain levels.

6. You won't worry about the safety of your money - it will be held in trust

You can't pay money directly to the plan provider's bank account.

7. Another family member may need the plan before you

You can transfer the plan to another family member if their need arrives before your own. Some couples buy just one plan and use it for whoever dies first and then buy a second plan, but it's more cost effective to buy two at the start to save money from inflation.

8. Those you leave behind will remember your thoughtfulness

This is very important to most people. When we leave this life we like to think that others thought well of us.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

An Apple A Day Can Help Kids Make The Grade

Getting a child to eat healthy food can be a monumental challenge for any parent. However, studies show that all of the haggling, arguing, and hassle is actually worth the effort as a healthy diet leads to enhanced academic performance in school. In fact, malnourished children often struggle in school because they are more likely to miss school, score lower on standardized tests, and repeat grades. Worse, bad eating habits can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes, that not only affect academic performance but a student’s ability to participate in extracurricular activities.

When you follow the chain of negative events, starting with bad nutrition, it is easy to see how a child’s academic career can suffer. For example, bad nutrition leads to a weakened immune system, which leads to increased doctor visits and missed school days. Missing school makes it harder for students to maintain their grades or keep up with lessons. Even if a student can keep up, bad nutrition can interfere with their ability to accept and digest information. Too much sugar, for instance, can cause attention deficit disorder-like symptoms and chronic headaches, making learning nearly impossible.

These particular nutrition problems usually arise when kids are left in charge of preparing their own breakfast and lunch. If they don’t skip meals all together, they usually are making poor food choices. Out of convenience, kids are drawn to processed foods that are high in sugar, sodium and fat. This brand of malnutrition is particularly insidious because health, growth and cognitive problems may not be noticed until a serious issue has developed.

The simple act of eating breakfast can make a world of difference in warding off many of these health problems. According to the Dairy Council of California, “A nutritious breakfast provides approximately one-fourth of the recommended dietary allowances for key nutrients such as protein, vitamin A, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc.” This explains why schools offering breakfast service have seen such major improvements in their students’ overall health, attitude and performance.

However, breakfast is just one of the many ways parents can ensure their kids get a healthy start. Following are some additional suggestions for teaching your children healthy eating habits.

5 Tips to Better Student Nutrition:

1. Don’t make the mistake of offering a wide variety of packaged snack items; rather offer a few healthy snacks like fresh fruits, trail mix, or cheese.

2. Make sure the school offers healthy options for lunch and snack; otherwise pack your child’s lunch.

3. Bring your kids to the grocery store to help choose their favorite foods.

4. Limit their intake of high-sugar drinks including fruit-flavored drinks such as punch, soda and even 100% fruit juice.

5. Let your kids help prepare a healthy meal; they’ll have a great time learning to eat nutritiously.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

An Alternative To A Kitchen TV

A LCD or plasma television in the kitchen is the ‘in thing’ nowadays. It is fast becoming common place to find a television set that has been permanently installed into the kitchen as a feature. The reason why is simple. They look great with their slim features and they can be mounted anywhere where there is a little space, whether it is on the wall, in a cabinet or on the ceiling. The tv in the kitchen is no longer located there for entertainment, but with a combined DVD player it is possible to run cooking demonstrations while the cook follows the instructions. Rewinding is optional. Why does it always look easier when someone else does it – go Jamie.

For all its worth, that’s about it with a kitchen tv. It plays whatever channels it can receive or what ever DVD you put into the player. But what if the kitchen tv was more than just that. What if the kitchen tv was more interactive. Wouldn’t it be a grate idea to install a LCD touch screen connected through a computer into your kitchen? I did and it works brilliantly.

My first attempt was about 10 years ago when the early LCD screens hit the general market. I installed one into a friend’s house who was remodelling their kitchen at the time and wanted to be able to access their email and check stuff on the internet. Touch screens were not readily available then, so we installed a standard LCD screen so that it was visible all the time and put the keyboard and mouse into a draw below. Because we had a good quality 5 metre monitor lead we were able to put the computer into an adjacent cupboard. We included a tv tuner module in the computer for local tv reception. The system worked very well and I also included MP3 player software which became a great source of continuous music.

Just recently we have replaced the old dated computer and monitor with newer equipment. The monitor is a new 19 inch LCD TFT touch screen and is connected to a new Pentium 4, dual processing computer. The monitor is the same type that they use for point of sales in retail stores. We still used the draw to put the keyboard and mouse into but we hardly use it and if we were installing this from scratch I would have done away with it. The great thing is that most of the programs we use are windows based and menu driven.

So what are the advantages of using a computer and touch screen monitor to a standard kitchen tv? Where do I begin?

It obviously has Internet access to the world wide web. Your emails or MSN alerts are received and displayed in real time while you are cooking. You can stream countless radio stations from anywhere in the world. The tv tuner can be connected to satellite and I understand that some ISP providers can stream cable tv via the internet. Endless amounts of music stored on the computer in MP3 format. It has all the functionality of a computer (because it is one) with all the MS Office programs accessible through the touch of the screen. The computer sound outputs connect to a high quality 5.1 sound surround system.

I had fun installing a computer as a tv in the kitchen. Its time to think differently and have a go yourself.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Ameriglide Vertical Platform Lifts

Many people today who use wheelchairs or just have trouble walking have discovered the wonders of Ameriglide Vertical Platform Lifts. Ameriglide manufactures only the highest quality home medical equipment that has been thoroughly tested by experienced engineers. Vertical Platform Lifts or wheelchair lifts, as they are often referred to, have helped many Americans retain their independence and liberty.

In older times if you were in a wheelchair it meant that you had to design your entire home around that fact. Elevators were reserved to those who were immensely wealthy or to commercial structures. This made it very hard for those with disabilities. It meant that you would very likely have to sell your home if you did not have some means of entering and exiting your home at ground level.

All that has changed, however, and having a vertical platform lift is like having your own mini elevator. It is no longer necessary to get rid of your home simply because you can not navigate your outside steps. These lifts can safely and carefully support a good deal of weight and can be customized to fulfill virtually any needs. The best part about it is these devices allow you to remain independent. It is possible to go out for a drive, check the mail, or take a stroll through the neighborhood without any outside assistance. These things, that seem so small to those without disabilities, can mean the world to those of us with them.

Vertical Platform Lifts are also a way for us to sleep better at night. This is because we know that in the event of a fire or if something happens to us our loved ones can still get out of the house if they need to.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Amazing Tips to make your own Garden

A look at Plants and the colorful flowers on it at the garden or backyard calls for creativity. The plants to live for a long time require beautiful planter boxes with concrete structure or wooden structure. Planter boxes are available in different styles and shapes and colors. Planter box is a functional exterior décor that adores the patio. Planter boxes are portable. Different kinds of materials are used to make Planter boxes such as terra cotta, plastic, teak or cedar wood and concrete blocks. Planter boxes can be filled with beautiful flowers according to the choice of individual. Planter boxes help to make the patio as paradise.

Even people who do not have much space for a vast garden can create small flower garden or vegetable garden in the balcony area or roof top with the help of planter boxes. Small trees can also be raised in planter boxes to keep them indoor. Recycled plastic is also used to make planter boxes.
So, if you live in the city and think that it is impossible to bring a little green into your outdoor space that is made of concrete, think again. All you have to do is purchase some lovely planter boxes. An ideal option for planting almost anything, they are exactly what you have been looking for and would be a wonderful addition to any outdoor area. Remember, that includes that twelfth story balcony.
When choosing the planter boxes, the principal of feng shui i.e., simplicity must be kept in mind. Planter boxes made up of natural materials like terra cotta or wood is better than plastic material. These add good appearance to the garden or patio.
The boring front porch area can be converted into a beautiful place by placing planter boxes with bunch of flowers. Planter boxes made up of redwood or cedar will please anybody in the porch area. These planter boxes are very strong and durable Planter boxes are available in rectangle, hexagon and square shapes also. Planter Boxes provide safety, beauty and security to the street or entrance and can also serve as safety barriers. There is also drainage facility inside the planter box. Road side lawns, parks, corporate lawns also use planter boxes. Planter boxes are also used indoor and outdoor for waste water management.
In many countries separate programs are charted for beautifying the cities by using planter boxes filled with beautiful plants and small trees around the cities. Planter boxes are the best way to display the beautiful flowers and plants and create interest among who visit the garden.
Planter boxes made up of teak or cedar wood is an ideal investment for a long time. Wooden planter boxes is perfect fit to all weather and act as insulators and also protects the plants from winter and summer. Wooden planter boxes painted or varnished with natural colors appears fantastic. Wooden Planter boxes definitely makes the porch area very decorative and attracts those who walk through the area.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Bread Makers – Why your Kitchen is Begging for One

That noise that you hear is your kitchen begging for a bread maker. You may think that a bread maker is something you can live without, but until you actually try one you will never know. Out of all the kitchen appliances that you can buy, a bread maker is probably at the bottom of the list. But this is because you do not know the benefits of bread makers.

One of the biggest benefits of bread makers is the fact that they can make your life in the kitchen much easier. Have you ever wanted fresh baked bread just to find that the bakery is closed? Are you tired of paying bakery prices for bread that does not meet your standards? If you answered yes to these questions, a bread maker is your answer. They offer an easy way to get fresh, home baked bread in as little as an hour.

If you are one of those people that would love a bread maker but cannot seem to make the room on your countertop, you are in luck. Most bread makers are compact enough to fit on the counter without taking up a lot of space. In fact, a compact bread maker is no bigger than a toaster oven. This means that you can easily find a spot on your counter. And even if you cannot, why not keep it in a cabinet until you need it? After all, it will not be taking up a lot of space.

And of course, bread makers are not as expensive as some people think. You can purchase an inexpensive bread maker for as little as $40. Don’t you agree that this is a small price to pay for the benefits that you will receive?

Even if you do not want to cook homemade bread right now, it may be a good idea to buy a bread maker that you can use if you are ever caught in a bind. Bread makers are not expensive, and they do not take up a lot of room. So for the most part, you can buy one and forget about it until you need fresh baked bread.

Do yourself a favor and give your kitchen what it wants. Sooner or later you will be glad that you have a bread maker on hand.

All About Moving Companies

If you’re planning your next big residential move or office move, you’re becoming aware of the issues involved in transporting a house or office full of belongings, furniture, and people. In the back of your mind, you’re thinking that you can do this by yourself and yet some of your valuable property might probably be damaged during the move. Part of the cost of moving? On the other hand you could hire a moving company and know that they do this sort of thing everyday and have all the people and transport equipment to get things done efficiently.

When faced with the cost of hiring a moving company for a cross-town move, most people will round up their relatives, friends and even neighbours to get their property loaded up to the moving van or into a moving pod. In some cases, that’s fine, yet given how mobile many people, families and businesses are today, you can only rely on your friends and relatives so often. You’ll wear out your welcome if they have to take several days off of their precious free time to help others move. If they’re getting older as most people are today, they’re not going to appreciate the possibility of getting injured while carrying your heavy property items such as sofas, fridges, beds, tables, TVs, and desks.

The work involved in moving isn’t for everyone, yet professional moving companies are skilled in making moves go smoothly, from planning, to safe packaging to trouble free transport.

Moving to Florida

My sister and her family are in the process of moving to Florida where she and her sons will join her husband who is now working there. They will be using a big moving company to manage the logistics of the move. All she and her sons have to do is drive down to Florida. If we had to help them with the move and pack up a house full of furniture, kitchenware, bikes, golf clubs, hockey equipment, baseball equipment, fishing gear, desks, chairs, TVs and computers, it would take two days. Even then, I don’t think we could pack it properly in the moving van or truck. It would undoubtedly shift during the trip despite our expert rope tying tricks and special packing system. The truth is, we don’t know what we’re doing, and their furniture would be all banged up with loosened or broken legs when they opened the moving van doors down in Sarasota.

That’s when the ugly surprises happen. When you find your TV doesn’t work and your family heirlooms are going to need some serious “crazy glue” repairs, you get angry with yourself for not being cautious. For the sake of a few dollars, your belongings get damaged and their appearance is diminished. If you have a plasma TV, you can kiss it goodbye if you try to pack it yourself.

Yes, everyone is upwardly mobile these days and the task of an international, interstate, or cross-town move is on many to-do lists. One way to cross off the details of that big project is to hire a professional moving company.

Professional Moving Services

Big national movers offer a wide range of move planning and related moving services. They can handle all relocation services from reserving the moving van to packing your property to helping you with childcare and real estate related services in the city you’re moving to. These relocation services shouldn’t be underplayed. If you’re on your way to a strange city or a foreign country, you’ll need a little help in making the adjustment. You may need to store your belongings while you’re gone and these companies usually have big temperature and environmentally controlled storage warehouses and units that can keep your property clean and dry over long periods of time. Contrasting that with having your belongings collecting mould in someone’s basement or garage.

Moving firms have relocation specialists that handle these projects frequently. They know what you’re going through emotionally and in terms of preparation. They can help in many ways. As an example, they provide home marketing assistance including home disposition and in the home-sale process, and even property management. For employee transfers to new cities, they can coordinate the details of managing the employee’s property until the employee returns home. They can find short-term housing for the transferee, and find a new home for them. These real estate related services include area orientations, broker selection, negotiations, pre-purchase appraisals and closing.

You’re no doubt a smart, capable person and can master all of these transaction issues at your new location, however, if you’re moving to a new job in a strange city, how will you find the time? You can only handle so much stress and you’ll need support in your new hometown.
Let go of your image of moving companies as a bunch of sweaty, strong guys that push furniture into the back of a moving van. These companies plan and carry out moving tasks in a professional manner and offer moving and relocation services that will help you and your family better adjust to your new location. It’s important to get off on the right foot in your new home location. You’ll have schools to find for your children and you’ll be spending time just discovering how to get to your new work place and around town.

On office moves, you will have strict times and locations by which you can manage your move. Certainly, your staff can assist in the transfer and organization however; it is best to have a professional handle the logistics and moving from office building to office building. You can avoid damage and hard feelings towards employees who were trying to be careful before they dropped something.

International Moving

For your next International move, interstate, local and office move, call a professional moving firm such as Humboldt Storage & Moving Company.

Friday, July 9, 2010

All About Buying A Baby Quilt

The relationship between parents and newborn is very deep, especially with the mom as she conceives the baby for nine months in her womb. Parents like to buy all the baby items and baby wear available in the market. They like to see their baby look cute and comfortable.

The cloths for newborn should be comfortable and safe. The same applies to baby crib and bedding. Long, uninterrupted sleep is very important for baby’s sound health. Comfortable bedding plays a vital role in achieving this target.

But baby quilts are not just for the nursery. They are just as home on the floor of playpen or dragged around during playtime, so serving many purposes. Baby quilts make unique gifts for baby girls and baby boys. A perfect baby quilt plays an important role in a nursery, since everyone’s eyes are drawn to the crib as they enter the room. Your newborn will look pretty in photographs as baby quilt is the most photographed items during the toddler’s years. So a carefully selected beautiful quilt is an asset for your newborn.

Since your baby will be spending over 60% of its first year sleeping, you should put much importance on finding the perfect quilt fabric. You must take all care to select the perfect material for your baby quilt. Baby quilts made with polyester or acrylic, which are plastics, can irritate your baby’s sensitive skin and eyes.

Quilts for babies can come in a wide range of color and fabric choices, patterns and designs. Beautiful baby quilts come in all sizes and can be bought in a pair for twins or coordinated patterns and colors to allow for the frequent change that is often requited with a baby warm. Designed specially for the infants, these quilts keep the child warm, comfortable and cozy with a quilt top that is easily washable. Natural cotton, fleece and wool are the most popular materials for baby quilts. Quilts can be matched to the color of walls of your nursery or the baby's bedding or may conform to the chosen theme for the baby's room.

Quilts custom-sized to fit the baby's crib, bassinets, cradles and beds are available. Quilts may also be used as fun ways to teach different things to your toddler such as colors, name of animals, flowers and fruits and even alphabets. Hand-quilted baby quilts with sleeves for wall hanging rod look much like wall hangings and accents to the room décor when hung on the wall to dry. Trims, tassels and borders to the quilts look beautiful but one should make sure that they cannot be pulled out easily. Stitches should be short and close enough to avoid trapping the babies' fingers and there should be no loose thread on the edges for the baby to pull.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Alcohol Free Party

Parties are fun but planning them is work. The more carefully you plan your next party the more likely you succeed. Better planning means better party. A successful party can help you entertain friends, family or coworkers. It can help you maintain or start long lasting friendships. If you play your cards right, a successful party can help you get promoted more quickly.

How much money you spend on the party is one of the most important aspects of party planning. You have to know how much money you can afford to spend per guest. The budget determines what kind of food and drinks you can serve. A large budget doesn’t guarantee a successful party and a tight budget doesn’t guarantee a disappointing party.

You can save a lot of money by serving soft drinks, and avoiding alcoholic beverages all together. If your party is during the day, you can more easily get away with no alcoholic beverages. Most people don’t drink during the day. An alcohol free evening party may be a stretch.

If it is a party with children present, you can easily explain an alcohol free party. An alcohol free party yields a more peaceful environment, and fights are much less likely. It is much more easier to control sober guests than a bunch of drunks. Baby showers provide a great opportunity for a sober party as a form of solidarity for the pregnant mother.

If you decide to serve alcohol avoid salty thirst triggering foods. Serve food before you serve alcohol. It's better to eat while drinking than to drink on an empty stomach. Designate a friend or family member to be the bartender for the evening rather than allowing people to serve themselves. Be prepared to take away car keys, and know your designated drivers.

Not only that you save money because non-alcoholic drinks cost less, at the end of the party there are no arguments about who's going to drive home!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Alarms are a preventative measure, not a cure.

The most important part of any home security system is the burglar alarm. In its most basic form, a burglar alarm is a sensor that detects when someone enters your home, and then takes action – this action could be making a loud noise, calling the police, making valuables safes inoperable, and all sorts of other things besides.

Burglar alarms are generally hard-wired into the walls of a home, so that they can’t be easily disabled or removed, and any tampering with them will instantly set off the alarm. The mechanisms used to activate and deactivate them vary widely, from the more common keys and PINs to high-tech fingerprint systems.

Unfortunately, people are often mis-sold far more advanced home security systems than they actually need: a salesman can play on people’s fear of crime to sell them the very latest, computer-controlled alarm, complete with expensive expert installation and a monthly subscription to a 24-hour monitoring centre. This is a lucrative business, but is also amazingly unnecessary.

The dirty little secret of burglar alarms is that it’s not the features of the alarm itself that make the difference. Burglars don’t want to get caught by alarms, and so will avoid any houses with alarm boxes on the outside – it’s not worth the trouble for them to try. It’s a preventative measure, not a cure.

With this in mind, instead of spending lots of money on a burglar alarm, many people prefer to just fit a fake alarm box to the front of their house and be done with it. This puts off burglars by making it look like you have an alarm system, but avoids all the hassles and expense of actually having one. If you do this, though, it is important to make sure that the alarm box looks realistic enough to fool an experienced burglar, and also that you keep it a secret. If you go around telling everyone about your fake alarm – especially people who come to your door – then it’s worse than useless.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Airport hotel fontane Berlin

Berlin is a great place to holiday with your family and friends. Popular destinations, including Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and the Wall Victims Memorial, would surely you’re your trip memorable. And while you plan a trip to Berlin, a good hotel is your primary requisite. So, Airport Hotel Fontane Berlin is the best choice for you.

Furnished in the latest and unique modern designs, Airport Hotel Fontane Berlin is one of the best in its own kinds. Constructed in the year 2002, the hotel is a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. You can see and feel traditional style in the interiors as well as in its facilities and services. Similarly, it offers modernity in form of modern and luxurious comforts of the hotel.

Situated in the south of Berlin, the hotel is only 8 kms from the airport Schönefeld, which adds to its other locational advantages. The hotel proves the acclaim that it has been honoured with "First Class Superior" hotel by the German Hotel Association. It is the one stop destination for providing business and leisure facilities. It has a capacity of around 200 rooms that are well-equipped with modern facilities, such as work desk, data port, daily newspaper and mini bar. The tourists can enjoy and refresh themselves with a wide range of recreational activities, including gymnasium, whirlpool, steam room and sauna. The hotel is famous for its ‘Theodors restaurant’. It’s a perfect place to relish the cuisines of regional and international menus. Also, it offers some of the best and choicest collection of wines.

The tourists to the hotel can enjoy various sports facilities that include tennis court, fitness centre, golf course, biking, walking, cycling, bowling and horse riding. Those who wish to relax their nerves can get benefit from the amenities of solarium, spa, and wellness centre and a massage room. The hotel provides a range of other premium facilities, such as laundry, dry cleaning, ironing, internet, currency exchange, shoe shine, fax or photocopying, Wi-Fi and wireless LAN services.

All rooms are provided with an attached bathroom facility that comprises of amenities, including shower, hairdryer and hot and cold water system. The tourists are served a-la-carte and buffet styled breakfast amongst the lush-green environs of the hotel.

For business meetings, the facility of conference rooms with latest audiovisual equipments is available. The hotel also offers facilities, such as 24-hour front desk, non-smoking rooms, elevator services, express check-in and check-out, as well as luggage and ski storage. The hotel accepts major credit cards, including American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, PIN and Maestro.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Air Purifiers Are They Worth It?

Definitely yes would be the answer. There are a lot of reasons and they all have to do with the fact that the problem of people who suffer from asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions. These people may be discomforted by the particles of dust or pollen. For them air purifiers are necessary, as a main form of protection of indoor air pollution. Air purifiers are great useful tools in your fight with direct irritant sources or materials in your own home environment.

One should not ignore the air purifiers when one designs modern indoor ventilation or filtration systems. They offer a very good environmental control and reduce exposure dust, dander, smoke, pollen particles and many others particles that may be found indoors or outside your home. Air purifiers have different shapes and various designs. They can be: air cleaners, air filters and hepa filters, and they play an important part in the reduction and elimination of the danger of exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens. Usually, the air purifiers are chosen in accordance with the pollution sources and the quality filtration you want to get. Before going and buying such a device, you should think about what exactly you want for your home. You should not forget that choosing the wrong type of filtration system can lead to an exacerbation of the problem by agitating and circulating the particulate matter in your house throughout the place.

You should not consider the air purifiers systems a complete solution for any respiratory condition you may have. Using an air purifier should not make you ignore medical advice and guidance that can lead to the removal of the irritant sources and allergen habitats in your house. At the same time, they are not a substitute for thorough and regular cleaning of the air. However, they can help you to diminish the number of air particles and to maintain a healthier environment inside your house.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Adjustable Beds in Hospitals

I believe nobody ever wants to be admitted in a hospital for whatever reason. One may be there merely to visit a sick relative or work as a staff. But other than these, there is no way that a person will leave the comforts of his/her own home and stay inside a hospital.

However, certain inevitable things happen and you have no choice but to let yourself be confined in a hospital. The hospital is actually a place where one gets treated and be monitored during the recovery process. As the hospital is built for such purpose, it is just necessary to ensure patient’s convenience and comfort while staying in the infirmary.

Hospital devices and equipment are specially designed to help the medical professionals in providing wellness and rendering care to their covered patients. And adjustable beds are among such equipment.

In the past, hospitals only utilize fixed beds for any type of patients. When a patient’s head needs to be elevated, pillows are just added. But today, hospital beds can now be modified to better suit the individual needs of the ailing patients.

As crucial as other medical instruments and equipment, adjustable hospital beds provide relief and comfort needed by the patients.

The lower and upper parts, or sometimes even the central portion, of such hospital beds can be adjusted either electrically or manually to relieve pressure on particular aching areas. Hospital beds can accommodate those who are sitting up, or those that need their legs/head elevated, or those who simply lay flat on bed.

The kind of mattress an adjustable hospital bed has is also of great significance. The mattress must be made from latex and polyurethane foams to ensure that the bed contains no chemical substances that will compromise the safety of one’s immune system.

Aside from those mentioned earlier, adjustable beds in hospitals have specific health benefits for patients as will be cited below.

• Hospital adjustable beds can reduce the swelling of one’s lower extremities.
• They provide relief for back pain, as well as tenderness of the entire body.
• They soothe the tension on the shoulders and neck.
• They also counterbalance overnight heartburn and acid reflux.
• They relieve the discomfort and soreness on certain body parts, like the knees, spine and neck.
• Patients with degenerative diseases such as spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and osteoarthritis also benefit from hospital adjustable beds.
• Such beds are also beneficial to patients who have just undergone surgical procedures. They are also ideal for people who have just had surgery.
• Adjustable hospital beds also aid patients in moving in and out of their beds. This activity actually relieves the muscles of the heart and thus improves airway and breathing. Also, the active movement eases the muscles of the stomach, thereby facilitating proper digestion and regular elimination.
• In some sophisticated and more luxurious hospitals, their adjustable beds may feature massaging motors to add more relief and comfort.

With adjustable hospital beds, your hospital stay will surely be a relaxing and comfortable one.

Friday, July 2, 2010

About Children’s Socks

There are many types of children’s socks. Ankle socks, knee socks, and tights are available for both boys and girls. Other types of socks include slipper socks and decorated socks.

Decorated socks for girls include socks with trims of lace, buttons, bows, ribbons, and fake fur yarns. Although the decorations are generally attached to the cuff of the socks, there are designs that are printed in the sock it self.

These decorated socks have themes such as sports, animals, floral prints, and/or stars. Socks can represent the interests of the wear with things such as soccer ball beads, baseball type beads. The only limits to this is your imagination.

Materials for children’s socks include cotton, nylon, wool, natural yarns and synthetic yarns. There are soft yarns such as baby and sport yarns as well as various thickness of worsted weight yarn from two to four ply.

Children’s socks are made in a number of ways. They are mass produced, being made on circular knitting machines like adult socks are. They can be hand knitted. They can also be hand crocheted as well. Some people actually make socks out of different types of fabrics as well.

Children’s socks can also be recreated by cutting of the foot of the worn socks and or knitting new feet. They can also be made by using the feet of socks and hand knitting or crocheting new top pieces. Trim can be hand crocheted, hand knitted, or sewn on to cuffs of plain socks to make them more fun to wear.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

A Moving Experience

I’ve found a cool apartment! Okay, okay…so it’s not perfect. Just a few bugs. I mean literally! First expense? An exterminator! Is it worth the cash? Well, I can’t afford a more expensive place, so a one-time (please!) cash outlay should be okay. Maybe just a can of “Raid?”

I need a way to move my stuff. Daddy, can I borrow your truck? You don’t have one? Why not? Do you want one? I’ll help you pick it out! Well, it was just a suggestion. No need to get all bent out of shape! I guess I’d better call the truck rental places. What do you mean…$200…PLUS mileage? AND Gas? Good grief!

While I’m on the phone I’ll call the utility and phone companies. Yes, I know I haven’t used your services before. No, I don’t have a credit card; this is my first place. You want what? A $100 deposit? For EACH? Holy cow…do you people have a license to steal?

Daddy, I need $500 for moving expenses! I used all my money for the first and last months rent AND the damage deposit. Well, how was I to know this was going to be so expensive? Sell something? Daaaaad…I NEED my TV!

Boy, this place is pretty empty. Maybe I should buy a couch and a chair. Nah…I have my bed. That’ll be good enough. I don’t need a table; I’ll just use this box.

Renters Insurance? I don’t think so! What do I have to insure?

Just got my first phone call! I’d love to come to your party! Daddy, I need a car. Because it’s too far to walk to work, that’s why. Umm, Daddy…there’s car insurance too! Thanks, Dad…you’re the best! And gas? I didn’t think so…

Time for dinner. Let’s look in these boxes. Oh, No! No dishes or pans. No FOOD!

Uhhh, Mom?