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Asset based lending

Freight Management Freight Company Management

This short article is about freight company management and how freight (trucking) companies can operate better to reduce cost and increase profitability. The main theme is Freight Factoring and Asset Based Lending to improve cash flow.

Freight Company Danger Points

Fuel prices are the first thing to come to mind when when trucking companies think of increased cost. Often overlooked is the price of time and money. The spread of doing the freight work and getting paid is something to seriously consider. If your clients are taking longer than a few days to pay, then you should consider a Freight Factoring program to free up your cash flow. Freight Factoring is not a loan but rather a form of Asset Based Lending.

 

Guide To Asset Based Lending

The term Asset Based Lending refers to secured financial loans disbursed against security that may consist of a variety of assets. Businesses are able to borrow money using their current liquid assets like inventory and/or accounts receivable or against fixed assets like plant and machinery, property, equipment etc. by pledging them as collateral against the loan. Asset based lenders assess a loan's credit risk on the basis of the value of the underlying collateral. Real estate mortgages and equipment loans can also be categorized as asset based loans. The lenders in the financial industry, who provide various asset based lending services are commonly referred to as commercial lenders, sometime also called secured lenders. This site we found offers quotes on Accounts Receivables Financing in a few days.

Usually companies that require increased cash flow for their working capital needs take advantage of the revolving credit facility in asset based lending, if they are unable to obtain an unsecured bank loan, to combine it with their normal cash flow for covering any shortfall of funds. This is also known as a revolver loan. It is a type of asset based lending secured by inventory and receivables of the borrower company. The borrower grants a security interest in its receivables and inventory to the lender as collateral against the loan. This forms the borrowing base for the loan. As the borrower receives payment against invoices, they are given to the lender for repaying the loan. Whenever the borrower requires additional working capital, the lender again advances him funds on his request. This offers a very big advantage to the borrower allowing him to cover his working capital needs, without waiting for his receivables to be paid in cash. Cash is available for his use, as and when needed and whatever is not required daily is used to pay down the loan balance and reduce the interest burden, as the amount of loan in a revolver may fluctuate on a daily basis. The CFA Represents the Asset-Based Financial Services & Factoring Industries Worldwide

Since revolvers are secured by receivables and/or inventory, which may change daily, the lender monitors the collateral on an ongoing basis to determine the latest borrowing base, so as to provide the borrower with the biggest possible credit it can support. Advance rate is the maximum percentage of the current borrowing base, a borrower can avail of as loan. If a loan is secured by inventory, which is say 40% raw material, 10% unfinished goods and 50% finished goods, then a secured lender will consider eligible inventory at 90% (discounting the unfinished goods only). Now, if the Advance rate approved for the company is 50% then the loan available would be 50% of the eligible inventory. This would effectively mean (50% of 90%) 45% of the gross inventory value. The SBA has given some guidelines on Asset Based Lending.

To determine advance rate on receivables, rule of the thumb is 1 minus 2 x rate of dilution + 5% i.e.
Advance Rate= 1-[(2D)+.05] where D is dilution.
When dilution is 5% using the above formulae, the advance rate would be 85%.
1-[(2x.05)+. 05]=85%= Advance rate

Dilution - There are factors like warranty returns, wrong/incorrect invoices and bad debt write offs that do not let all invoices be ultimately collected. The difference between the invoices generated by the borrower and what is actually collected is known as dilution. For example, if
Generated invoices = $100,000
Receivables collected = $ 95,000
($2500 is goods returned and $2500 is cash discounts)
$100000 (-) $95000 = $5000
Then dilution is
$5000/$100000 = 5%

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 31, 2008 @ 2:46 PM

broadway tickets

I love acting and would love to move to NYC some day. I have heard that it is the place to be if you are going to pursue a career in acting. I have considered moving the fall, but I have checked out the prices online and it is really expensive to live there. I suppose that is why they have a lot of crime there. My friend and I are both into acting and this small town is just not the place to be to make big things happen. I mean I don't expect to live in a penthouse on Park Ave., at least not yet, but I don't want to live in a dive either.

The first thing I would do when I got there was see as many Broadway Shows as I could. I have seen some local productions and have really enjoyed them, but I am sure that they don't hold a candle to seeing a show on Broadway. I would want to get some wicked tickets. Although, my friends have warned me not to by them from any Broadway Ticket Brokers, they said that it is not a good idea, unless a person has been recommended to you. There are just too many people looking to rip people off these days.

After taking in a few shows, I would love to go walking around Manhattan and experience the city and the people. I know it will be quite an experience, much different from what I am used to. It doesn't worry me though, people are just people. There are good ones and bad ones, and I pride myself in being able to sense the difference. My friend Sara was born in Atlanta, and she lived there until she was 12. She says that big cities are way different from Battle Creek, where I am from. I don't think she really knows that much about New York though. She keeps talking about muggers and rapists and I personally think that she has been watching too much TV or something. I met a guy once from New York and although he talked really weird, he seemed nice enough. He said that most people outside of NY think that the city is just crime infested, he says that the crime rate is much higher only because the population is much higher. I think that since there was absolutely no looting after the World Trade Center attacks, that shows people with some real integrity. Don't you?

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 31, 2008 @ 11:42 AM

Web Domains

Remember last week when I was talking about how I was setting up my homepage? And all the trouble I was having so I wanted to get a cheap template? Well, I started at the very bottom by finding the definition of a web site. just a textbook website definition. Seems goofy, but I wasn't sure exactly how it was structures. Then I kept searching for a solution and recently discovered that there are plenty of websites that offer these services. They handle private domain registration, hosting for web domains, and also tools for easy website creation. The pricing really varies, but the pricing has come down so much overall. I can remember when two years of domain registration was at least $79, and that was the bargain price. The average seems to be starts out at $12.75 per year for a .com, and gets lower as you purchase more years at a time. The .info website definition is only $1.99 per year! And the .biz, which is a website definition that closely relates to .com is just $8.99. If you want to make web domains private it costs $19.95 per year but many sites will give it free for multiple registrations or transfers. What I am most interested in is finding templates that look good for a low price. The thing anbout using a tempate is that although it is not customized, it will really save me so much time and money. The best thing about hosted templates is that you can edit your website online. What I mean is that you do not have to store any web files on your home computer, which is really good for me since I use computers at home, dorm, and library. So I can change it from where ever I am. This will be really good for me because I am always noticing errors on my pages and have to wait until I get home to fix them. This irritates me because I will worry about who is seeing it until I fix it. I would not care if it was just a regular blog, but this is also my school page and teachers may be peeking at it. Too bad I cannot transfer my school homepage to them since it is not my domain. I guess I will have to keep looking for cheap and easy website creation. I’m sure you will be hearing about it. Stay tuned.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 31, 2008 @ 9:40 AM

Roofing

Roofing Benefits Of Having A Flat Roof

In my architectural design class, we are covering some fairly basic stuff. Roofing. But I'm actually interested. For example, Flat Roofs are not necessarily completely flat; they do have a small slope for the water to drain down. The slope is so subtle that you hardly notice it and the roof can be used as if completely flat. The small slope is necessary or else the water will accumulate and sit, leading to cracks and leaks. Flat roofs actually reduce costs and add value to your home. There are many advantages in having a flat roof. The biggest advantage is that you do not lose any space when compared to traditional sloping roofs. The inherent structure of the sloping roof results in loss of space. This is due to the wooden beams that are required. Flat roofs means the dead space is limited making your home roomier. Connecticut flat roofs tend to be seen less often, as does Massachusetts Metal Roofing

Flat roofs are easy to install and require less material resulting in saving a lot of time and more importantly money. Fewer days required for structuring the roof means you have to pay the contractor fewer dollars towards labor. Money saved by installing a flat roof can be diverted to other reconstruction projects or saved for future contingencies. It is far easier and safer to access flat roofs than sloping roofs. You may not need to hire a specialist to clean or repair the flat roof as you could maintain the roof yourself without fear of falling.

The life of a flat roof depends on the maintenance and attention it receives. Life of the roof also depends on the material used in its construction. It is recommended that you discuss all these issues with the roofing contractor. Preventive maintenance and regular inspection will go a long way in prolonging the life of your flat roof. The contractor who installs the roof is the best person to get all this information from. Keeping the roof dry and free of debris will increase the life of your flat roof.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a flat roof is that it can be used as a terrace. You can install a telescope on your roof and marvel at the stars on clear summer nights or have a party with your friends and near ones. However, weight loads have to be considered before using them for parties and other activity. Flat roofs prove useful in more ways than one and genuinely add value to your home. In this day and time, when most towns are grappling with the problem of shrinking space why miss an opportunity to create usable space. Roof top space should be considered as an outdoor amenity. Flat roofs also help in making a cheaper second floor on already constructed houses.

A good flat roof that is well designed made of quality materials and installed by skilled workmen offers more benefits than traditional pitched roofs. The cost effectiveness, ease of installation, low maintenance, and access to additional usable space make them more acceptable over angled shingles. An alternative to Flat Roofs is Metal Roofing which can be very cost efficient.

Did you know that Americans spend about $40 billion annually to air condition buildings — one-sixth of all electricity generated in this country. Why choose ENERGY STAR reflective roofing for your building?

Posted by Jen on Saturday, March 29, 2008 @ 4:58 PM

Auditions

My sister has this thing where she gets insanely jealous of people who are really young but really famous or successful. Now I think it's one thing to be jealous of young super-geniuses who make it on brains and intellectual or creative talent, but to be jealous of, say, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, or their ilk...that's just silly.

Think about it. What do casting directors have to base their decisions on when you're casting for Michelle from Full House? Talent? Well, I guess, if you can call a cute smile and an ability to do what the director tells you without bursting into tears every three minutes at the age of two "talent." Things like that are just a step up from baby modeling, so basically, it's based on luck and the tireless effort of stage moms.

I never did that kind of thing, so I can't help but wonder what movie auditions are like for a two-year-old. What are you thinking at toddler age when you walk into any number of film auditions for a screen test and those big, shining machines are pointed at you, winking their glassy eyes? Now auditions for teens, that I can imagine what it's like. By the time I was a teenager I was going on auditions quite regularly, although I did theatre auditions, never movie ones. At that point auditions felt like a competition, almost a sports event.

Now, as I'm getting older and meeting people who are really in "the business" (as show biz is somewhat pretentiously called by those in the know), I'm coming to realize the true nature of auditions. If you're an actor, auditioning isn't fun; it doesn't get any easier or less stressful. It's also not really a competition. Auditioning, as a professional actor, is your job. Getting to be in a show is just one of the perks.

And a two-year-old has absolutely no concept of that when she goes into a movie audition on her mama's lap. So why my sister is jealous of that, I'm not really sure. The two-year-old is playing an entirely different game than we as adults are playing.

Posted by Jen on Friday, March 28, 2008 @ 7:13 PM

Web design

A few years ago, I was still intending to graduate with a B.S. in Physics, rather than the B.A. that I have since switched to. One of the requirements for the B.S. was either a chemistry course or a computer science course, and so I took programming in Java for a little while. I eventually withdrew because I realized that semester that neither computer programming nor the B.S. in Physics was for me. But before I withdrew, I had to do a project looking into foreign software development. I chose to do software development Dubai. I knew Dubai was a hot region, and India and China were already taken.

If only it had been web hosting Dubai, or another internet related topic. I found that dubai as an area is internet savvy. Web design Dubai is a thriving market, the growth in that area is enormous, and internet companies abound. With web design and web hosting, SEO is bound to follow. So search engine optimization Dubai is a topic that although newer, still had considerable resources. Materials in all of these areas and on all of these things are relatively readily available. But I couldn't find anything on software development in Dubai - not at the time, anyway. Maybe that's one of the reasons I withdrew from the course - I just wasn't going to have anything to turn in for this particular project, and that is just not the kind of student that I am.

Taking a "W" on my transcript was kind of a big deal for me, though. I had to struggle with the idea of it quite a lot. I had to talk to countless friends who had withdrawn once or more before to make myself okay with the idea of it. Because I am not a quitter as a student, and I also firmly believe that nothing is too hard. In the end, I was able to allow myself to withdraw because I knew that the course, if I took it, would no longer count towards anything for me. I had decided to switch from the B.S. to the B.A., and the course would do me no good for the B.A. - the general ed requirement that it would fulfill was something I'd already completed with other classes anyway.

So to this day, I have that quiet little "W" on my transcript. "W" for "Why?" or "W" for "Wise"...? I'd like to think it is the latter, of course. But I suppose, ultimately, there really is no way of knowing for sure.

Posted by Jen on Friday, March 28, 2008 @ 3:09 PM

Laptops

The world of technology is so amazing. I can't imagine what I would do in a world without cell phones, laptop, notebook, PDA and of course Asus. I recently purchased a laptop from ASUS and got an awesome deal. I take it with me everywhere. I use it for all my school work and reports, and I love to hop online and check my face book and my space. Well, what can I say, I am hooked on electronic devices. When I am home on break mom is always saying, can you get off that thing, or stop texting or something like that. I don't think she gets it. I mean when she was growing up, they didn't have all these cool gadgets that we do. I just don't think she can really understand it all.

They have such neat devices, I would really love to get a PDA, but I haven't saved up enough yet. I would ask Mom for one for Christmas, but I don't think she'll go for it. She says I am too plugged in now, how could I possibly need another device. Trying to explain it to her is just pointless. In any case, I love that new ultra skinny notebook they keep showing on TV. That thing is so small it is awesome! I don't think it is for me though. I like my laptop better, it is easier to type on, and that is the size I am used to.

How did people survive without all these modern devices? I can't imagine not being able to hop online and get a phone number, driving directions, definitions, play games and talk to friends. My mother says that when they were kids they actually had to dial a phone. I have never seen this, but she has explained it to me. My father says when he was little, they only had a black and white television, can you imagine that? Yuck! I just can't imagine a time where not one had a cell phone, home computer, laptop, notebook, PDA, iphone, or even a microwave. And having to watch TV in black and white, well that sounds truly barbaric to me.

I think I was truly born at the right time. It is hard to believe how quickly technology has advanced, but I am glad to live in a time where I can look forward to the next technological advancement. Wonder what it will be?

Posted by Jen on Friday, March 28, 2008 @ 2:50 PM

Green tea

Since the semester has been wearing down a bit now and we only have about six weeks left, I have decided to get a little head start on the summer. The job I have right now is great, but it's only open when the students are around and closes after finals week. I considered going to the Jersey shore and trying my luck down there at one of the places that's only open during the summer and closes when the schools start up again. The only problem is is that I would have about a month in between when my finals are done and when they actually open up. Last week I put in a bunch of applications at places around town that I thought looked cool, and some that didn't. I got a callback from this little book store that I liked because they were sort of themed after asian tea houses. When I filled out my application I tried their oolong tea. I liked it so much that I took a break from doing the applications and got a green tea. They called me back about three days ago to see if I wanted to train starting today. I said yes since they told me ahead of time that I would definitely have the job. I went in yesterday and got a full out seminar on all of the different types of herbal tea they sold. I have always liked a good cup of tea, but I was still blown away by all of the different types of teas, and the subtleties between them. When I went home I was pretty caught up in this kind of strange mystical thing that the manager had going on. See, he is a yoga teacher and a scholar of Indian history so he has read every book in the store, maybe the world, and makes you feel like he is the buddha or something. Anyway, I woke up today for my second day, and that whole image was blown. Today he was teaching me the business side of the place. A whole day devoted to wholesale tea and foodservice tea. We discussed his business model and the way his business is setup. I was lulled by his instructions on the differences in foodservice iced tea and foodservice ice tea. Though my bubble was burst a bit, I am glad to have a good job for the summer.

Posted by Jen on Thursday, March 27, 2008 @ 3:35 PM

Backgammon

This week we have been doing some pretty interesting work in my statistics course. We have been working with some programs that are designed for online gaming. These programs are huge random number generators that are designed to keep online gaming fair and exciting. Some of the programs that we have been looking at specifically are ones that are used for games like Backgammon or blackjack. With blackjack the numbers are a little smaller and actually quite easy for certain people to just figure out. For games like online backgammon, the possibilities within the game due to that fact that there are two dice being rolled in the game, allows for plenty of situations and rolls of the dice. What we have been l;ooking at is the way to actually set up the programs and how the randomization process actually works. I really love these types of lessons because this may be the kind of stuff I will be working on in the future. Computer sciences is a huge science and covers a ton of ground so I could very well be creating the next generation of one of these, or running a server for online backgammon. For the last option I have been doing some private research on the side now trying to figure out how to actually play backgammon. Before this class lesson, I had never even been exposed to the game and now I have stumbled on to this hugely complex and extremely interesting game. I have been looking in to the strategies of the game and have actually found a bunch of different online programs that run several different versions of the game. So far I have actually found four different versions and I am going to try to learn each version one at a time. They have very different rules and different types of strategies. The four are called Acey-Duecy, Moultezem, Plakoto, and Tric Trac. The names make them sound like the could all be completely different games and in a way they are, but played on the same board with the same pieces.

Posted by Jen on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 @ 2:54 PM

Czech sporaky

E-shop Elektro Home.cz nabízí vše MP3 prehrávace ,digestore přes LCD televize,pracky a sporákyaž po myčkya ledničky. Z velké nabídky zboží si snadno vyberete to správné na přehledných stránkách obchodu. Dnes moderní a populární MP3 přehravačemáme od miniaturních rozměrů bez displeje až po ty, co zvládají přehrávání nejen hudby, ale i videa. Velký výběr světoznámých značek jako jsou Sony, Panasonic, LG či Samsung, ale i těch méně známých, avšak neméně kvalitních jako GoGen, Mascom najdete v sekci LCD televize, kde je vše přehledně rozděleno. Vybrat si můžete LCD televizi, která má třeba digitální tuner, HDMI vstupy nebo vlastní osvětlení pro lepší prožitek ze sledovaných pořadů. Vybavujete-li si novou kuchyň nebo chcete jen obnovit stávající domácí spotřebiče, stačí se podívat do sekce bílá technika. Zde najdete například ledničky. Nové a modern ílednicky již nejsou jen "bílé krabice", ale nabízejí celou řadu nových funkcí, které lépe a efektivněji uchovávají potraviny. Nabízejí funkce, které Vám usnadní práci, jako třeba automatické odmrazování ledničky i mrazáku, automat na studenou vodou či ledovou tříšť nebo třeba minibar. Pro vyniknutí Vašich kulinářských schopností je potřeba mít kvalitní a moderní sporák. Nové sporáky mají daleko nižší spotřebu a efektivněji využívají energii. Mohou mít elektrickou, plynovou nebo sklokeramickou desku. Trouby mohou být klasické, horkovzdušné či mikrovlnné v kombinaci s grilem. O příjemnější vaření bez směsi různých pachů se zajisté postará kvalitní a výkonná digestoř. Design moderních mycky nádobí. Ať si vyberete vestavěnou či volně stojící myčku, vždy Vám ulehčí práci a ušetří i nemalé množství času. Myčky nádobínyní už umí i rozpoznat jak je vložené nádobí znečistěné a podle toho dávkují přiměřené množství vody a čistících prostředků. Jsou k nádobí šetrnější a mají i nižší spotřebu. Ať již máte doma koberec nebo hladkou podlahu určitě Vám práci v její údržbě usnadní vysavače. Sekce vysavace je opravdu bohatá. Vybírat si můžete podle výkonu, příslušenství a i z rozmanité škály barev. Novodobé pračkynabízejí spoustu pokročilých funkcí, které velmi usnadňují volbu správného programu praní. Umí třeba zvážit vložené prádlo a podle toho použijí jen adekvátní množství vody a pracího prostředku. Pračkytéž poznají, je-li prádlo dostatečně vymáchané. Jsou méně hlučné, úspornější a šetrné k prádlu i k přírodnímu prostředí. To vše a ještě mnohem vice najdete na stránkách obchodu Elektro Home.cz

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 9:02 PM

Martial arts

Finally Spring break is here and I can relax.  I have a whole week and nothing to do, which is how I wanted ti to be.  I am not leaving town or going anywhere so this week I can catch up on all of the thing s that I need to get done, but haven't had any time to do them.  The biggest priority I have this week is to get everything in order at the yoga studio I teach at.  We have been trying to expand the services of the studio by adding different services.  When my teacher bought the space, she made sure she was buying a large space so she could do exactly this. Two years ago it was just her teaching by herself.  Now she has a massage therapist, several teachers, and now next week the final room will be filled with a martial arts trainer.  The woman coming in is a very cool lady and she is going to be planning about six classes a week , the same as us, with several classes a day.  She is currently a stay at home mom and now her kids are of high school age so she has plenty of more time during the day to pursue her interests.  Her biggest hobby she has maintained since having kids has been her daily martial arts training.  So starting tomorrow morning I am going to be helping her get all of her martial arts training equipment in to the studio.  She let me see all of her equipment which all seems pretty cool.  I watched her introduction martial arts video and I think I want to start trading classes with her because it would help with my yoga practice, but it would also be good for me to learn some quick body arts fir health reasons.  I mean how could I turn down the change to spar with a another person and with the intent and knowledge that I am not trying to hurt them, but I am trying to immobilize them.  The sheer power that her practice builds and harnesses in a person is just amazing.  I am really excited for her to start teaching.  I hope we will get some time this week to share some knowledge of the body arts

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 9:01 PM

Cheap Flights

Does anybody know where I can find some cheap flights? Extra points if they’re flights to Europe, and extra, extra points if they also have flight discounts for student flights! I think that this summer I’ll finally be able to go, I just need to find places to go, places to stay, and a cheap way to get there. I’m pretty sure that I could shack up in hostels during my stay, no need for a hotel when you’re my age. Who knows, maybe I’ll even find some ladies my age there, whoo hoo. Anyways, the important thing for me to do right now is to find cheap international flights to Europe. As long as the destination isn’t too far from where I want to go, I could probably just take the flight and then take a train to get to wherever. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet someone who is also making the trip and travel with them. We’ll see. Hopefully I’ll be able to taste some amazing food. Though I really want to go to Europe, the main thing that would hold me back would be the cost of everything there. Asia would be much cheaper, but I really want to go and live in Europe for a while. It’d be a nice change of scenery and pace, and it’d be fun to move around freely, experiencing life on another continent. Hopefully I’ll be able to pick up some really nice cookware while I’m there. I’d love to have some copper cookware to bring home, my god. That would be amazing. Only thing is that it’d be way out of my budget. Booo. Maybe I’ll just have to resort to thievery, haha. Ninja style, mm hmm. I’ll really need to remember to bring my soccer shoes, too. It’s pretty hard to find pick-up around here, but hopefully that won’t be the case over there. Hm, can’t wait. This trip is going to be awesome, and hopefully the first of many in my life. After Europe? Definitely Asia. Street food, my god. The main reason for me going. Amazing food for less than a dollar? I can’t wait.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 9:00 PM

Furniture

One of my roommates went to this swank party a few weeks ago. This well-known couple around the city has a giant mansion on the hill – colorful, crazy. It’s a building I used to see when I was a kid and wonder what it was. A crazy museum? A tiny amusement park? I never would have guessed that it’s someone’s home, that somebody lives there.

But they do, and they apparently entertain all of the time. Being incredibly jealous of my roommate for getting the chance to enter this place of childhood mystery, I instructed him that he had to take pictures.

Looking at them afterwards was a trip. This house is even more ridiculous on the inside than on the outside. They’ve got themed rooms, of course, every room. The house has two bars, one retro, one modern, with appropriately designed and colored bar stools and far more than amply stocked sideboards. There’s a smoke machine in one of them, the retro one I think, that billows and fills the room constantly with smoke.

I mean, the biggest point is that their furniture doesn’t really look like home furniture. Which is gorgeous and strange. The dining room furniture, for example: the dining table was shaped like a giraffe, curving its neck and head around and down, and the dining chairs were young giraffes following their mother. And the living room furniture: it was all nautically themed, with ropes and anchors acting as room dividers, cutting the room up into smaller shiplike nooks and crannies. The windows were the round windows you see in ship’s cabins and there was a lounge area shaped like a crow’s nest.

It’s only with décor like that that you can get away with the one room they have in their house, which is a small, quiet, normal-looking room. It’s a perfect recreation of the room this couple shared together in college, complete with original computer desks, chairs, and everything. A nod to their past in light of their extremely fortunate present. The inside of that mystical mansion was apparently far more bizarre and interesting than I’d imagined.

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Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 9:00 PM

Wedding invitations

I realize now why people pay others so much to plan their weddings. Who knew this crap would be so crazy? I'm helping a friend with her wedding stuff and she's barely past the engagement and I'm already starting to feel a little overwhelmed. I'm just a helper, too! She's already made all of the wedding announcementsand now she has to figure out how many people to invite and who they should be. Helping look at wedding invitations isn't so bad, though. You look at nice looking cards and try and narrow down one that'll fit with the theme of your wedding and represents you pretty well, I guess. The website where they're going to get their wedding stationery from is really nice. They have all of their wedding invitations and stuff separated into different categories such as elegant wedding invitations, etc. All very nice and chic. Surprisingly, they are also pretty cheap, too! Compared to other places we've looked, the prices on this site are phenomenal. They also have ways for you to customize your wedding invitations by adding things like ribbon and stuff like that, which is nice. This is actually a little more stressful than choosing catering and such, but it seems pretty easy to do online and it helps that you can access it 24/7, as opposed to having to go to only one or two caterers a day and having to sample everything they have and then narrowing it down even further. Eep. The nice thing about helping her out with the wedding invitations, tastings, and all of that is that she said I could put one or two things I really want on her registry, hahaha. How sweet is that? Very. That, and I get first dibs on unwanted presents! The possibilities alone are enough to get me moving. Hopefully someone will give them a 60" HDTV that they don't need. In 1080p. Yep. Other than that, I guess I'd settle for some kitchen stuff. Knives are fun to play with. Anyways, gotta go back to looking at those kooky wedding invitations. See ya.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 8:59 PM

Vacation Rentals

There are tons of great places to visit for the summer along the East coast. One of my favorite places to spend some of the hot, summer months is the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The weather is usually really nice and the temperature generally does not get as hot as it does farther south in Florida. Also, by far, the Outer Banks have less people. The beaches are never as congested. Although one thing to be mindful of when going out on the beaches there is that no life guards are on duty. Most of the beach is private and there limited personnel to watch the beaches. However, with a small number of people, there are fewer instances that would require the immediate action by a life guard or other emergency personnel. The beaches themselves are much cleaner and more attractive because there is not a high volume of people traffic. People go to great lengths to keep the beaches cleaner because it is less of a tourist attraction and more of a vacation site. Along the roads stretching through this prime vacation rentals to those people visiting from out of town. At some periods during the summer, the coast for a week rental can be in the thousands of dollars. The nice thing about these homes is the seclusion from the rest of the world. Once you cross over the bridges to get on the Outer Banks, there are very little convenient stores or fast food restaurants. This is one of the biggest draws to this region of the country for summer vacation. Visitors can come and enjoy the beach without having to deal with the crowds of people. The best way to rent one of these homes is with two or three other families. Then you have friends to share the costs with and also some company to enjoy during your stay. These rental homes usually have five or six bedrooms, so space is never an issue. It is all about relaxing and having a good time.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 8:55 PM

Durable Dog Beds

You hear people say that a dog is a man’s best friend. My dog is a little more than eleven years old now. She definitely is my best friend. My golden retriever is always there looking for me to show her some love. It does not take much to make her happy. She is content just to watch me and hopefully get me to pet her every once in a while. First thing as I come through the door, she is waiting for me to take her for a walk and say hello. Her favorite part about the walk is to get a treat when we come back inside. Sometimes I think she wants to go outside just so when we come back she can get a treat. As she gets older, she does not get up and run around as often as she did a few years back when she was just a young pup. Instead, she spends most of her days curled up in the sun lying on her favorite easy to clean dog bed. We bought it for her shortly after we brought her home from the breeder. I love this dog bed, it is so durable and easy to clean, it just wipes off. If you ever are looking around the house to find her, you only have to look in that one place. She is sleeping more and more every day. I remember the day we were at the store getting some toys and things for her when I saw the dog beds. It was a lot cleaner and the colors were not as faded as they are today. From all those years sleeping and rolling around on the bed, you can see where she has worn it down and helped fade the color. It is easy enough to clean, but my dog does not like it very much when we take it away from her to put it into the wash. She is like a little kid who does not want to part from his or her favorite pillow or blanket. It smells like her and has become a fixture in the corner of our sunroom. Pretty much every day lately I get down and lay with her there on the floor. She is starting to wake up, so I am going to go take her for a walk. I think she can already taste the treat.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 8:55 PM

Debt Free

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 8:54 PM

Bill Consolidation

I never imagined that I would have so many bills. Since I graduated college last semester and moved out on my own, I have been paying for everything myself. While I was attending college, my mom and dad were supplying me with a lot of the necessities I now see I was taking for granted. After making my car payment, car insurance and rent payment, I barely have enough money to eat out twice a week. During college, I would eat out almost every other night. That is basically were all of money went to over those four years. I had no car or rent payment. It was an agreement I had made with my parents. They would pay for everything while I was in college except for things like sports tickets and going out. Bill consolidation was at a minimum for the past few years. I could survive easily on a couple hundred a month. Now, my entire paycheck is going into payments that once did not exist for me. Definitely it is a reality check that I was not expecting. I knew this was the agreement, but I never really took the time to think about all of the bills I would soon be receiving. Now, in order to make these payments I have taken it upon myself to practice bill consolidation. I only go out to eat maybe once a week if even at all. I have learned to shop at the grocery store and cook for myself. There are no more all you can eat campus dining halls. I am actually using the oven and stove at my new apartment. I really enjoy the new job I have, but I realize it is currently placing some financial limitations on me. I can not go out as often or spend my money as freely as I once did. Instead, I have to pay more attention and plan how to use my paycheck. If I pay close attention and properly allocate money to each bill I should be fine financially. A little sacrifice will go a long way in life down the road. I want to be financially successful and I know that process starts when I am a young adult. Entering the work force can be a difficult transition, but thankfully I am learning quickly.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 8:52 PM

Online University

Graduation is just starting to loom on the horizon.  For me the time is just becoming like a rock falling down a precipice, getting faster and faster every second.  Though I can see that there is nothing for me to really worry about, it is a huge step nonetheless.  I mean I left high school and went right to college.  I am one of those kids who you see who's voice is still changing while delivering their senior speeches.  Then I spent four years being totally independent, and yet, completely dependent on the freedom and shelter from the real world that school can provide.  When I decided that I was going to go to a state university I did because my brother told me this was how it was going to be.  Looking back I am glad I took his advice because I wasn't ready for real life, and neither was he.  So now that I have had me time to be a late adolescent, as my professor would say, I can get on with being an adult even though it's the scariest change I think I have ever had to face in my whole life.  With only two months left until I am a free man I have really got all the details set up for the moment I am finished.  I got a job as a manager of a local nonprofit that will basically pay my bills while I get my masters in special education from and online university.  The schedule for the next year or so of my life is planned out almost week for week.  After the planned year of school and work I will begin to apply for the jobs that I really want at different schools in the area working with the disabled students.  I just hope that I don't hit any major snags along the way because it feels like everything is sort of falling in to place for me at this point.  Now I just have to wait and try my best not to get super stressed by the thought of not having this safety net that is

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 8:51 PM

Left Hand Drive Car

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:59 PM

Hotel Deals

This year for Valentine’s Day I decided to take my special someone on a nice long weekend.  I know he will love the idea because he is just a huge travel guy.  There is nothing he loves to do more than taking a trip to a place he’s never been.  That’s why this year I decided to plan a six day weekend in Jamaica.  He has always talked about going to Montego Bay and then going out to see the island in a few trips.  When I decided on the idea I took off work in like december for this weekend.  That same day when he went to work I went online to compare hotel rates.  I looked over several different sites and finally found hotelscombined.com.  I just typed in the name of the town and it allowed me to compare hotel rates and hot deals.  I only had to look at a few hotels before I decided on this cool little rustic place close to the beach.  With the hotel reservation out of the way I had to start planning.  This had been the hardest part because something this detailed is really hard to keep from someone you live with and talk about everything with.  I would spend a whole day researching and he would come home from work to ask me what I did all day.  I would have to snap out some quick response and try not to slip and key words in to the sentence that would tip him off.  By the end of January I had the whole trip planned out with even a whole day planned just for us to enjoy the beach and relax.  That day is more for me to enjoy the area because I don’t like doing to much when I am on vacation, but this is for him.  On Valentine’s Day I will break the news to him over breakfast.  Yesterday I called his work when he was on lunch break to let them know about the whole thing and that he would be missing two days of work, maybe more.  I was so relieved that his boss was cool with the whole thing and was happy that I was giving him a break from work.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:58 PM

Debt Consolidation

All right, so much about debt consolidation. Debt help is obviously very handy when it comes to paying a lot to all the various creditors, but what if when you pay various amounts to all the different ones, you are able to do that since you might have paychecks coming from various sources, but what if you have used bill consolidation and now have to pay the huge sum of money all at once? That might become very tough. One big thing that scares me personally is that what are some possible pitfalls that I might encounter, for example, if I consolidate? I mean, I have already – I have combined balances from two of my credit cards onto one – but it has not been that long ago, so I still do not know how that is going to play out. The big number that I now have to pay all at once scares me. I mean, I am a student and do not have a constant, full time, source of income. I have some ideas for possible businesses that I can get involved in, but I do not even have time to think about those and put those to life. So, here I am, paying a lot and earning little. Maybe little. Maybe it just seems little to me. I mean, I love what I do and I am satisfied with the results…financially…and morally…I am sure that there are a lot of people out there who make much less and have much greater financial responsibilities…but, as I have said before, there never seems to be enough money, and the more you spend, the more you want to spend. I experience this when I study something as well – the more I study, the more I realize that, first of all, there is so much more out there on the topic that I could study, and, second of all, the more I am able to take in, process, think of, etc. It just seems that life consists of certain patterns that persist and that can be applied to a lot of different things in a lot of different walks of life. Interesting.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:57 PM

Sardinia

This year my parents did something really great for me; they gave me a Rough guide to Sardinia as a present for christmas.  I was a bit confused at first because I hadn't ever even heard of Sardinia before.  I was totally blown away because I been wondering what I would do after I graduated.  I knew I didn't want to work for the summer but I wasn't sure if I could afford to take a break when I finished.  My parents told me to check this web site charmingsardinia.com to to look at all the Luxury yacht charters and the Luxury hotels in Sardinia. They said that the price didn't matter, they just wanted me to take a great vacation after all of my hard work.  I had been in school for six years straight after high school and I did feel that I deserved it.  So I went on to this site which listed all of the great deals on hotels Sardinia.  I went right to the link 5 star hotels Sardinia and let my imagination run wild.  I looked at all of the different rooms and compared all of the different perks that each room or hotel had included.  Finally I clicked on the link Sardinia holidays and looked at the list of events they had packages for.  The one that stuck out to me said Golf Holidays.  I knew I would want to choose this one because I had been on the golf team in high school and college.  This would allow me to finally play golf, after all of these years, where I would be playing for fun and not for practice or sport.  When I looked over all of the inclusions I decided right away that that would be the one.  I showed my choice to my parents that night and they said it would be fine.  Now I have only three more days till I graduate and the pressure is starting to build.  I took my last class yesterday and haven't stopped thinking about it since.  I can just imagine myself in all of those beautiful pictures of the course just sinking every hole, or not, it doesn't matter. 

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:56 PM

Office Furniture

Next week, I start my first day of college. As an incoming freshman I will be living in the dorms on campus offered by the college. However, the rooms only come furnished with a bunk bed and two large wardrobe style dressers. The new residents are expected to provide any other furniture they feel is necessary. I want a work place for my computer and printer as well as other items to put in my dorm room. Of course, my parents will be buying everything I need. It is part of an agreement which we created to help me focus on class. If I remain on the Dean’s List throughout college, I will not have to pay a penny of the cost. This, thankfully, means I do not need to work a job during the semester. However, the agreement does not include money for activities and items that technically are not for an academic purpose. That was my parent’s formal definition. If I happen to do poorly in class, which I do not plan on doing, I will have to pay my parents back every cent put out for my education. I have to admit, it is a pretty sweet deal. Most of my friends are jealous, but then again I do have to work really hard in class. At least I will be able to study on the new corner computer desk my dad and I picked out the other day. It fits perfectly with the rest of the contemporary office furniture we bought. It definitely is some modern office furniture. You need to have a college degree just to put some of it together. It is nothing like the discount home office furniture my neighbor graciously offered to give me. I told my parents I wanted to start college fresh and that meant no discount office furniture. My parents smirked and decided to give in to my request. I respectfully declined my neighbor’s offer. As the oldest child, it means a lot for parents to see me go off to college. Plus, my mother, more so than my father, wants to make sure I have everything I want to be successful. She does not want her son to have anything less than the best. Like any other college-age male, I am slightly taking advantage of her timely generosity. I figure I will use this furniture and then pass it down to my younger brother.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:56 PM

EAP Program

It’s no secret that the structure of the American family is changing every day, and with these changes come stresses, pressures, and a multitude of other problems.  Trouble at home rarely remains there, and in time can begin to affect an employee’s performance at work.  An EAP program can help. 

To get quotes from multiple Employee Assistance Programs please visit EAP Quotes.

An employee assistance programs (EAP) is a voluntary, employer funded benefit program that can provide a vital wellness program to your employees at a very nominal cost.  Some of the services covered by EAP programs include mental health and psychological issues, chemical dependency, marital problems, and family therapy.  In a nutshell, EAP services can help employees work through just about any issue that can affect their performance at work.

Let me give you an example.  Assume that one of your employees is having trouble adjusting to life after the death of a spouse.  Any time someone loses a family member through death or some other means of separation, it can be an extremely trying time.  Because grief affects everyone a little bit differently, some people may require outside assistance in dealing with all of the varied emotions they may be experiencing.

In this example, your employee can request EAP services in one of two ways: your employee can call the EAP program administrator and request a third-party referral, or they can simply speak with a supervisor at work who can instruct them to call and request services.  In addition, if a supervisor or another company official believes that your employee has an issue that an EAP provider could help with, that supervisor would have the option of telling your employee what services are available.  It’s important to note that no employee can be required to receive help; however, most employees that 3are in emotional turmoil are crying out for help and don’t know where to turn.  Therefore, any assistance offered is typically gratefully received. 

In addition to assistance with personal problems, employees sometimes have an issue with a coworker or a situation at work.  An EAP program can help alleviate these problems as well.  Workplace conflict is frequently more common than you realize, and what may seem like a minor issue could reach a boiling point, and very quickly spiral out of control.  If your employees have a neutral third party they can turn to in dealing with their frustrations, potential disasters can be averted.

An EAP program enlists the assistance of qualified EAP providers to solve problems without conflict.  It’s a proven fact that employees that have somewhere to turn in time of trouble will utilize the services offered as a means of getting back to normal as quickly as possible.

Employee assistance programs can be a lifesaver for employees, but they can also help your company protect the bottom line by helping employees to confront issues that are bothering them and are affecting their performance at work.  Top-quality EAP service providers will meet with your employees between three and five times per year as necessary to help get the employee back to normal.

Employers who provide EAP programs to their employees can reap substantial rewards by dramatically improving morale, reducing absenteeism, and boosting productivity.  The profitability of your business is of vital importance to you.  By investing in the mental and emotional well-being of your employees, you can help ensure that your employees are in top form.  Employees that benefit from EAP services can help protect your company’s bottom line. 

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:55 PM

DMV Florida

All right, I am still thinking about this stupid girl in the stupid truck! I wish that I could somehow get back at her, I am so mad! I mean, I have to so many things to do per day, and here she is, with her huge truck, trying to back up onto my little car! I hate these situations!!!And I don’t even know why, but for some reason, I started to totally associate her with Florida’s traffic schools, as if the traffic school is all that she deserves…or Florida online traffic school… I mean, she does, but why in Florida? She probably does not even have the Florida drivers license or anything and not like she has read the Florida Driver’s Handbook…or not even has gotten the Florida learner’s permit…but in any way, she (or her behavior) is totally obnoxious! Well…and if she shows up even in Florida DMV, they are not going to like her…I don’t even remember what she looks like, but that’s even better! Not to say that I want to remember her face…I remember her looking away, when she was trying to park backwards…She had a pony tail, seemed to be blonde… (No offense to all the blonds – except for her – but even if she wasn’t blonde…she still was!). And I am sure that if she wanted to take the Florida driving test, she would totally not pass it I am sure, all she knows in the car is that it has the steering wheel that she can hold and look at how beautiful her nails are, the gas (oh, come on! She just has to get to a certain place, so just press the gas – and go! It doesn’t matter what the other drivers on the road want or are trying to do…just go!), and maybe, possibly, very rarely, the brakes…Just in case, to stop…for a difference! Ugh, it’s really annoying, I understand that I am rambling on and on about something (and in this case, she really is something, and not someone) that is ridiculous, but it so much got on my nerves, that’s it’s just…ugh!!!

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:54 PM

Six Sigma

In my marketing class this week, my professor presented us with some heavy information. It seems professors, and not just in my marketing class, love to present the class with as much information as possible the week before an exam. You spend so much time trying to learn the new information and read the chapters pertaining to it in the textbook, that you most certainly forget what you learned way back at the beginning of the unit. Anyway, today I am trying to cram for the exam. I have half a dozen different color highlighters, plenty of pens and paper, my overly priced textbook and the review sheet of topics to cover neatly placed in front of me on the kitchen table. The topic of choice at the moment is six sigma. It is actually pretty interesting. Basically, it describes a way to improve processes by eliminating defects in terms of electronics. It is proving to be financially rewarding for many companies because it determines areas of concern that are unproductive and can be removed to save money. My professor knows way more about this topic than I will ever dream of knowing. He refers to himself as a six sigma black belt. Apparently, this means he knows everything and anything about how to teach and explain the principles behind this marketing topic. I guess that is why they hired him to teach this stuff. He told us to check out six sigma online. He encouraged us to think about enrolling in the program and to become certified on this topic ourselves in the future. He said it could really help us in the work force and even add a few more dollars in our pockets. For now, I am only concerned about knowing enough to pass the exam. There is a lot of information I need to cover about marketing before tomorrow. In the future, though, it may prove beneficial to have that certification on my resume. Even just becoming a six sigma green belt would be a valuable thing. The more and more we become dependent on electronics to improve marketing, topics like this one are going to be of greater interest and relevance. It is necessary to ensure the tools we use in marketing are going to be productive and produce the most profitable results.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:53 PM

Prevage MD

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:52 PM

weight loss

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:51 PM

studio

Übersetzungsbüro für Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch, Spanisch

Das Übersetzungsbüro Studio 1 bietet Übersetzungen in alle westeuropäischen Sprachen an. Übersetzungsbüro Englisch Französisch Übersetzer Spanisch. Übersetzungsbüro Englisch Französisch Übersetzer Spanisch Als erfahrene Übersetzungsagentur hat sich Studio 1 auf die Fachgebiete Technik, Medizin, Software, Wissenschaft, Export und Recht spezialisiert.

Technische Übersetzung in alle Sprachen

Alle Technischen Übersetzer haben sich auf spezifische Fachgebiete spezialisiert. Technischer Übersetzer Deutsch Englisch Niederländisch. Technischer Übersetzer Englisch Spanisch Französisch . So bietet Studio 1 unter anderem Übersetzungen für Automobilbau und Fahrzeugtechnik, Flugzeugbau, Schiffbau und Übersetzungen für Consumer Electronics an. Weitere Übersetzer haben sich auf die Übersetzung von Telekommunikationstechnik, Kameratechnik, Industrie-Elektronik oder Elektrotechnik spezialisiert.

Übersetzer mit Fachkompetenz

Besonders für international orientierte Unternehmen gehört es zum Tagesgeschäft, sowohl Papiere zu Marktanalysen, Meinungsforschung oder Kundenorientierung, als auch die eigene Werbung in andere Sprachen zu übersetzen. Eine grosse Rolle spielt dabei, nicht nur eine Übersetzung des Ausgangstextes zu erhalten, sondern, speziell im Falle von Werbekampagnen und Produkteinführungen, eine Lokalisierung des Ausgangstextes. In enger Zusammenarbeit mit Ihnen wird dabei Ihre Aussageabsicht an die Bedürfnisse des Zielmarktes angepasst. Übersetzungsbüro Englisch Übersetzer Französisch. . Je nach Projektanforderung stellen wir ein Team aus muttersprachlichen Übersetzern und Lektoren zusammen, die fundierte Erfahrungen in der Übersetzung entsprechender Dokumente haben und Ihren Auftritt auch im Ausland zum Erfolg machen.

Internationale Übersetzungsagentur

Als international operierendes Unternehmen ist Studio 1 weltweit vertreten. So stehen Ihnen Übersetzer und Lektoren in allen deutschen Großstädten wie Berlin, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart, Köln, Düsseldorf, Dresden, Leipzig oder Hannover zur Verfügung. Lektorat Korrektur Dissertation Englisch Französisch Spanisch . Für Übersetzungen in eine Fremdsprache stehen Ihnen Übersetzer in Ihrer Heimat in nahezu allen Landessprachen zu Diensten.

Im Internet finden Sie uns unter den folgenden Begriffen: Übersetzungsagentur Englisch, Übersetzer Englisch Übersetzungsbüro, Übersetzung von Bilanzen und Geschäftsberichten, Übersetzung von Geschäftsbriefen, Produktpräsentationen, Public Relations, Marketing, Marktforschung, Übersetzung von Ausschreibungen, Übersetzer für Anträge, Aufträge, Angebote, Übersetzer für Zollerklärungen, Übersetzer für Steuererklärungen, Logistik und Grosshandel, Übersetzung von Katalogen und Broschüren, Umfragen, Meinungsforschung, Lebenslauf, Bewerbung, Bewerbungsschreiben, E-mail Schriftverkehr und Korrespondenz. Bedienungsanleitungen Handbücher.

Englisch ist die heute auf der ganzen Welt am weitesten verbreitete, während Hochchinesisch die meistgesprochene Muttersprache ist. So wird Englisch auch in den meisten Ländern, in denen es nicht von einem überwiegenden Teil der Bevölkerung als Muttersprache gesprochen wird oder als Amtssprache dient, in den Schulen als erste Fremdsprache. Es ist offizielle Sprache der meisten internationalen Organisationen. Englisch ist zudem eine der 23 Amtssprachen der Europäischen Union, Amtssprache der Afrikanischen Union, der Organisation Amerikanischer Staaten und eine der 6 Amtssprachen der Vereinten Nationen.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:50 PM

Project Management Software

I remember when I was in my youth group in high school, and we had programs every weekend. I always had a great time, especially as a freshman. Sometimes seniors would be there, and it really made me feel cool, hanging out with the older guys. However, as I started to age in the youth group, I began to see a decline in program creativity. I knew that large senior classes would result in the induction of new freshman into the group in order to replenish members, but clearly the freshmen don’t know about programming quite like seniors. That was where I really felt planners were lacking; experience.
            What would be absolutely amazing though, is if there was a way for that experience to not even factor in to the quality of the resulting programs. This is easier said than done, but if there was a way to stop experience from being as big a factor, then the experience loss from year to year would not be quite as bad. Working under the wing of an older is fine, but the older member will teach their ways and their preferences, which don’t always work for everyone. If there was some method of organizing all of the responsibilities of getting a program done, that was self-monitored, then the experience would come to the programmer while programming, without the older member acting as a mentor.
            This is where web based project management would really help out. With so many people having access to the Internet, I don’t see why a programmer couldn’t access it whenever he/she needed it. With project management software, any planner would be able to manage appointments with potential speakers, time to buy every prop required for a program’s execution, days to brainstorm ideas on the best ways to draw fellow youth group members to programs, etc.
            If a program was being planned by two very new members, an older might show them the ropes, but with project manager software, all tasks would end complete in a timely and orderly fashion. With an older member providing advice to even the newest of members, there is no reason why the program should fall through with great project tracking software.
            I feel that if we had some type of management software, the organization would have come easier to programmers, and the programs’ success would have proved it.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:49 PM

Houston Real Estate

I’ve visited tons of places around the country, but even if visit every state, I can’t possibly expect to know what it feels like to actually live in each one of them. I’m wanting to experience the cultures that are found in this country, and considering the size of the United States, I know I’ll have to pick and choose where to live carefully. At the very least, I want to visit every state once, especially the southern states. I have lived in the northeast region of the country for most of my life, and I want to try something else. I’m thinking about visiting Texas first. A good friend of mine attends Rice University in Houston, and I really miss her. She tells me that it is incredibly gorgeous down there, and I would really like to see it firsthand. Knowing me, I don’t think I’d want to go back!

Rice is a great school too, so I suppose that if I really loved that atmosphere, I could continue my college education there, and I could see what it’s like to live in Houston while I’m at it. I know that if I chose to live in a dorm though, I’d see how it was to go to Rice, but I wouldn’t necessarily know what it was like to live in Houston. To meet my goals, I think I would look primarily into Houston condos, or maybe Houston homes for rent. If I decided to live there, and I had a huge amount of money, I would contact some Houston realtors for assistance in searching for a comfortable home. Houston is gigantic, so I’m thinking that I should call Houston real estate companies familiar with specific areas for better results. Houston Medical Center real estate would work best, considering that the medical center is adjacent to Rice. Considering how enormous Houston is, if I looked into central Houston real estate, I don’t think I would commute happily. Houston Heights real estate would cover an area that’s simply too far from Rice, and Houston Memorial real estate covers an area even further away than Houston Heights, so both of those choices would be thrown out for me. In any case, if I attend Rice University, I might go for a home. If I buy one after my college education ends, then I’m not so limited in my choices anymore, so I’m sure these Houston, Texas real estate companies would find at least one place that really works for me.

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:48 PM

Eyelash Extensions

Many people have become more interested in anime and manga, but my girlfriend is way past a point of interest. She loves Japanese culture! She doesn’t stop with just the Japanimation that many Americans have come to love. She really enjoys them, but she also wanted to see what culture could produce such incredible comics and stories, and that is what she has really come to love. She loves everything Japanese; from the customs engrained in their culture, to their language.
            What she really loves though, is the music. She will often look for pictures of Japanese bands in magazines and put them up on her walls. Posters tend to be harder to find, but I would be surprised if she found a poster of one of her favorite Japanese bands and it did not end up on her wall. The members of Dir en Grey, Girugamesh, Versailles, Gazette, High and Mighty Color, and Miyavi; they could be considered gods. They are very talented musicians, but she loves them for much more than that. She loves their attitudes, and most definitely the way they look.
            One phase that most of those bands went through was one that involved cross-dressing. The band members would wear dresses, prepare their hair in very fashionable ways, and really emphasize their feminine looks through the use of makeup and eyelash extensions. They did incredible jobs decking themselves out. When I looked at them, I honestly had no idea that they were men!
            It’s really those eyelash extensions that intrigue me though, probably because I’m someone that knows next to nothing about fashion. I do notice, however, how much the lash extensions accentuate the eyes. They have to put this eyelash adhesive glue  on, but once they attach the extensions with the eyelash adhesive, they look really fashionable. I’ve heard that the eyelash adhesive works for two-four weeks, but the false eyelashes fall off just like regular eyelashes.
            I’m a very wishful person, and while I don’t see myself getting these extensions, I think that they could really bring out someone’s eyes more. If I were more into fashion though, I think I’d consider these, especially if I was in a Japanese rock band! The major plus for me though, is in the instant increase in your number of eyelash wishes!

Posted by Jen on Monday, March 24, 2008 @ 7:44 PM

italy_villas

I have been investigating a trip to Italy and it is really more reasonable than I thought it would be. I mean the prices on Italy villas and Italy apartments are really reasonable. I think they are in nice areas, or at least that is the way they appear online. I think Italy would be the most romantic of the countries in Europe to visit.

I want to visit Venice and the Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs). I hear it is a most beautiful sight to see in Italy and best seen while riding under it on a gondola. I have always thought about a beautiful gondola ride at sunset. I think that there would be nothing more amazing.

I also want to go to Rome and see the Colosseo (Coliseum). It looks huge in most of the pictures I have seen in books and online and I believe that it would be absolutely breathtaking to see it in person. Piazza di Trevi with its beautiful fountain would be another sight I would truly love to see. In addition to these I would love to see the Vatican, Trastevere, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.

Another must see in Italy, is Tuscany. Tuscany is a charmed land, equally blessed by the genius of man and nature, and often by the combined efforts of both. I think of the vineyards and the rows of baby green vines that grow straight up the gently rolling hillsides, bounded by single files of darker green cypress trees. Snake like sand covered roads leading to rust-colored farmhouses and moss-coated castles. The rounded hilltops surmounted by towns. Every inch of land has been sculpted, first by the elements and then by generations of inhabitants whose goals were to make the land produce as much as possible and make the land as beautiful as possible. I want to go strolling down quiet lanes bounded by tall stone walls, cypress trees and creamy-colored villas.

After, I finish with my tour of Venice and Rome, I would like to add a few extra days to my stay and travel to Sardinia. Sardinia is a beautiful Italian island with the most beautiful scenery ever. The water is so blue and clear and beautiful. What a great way to wind down from a whirlwind trip through Italy, then to rest in the beautiful Sardinia apartments or Sardinia villas. Again these accommodations are reasonably priced and on a beautiful island well worth seeing if you go all the way to Europe.

Italy has to be the most incredible of the countries in Europe, don't waist another minute thinking about your trip. Just Book It!

Posted by Jen on Sunday, March 23, 2008 @ 8:03 PM

Tuscany villas

No European visit would be complete without including stops in Tuscany and Sicily. Planning your trip is half the fun, along with the anticipation of this memorable vacation.

Once your transportation plans have been confirmed and specific dates assigned to each city, decisions must be made regarding your accommodations. Would you choose to stay in a hotel? Have you thought about the possibility of renting Tuscany apartments as an alternative? Have you considered a beautiful villa? Do you want to be located in the heart of the city, in a country village or possibly on the coast overlooking the water? Of course, financial considerations will play a large part in the choice you make. A hotel might be the same cost or less than an apartment rental but then meal expense has to be considered. Anytime you can provide some of your own meals, it will always be a cost savings. Sicily villas, on the other hand, will be the most expensive and, unless you are very wealthy, you might want to rent this when you are part of a large group. If you are traveling with family or close friends, a villa rental could be a wonderful experience. They are usually luxurious with many amenities and provide an opportunity to see how the residents of both Tuscany and Sicily live. The closer you can be to other people, the more you will learn about their customs and heritage. If you are going, however, to simply relax and enjoy pampering yourself, a country villa might be exactly what you will want for this trip.

A hotel or bed and breakfast inn are always an option when vacationing, but if you are looking for something different which will provide you with a unique experience, consider possibly renting a Tuscany villas in Tuscany and Sicily apartments in Sicily. This would give you the opportunity to become familiar with both.

Once you actually begin your trip it will be time to relax and enjoy all of the plans you worked so hard making.

Posted by Jen on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 8:32 PM

Christian counseling

Have you ever considered getting a degree in Christian counseling? Well, I have considered it, but I have also considered becoming a social worker. I think that either is a worthwhile profession, however, I think that becoming a social worker is a much more difficult job to work.

The idea of being a Christian counselor sounds good. I mean I like the idea of being able to pray with someone for guidance and strength, as I believe that strength that comes from above can sometimes give us the power that sometimes we as human beings feel unable to tap into ourselves. I am not really sure though how I would even attempt to counsel those who have strayed from what Christianity says is right and wrong, and how to help them get back on the path. Although I have a strong belief in God and what is right and wrong, I do feel that God is the only one who can and should judge us, as he knows what is in us, more than any human being possibly could. For instance, look at all the people on the pulpits in this world, who are telling others right and wrong and what will damn us to hell. Then in their spare time they are doing such ungodly things, that one could not imagine how they could stand up holier than thou every Sunday and preach about God's ways. I hate that and that is why I don't feel that telling someone what they are doing is wrong, is my place.

On the other hand, social work can be grueling, especially when you can't help a person, family or child that you know is truly in crisis and needs your help. Social workers don't have enough hours in the day to handle all the cases they are handed, and then are always the first to get blamed if a family situation gets out of control. Take that horrible story that aired about a month or so ago, about four girls living with their mother. The social worker had first been assigned to the family when they were living out of their car. Then a few years later, she had been investigating the family again when the oldest girl missed school and the school was unable to contact the home, they contacted the social worker again. She went to the home and no one answered. She went to the police to express her concerns. She even went so far as to call an intervention hotline to try and get help for this family and they again contacted the police, but still no one went to the house. Well, it took 5 months, but when they finally got into the house, they found all 4 daughters had been killed by their mother. I must say, if I had been the social worker on that case, the ending to that story would have killed me. I don't know if my heart could take it. I really don't.

Posted by Jen on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 4:03 PM

Modeling auditions

This week has been pretty interesting for me. I have been trying to find some more work that is not going to interfere with my class schedule. I also have a part time job at a coffee shop but it just doesn't pay enough and I would have to drop a class to take on more hours. So lately I have been answering some open calls for modeling auditions and acting auditions. I did about three theater auditions this week alone trying to see how well my skills from high school have held up. I think that I have done pretty well so far but none of it matters unless I get one of these jobs. I would really prefer the modeling jobs because the acting jobs would require a lot more work on my end that I probably wouldn't be able to handle. But, if I did happen to be accepted for one I surely wouldn't turn it down without a lot of thought first. Hopefully something comes out of all of these auditions and it's not me having to give up education for the money to fund it. My classes at the moment have been going really great. I am still making dean's list and working on my senior project for next year. I have also been doing some research in the history department to try and get a jump start on my graduate school work that will clamp down on me in about a year from now. The job at the coffee shop is really cool even though it doesn't pay enough. I mean it is really hard to complain about a job where I basically get to drink coffee and read books all day while ringing up really cool customers in between chapters. It is also a local shop so I feel really great supporting them and that's why I haven't been looking for a totally new job, just something else to supplement the money I can't possibly get from working here. I am sure it will all work out somehow, it always does. If I can at least get some assignment based work then I will be happy with that much.

Posted by Jen on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 3:24 PM

South Africa

Today I had one of the coolest conversations with a professor I have had in nearly two years. Mr. Igibi is my African history teacher and so far this semester his class has been my favorite. He is originally from South Africa and he immigrated here about ten years ago just to get his college degree. I am really interested in the culture and about helping out there eventually. He and I talked about how since they do speak English in South Africa, they would probably love to get an American educated teacher who could help bring kids forward and at the same time, be able to respect the culture from which they come. I asked him a lot of questions about South African property for sale. I have been a little worried that in the places internationally I would like to eventually teach, there would be a big problem with houses for sale. I wanted to know about how the conditions were in South Africa and how they handle disputes and issue of private property because I know that in other area in America even, it is difficult to take the crime levels. He said that he would recommend that I take a trip there first and actually talk to the people within the South Africa real estate market. Since things in the world change so fast, especially along the housing market and real estate lines, he just said that their situation has probably changed so much that he wouldn't even know where to begin if he went back today. He did say though that I shouldn't worry about the crime or about the society because as I said before, there are places even in America where I wouldn't dare to go now and it can only get to that point in certain areas of the entire world anyway. He also gave me some phone numbers of people he knows inside of the country where I could stay if I went there for a little trip and now I have actually been looking in to planning a journey soon. I am so excited that I have been blessed to meet this guy because it just feels like I am totally meant to go and teacher over there.

Posted by Jen on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 3:02 PM

Costa Luz

Traveling is something I truly enjoy. I have been to many places and my preferred vacations always seem to include the beach. I love the warm sand and clear blue water. I have even been to the beach on the off season and I just love it (as long as it is not too cold). I love to walk along the beach and feel the wind blowing in my hair and dipping my feet in the water. I love to feel the waves crashing at my feet and the sound that they make at night while I am drifting off to sleep. The beach is definitely the place for me.

One of my favorite beach experiences, was actually in Spain at Costa Luz. (The actual name is Costa de la Luz which in Spanish means coast of light). That is a great description of this amazing corner of the world. I actually stayed at the Costa Luz apartments, and got a great deal on the whole trip. I was there with a friend for 10 days and loved every minute of it. If I didn't have so many roots here, I would move there in a heartbeat. The shore line was beautiful and the sunsets were astounding. I can't say enough about this romantic location. I actually think that it was more romantic because it was an international trip. Listening to everyone speak Spanish was so neat. I speak some Spanish and many people there did speak fluent English, so I was able to communicate freely.

While there we rode Jerez Horses along the shore. If you go you must be sure to experience this. The water is so blue it is almost clear. The sand so white that when the sun shines off of it, it nearly blinds you. I brought home some white sand in a small bottle to remember our trip by.

Costa de la Luz also has holiday rentals and if you know anything about Spain they are located on the shore by Cadiz. Next time though I think I will stay at one of Costa Luz holiday rentals instead of the apartments. Although, I really did enjoy the apartments, I would like things to be a little different next time. I have learned from past experience, that even the most perfect of vacations can never be duplicated. If you try to you will always be disappointed. Always do it a little different, and you will enjoy it that much more.

Posted by Jen on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 3:51 PM

Exhibit stands

I don't know if you have ever been to a home and garden show. A friend dragged me and I thought WHY. I mean I just have a little apartment. Well, let me tell you they had some of the neatest exhibition stands I have ever seen. They had exhibit demonstrators for everything from vinyl siding and roofing to home furnishings and lawn and garden products.

I guess what I truly found amazing was the stand construction. Some of these things were very elaborate. I never really thought about it before, but I guess there are actually people who make these things for a living. I don't know whether you call this fair stands or exhibition stand design or exhibition design or what. It seems perfect for the really creative types. I mean to be able to create these things, you probably are given free creative license as long as you use the company's logo or colors or whatever.

Some of these exhibition design were beautiful, with elaborate colors and 3D images. Some had actual photographs blown up on them. Some with customers, model homes, and beautiful landscape designs in exhibition germany lifelike sizes. One had an actual functioning robot and another had buttons that you could push to find out more information on solar power. These stand were beautiful and informative. It was kind of like being a Disney where you could play and push and touch everything. Who thinks these things up?

There are so many jobs in this world that we just don't really think about when searching for a career. I mean I never really thought of this as a profession. Sure everyone thinks about being a doctor, lawyer, or teacher but who ever says I want to design a really cool trade show stand when I grow up. I don't know maybe I just grew up sheltered, but until this past weekend, I never thought of this as a career. Judging by how beautiful these things were and how sturdy, I would imagine they cost quite and bit, and this would probably be a very lucrative business to be in. Especially since not many people even know that this is a career.

If you are an artist and looking to start your own business, this is a neat avenue to take. Working for yourself would probably be the best way to start into this business, unless you know a company that produces these fair stands, then you could start with them and get the inside scoop on how to get into the field.

Posted by Jen on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 3:27 PM

My debt consolidation

Listening to all the news about the economy lately is making me sick. Now they are saying that we are in a recession. The price of gas is soaring and they are just now getting around to saying that will cause a cost increase in everything we buy. Well, DUH of course gas prices being up will cause a cost increase in everything----Everything we buy is transported by truck or plane so of course the companies are going to raise the price of things. And let's face it, even if the gas costs rising didn't effect these major companies that much, they would still see the rising gas prices as an opportunity to stick it to us with the excuse - Well you know the cost of gas keeps rising so it is costing us more to get these items to you the consumer.

Either way, there were many people in debt before the rise in gas costs. I mean how many debt consolidation programs are out there on the market these days. Every time you turn on the boob tube, there is someone else offering to consolidate debt for you. And don't forget about all the bankruptcy lawyers waiting to help you. There are offers for free credit reports all over the internet. It is insane. How many people are in debt in this country?

Well, be careful people, the tough times are ahead. I assure you identity theft will be on the rise. Put away those credit cards now. Pay them down or off and don't use them. Times are going to get tougher, so you can not afford to be in debt right now. If you are, get help. Unfortunately, the government wants us to spend, spend, spend to help revive the economy. Well I just have one thing to say about that, don't do it! Save up as much as you can. Keep cash readily available, just in case. If something big happens in this country, you can forget about going to the atm machine to get your money out of the bank, they are machines and probably won't work if there is a real crisis. I know it may sound like I am panicked, that is not the case at all. I just believe in being prepared for anything. I don't trust the system that we are in. Nor do I trust the government that spending right now is a good idea. If that is the case then let them spend. I don't want to have to declare bankruptcy anytime soon, and I can't just overspend and call it a deficit like they do.

Posted by Jen on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 3:17 PM

Tattoo Designs

How about that American idol girl Carly Smithson? What an incredible voice she has! It is a very sultry voice. I really like her tattoo also. For those of you who are not American Idol fans, she has the most incredible looking tattoo design I have ever seen. It is on almost her entire right arm. It is a tattoo of a woman's face and upper torso. It is an oriental looking woman and it uses some really attractive design and colors. I have looked in a tattoo online gallery before, but have never seen such an attractive tattoo. It must take a long time to get one of those things done. She and her husband manage a tattoo shop that do a lot of Oriental tattoos. I think I like it even more, because it is one really big tattoo. Most people instead of having one large tattoo get multiple tattoos all over. I prefer this look much more. I don't know if she has any other tattoos on her, but I like the fact that when you look at her you only see the one.

I saw the interview with her in her home and she was saying what a neat freak she was and how she loves to cook and clean. She seems so "not the homemaker type" to me anyway. She said that she loves to be in her home, just tidying up and cooking. She is obviously Irish, but she really seems like such a neat person. As for her singing, she is incredible.

I heard a rumor online that Carly has already been signed to a recording contract for $2.2 million dollars. They say that this happened right before the show started and that because of that she is being ridden by the judges as someone who is not performing up to her potential. Rumor has it that the show doesn't like to lose control over their stars and starlets and that Carly will be the "shock elimination" of the season. I guess they probably feel that to make her the next American Idol after she already has a full record contract would be kind of pointless.

I guess I can see that point though. I mean the people get on American Idol to get a recording contract and it is better PR to give that to a person that does not already have one in the works. Of course, all of them have the world at their feet right now as their names are on the tips of everyone's tongues.

Keep flaunting those tattoos Carly, and just remember, you won't be going back to the tat shop, no matter what Simon says.

Posted by Jen on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 2:48 PM

christmas-cards

I got a card this morning from my mom. No it wasn't my birthday or a special day. The card was just to let me know how much she loved me and how glad she is that I am her daughter. It came at just the right time too. You know, it started out to be one of those days, where you thought nothing was gonna go right. And then, boom this. A little light in my day, and it made me see things in a whole new light.

I try to be sure to send people cards often. Sometimes they are just to let people know I am thinking about them, especially if I know that they are having a rough time. I always am sure to send birthday cards for a person's special day. I don't always manage to get them there on time, but I give it my best shot.

I have an aunt who sends me Thanksgiving cards every year. Now this is one holiday, that I truly never think of sending a card for. Well, honestly I try to spend it with family, so then there is really no purpose to sending a card. But anyway I think it is a nice gesture.

I always look forward to Christmas time and cards. I always hear from people at this time of year, most of whom I have not had contact with since the year before. It is a wonderful reminder, that even though we are far apart and don't speak often, that we are still remembered, loved and thought about by others. I try to send fun Christmas cards to lighten people's hearts and to always include a little personal note and even sometimes a What I Am Up To letter. I think it is a really nice way to touch base with everyone and let them know what you are doing and how life has been over the past year. I find the preprinted cards, really impersonal, except the ones that have pictures of peoples kids, animals, and families. I like the idea of getting to see everyone. Maybe that's just because I am a picture person. I love pictures.

My doctor's office always sends me business birthday cards which I think is a really nice way of acknowledging your patients. I also like the business Christmas cards, well I should say holiday card as they are usually correct to send a holiday greeting card instead of one geared to a particular set of beliefs. In this day and age, this is probably for the best.

The next time you are at the store, go ahead and pick up a card for someone, just cause. I assure you it will brighten their day.

Posted by Jen on Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 9:38 PM

VoIP-phone

Things at work were overwhelmingly hectic over the last few months. Almost nothing was getting done. It was a daily routine for at least two or three employees to start arguing over busy signals and interference on the phones. It was good entertainment, but it did not take too long to get annoying. Work days just seemed so much longer because of the phones. My wife would get mad at me because I would turn off my phone once I left the office. Some nights, I would not even answer our home phone. It was easier for me to just let the answering machine record a message. I hated the phone. Thankfully, the situation at work is resolved. Everyone was arguing amongst one another so much that my boss had no other choice but to invest in a new communication system. Ever since, life around the office is so much more productive and hassle free. A pbx phone system was installed to help reduce the amount of traffic on the mainline used to contact people away from the building. If someone needs to talk with another employee within the building, they can do so now using a separate system. It is still possible to use outside lines through these phones, but it helps to manage internal traffic much better. The use of this second phone system has drastically improved not only the quality of work around the office, but also the morale of the employees. We are much more social and not as high strung. Supposedly in the near future, we are expected to get another upgrade in the company communication system. A few of the higher-ups are getting voice over ip capabilities where they can use the Internet to talk with people and do not even need to pick up the phone. As technology improves and there are more ways to communicate, it is evident that an effective way of contacting people can not be underestimated. In the long run, time is saved and there is greater productivity. Also, I find that some of these different systems are fun to use. It does not feel so much like work when you are on the Internet talking to someone. Using the phone definitely feels like work, but the Internet can provide a closer resemblance of face-to-face contact which is so much nicer.

Posted by Jen on Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 9:16 PM

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