Buying Equipment For A Home Gym: What You Should Know First

So you?ve gone through all the options and decided that a home gym is right for you. After all it?s convenient, private and can save you money by not paying for a gym membership.

You know what?s coming next. You have to plunk down 200, 500, maybe even 2,000 dollars to get the system that you want. And with all the choices out there how do you really know what you want anyway?

There are two main types of machines on the market, cardiovascular and strength training. Your body will look very different after you?ve shed the pounds depending on which exercise machine you choose.

Cardiovascular: These machines get your heart pumping quickly and increase your overall stamina. They include treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, rowing exercise machines, steppers and skiers. Once you get your heart rate going on one of these machines you?ll start shedding calories fast. And most come with a calorie tracker so you can see when you?ve burned off that hamburger you felt so guilty about eating.

Cardio machines often only focus on a few muscles, meaning that your legs might get toned but you won?t get a six-pack or strengthen your arm muscles if all you do is use an elliptical. If you want a toned look all over, you?ll need to add other exercises like sit-ups and push-ups to your routine.

When shopping for a safe machine make sure it is sturdy and quiet when in use. Some cheaper brands tend to be wobbly which can be dangerous and distract you from getting the most out of your workout. An anti static floor mat may also help the stability of your machine by creating a hard surface for it to stand on. Compare prices to the quality of a brand you like. It may be worth it to get the upgrade because it will last longer.

You?ll also want the control panel to have quick response time because when you?ve reached your limit on a treadmill you need to stop immediately. Some machines keep going until a few seconds after you press the button.

To avoid having problems order from an online retailer that has a good return policy. Check to see how thick the base legs are. This is something you can find easily on Pro Form treadmills or NordicTrack Ellipticals.

Strength Training: This is what you want if you?re looking for the big bulk. Pumping weights is the fastest way to get larger muscles without using harmful drugs. You can also tone your muscles with strength training by lifting smaller amounts.

If you plan to work out alone you?ll need to find a machine that has a built in spotter or uses resistance in place of weights. If not you may find yourself at a stalemate with the 100 pounds above your head. Talk about an awkward situation!

Just like cardiovascular workouts, you won?t get big arm muscles if all you buy is an AB CoreMaster. So make sure you know what muscles a particular machine targets before buying. You may find that it?s worth it to spend a little extra money to get an all-in-one gym that targets most major muscle groups than a machine that focuses on just a few.

And don?t be surprised if you don?t lose any weight after strength training for a long period of time. Since muscle weighs more than fat you may even find that you?ve gained a few pounds.

Take the time to analyze your goals. What areas of your body are you concerned about and how do you envision yourself looking at its best? You may decide that what you need is a combination of cardiovascular exercise from a machine like the Pro Form treadmill and strength training from a set of weights. There are a few machines on the market, like the Cardio Cruiser by Jake that do both in one. But no matter what you decide you?ll be happier with your purchase and the results you get if you base it on your goals.

About the Author:

Karen Gates offers free information on hundreds of different weight loss methods. She also provides honest and unbiased dieting and weight loss product reviews. Go to Best Weight Loss Program also found at http://www.bestweightprograms.com

Real Estate Lead Generators Business Building Ideas Are All Around You

When I first got licensed to sell real estate I was about as clueless as they come, but what I lacked in knowledge and ability I made up for in desire to learn and willingness to learn. So, I went to school after finishing real estate school.

No, not a school with a sit down classroom, but school in the sense that I started asking questions of veteran agents and watching what they did and said. I turned off my mouth after a while and opened up my eyes and ears and learned more doing that than I did while getting licensed.

For example, I learned that Real Estate Lead Generators abound, and everyday I was presented with opportunities that had I not been tuned in to pay attention to would have gone overlooked.

Here's a case in point with respect to business cards. I don't remember exactly how many business cards came with my first order, but I vaguely remember it being 500-1,000 cards. A year later I still had most of them. It was the craziest thing that I could have done!

Think about it! Instead of making it a point to give them away as fast as I could I was actually rationing them out like I didn't want to unload them.

Don't make that mistake! Business cards are great real estate lead generators and should be given out as freely as you would a glass of water to a thirsty person. And that's just what real estate prospects are. Thirsty to make real estate transactions with real estate agents sharp enough to recognize the opportunities.

Admittedly, I wasn't too sharp back then, but as I got smarter I realized the value of handing 3-4 business cards to everybody I came in contact with-and I mean everybody; my kids teachers, my doctor, your doctor, the school crossing card, my mechanic, dentist, etc.

And then there were the scores of counter tops that I encountered everyday. Grocery store counters, dry laundry counters, fast food pickup counters, counters where I paid the cable bill, bought computer stuff, book counters, etc.

Oh, and less I forget I must have passed by hundreds of billboards without placing one business card, real estate flyer or anything else on it. My stomach still knots up when I think of all the money those wasted opportunities cost me.

But like I said, I'm a lot smarter now (okay, so maybe I'm just older) and can pass on some pearls of wisdom to you so that you can avoid some of the mistakes I made. For example, some other real estate generating ideas include:

Real Estate Leads from Contractor and Home Builder Shows.

Real Estate Contractor and Home Building shows are becoming extremely popular among folks who are looking to build their home or are considering having one custom-built themselves. Getting Real Estate Leads from them is a great a strategy that's easy to implement.

Real Estate Closing Gifts; Small Gifts That Lead To More Referrals and Sales.

Many Real Estate Agents think of real estate closing gifts as something that should be given to the home buyer by his or her close family and friends. The gift serves as an accolade for the person's accomplishment. You can design them yourself if you're the creative type, or simply go out and buy one from your local shopping mall.

Free Website Content; Using Free Content To Generate Leads.

Everything you need to know to build a realtor web site and generate leads is available on the Internet, much of it free to little cost-including website content! In fact, some of the best real estate information I've read has been free, and although locating quality free content for publication and turning them into HTML to publish on your web site each week involves a great deal of time and effort it can be worth the effort.

I could go on and on, but it all comes back to the notion that real estate lead generating ideas are around us all day, everyday. If you pay attention to them you can work them to your advantage, but if you impose your will with them you can dominate your market like no other agent in your community.

Visit Real Estate Lead Generators for more information about Real Estate Lead Generators.

Midlife Courage: Transitioning Uncertainty with a Spirit of Adventure

In our fast-paced, multitasking lifestyles, where most of us over-40s struggle to get from one task to the next, a concept like courage seems a bit out of place. Courage in today?s society might be an attribute best left to our growing passive experiences of movies, DVD rentals, reality TV, or an exciting novel. What need is there for courage in us Baby Boomers who have been dubbed ?the privileged generation?? What are the costs of keeping courage as a strictly passive activity? What are ways to activate courage?

What is courage?

First of all, what is courage? Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger and uncertainty. Courage is defined differently for everyone. Some might see courage as lacking fear in a situation that normally would trigger it. Some might even consider a courageous act to be reckless. At the heart of courage is the ability to confront. Confrontation is something most of us shy away from, and yet fear, pain and uncertainty are a part of life for people over 40.

?At midlife, the part of ourselves that we have known, the caterpillar, is in essence disintegrating. We are stepping into the abyss without a clue as to where we will emerge from it. We are leaving behind what we have known ourselves to be and all the safe and predictable containers of that reality,? writes Kathleen Brehony in Awakening at Midlife. How frightening, uncertain, and painful is that?

My own story is an example of stepping into the abyss. At the age of 47, I was a long-time single woman with my children off creating their own lives. I had a middle-class life with a nice house, a great but stressful job, and a 401K. I did not, however, know the woman who looked back at me in the mirror.

I could have made several choices. The first would have been to keep working hard and ignore the inner rumbling, and for a while, I did just that. I kept doing what I was doing. Then a friend of mine was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I was overcome with emotion that was very personal. I was concerned for her; but I was equally concerned with ME. What if that were me? What about my unlived life?

I was scared. I was in pain. I did not like the place where I was, feeling uncertain. I call this ?walking through the valley.? I needed to go deep within myself for the courage to confront the fear, uncertainty and pain. I found my courage through discovering my own spirit of adventure.

The spirit of adventure

Jeff Saltz in The Way of Adventure says, ?Adventure is any intentional experience that substantially alters our perspective long enough to see things we have never seen before?to see familiar things in ways we have never seen them. The most exotic destination of all is the one that fulfills all your yearnings?found within your own adventurous spirit?after you?ve put yourself to the test and found hidden reserves of creativity, resourcefulness, and perseverance.?

Sounds exciting, eh? Perhaps in theory?but how do we really do this?

Take a leap of faith. If you always do what you?ve always done, you get the same outcomes. Deep within you, you know what you want to do. It?s the action that makes the difference. Joseph Campbell writes in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, ?A hero ventures from the world of the common day into a region of supernatural wonder.?

Connie was a 51-year-old divorced mother of two grown children. She had worked for years teaching elementary school because it was a good income and gave her summers and school holidays off. She had to admit, however, that her heart had gone from teaching for the previous few years. Bureaucracy and changes in the education culture had driven Connie to dread weekdays and long for weekends. She worked harder at trying to ?love her work,? doing gratitude journaling and starting a teacher?s support group. The problem was, she felt worse, not better, from her efforts.

That winter, Connie got a cold that turned to pneumonia and required bed rest for several days. During that time, she started journaling her thoughts, and came to a realization that her job was making her sick. She recognized that she no longer ?needed? the things teaching once brought to her. She began to focus instead on what she did need.

Connie wanted to write and express herself. At the end of school term, she put in her notice and spent the summer in a writing course. She then went to work as a librarian four days a week and began to do freelance writing on a part-time basis. Today, four short years later, Nancy has ongoing jobs as a freelance writer, and has co-written and published a book on helping children to read through common parent-child activities.

Where is your leap of faith? What needs to change to allow barriers to lift?

Appreciate Adversity. Buddhists say that we learn our life lessons by way of our life changes. Life events cause us to change in order to deal with them. By midlife, we can look back at our journey and get an appreciation for just how we have had to adapt.

Janine, a 47-year-old gay woman, had battled juvenile arthritis since the age of 15. She prided herself on embracing yoga into daily life, practicing good nutrition, and having a good attitude. However, with the discovery of a lump in her breast and diagnosis of breast cancer, she became angry. ?Why me?? she ranted on to Jill, her partner of 15 years. This ?why me?? brought up a flood of angry emotions unresolved from childhood. Janine began to focus on how ?different? she had always been because of the arthritis, and how unfair her life seemed to be.

After some months of chemotherapy, Janine started to process her anger and, through a coaching relationship, began to focus on the gifts of being ?different.? She realized that the resilience she developed as a child to deal with being different, e.g., not being able to partake in some sports and having to take rest breaks after school, allowed her the courage to ?come out? as a gay women in her early 20s. Janine began to see how she could have made other choices that might not have been so favorable to her now. She began to see the power of her current situation. With renewed energy, she volunteered at the Arthritis Foundation, focusing on Youth Support.

What have been the adversities in your life? How can they be reframed for your benefit? Can you see the choices you have made on your journey that have allowed you to arrive where you are right now? How can this new self-knowledge help you to take your next step?

Change Your Environment. As an occupational therapist I look at a person?s experience as being powerfully affected by both inner and outer environments. Same person plus different environment equals different outcomes. We often forget this powerful variable and get into a ?rut? due to years of doing the same thing. Midlife is a time to shake ourselves up a bit.

Sarah was a 60-year-old married woman living in upstate New York, with four grown daughters and ten grandchildren. Sarah was the family matriarch in this strong Jewish family, and had worked for years as a social worker in an agency that supported women who were victims of domestic violence. After her mother?s death ten years ago, Sarah had looked after a very demanding father who lived in Florida, as well as her husband?s mother, a widow, aged 85 and still living on her own.

Sarah, after years of wanting to travel to New Zealand and being able to afford it, but denying herself the pleasure due to guilt for all the starving children in the world, finally came to do a women-only inner/outer six-day adventure on New Zealand?s South Island. She had not had a vacation in 10 years, instead taking her vacation times to babysit grandchildren, or visit her father, or catch up on home management tasks.

This adventure took Sarah away from the demanding voices of her children, grandchildren, in-laws, father and others. Her adventure dictated that she had no computer, clock, schedule, or television. Hiking for 4-6 hours a day with six other women, Sarah was strongly affected by the outer environment of nature.

Daily journaling, group ceremony and facilitation gave her insights to share with other women, and Sarah started to question her beliefs. For the first time in her life, she began to see herself as a woman without attachments, a woman with a mission of her own. Sarah began to see how she was ?controlling? her own life by not letting her daughters be independent of her ongoing guidance. She also saw that there were many areas in her father?s and mother-in-law?s lives where she could set boundaries. Most significantly, the achievement of backpacking the journey on her own and facing her thoughts and beliefs gave her the courage to ?face anything!?

Sarah went home to re-create relationships with her entire family. While some of them welcomed her changes, others were scared and slower to adapt. Sarah was ready for this. She had gained courage to ride out any familial storm through having changed her inner/outer environment. Walks on the weekend and daily journaling kept her courage well-fueled.

How long has it been since you purposefully changed your environment for any length of time? What strengths would you discover if you challenged yourself to do things you?ve never done before?

Midlife is a time of transformation. To deny this is to deny ourselves an opportunity for growth and discovery. As with any transition, a middle ground exists, a valley that we all must walk through. Discovering our own spirit of adventure affords us the courage that allows us to cross the valley with more certainty, less pain, and the ability to look back over our shoulder and say, ?If I can do that, what else can I do??

Jennifer Wright, ?Mid-Life Spirit of Adventure Guide for Women? coaches women globally in over-40 transitions of mid-crisis, pre-retirement, empty nest, career change, and workplace adaptations to find adventure in life overwhelm. Trained as an occupational therapist and later as a life coach, Jenn combines the physical, emotional and spiritual elements in her coaching for women. Featured in TIME magazine?s Female Midlife Crisis 2006 edition, 60 Minutes, she is now waiting a PEOPLE magazine feature. Visit her website at http://www.midlifeadventure.com and sign up for her free monthly adventure newsletter and receive her article Top Ten Ways for Successful Midlife Transition.

Everything You Need To Know About Tenant Occupied Properties

Investor update on where you stand with tenant occupied properties and how they affect your investment. First things first, the law. The Residential Tenancy act applies to residential tenancies in British Columbia. It contains exceptions for tenancies such as not for profit housing cooperatives, accommodation provided to students or employees and living accommodations occupied as vacation or travel accommodations. However, the residential tenancy act should not be used for commercial properties as it dos not apply. Also tenancy?s occupied by a mobile home park are regulated by the Manufactured home park tenancy act and not the residential tenancy act.

Here?s what you need to know:

Written tenancy agreements have been in effect since January 1st, 2004. Every agreement between an landlord and tenant must be in writing. The act requires that the tenancy agreement set out the standard terms which are included as a schedule to the Residential Tenancy Regulation. Remember to use legal names of the landlord and the tenant with the address and rental unit, date of tenancy agreement and all agreed terms included into the contract. You could use your own contract. However, if you phone a property manager in the British Columbia or Calgary area, you could obtain a contract from one of them. They can also offer several advantages to managing your property. Re-Keying Locks is a job that must be preformed by the landlord, if requested by the tenant. The landlord MUST re-key the locks as to prevent the previous tenant to enter into the rental unit. The cost of the re-keying or altering the lock must be paid by the landlord and under no circumstance be paid by the tenant in British Columbia Rentals or Alberta Rentals.

A Landlord may also require an additional deposit if the tenant wishes to have a pet. This deposit permits the tenant to keep the pet in the rented property. This deposit may not be greater than the equivalent of one half of one months rent.

A Landlord may also require a deposit for keys or access devices. For example: garage door openers or security keys.

A landlord can increase the rent annually after giving three months notice. Rent may be increased by a percentage equal to the consumer price index plus 2%. This dispute can be made by a tenant in arbitration. However, if the landlord is within the permitable increase then the landlord is within his rights.

Landlord may enter the property but must provide 24 hours notice to the tenant. However, if the tenant gives permission, the landlord may enter at the time requested.

An investor or landlord is not required to have pets in his or her investment. Pets may be restricted or prohibited by a landlord. Although a landlord can require a pet deposit, the landlord cannot request more then one pet deposit. The landlord is only allotted one pet deposit which should cover all pets owned by the tenant. Also a tenant can end a tenancy agreement for illegal activity being carried out by the tenant or guest of the tenant. If this illegal activity has caused or might cause damage to the landlords property then the landlord may end the agreement. All advice given should not be relied upon in any legal manner and you should always approach your lawyer, realtor or property manager for help in these manners. They are the professionals.

Shane Toews is a Licenced Realtor who helps others to educate themselves on current real estate issues. He also provides assistance on how to locate quality homes, apartments or vacation rentals in Canada's Fraser Valley area. Visit his website RentFraserValley.com for more information on Canada's Fraser Valley Real Estate Market

Hiking Some Things To Consider When Picking A Backpack

There's an amazing range of backpacks available today in all shapes, sizes and colors and with enough add-ons to keep even the best of the 'gadget freaks' happy for days. However, if you're looking for a suitable backpack for hiking then there are a few basics that you need to come to grips with.

Small packs, such as waist packs or fanny packs (this term always conjures up memories of Albert Brooks and Michael Douglas in The In-laws), are not strictly speaking backpacks, since they are not worn on the back. Nevertheless, they serve the same purpose on a smaller scale and can be ideal for short hikes.

These smaller packs normally have a strap and two or three compartments and can be used to hold a number of handy items such as a water bottle, nutrition bars, sunscreen, insect repellant, band-aids and other small items.

Some smaller packs, often called hydration packs, even have special water bladders with drinking tubes. These normally hold anything up to a couple of gallons and again can be useful. You should remember though that a gallon of water weighs about 8 lbs.

If you're going on longer hikes, or need to carry more with you, then there are lots of different backpacks to choose from. Most of these are categorized by size, which is often expressed in terms of their volume in liters.

Day packs, as their name suggests, are designed to be used on reasonably short hikes. They are normally anywhere from about ten to thirty liters in volume and come in various styles. They will all have shoulder straps and some will have a chest strap and/or a belt strap.

Larger packs, from about thirty to seventy liters, go by a variety of names including, midrange, midsize, light duty packs and others. Packed correctly, they can hold quite a lot of equipment and it's easy to get carried away and try to pack everything including the kitchen sink. Be careful and remember that, whatever you pack, you have to carry it.

These backpacks need to be of a sturdy but lightweight construction and should have good broad shoulder straps and a waist belt. It's also very helpful if they have the now commonly seen plastic 'dog-leash' quick release buckles.

The largest packs, which have a capacity in excess of seventy liters and usually have a number of special features, are generally referred to as heavy duty, full-sized, expedition or something similar.

These large backpacks normally have special supports threaded through the shoulder straps and across the back or waist to help stabilize the backpack and make it easier to carry. They are also often designed to be carried higher on the back to keep the load off the lower back and so help to prevent back pain and fatigue.

The best full sized packs are manufactured from extremely strong composite materials, which are just about indestructible, and come with all sorts of lumbar support, pads and well designed balance mechanisms. Many will also have special compartments to hold all sorts of different things including sleeping bags or even a small tent.

At the end of the day the most important thing to remember when it comes to choosing a hiking backpack is that you will have to carry it. So, think very carefully about just what you need (not want) to take with you before you set off and pack this and nothing else.

Joining your local hiking club will put the resources of the club at your disposal and allow you to get advice and information on all aspects of hiking. Visit The-Hiking-Club.com for more information about hiking and hiking equipment including such things as good quality Timberland hiking boots and other waterproof boots.

Chocolates Beer Bikes & Barges ? Adventures for Singles Belgium & Holland 2006

We arrived to cosmopolitan Brussels with 3 lost bags and 1 missing person. One suitcase went to Moscow but all caught up eventually. Janice and I led a perfect size group of 39, not too big to get lost in or too small for comfort.



Each July trip draws school teachers who have loyally followed me around the world and they do love Europe. We began with a light orientation tour in the historic heart of this capital, followed by a tour of the Chocolate Museum. I found this boring, but the tastings were great.



After a nap at the Sheraton, we enjoyed a welcome dinner at Chez Leon, a typical Belgium Brasserie located on the charming ?Rue de Restaurants.? You can get mussels in Brussels, but not brussel sprouts. And the french fry as it was invented here. Our menu consisted of egg puff pastry with Ardennes mouseline sauce, Flemish beef stew in Grimbergen ale and a dark chocolate mousse cake on a bed buttercream which was a culinary masterpiece never to be forgotten. I always say that a loud group is a happy group, but I think their decibel level here may have been due to their indulgence of amber ales. 428 different types are brewed in this country including a popular new blueberry beer. Later we scattered like chickens into the Grand Place which is considered by most to be the worlds most beautiful square. It comes to life at night every July with a light show and various unlicensed entertainers. One young lady is dressed in candy tempting men to buy a bite.



If it?s Tuesday, it must be Belgium. After breakfast, we began our morning walking tour of the 17th century Grand Place. It was actually 8:30 Sunday morning and I marveled that in over a dozen visits here, I?ve never seen this place so empty. It echoed in silence as tourists slept and the locals were gone for holiday. Sunlight brilliantly flooded the gothic cathedrals, classical facades and art nuveau houses. We were alone and it was breathtaking.



We then visited the famed confectioner ?Planet Chocolate? that opened especially for our group. Pedestrians peered in the windows with curiosity. A great demonstration was given by chocolatier Jon, grandson of the founder of this factory renowned for producing 67 different flavors. We learned about the history of cocoa. The ancient Mayans considered it an aphrodisiac and Montezuma consumed it in copious amounts. It was made famous in Belgium by J. Nuehus who added the praline hazelnut cream. Each cocoa fruit contains 25 beans. The best comes from Ghana, Ivory Coast and Indonesia. We learned all about the roasting and fermenting processes. Jon expounded on how healthy his dark chocolate is with more magnesium and antioxidants. He even asserts that it boosts energy and thus helps you loose weight?convoluted thinking. It was however, once sold at chemists as antidepressant medicine and unlimited amounts were given to soldiers in wartime to combat stress. At the end of the lecture, silver trays of truffles were presented along with a cup of hot ganache, which tasted like chocolate soup. I never really cared for chocolate but it was infatuation at first bite.



Our next stop was Chocolate Manon which I was told is run by a ?chocolate nazi? who will lock the doors if we?re one minute late. This small factory concentrates on quality over quantity and fancy packaging. The educational presentation was given by the owner Christian, who is both serious and hilarious. He only uses the highest quality vanilla, sugar, butter and 70% cocoa powder. This is a real factory with enormous chocolate blocks piled high and brown drippings everywhere. Sorry Hershey?s, but the cocoa here is not replaced with palm oil, chemicals, coloring, vegetable fats and lard. This is as pure as it gets and it?s better than Swiss. They sell direct to Bergoff and Neimans in NYC. There are 443 chocolate factories in Belgium all with the competitive spirit of Tour de France between them. Godiva still reigns supreme.



Christian explained that white chocolate is really an oxymoron. It contains only milk, sugar, cream and 21% white cocoa butter. As he lectured, he continually dipped his finger in to vats to taste his latest batch, while quickly running back and forth with frenetic energy from molds to freezer. He has a true passion for his product and consumes about 250 grams or a 1/2 lb a day, yet is as thin as Calista Flockhart.



I love my job, but would swap a month with him anytime.Over 1000 fillings are used inside the hollow shells. One by one, hundreds of shells are filled by hand. Each piece is a mini-sculpture. We?re invited to squeeze the ganache pastry bags, but made a terrible mess and had to eat our mistakes. Nothing is discarded here. Even table scrapings will be remelted.



Dark chocolate can be stored up to 15 years and molded into any shape. We?re shown pictures of intricate violins, a woman?s formal dress and a life size dinning room table and chairs all made of chocolate.



Monday we toured this proud and regal city that is revealed in its royal palaces, cathedrals, museums and onuments. We see the headquarters of the EU and site of the 1958 World?s Fair with the massive silver Atonium. We photograph the Mannekin Pis. [I never understood the love of this small bronze statue but it represents Brussels. Perhaps it?s found in the irreverence of the artist. Paula was our guide for several days here. Her stellar knowledge brought the history of Belgium to life, particularly the time when King Leopold purchased the Congo as his personal playground. Paula deeply cared for her work and later invited us to visit yet another chocolate factory, but fully sated, we declined. For free time we dispersed into tiny alleyways to intentionally get lost. Some searched out beer halls or hot sugar waffles, as others shopped for tapestries at give-away prices.



Things become a bit blurry from here. I?d taken some great notes on napkins throughout and managed to loose them all enroute. But memory serves well as we head to the capital of Flanders and enchanting Bruges. This town is a complete UNESCO World Heritage Site with a tranquil character that can?t be described. The people have done so much to protect its medieval feel, it provides the magical affect of stepping back into time. It is called ?Little Venice? and we enjoyed a boat cruise through the veritable maze of old canals that led to the Lake of Love. We strolled through ancient squares lined with houses of gabled rooftops and various cathedrals of holy this and holy that. Horse drawn carriages filled the cobbled streets. We entered the neo-gothic Basilica of Holy Blood and climbed 365 steps up the Belfry Tower with its carillon bells that chimed so loud it could blow an eardrum. We visited the cities finest lace shop for a demonstration on lace making, which I anticipated to be as exciting as watching paint dry. It was however, quite fascinating watching the delicate work of this 500 year old cottage industry.



We viewed an 18th century handkerchief so intricate that it took 4 ladies nearly 10 years to complete! All for a distant royal bride to blow her nose on.



I think I walked 67 kilometers that day. (Life lesson #122- NEVER wears heels on cobbled streets.) Bruges is entirely cozy and colorful, as if stepping into a postcard. At a caf?, I splurged on a waffle topped with chocolate, fruit and ice cream, so far, so good. For our entire trip we were blessed with no rain and perfect weather.



I?m a city girl at heart and was happy to depart for Holland. William of Orange is our jovial driver who just loaded our suitcases that have now swelled to 71 pieces. This is a super double-decker with plenty of room for our 150 mile journey. I joked on the mic as we crossed the border into Holland that there will be a 3 hour time change and never to drink the water. Much to my surprise my dear novice travelers actually started changing their watches! We passed many Smart Cars manufactured by Mercedes and Swatch. These toy-like hybrid two-seaters are expensive, but so adorable. On arrival, we checked into the Novotel Amsterdam for 4 days of touring pleasure.



We boarded our private glass topped boat and cruised through a labyrinth of canals. Amsterdam has 140 miles in all. Our wonderful guide Marilyn commentated on the picturesque neighborhoods and unique architecture. I photographed the world?s skinniest house, built in 1664. It was 5 stories high and only the width of the front door! Many locals live on houseboats and the area starts to resemble a floating trailer park. Holland is about 100? below sea level. Pumps are used to constantly pump out water and basements do not exist.



The beer drinkers in this group loved the ?Heineken Experience? with plenty of tastings and virtual games all over this famous brewery. The shoppers liked the Coster Diamond Factory where we learned about cutting and polishing the precious stones. They locked us in a room with guards where a gazillion euros worth of diamonds were displayed. We each had are own agenda for free time. The art lovers explored the national museums of Rembrandt and Van Gough. Many toured Ann Franks House where one can really sense the drama as she hid from the Nazi?s in the tiny attic writing her diary. Others went to Edam for cheese and Delft for porcelain. I visited friends and indulged on Dutch pancakes of every style imaginable.



One day we visited Zaanse Schans, a typical village for total Dutch immersion. We began at the Ratterman Clog Factory where 3 million pairs are produced annually. They?re used for working in the fields and are still worn today. Wooden shoes do not stretch so how can locals proclaim these to be comfortable? I prefer my Jimmy Choo?s stilettos and instead buy tulip bulbs for souvenirs. We then visit a cheese farm and watched as they separated curds from whey. Here we bought enough wheels of flavored Goudas to make Wisconsin jealous. [We never considered the weight it would add later to our carry-ons. We explored the open air museum with a backdrop of working windmills. There were also small period cast farms with curious ducks, goats and sheep.

That evening I had dinner with a friend I usually only see once every 5 years. Paul says, ?Suzy, you are like a good old book in the library of my life that I tucked away. You re-enter out of nowhere. I dust it off and the memories return.? As we catch up, I thought I had some stories to tell but his life is as captivating as a best selling novel. He is an undercover agent in the Special Forces, trains Dutch combat troops in Germany preparing for tours in Kabul, works narcotics infiltration and is a body guard for the royal family. Kind of like Jack Bauer on ?24.? Everything is ?top secret? yet he reveals that he basically gets paid by the government to work out daily. Recently he transported orangutans form the Amsterdam zoo to freedom in Borneo.



The highlight of this trip for me was our 2 hour city tour on bicycles. We looked like a motley crew as we headed out into narrow cobbled streets and over countless bridges. As I peddled, I observed my group behind me. One woman is nearing 70, two are smoking cigarettes, Janice is talking to America on her cell and one unmentionable crashes into a car! She had to pay the driver for damages on the spot. It took complete concentration to cross the busy tram tracks. That morning we rode through Vodelpark and the Red Light district. It was interesting to see the prostitutes as they just woke up to get their coffee dressed in jeans and sneakers.





Holland is the land of the free. With prostitution legal, my group is most inquisitive on this matter. We laughed as Marilyn said,? Suzy, they all ask questions on sex. Are they frustrated??



I arranged a professional guided walking tour of the Red Light district in the oldest part of Amsterdam for the world?s oldest profession. Since the 1400?s, seamen would dock here to unload. Guides Gabriel and Shuert boldly led us through alleys of half clad ladies. No photos allowed. We?re told that some fear it?ll go out on the web. Our guides explained that some women are forced here nowadays and some are simply ashamed. Ladies differ in size, shape and color as we strolled through different quarters. On one street they?re all obese. We learned to identify the transsexuals by two things surgery can?t change ? an adam's apple and a straight waist. Tastes differ; the oldest woman here is 76 and only works in summer. Only half use protection and monthly health checks are required.



There are around 1000 prostitutes working 500 windows. They pay 150? to rent a window for 6-8 hours, and can make up to 450? per day. They pay taxes and can write receipts for services rendered. If the curtain is closed they are not on break. The area is flooded with tourists. Men pay 50? for 30 minutes, yet statistics reveal the average time spent is just 6 minutes.



We crossed ?Pill Bridge? named for the drugs pushed there and then toured the Erotic Museum with photographs and ?tools of the trade? dating back to the 17th century on display. As I pondered and stared at a metal chastity belt, Gabriel said ?that blacksmiths always had a spare key which came in handy when the husbands were away at sea.? She also insisted the Dutch were far less promiscuous than Americans. I was concerned about my ultra-conservative teachers but nothing seemed to shock them. After awhile, our senses were over saturated and it became dull. The saddest sight was seeing a ?heroin hooker?. She was emaciated with glazed eyes and so many track marks that she had to shoot it now under her tongue. Police cameras were everywhere 24/7, there is little crime and we felt totally safe.



Pot and hash are legal here in over 400 ?coffee shops? that sell joints and ?ganja-space milkshakes.? Locals told me they felt Americans were oppressed by too many rules and can?t understand how our drug companies can sell meds on TV.

Enough on the wild side, this is also the art capital of Europe boasting more museums per square foot than any other city. Marilyn gave us a quick art lesson in a nutshell. She explained that this is the 400 year celebration of Rembrandt (1606-2006). He came from a family rich in windmills. As a child, he was an expert sketcher. Later in medical school, he did anatomical drawings of corpses from criminals. He studied more and soon rose above the Dutch masters with the ability to capture light and shadows in paint. He always began with a black canvas. Though blessed with enormous artistic talent, he couldn?t manage his finances. He died penniless and was entombed in a pauper?s grave.



Van Gogh grew up a lonely child and was very attached to his mother. His hyper-critical father didn?t like his artwork. He went to Paris to study the impressionists. He was schizophrenic and when he had episodes, it was seen in his paintings that grew wilder and wilder each time. He cut off his ear and later committed suicide. His paintings were discovered stored away in his family home. We learned so much here.



Many think they?ve seen Europe, but miss the countries with the most charm. Here we were enveloped by history, culture and all that the Old Continent should be. Also this wasn?t a typical EU vacation with endless museums and cathedrals, but a creative itinerary which provided large fun. Total cost was $1175 plus air (www.AdventuresForSingles.com 877-813-9421 or in GA 770-432-8225). Everyone?s favorite stop was Bruges, but for me Amsterdam was an urban masterpiece. I found the Dutch far friendlier than other Europeans. This visit rekindled my love for the Netherlands, that tiny country with 2 names. This time I looked through new eyeballs with my teachers who were experiencing their first trip abroad.



It was a wonderful group. One couple connected whom we later labeled ?The Honeymooners? and I hope they last. In flight home on Delta, I noticed among my sleepy group that some were munching on their chocolates that were meant for gifts back home. And once in line at US Customs, some were proudly wearing their new, brightly painted, uncomfortable wooden clogs. I just have to do this trip again.

Stop Foreclosure

When a person falls upon financial hard times without their fault at several times and they are behind on mortgage payments they may need some financial help to stop foreclosure on their property. You can stay apart from foreclosure through hard work and not by sitting back and giving up frequently. You have the potential to do some things for stopping the foreclosure because nobody wants the sheriff to deliver a foreclosure notice. In any circumstances do not ignore letters or phone calls concerning your aberrant mortgage payments.

Get in touch with the lender and elucidate your situation, as they may be keen to work and know that you are annoying to make things in an exact way so offer you financial help to stop foreclosure. While discarding the property you may get debarred for aid. When you work with the lender and your financial problems are temporary, the lender might be able to help with financial help to stop foreclosure. Often this is a one time loan, bringing your mortgage payments up to date. The upside is that the monthly mortgage payments are smaller but the lender interest rates are higher.

Always be honest and upfront with the lender and they will work with you. After examining your financial position and the reason for your nonpayment, the lender could reduce the monthly payment or suspend payments temporarily. Be honest with your lender and by working with them and examining the options available as it is possible to get the financial help to stop foreclosure.

Foreclosures cost lenders money, big money, so it is in their interests to reach a workout with the borrower, either to rescue the mortgage, if this is possible, or to reduce the loss as a result of foreclosure. Don't be intimidated by the lender or his attorneys. Apprise yourself of your exact financial position. Know your rights as well as options and be honest in your statements. Maintain a written record of all communications.

Read all communications from your lender. Time is your enemy, so the earlier the potential problem is recognized by both parties, the better the chances of a resolution. If you are suffering from financial loss due to the death or loss of a spouse, illness, or unexpected increase in your outgoings, contact the lender and request a loan modification, which effectively changes the terms of the loan to lower the payments.

This is a very common process, but you will need to offer evidence about the change in your circumstances. If you feel that you are qualified for a loan modification, and your lender refuses, contact the HUD for advice. Get in touch with your lender and request forbearance if your loss of income is temporary. This means that you may get period which is granted during which your monthly payments are suspended, after which you must resume your monthly payments with a partial payment in addition towards the payments you missed.

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