GET OUT AND GO!
The excitement mounts. Graduations happening and kids of all ages will be out of school. All of us who work are looking for a little get away time whether it is for a few days or weeks. Summer is here at last! Long days and sunshine! Yippee! And we can all get away to somewhere no matter what our budget range is because there are so many opportunities out there. Anything from camping at modest fees or crusies now at greatly reduced prices. Most travel and hotel rates are at an all time low due to the recession. My family, for example, has a tradition every year of “camping” Farris style for 4-6 days in Sequoia National Forest. It’s our Farris form of modified camping (my married name is Farris). In which we reserve a campsite months ahead, pitch a tent there, but we also rent a cabin. So, we can play by the stream all day, fish, sing songs (I’d better get my guitar out and start practicing) but when night comes, we can adjourn to our cabin where we have access to a hot bath and warm beds away from any flies or even bears? But I digress.
Recently I attended one of Laurie Venn’s fabulous monthly luncheons (the “hostess with the mostess”) in which some shared tips on traveling and packing. Some I knew and some were new to me. So, whether you’re going camping economy style or cruising the world I thought you’d find some of these tips useful.
So, here we go! First, some packing ideas from an experienced traveler, Judy Zeller. It’s helpful to wear identical shirts (husband, wife, kids) when in crowded places like Disneyland or even a cruise not only to find each other but for others to help find a misplaced family member. Wear your heaviest shoes to avoid using suitcase space and weight. Use a backpack with your purse in it and also include a change of clothes in case any luggage is ever lost. A newspaper bag can hold a pair of sandals for inside the plane. In your carry on also have a change of clothes for dinner, bathing suit, labeled medicines and vitamins. less than 3 oz bottles of necessary lotions, sun lotion, toothpaste, brush and make-up. Place your pajamas on top. Use a fanny pack for quick access to money, ID, small camera, and a zip lock bag with nuts, etc. for snacks. I use a money belt strapped under my shirt for my cash and credit cards. If flying, empty your water bottle until you get through security, then fill it at a water fountain.
Always place a strap around each luggage bag and hook under the handle. If possible, paint your name all over the strap or on the luggage to make it easy to find at pick-up. Leave your baggage unlocked but take a lock so you can lock your valuables in it at the hotel or cabin. Inside the top of your luggage or carry on, place your favorite pillow or neck pillow or deflated beach ball. Take several empty shopping bags along and use the hotel plastic bag for dirty laundry. Take a green garbage bag to cover your bags in case of rain. A half roll of toilet paper with the cardboard center removed is handy in your purse for the many places where there is none. Nail polish should go in a double plastic bag. In your large suitcase, place your jewelry in a plastic bag in a sock and push it well down into a shoe. Don’t take your most treasured jewelry with you. Some travelers take an old blouse or shirt, and old underwear to leave behind making more room in their luggage for any purchases. A long skirt is handy most anywhere and a white blouse or shirt matches most anything. Your own beach towel, if it fits, can go in the bottom of your luggage. (Some hotels charge for beach towels). I usually take extra hangers and clothes pins to pin hotel curtains together at night. A small flashlight is handy too. Any health care papers should be copied and included along with copies of your passport, credit cards and accommodations. Leave copies of all this with a friend or family member. We always put our names, addresses, destination and phone numbers inside each suitcase in the top lid for easy identification.
You can get lots of information on line. Travelsmith.com has lots of travel stuff. Carol McConnell, owner of Around the Globe Travel, HB shared these tips with us: To figure your costs of a trip, consider 4 factors: transportation, lodging, food and entertainment. Decide which is the most important and how you will budget each of them. Use reputable companies when traveling. It is well worth it to buy insurance in case you get sick or hurt and can’t make the trip .Always check your flight before going to the airport to make sure it didn’t cancel or is late... Southwest Airlines does not charge for baggage. On a cruise, get to the port the day before the ship leaves in case your flight has any delays. If you’d like to talk to Carol regarding a trip, she can be reached at 714-536-5118. She owns this reputable company.
Of course, if you want to stay locally for a vacation, there are tons of places to go within easy driving distance here…Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Diego, Santa Barbara, etc. Even just a day away doing something different can break up the work week nicely. Wally and I can’t wait to go boogie boarding in San Clemente on a week day as soon as the water is a little warmer. Life is short. Enjoy where we live.
The bottom line is, I hope you get away in one way or another and leave all your worries at home. Most of what we worry about will never happen anyway!
Make it a happy summer!
On vacation, we hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies and the sand out of our belongings. Erma Bombeck
MARKET UPDATE
You don’t have to take my word for it. There’s light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train. As the garbage man said, “Things are picking up!” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave his most optimistic prediction May 9, ’09 saying he expects the economy to start growing again this year even though more jobs will disappear. Check out these quotes: “U.S. Economic Growth Seen Resuming in 3rd Quarter” (Reuters), “The Worst Is Over” (Money News), “The Return of the Homebuilders” (CNNMoney), “Housing Market may Be Healing Itself” (Forbes).
These are not my words. I track only Orange County California. And I can verify that buyers are out in droves wanting to by while the rates are delicious. I spoke with a buyer this morning who was not aware that you can get a good, solid FHA loan for 3.5% down, 5% rate, depending on amount and credit scores. He thought everyone had to put 20% down nowadays. What is good is that the adjustables (ARM) and stated income loans that got so many people in trouble are gone. Lots of buyers are unaware VA has a terrific loan with low rates that you can use many times! And first time buyers can get credits up to $18,000 and more. I see short sales and foreclosures drying up in our county at a much faster rate than what we had thought due to 5-10 offers per house or condo! I’m alerting all my buyers to buy now since we don’t know how long these rates will last. I don’t want them looking back over their shoulder later and seeing that they missed this golden opportunity.
For this reason, my office is giving a
BUYER’S SEMINAR, JUNE 6TH,
to help buyers learn about all the current loan programs,
different benefits and credits available.
THE SEMIANR IS FREE BUT THE INFORMATION IS PRICELESS!
Seating is limited so call me to reserve your seat.
ADS
SHAPELL SOLD (SAME AD AS BEFORE)
222 LINCOLN IN ESCROW (same ad)
220 LINCOLN, HB, AVAILABLE
$899,999, 2650 SF
3 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Living Room, Family Room, Dining Room, Huge Bonus Room (Mountain View)
Large Master, Fireplace, Balcony
NEW ON THE MARKET
9601 ERSKINE, HB, $669,000
South of Indianapolis, East of Bushard
One Block from First Christian Elementary School
3-4 Bedrooms, ONE STORY, Over 1500 SF
Living Room, Family Room, Cozy Fireplace, Newer Roof
Center of Tract, Steps to Park
UPDATE ON “WESLEY THE OWL” by Stacey O’Brien
Many of you have asked how the sale of her book is going. Well, it’s being sold in 12 countries now, and translated into 8 languages. Stacey is still out speaking to various bookstores, universities and nature centers around the nation. The paperback version of “Wesley” comes on the market in July. A miniature stuffed replica of Wesley can be found and purchased on
www.WesleyTheOwl.com
HUMOR CORNER
Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After 22 years of child rearing, they are unemployed. Bombeck
On vacations, we hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies and the sand out of our belongings. Bombeck
Sign in an Auto Repair Shop: If you are grouchy, irritable or just plain mean there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you. If you watch, $10 more, if you make suggestions, $20 more, and if you help, $50 more.
A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. Bernard Meltzer
Some of us learn from other people’s mistakes and the rest of us have to be other people. Zig Ziglar
Human beings are the only creatures on the earth that allow their children to come back home. Bill Cosby
For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked. B Cosby
Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a car battery. E Bombeck
How come anything you buy will go on sale next week? E Bombeck
My kids always perceived the bathroom as a place where you wait until all the groceries are unloaded from the car. Erma Bombeck
Recently I attended one of Laurie Venn’s fabulous monthly luncheons (the “hostess with the mostess”) in which some shared tips on traveling and packing. Some I knew and some were new to me. So, whether you’re going camping economy style or cruising the world I thought you’d find some of these tips useful.
So, here we go! First, some packing ideas from an experienced traveler, Judy Zeller. It’s helpful to wear identical shirts (husband, wife, kids) when in crowded places like Disneyland or even a cruise not only to find each other but for others to help find a misplaced family member. Wear your heaviest shoes to avoid using suitcase space and weight. Use a backpack with your purse in it and also include a change of clothes in case any luggage is ever lost. A newspaper bag can hold a pair of sandals for inside the plane. In your carry on also have a change of clothes for dinner, bathing suit, labeled medicines and vitamins. less than 3 oz bottles of necessary lotions, sun lotion, toothpaste, brush and make-up. Place your pajamas on top. Use a fanny pack for quick access to money, ID, small camera, and a zip lock bag with nuts, etc. for snacks. I use a money belt strapped under my shirt for my cash and credit cards. If flying, empty your water bottle until you get through security, then fill it at a water fountain.
Always place a strap around each luggage bag and hook under the handle. If possible, paint your name all over the strap or on the luggage to make it easy to find at pick-up. Leave your baggage unlocked but take a lock so you can lock your valuables in it at the hotel or cabin. Inside the top of your luggage or carry on, place your favorite pillow or neck pillow or deflated beach ball. Take several empty shopping bags along and use the hotel plastic bag for dirty laundry. Take a green garbage bag to cover your bags in case of rain. A half roll of toilet paper with the cardboard center removed is handy in your purse for the many places where there is none. Nail polish should go in a double plastic bag. In your large suitcase, place your jewelry in a plastic bag in a sock and push it well down into a shoe. Don’t take your most treasured jewelry with you. Some travelers take an old blouse or shirt, and old underwear to leave behind making more room in their luggage for any purchases. A long skirt is handy most anywhere and a white blouse or shirt matches most anything. Your own beach towel, if it fits, can go in the bottom of your luggage. (Some hotels charge for beach towels). I usually take extra hangers and clothes pins to pin hotel curtains together at night. A small flashlight is handy too. Any health care papers should be copied and included along with copies of your passport, credit cards and accommodations. Leave copies of all this with a friend or family member. We always put our names, addresses, destination and phone numbers inside each suitcase in the top lid for easy identification.
You can get lots of information on line. Travelsmith.com has lots of travel stuff. Carol McConnell, owner of Around the Globe Travel, HB shared these tips with us: To figure your costs of a trip, consider 4 factors: transportation, lodging, food and entertainment. Decide which is the most important and how you will budget each of them. Use reputable companies when traveling. It is well worth it to buy insurance in case you get sick or hurt and can’t make the trip .Always check your flight before going to the airport to make sure it didn’t cancel or is late... Southwest Airlines does not charge for baggage. On a cruise, get to the port the day before the ship leaves in case your flight has any delays. If you’d like to talk to Carol regarding a trip, she can be reached at 714-536-5118. She owns this reputable company.
Of course, if you want to stay locally for a vacation, there are tons of places to go within easy driving distance here…Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Diego, Santa Barbara, etc. Even just a day away doing something different can break up the work week nicely. Wally and I can’t wait to go boogie boarding in San Clemente on a week day as soon as the water is a little warmer. Life is short. Enjoy where we live.
The bottom line is, I hope you get away in one way or another and leave all your worries at home. Most of what we worry about will never happen anyway!
Make it a happy summer!
On vacation, we hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies and the sand out of our belongings. Erma Bombeck
MARKET UPDATE
You don’t have to take my word for it. There’s light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train. As the garbage man said, “Things are picking up!” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave his most optimistic prediction May 9, ’09 saying he expects the economy to start growing again this year even though more jobs will disappear. Check out these quotes: “U.S. Economic Growth Seen Resuming in 3rd Quarter” (Reuters), “The Worst Is Over” (Money News), “The Return of the Homebuilders” (CNNMoney), “Housing Market may Be Healing Itself” (Forbes).
These are not my words. I track only Orange County California. And I can verify that buyers are out in droves wanting to by while the rates are delicious. I spoke with a buyer this morning who was not aware that you can get a good, solid FHA loan for 3.5% down, 5% rate, depending on amount and credit scores. He thought everyone had to put 20% down nowadays. What is good is that the adjustables (ARM) and stated income loans that got so many people in trouble are gone. Lots of buyers are unaware VA has a terrific loan with low rates that you can use many times! And first time buyers can get credits up to $18,000 and more. I see short sales and foreclosures drying up in our county at a much faster rate than what we had thought due to 5-10 offers per house or condo! I’m alerting all my buyers to buy now since we don’t know how long these rates will last. I don’t want them looking back over their shoulder later and seeing that they missed this golden opportunity.
For this reason, my office is giving a
BUYER’S SEMINAR, JUNE 6TH,
to help buyers learn about all the current loan programs,
different benefits and credits available.
THE SEMIANR IS FREE BUT THE INFORMATION IS PRICELESS!
Seating is limited so call me to reserve your seat.
ADS
SHAPELL SOLD (SAME AD AS BEFORE)
222 LINCOLN IN ESCROW (same ad)
220 LINCOLN, HB, AVAILABLE
$899,999, 2650 SF
3 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Living Room, Family Room, Dining Room, Huge Bonus Room (Mountain View)
Large Master, Fireplace, Balcony
NEW ON THE MARKET
9601 ERSKINE, HB, $669,000
South of Indianapolis, East of Bushard
One Block from First Christian Elementary School
3-4 Bedrooms, ONE STORY, Over 1500 SF
Living Room, Family Room, Cozy Fireplace, Newer Roof
Center of Tract, Steps to Park
UPDATE ON “WESLEY THE OWL” by Stacey O’Brien
Many of you have asked how the sale of her book is going. Well, it’s being sold in 12 countries now, and translated into 8 languages. Stacey is still out speaking to various bookstores, universities and nature centers around the nation. The paperback version of “Wesley” comes on the market in July. A miniature stuffed replica of Wesley can be found and purchased on
www.WesleyTheOwl.com
HUMOR CORNER
Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After 22 years of child rearing, they are unemployed. Bombeck
On vacations, we hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies and the sand out of our belongings. Bombeck
Sign in an Auto Repair Shop: If you are grouchy, irritable or just plain mean there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you. If you watch, $10 more, if you make suggestions, $20 more, and if you help, $50 more.
A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. Bernard Meltzer
Some of us learn from other people’s mistakes and the rest of us have to be other people. Zig Ziglar
Human beings are the only creatures on the earth that allow their children to come back home. Bill Cosby
For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked. B Cosby
Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a car battery. E Bombeck
How come anything you buy will go on sale next week? E Bombeck
My kids always perceived the bathroom as a place where you wait until all the groceries are unloaded from the car. Erma Bombeck
posted by Ann Baker, Realtor at
7:50 PM
