Connecticutt Foreclosure Procedure

Connecticut foreclosures are performed by the courts in a Judicial proceeding with two (2) alternative methods of foreclosure: (1) Strict Foreclosure and (2) Foreclosure By Sale. The reason that there are two alternative methods of foreclosure is simply a matter of equity in the property. If there is no equity in the property, the property will be given to the bank under the strict foreclosure procedure. The rationale for this type of outcome instead of a foreclosure by sale is that there will be no money to distribute after a sale. This determination is made by the judge in the particular case.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO FORECLOSE (breach letter)

If the lender wants to chase the homeowner for any loss suffered as a result of the auctioning of the property at less than the amount owed on the mortgage, it must send the breach letter described in the previous chapter. The lender must also comply with the Promissory Note provisions and mortgage provisions as well as, the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 15 USC 1692.

FILING A COMPLAINT TO FORECLOSE

Prior to filing a complaint to Foreclose the attorney representing the bank will cause a title search to be completed to ascertain the names of all lien holders on the property. All lien holders will be made party defendants in the foreclosure complaint. The complaint will be filed in the County Superior Court and will recite the facts of the mortgage, referring to the Volume and page # of the Land record and the fact that the mortgage has been breached and is still due and owing. The bank will then request alternative judgments requesting possession, a deficiency judgment, and strict foreclosure.

The form of the complaint is given to the attorney by the Superior Court. The complaint will require a notice to all people unemployed or underemployed who owned a property continuously for two years that they may be entitled to relief pursuant to Connecticut G.S. 49.31W.

Return Date

Connecticut requires that the with the summons and Complaint be served upon each defendant twelve (12) days before the return date. The return date is set by the banks lawyer and requires the parties to file an appearance with the Court. Connecticut, unlike many other states requires the complaint to be served prior to the complaint actually being filed with the court.

Default JUDGMENT

In order to foreclose upon a property the plaintiff needs to receive a default judgment or if contested a summary judgment hearing or a trial will be held establishing the debt. There are three (3) ways to obtain a default judgment against the defendant: 1) Failure to appear; 2) failure to disclose a defense; 3) failure to plead.

Failure To Appear The defendants must file an appearance within two (2) days of the return date ( ten days from receipt of the summons. Failure to do so, will allow the bank to get a judgment by default.

Failure To Disclose A Defense

This default is only available when the debtor ( homeowner) has a lawyer representing him. If the homeowner has a lawyer and fifteen (15) days have passed since the return date, the banks lawyer will file a demand for the disclosure of a defense. If the attorney for the homeowner fails to disclose the defense within five days, then a motion for default can be filed and will be granted if no defense is disclosed prior to the hearing.

Failure To Plead

If the homeowner is representing himself and has not filed a response within the fifteen days then a motion for default will be filed and the homeowner will be defaulted if a pleading is not generated before the hearing.Once the defaults have been entered the bank can move for a judgment.

Motion for Judgment After receiving the default, the lender or its attorney will file a motion for Judgment. The judgment must have the following documents attached to it.

1) Original Promissory Note

2) original mortgage

3) all original assignments

4) A real estate appraisal with an oath;

5) military affidavit;

6) affidavit of debt

7) affidavit that the lender does not participate in the Connecticut Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program. Once filed it normally takes seven (7) to fourteen (14) days to get the motion on the foreclosure calander.

JUDGMENT HEARING STRICT FORECLOSURE OR FORECLOSURE BY SALE

A judge at the judgment hearing will decide if the property needs to be set down for a sale date of for a law day based upon the documents presented.

Indian Real Estate Agents are Making It Big

Gone are the days of pot bellied, pan chewing, smooth talking, museum like mobile carrying, wholesale safari-suit clad army. They are changing with the times. Indian real estate agents or (locally called) Dalal are sporting a radical new makeover these days. A boom in real estate in India has given birth to the next generation of professional property agents. You will find them flaunting foreign degrees. You will discover they are completely in tune with the latest jargons that have hit the business magazines only the last week. Contentedly they are discussing floor to area ratio, vastu-feng shui merits-demerits, Italian marbles, decorated flooring, real estate gimmicks and substances with their offshore foreign clients via video conferencing.

It seems the order of the day, anyway. Gone are the days of shabby looking unprofessional Indian real estate agents. The burgeoning Indian real estate industry needs professional new age real estate specialists who have knowledge in world business, outsourcing, finance, architecture, investment and what not.

What?s more, there are youngsters also who want to make a career in this field. Gauging the opportunity and also by the fact that the industry does not have enough of trained manpower, couple of renowned real estate developers have smartly launched business management program on the area. There are also short term studies which will give candidates a formal orientation and industry insights into this not so conventional industry vertical.

According to a conservative estimate by FICCI real estate industry in India is estimated at around $12 billion. The industry is growing at the rate of 30% per year. Industry analysts feel that the scorching growth is credited to demands created by offshore and outsourcing business sectors which include IT and ITES, high end software and technology consulting, contact centers, call centers, software houses, design firms and other process outsourcing companies. No wonder an opportunity galore has explored to the real estate agents in India in a never before way.

Ernst & Young, the leading consulting house reports FDI in India is expected to touch $15 billion this year. That?s triple the 2004 figure. The report states that one fifth of Fortune 500 companies including global biggie General Electric, pharmacy major Eli Lily, technology leader HP are setting up research and development centers in India.

Krish is a leading analyst of real estate and development in India. He is a member of advisory council for Property in India for various states. He also acts as a consultant for various non governmental and professional organizations. His insights on Indian real estate and how it can attract more foreign investment as the country has relaxed its real estate investment rules are much sought after in the industry. He writes for various national as well as international magazines and newspapers on regularly.

Surfing Your Adrenalin Wave: How to DissolveNot DisguiseAnger

Feel that rising tide of anger? Surf's up! Start
paddling.

Whenever we feel angry or frustrated, we get a blast
of adrenalin coursing through our bloodstream. In the
fight or flight response to stress, our bodies rely on our
appendages. We need to hit, kick, jump or run away,
and our bodies help out by sending extra blood to our
limbs.

If we were living in the wild and had to actually fight
off a predator or run away to escape, this would make
perfect sense. But in a typical day, we just don't need
those survival mechanisms like we used to. In fact, we
do our best to thwart our body's response to stress by
suppressing our physical reactions.

Oh, sure, we still use our extremities to express our
anger. We raise our fists, pound on the desk, slam
doors or cupboards, kick the garbage can, or stomp our
feet. Still, since we're trying to be civilized and all, we
use words more than body parts to react to whatever
upsets us. This is good in that we don't want to go
around hitting people. Slugging your boss may be
biological, but it won't get you too far in your corporate
climb.

So, instead of the fight or flight response our
predecessors relied upon, we've developed more of
what I call an explode or seethe response. Some of
us react right away when we're upset. We clench our
fists, do some wild gesticulating, raise our voices, or
slam the phone down. Others tend to seethe. We
suck in our breath, count to ten, hold it, and keep our
frustration covered by a tight smile or maybe a little
gasp of exasperation, but that's about it.

There's also the classic combo of the
seether/exploder. You know the type: they just keep
their heads down, don't say a word, and then out of
the blue they go into a tirade that rattles the roof.

It's interesting that we consider a seether as more
evolved than an exploder. We value those who are
able to keep their emotions in check. In our culture,
the seethers are the ice people who surprise us by
keeling over from a heart attack or stroke.
We've been programmed to sit and seethe. It's as
though we're stepping on the gas (adrenalin) and
slamming on the brakes (inactivity) at the same time.
Try doing that in your car, and you'll burn up your
engine. That's what we're doing to our bodies.

What do we do after a hard day? We sit and watch
television. We play video games. We go to a movie.
We collapse on the sofa and listen to music. We go
out to eat and drink.

We've eliminated a lot of the activity of daily life. We
don't scrub floors, churn butter, wash clothes by hand,
hoe the garden, walk everywhere, or otherwise
eliminate our stress through regular movement. We sit
in our cars, sit at our desks, and sit in front of the
television. It's no wonder we're obese and suffering
from the effects of stress!

The sit-and-seethe starts early. Consider a two-year-
old having a tantrum. Picture a little body flailing
about, all arms and legs. That's adrenalin in all its
glory! No suppression of instincts, just a pure,
unadulterated expression of physiology at work.

We can't have kids growing up and throwing tantrums.
It's just not socially acceptable. So, we give the two-
year-old a ime out to cool off. This is like asking a
charging bull to sit and sip a bit of tea in that proverbial
china shop.

With all our blood rushing to our extremities, our brains
are getting the leftovers. This is the worst possible
time for us to be logical. When we're angry and that
adrenalin is surging, we're far more likely to say things
we'll regret and to make decisions that will have us
shaking our heads later. If you react verbally or
respond intellectually in that adrenalin moment, you're
going to have some clean-up in aisle 12 later--
apologies and general repair of relationships and
projects.

Most of us have learned that we need to step back
when we're really upset in order to avoid making a mess
of things. Here's something you may not know: it
takes a full 90 minutes for your body to get back to
normal after experiencing a blast of adrenalin.

Ninety minutes. That means that a simple ime-out
for your child isn't likely to relax him, and postponing
that important meeting for 10 minutes while you cool
down isn't going to guarantee that you'll be fully
capable of handling your issue in a level headed way.

If you really want to take advantage of your body's
natural mechanism for survival, you might as well learn
to work with it. The good news is that, with a little
flexibility, we can use our physiology to help us thrive
and even make us healthier.

You've got to move, and you've got to breathe. Isn't it
convenient that those two go together so well?

Here are the four best strategies for surfing your
adrenalin wave:

*Paddle. Your arms and legs need movement, so look
for acceptable ways to get active. Go to the restroom
and do some jumping jacks if you can't sneak away for
a walk or head to the gym for a workout. Move some
boxes. Sort the recycling. Reshelve some books. Beat
the rugs. Shake out the comforters. Go for a run.
Crank up your stereo and dance with the kids in the
living room. Jump on the exercise bike or go cycling
around the neighborhood. Walk to another part of the
building. Find a corner and do some push-ups.
Activate those appendages!

*Laugh. When we're angry, our bellies tighten up. We
take shallow breaths at the chest level. This just adds
to the brain drain! We need to relax enough that our
bellies can move freely as we breathe, and if we don't
get that by doing some cardio that makes us huff and
puff, the next best thing is to laugh. Get a laugh
partner, and agree to call and guffaw--no talking
allowed. Bust a gut, and breathe deeply.

*Sing. You need some serious exhalations, so jump in
the shower and blast out your favorite power ballad.
Get in your car and sing along with the radio. Releasing
sound is therapeutic in itself. Throw in some
dance moves, and you've got it covered!

*Avoid meditation. Ignore what you've heard about
thinking through your anger. Mindfulness is immensely
valuable, but trying to meditate when you're really
angry is not realistic or helpful. Be active first, and
then sit. The only way to handle that adrenalin in a
healthy way is to engage physically. You've got to be
calm to be mindful. Get control of yourself physically
before using your mind to address a problem.

Next time you get mad, get moving.

Work with your body instead of against it. Learn to
surf that adrenalin wave, and you'll become a better
decision maker, a more relaxed parent, and a healthier
human.
paddling.

Whenever we feel angry or frustrated, we get a blast
of adrenalin coursing through our bloodstream. In the
fight or flight response to stress, our bodies rely on our
appendages. We need to hit, kick, jump or run away,
and our bodies help out by sending extra blood to our
limbs.

If we were living in the wild and had to actually fight
off a predator or run away to escape, this would make
perfect sense. But in a typical day, we just don't need
those survival mechanisms like we used to. In fact, we
do our best to thwart our body's response to stress by
suppressing our physical reactions.

Oh, sure, we still use our extremities to express our
anger. We raise our fists, pound on the desk, slam
doors or cupboards, kick the garbage can, or stomp our
feet. Still, since we're trying to be civilized and all, we
use words more than body parts to react to whatever
upsets us. This is good in that we don't want to go
around hitting people. Slugging your boss may be
biological, but it won't get you too far in your corporate
climb.

So, instead of the fight or flight response our
predecessors relied upon, we've developed more of
what I call an explode or seethe response. Some of
us react right away when we're upset. We clench our
fists, do some wild gesticulating, raise our voices, or
slam the phone down. Others tend to seethe. We
suck in our breath, count to ten, hold it, and keep our
frustration covered by a tight smile or maybe a little
gasp of exasperation, but that's about it.

There's also the classic combo of the
seether/exploder. You know the type: they just keep
their heads down, don't say a word, and then out of
the blue they go into a tirade that rattles the roof.

It's interesting that we consider a seether as more
evolved than an exploder. We value those who are
able to keep their emotions in check. In our culture,
the seethers are the ice people who surprise us by
keeling over from a heart attack or stroke.
We've been programmed to sit and seethe. It's as
though we're stepping on the gas (adrenalin) and
slamming on the brakes (inactivity) at the same time.
Try doing that in your car, and you'll burn up your
engine. That's what we're doing to our bodies.

What do we do after a hard day? We sit and watch
television. We play video games. We go to a movie.
We collapse on the sofa and listen to music. We go
out to eat and drink.

We've eliminated a lot of the activity of daily life. We
don't scrub floors, churn butter, wash clothes by hand,
hoe the garden, walk everywhere, or otherwise
eliminate our stress through regular movement. We sit
in our cars, sit at our desks, and sit in front of the
television. It's no wonder we're obese and suffering
from the effects of stress!

The sit-and-seethe starts early. Consider a two-year-
old having a tantrum. Picture a little body flailing
about, all arms and legs. That's adrenalin in all its
glory! No suppression of instincts, just a pure,
unadulterated expression of physiology at work.

We can't have kids growing up and throwing tantrums.
It's just not socially acceptable. So, we give the two-
year-old a ime out to cool off. This is like asking a
charging bull to sit and sip a bit of tea in that proverbial
china shop.

With all our blood rushing to our extremities, our brains
are getting the leftovers. This is the worst possible
time for us to be logical. When we're angry and that
adrenalin is surging, we're far more likely to say things
we'll regret and to make decisions that will have us
shaking our heads later. If you react verbally or
respond intellectually in that adrenalin moment, you're
going to have some clean-up in aisle 12 later--
apologies and general repair of relationships and
projects.

Most of us have learned that we need to step back
when we're really upset in order to avoid making a mess
of things. Here's something you may not know: it
takes a full 90 minutes for your body to get back to
normal after experiencing a blast of adrenalin.

Ninety minutes. That means that a simple ime-out
for your child isn't likely to relax him, and postponing
that important meeting for 10 minutes while you cool
down isn't going to guarantee that you'll be fully
capable of handling your issue in a level headed way.

If you really want to take advantage of your body's
natural mechanism for survival, you might as well learn
to work with it. The good news is that, with a little
flexibility, we can use our physiology to help us thrive
and even make us healthier.

You've got to move, and you've got to breathe. Isn't it
convenient that those two go together so well?

Here are the four best strategies for surfing your
adrenalin wave:

*Paddle. Your arms and legs need movement, so look
for acceptable ways to get active. Go to the restroom
and do some jumping jacks if you can't sneak away for
a walk or head to the gym for a workout. Move some
boxes. Sort the recycling. Reshelve some books. Beat
the rugs. Shake out the comforters. Go for a run.
Crank up your stereo and dance with the kids in the
living room. Jump on the exercise bike or go cycling
around the neighborhood. Walk to another part of the
building. Find a corner and do some push-ups.
Activate those appendages!

*Laugh. When we're angry, our bellies tighten up. We
take shallow breaths at the chest level. This just adds
to the brain drain! We need to relax enough that our
bellies can move freely as we breathe, and if we don't
get that by doing some cardio that makes us huff and
puff, the next best thing is to laugh. Get a laugh
partner, and agree to call and guffaw--no talking
allowed. Bust a gut, and breathe deeply.

*Sing. You need some serious exhalations, so jump in
the shower and blast out your favorite power ballad.
Get in your car and sing along with the radio. Releasing
sound is therapeutic in itself. Throw in some
dance moves, and you've got it covered!

*Avoid meditation. Ignore what you've heard about
thinking through your anger. Mindfulness is immensely
valuable, but trying to meditate when you're really
angry is not realistic or helpful. Be active first, and
then sit. The only way to handle that adrenalin in a
healthy way is to engage physically. You've got to be
calm to be mindful. Get control of yourself physically
before using your mind to address a problem.

Next time you get mad, get moving.

Work with your body instead of against it. Learn to
surf that adrenalin wave, and you'll become a better
decision maker, a more relaxed parent, and a healthier
human.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse as well as a former personal fitness trainer. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 80 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com.

Cabo San Lucas Real Estate Your Questions Answered Part 1

Want your Tequila Straight Up Or...'Mas Suave' - A No BS article by David Mandich - Baja California Real Estate and Consulting Advisor

Cabo San Lucas, being only two beers away by plane from Southern California, is fast replacing Hawaii as the preferred quick-trip exotic vacation and 2nd home buying destination for many Americans. Almost three million tourists travel to Baja California Sur each year visiting its towns, bays, beaches, islands and golf courses for an average stay of 3.5 days.

Some, like me, come for a visit and never go back. Some stay for a week and return to the States with a stuffed marlin, condo, dental make-over or breast implants. Makeovers are big here - from cosmetic dental and plastic surgery to lifestyles. It's all about feeling, and being young again. With the Nikki-Beach Club in Cabo to any of the surf, golf, fishing or gentlemen's clubs that abound,Los Cabos is sure to put some life back in your life style.

International Bi-lingual schools for children through high school are available in Cabo and San Jose. And the tuition is ridiculously inexpensive. Maybe $300 a year. More folks should consider bringing the little ones to live here. Its safer than the big cities back in the States, the school kids respect their teachers, and there's a lot of desert and water oriented fun things to do close at hand.

So how do you make it happen? How do you find the right building lot, condo or that dream house overlooking the sea? Where does one find the perfect casa for one's lifestyle, and - per many peoples criteria - a casa that makes for a sound investment? Do you look in Cabo? San Jose del Cabo? The mysterious East Cape? The artists' colony of Todos Santos? Or perhaps someplace in between?

Let's Start With Cabo San Lucas Proper Cabo San Lucas is the main tourist destination for people visiting the Los Cabos area for the first time. It sits on Cabo San Lucas Bay which is flanked on the west by a series of monumental rock formations known as Land's End. This outcropping of land is the end of the nearly one thousand mile Baja California Peninsula where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez.

The water and air temperatures can be 20 degrees cooler a few hundred feet on either side of the tip. On the inside one can snorkel in crystal clear warm waters swarming with colorful tropical fish around underwater pinnacles off the cove known as Lover's Beach. The fish there will literally eat out of your hand as they've all heard the place is a game sanctuary. This is what all the tourist brochures say. But the reality is that all the friggin' fish in the Sea of Cortez will eat out of your hand any day of the week if you've got bread, tortillas or fish entrails in your hand!

You can find crystal clear water for snorkeling for the next 900 miles beginning in Cabo and going on up the inside of the Sea of Cortez. If your fantasy place in the sun involves water sports - start in Cabo, head East and then North until you find your slice of paradise. And you can surf and wind surf all the way around the East Cape.

The Pacific Ocean side of the peninsula is generally rougher, cooler in the summer (nice), and compared to the Sea of Cortez - underwater visibility for divers is much less. But compared to anywhere back home in the States - it's ALL GOOD. Some say its paradise. If you want cooler Southern California coastal temperatures in the summer as you plan on living here year around - start looking North of Cabo. The land rush in this area right now is Cerritos, Pescadero and Todos Santos.

Next: Luxury Homes & Condos As Investments in Cabo San Lucas

David Mandich takes the anxiety out buying real estate in Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Get the facts on new housing developments, resorts and which area in Los Cabos best suit your lifestyle and taste. For a complete review visit the Cabo San Lucas Mexico Real Estate section on FunTripsLIVE.com

Breakthrough Marketing Tips for Selling Houses

Home sellers who learn about marketing psychology and home staging can take advantage of unconventional selling strategies. If you're selling a home or investment house, you might need some extra help to generate a speedy, top-dollar sale. Here are three cutting edge home selling concepts to help you.

1. Marketing Psychology

Study the Internet marketing masters. Notice that effective sales letters don't list the features of a product. Internet marketers know that people buy because they want the benefits.

Structure your sales materials for your product keeping in mind what your house can do for the buyer. Instead of listing a long list of features, turn the amenities into benefits to the home buyer. For instance, instead of listing 2,050 sq. ft, 2 story, say: Spread out in huge two-story home of over 2,000 square feet. Think about your potential buyers and target your benefits to them. First-time home buyers care about privacy and easy payments. Move-up buyers care about status and luxury.

2. Home Staging for a Speedy Sale

Staged homes sell faster for many reasons. Staged homes make buyers feel at home--instead of feeling like an intruder in someone else's home. Agents love to advertise and show a staged home. Appraisers even give credit for buyer appeal.

3. Home Staging with Design Psychology for a Speedy, Top-Dollar Sale

Design Psychology takes home staging further by applying marketing psychology to interior design.

Always consider your target market and their emotional needs. First-time buyers want shelter and security, while move-up buyers desire prestige and peace. After you've cleaned and shined your home, set the stage. Add a few props, carefully selected to encourage a prospective buyer's desired emotions and paying special attention to happiness, joy, serenity, and security.

Home Staging with Design Psychology, unlike traditional home staging, brings into play:

* Market colors instead of bland white walls: market colors are selected based on the buyers' profile and proven preferences.

* Furnishings for feelings: stage a lifestyle step-up.

* Props to entice buyers senses: unlike normal home staging, you don't need rooms full of furniture.

What do home buyers want? They want a home that meets their needs. However, they'll eventually buy the home that makes them FEEL happy and one that will impress their friends, because they also want to be proud of the home they've chosen. Your choice of decorating colors, patterns, textures, and furnishings will influence the way a prospective buyer feels, and the buyer's feelings will impact their choice of housing.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

More information about Staged Homes

Learn about Home Staging from an interior design teacher. Jeanette Fisher offers free Home Staging Information and teleseminars. Find out how to profile your prospective home buyer and set the stage for a top dollar, faster sale. Sell Your Home Fast: http://sellfast.info

Flipping vs Keeping

NO contest.

I have written about this for three years. I know there are seminar leaders discussing it Nationwide, adnesua.

Let me set the record straight. THERE are two things at battle here. ONE is, What is a fairly easy way for me to make a few thousand dollars? The other question is What is a fairly easy way for me to make millions of dollars?

Those are two different questions. ON several newsgroups focused on real estate investments, I have been sneered at, insulted and cajoled because of these facts. I can see now why the negative comments occurred. I failed then to say ?way to make Millions, or to make money. I did instead say, those who are into real estate investing and flip houses are idiots. My bad. IF one does consistent flipping as a way to make Millions, he/she then is an idiot. I am calling an idiot anyone who takes a method and Prostitutes it and then, must take 3-5x longer to get to their objective if they, in fact, Ever reach it!

For those of you new to this whole ?game? of real estate and flipping, I will explain it. Flipping is an assignment of the right to own a piece of real estate. Anyone can assign Their rights to real estate. A synonym to flipping is wholesaling. This is the industry Term though it is a misnomer. Wholesalers gain title to something whereas in real estate, A flipper or wholesaler only gains rights, and not title. The difference in some cases Is significance. And it is TRUE that one needs no credit, no job or anything in order To flip a property--only a willing property seller.

This math I have shown to others repeatedly;

Take one house, market valued at $200,000. [I used to use 100k, but those houses in Flip territory are vanishing.

THE flippers methods are easy to understand. He/she usually; finds a property From one of many sources, that is available at 10-50% below FMV, or, fair market value. This flipper gets that property UNDER control by writing a contract on it. WHLE it might make no sense to those not familiar with real estate, anyone can write a real estate Contract and give it to a seller. Perhaps it takes 100 contracts to get one seller to accept But that is the method. Twenty five years ago, I did that to get control but I kept the properties and lived in them or managed them and sold them later. A seller can accept anything they wish to accept. Some sellers care who the buyer or contract writer is And some sellers DO NOT CARE.

AFTER the flipper finds house that is thought to be for sale below market [10-50% And gets it under contract [some UNLICENSED flippers instead, only know of such properties and make separate contracts with future buyers that obligate the buyer to pay them for the info if the buyer buys. This is illegal!

The finder of the house, the contract holder, must now do two things
A; find the best price to re-sell at and
B; find a buyer for the property.

Since the wholesaler sells the property below fair market value, the difference is what is going to the buyer. Thus, the buyer of a flipped property gets instant equity.

Presuming in my math that the finder wants 10% for himself and is offering a house At 25% below market [that is available to the flipper at 35% below, the flipper Sells the house at no cost to himself and grosses 10% of the price he sells it at.

The $200k house fmv is available for a 35% discount, or 200-70k=130k and sold to the new buyer for 10%, usually of the purchase price so 130 + 13k = 146k

The buyer nets 54k in equity while the flipper nets 13k The flipper flips 2 houses a year, thus netting 26k, not counting his mini expenses of Phone, faxes, and gas. We will ignore those.

In 1 yrs, he has 26kB
In 2 yrs, he has 52
In 3 yrs, he has 78k
In 4 yrs, he has 104
In 5 yrs, he has 130k

Now, let?s see what the other guy can net if he keeps his properties he finds.

He has escrow and perhaps transportation expenses and points to pay, so he has a true cost of perhaps 3k costs to add to his 130k purchase price, so he pays 133k.

HE immediately re-fi?s the property, getting a 90% ltv of value loan, or 180k loan [180k is 90% of 200k

he has cash out of [180-133k= 47k IF he puts tenants into the property, that is gravy

1st yr, 47k
2 yr, 47k
3 yr 47k
4th yr 47k
5th yr 47k
and he re-fi?s the first two props again and pulls out another 47k
he has 47x6= 282k
282k vs 130k and #2 buyer can re-fi every 3 yrs indefinitely for another 47k, tax free.

If he is smart, the 2nd buyer will buy biz?s or notes and NOT use his cash for more RE purchases. Why? Cause he can earn 25% on his cash from the RE while his RE loans only cost him 7% max!

WHEN I am told by flippers [even of commercial that they can make so much fast cash, I ask them how much cash they have after 1-2-3 years and none of them has a dime; My wife got sick, my kid needed braces, we went on a vacation.

So did the guy with the houses he kept. But he had those same expenses and still owns his houses.

IT is thus, a no brainer. BE a keeper, not a flipper. FLIPPERS are not only flipping houses, they are DONATING their profits to the buyers!

[if you want to talk about property management, we can talk about that separately as it is also a no brainer.

How to Buy a Quality Car Seat Seven Tips

Car seats are mandatory baby equipment. I know that you?ll be tempted to cuddle your little bundle in your arms while driving, but please don?t! It?s just too dangerous and besides that, against the law.

Here are seven tips to buying a quality car seat for your child?

1. Buy a quality car seat. Make sure that the seal of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety is present on it. Make sure it?s constructed well with no sharp edges or loose parts.

2. Look for a car seat with travel system. The seat, infant carrier and stroller are all part of one convenient unit.

3. Make sue that you check for safety recalls. There are many safety recalls on car seats yearly. You don?t want to purchase one of those!

4. Choose cloth. It is generally more easily cleaned and is more comfortable.

5. Be positive that you choose the correct size. A small baby could slip out of a seat that is too large for him. It?s important that tiny babies under 20 pounds ride only in rear-facing seat. Only after the child is over 20 pounds should he be switched to front-facing seat.

6. Choose a car seat that has been given good reviews by other parents. Many online stores allow people to post reviews about their purchases. Why not check these out to see what other parents have to say?

7. Don?t use a used car seat unless you are able to borrow it and try it first. You want to make very sure that the parts are still functioning well, so your baby will be safe.

Proper child restraints are important. You don?t want to find that out the hard way.

Kristi Sayles, Child Development Coach/Elementary Teacher, invites you to visit her site at http://YourChildandYou.com for more parenting information, advice, products, and fun stuff.

Dodge Concept Cars For Auction

If you are one of those few who do live to search the world over for unique and one of a kind vehicles, then you might want to take part of this upcoming auction. You see, there would be a pair of Dodge Firearrow vehicles that would be put up for auction during the 36th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car event.

The 36th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car event would be held on the 13th of the 21st of January come the following year. This is according to a statement that the organizers of the mentioned event released just last Friday. And as per the pair of Dodge Firearrow vehicles, it would be quite an interesting fact to know that these are actually concept cars and are convertibles. They have been built in the 1950s and they are the only ones that were built during that period that are still in a more than good condition. Sure enough, these vehicles would be in mint condition and will come still bearing the original Dodge parts that it was built with.

From 1953 up until the following year, 1954, the Dodge brand was able to create four of these Firearrow concept cars. Although these vehicles did not actually reach the production stage, they were mostly produced so as to be able to bring up the interest of the consumers. It was Virgil Exner who created the designs of these concept vehicles from Dodge. And according to the organizers of the event, the pair of Dodge Firearrow concept cars is the second and the fourth vehicles that were produced. The first and the third units are no longer around.

Organizers of the 36th Barrett-Jackson event say that for those who do not know what this vehicle is, the Dodge Firearrow II (the second one produced) is a roadster that is colored yellow. And as per the Dodge Firearrow IV (the fourth and last one produced) is a convertible that holds two seats. The latter also has roll up windows, a jump seat, a folding top, a full instrumentation panel and a radio.
About the Author

Joe Ratzkin is an avid fan of anything automotive. This 34-year old bachelor wanted to be a mechanic when he was a kid but changed his mind and became a freelance writer and researcher instead. He is currently based in Chicago, Illinois.

Pearl Talk What You Need To Know

The pearl has always been a rather prim and proper piece of jewelry classic and seeped in tradition that never goes out of style. Well things they are a changing! This year not only has the pearl is had a very glamorous make over its a front and center fashion statement! Yes, the classic strand still exists as it always will. But we warned we are seeing some vary daring looks from the pearl this season. Extra long lengths, tasseled multi strands, pearls with semi precious stone accents, pearls on gold or silver chains. The pearl has been transformed into a fun and fashionable accessory.

The glow or radiance of a pearl is the most important quality. Avoid pearls that are chalky or dull as they will be weak and may crack or peal. The surface of the pearl should be blemish free no bumps or cracks. Inspect under a bright light. Baroque pearls are the exception to this rule their charm is in their irregularities.

Pearls are measured in millimeters. The larger the pearl the higher the cost. A 6 mm pearl is going to be much less than a 12 mm pearl. The least expensive pearls are the freshwaters which mainly come from China. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Average size is around 7 mm

The best way to care for your pearls is simply to wear them. The natural skin oils keep them moisturized. Do not put them on until you are done with your cosmetics. This includes hair, facial, and perfume. The residues from these products will ruin your pearls. Do not wear your pearls in the water chlorinated and salt water will damage them. Polish with a soft cloth and never use jewelry cleaning products on your pearls.

Quality pearls are not cheap but they will last a lifetime. Freshwater pearls are becoming very affordable. Not all of us will be in the market for Real Pearls and lucky us there are plenty of options. Swarovski makes a crystal pearl that is of the finest quality and quite difficult to tell from a true pearl for a fraction of the cost and they are available in a variety of colors. There is an endless supply of imitation pearl or costume jewelry pearls on the market. These are offered in a wide variety of styles and colors. Great fun at affordable prices.

So you ask whats In Style this season? Well Im glad you asked! Pearl rings get the green flag from low settings to monster large solitaire pearls, they are all the rave. A pearl ring can go from romantic and simple to sleek and stunning. The Bib Necklace makes a very dramatic statement. A broad necklace that tapers towards the back just like a babys bib [thus the name. They range from extremely wide to as narrow as a . This style works great with a simple black dress or strapless neckline.

The multi-strand necklace is ever so preppy. They range from 12 to 18 and pearls are usually small to medium. The object of these necklaces is for every pearl to be in perfect placement. Very versatile and fashionable. The opera length necklace simply never disappears from the fashion scene. They measure 36 or longer and they can be worn as a long single lean line, doubled up, tied in a knot, wherever the moment takes you. These long strands are terrific for dressing up a pair of jeans or semi casual look.

The tassel necklace from the footloose and fancy free1920s has made a come back, and rightly so! Today tassels are often made from tiny seed pearls or irregular baroques. They range in length fro short at 16 to navel length at 36. The tassel necklace swings and sways with your movement making it a must have for those night of dancing.

This season for first time, we are seeing pearls mixed with colored gems such as amethyst, peridot, or topaz. They compliment each other nicely pearls with their soft and subtle shades mixed with semi precious gems with their vibrant and bold color. Picture it what a fashion statement!

Pearls mixed with silver is also new this season. Long silver chain dangle earrings accented with pearls, or freshwater droplets set on silver. This season the pearl is all about the color. Pearls are available in many hues but this season the hot spot is lavender and the lavender family ranging from pale iris to plum.

If you already own a beautiful classic pearl necklace its very easy to transform it into something from this season. Try adding a group of charms or pendants, fastening a vintage brooch or clip[ on earring at the bottom. You could mix various lengths or sizes of pearls together or entwine a silver or gold chain. How about mixing your real pearls with your fake pearls? The options are as endless as your imagination.

Remember when you freshen your wardrobe for the spring, freshen your costume jewelry too and Make Your Fashion Statement!


About the author:
Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Deep Thoughts About Healthy Lifestyles

If you are one of the 65% of Americans who are overweight or obese your risk of developing several different health problems is increased. Those health problems include but are not limited to:

?Diabetes
?Heart disease
?Stroke
?Gallstones
?Certain types of cancer
?Arthritic joints

Researchers say being overweight is the second leading cause of ?preventable? death in the United States.

We are often told increase our daily intake of fruits and vegetables as one possible means of warding off life threatening diseases. Below is a list of vegetables and fruits and the diseases they help us to fight off:

1.Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, turnips, watercress. This group of vegetables contains cancer-fighting chemicals. Green vegetables are especially folate-rich and help protect the heart, guard against colon, rectal, mouth and throat cancers. Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables guard against bladder cancer. Leafy green vegetables help ward off stomach and lung cancers. Spinach, kale and other dark leafy greens protect against cataracts and macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in older people. Plenty of servings of cruciferous vegetables and leafy green help lower the risk for stroke.

2.Carrots contain beta carotene which the body converts to vitamin A. Carrots may help prevent heart disease and guards against cancers of the mouth, throat, lung, and stomach. There is also some evidence that carrots may possibly guard against breast cancer especially in women who have a family history of it.

3.Clementines, grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines all contain Vitamin C. Abundant servings of citrus fruits lower the risk of stroke, and guard against mouth and throat cancers.

4.Tomatoes is a common and popular vegetable that when served either raw or cooked can help prevent prostate cancer, guard against stomach cancer and possibly lung cancer.

As we age our metabolism slows down. A slower metabolism makes it harder to burn off calories. Muscle mass starts to decline. Muscle burns calories more efficiently than fat, so with a decrease in muscle mass there is also more weight gain.

Children, adults chasing after children and toddlers and jobs that are physically active may not be sources of daily exercise for people as they get older. Opportunities for daily exercise then becomes an extra chore we must seek after. Ailments like painful joints or back pain slows down our activity, which makes it harder to burn the calories we eat daily.

At any age, however, eating too much snack food and super-sized portions of any kind of food does not help a quest to fight off excess weight.

Despite all the challenges each of us face in our daily lives it is very much worthwhile to try and keep the extra pounds off and/or lose the excess weight we have acquired through little activity, overeating and eating the wrong kinds of food.

Even if you do not know how to calculate what is your normal weight it is simple to understand that taking in more calories than you burn off add extra pounds. Burning off more calories helps you to loose excess weight.

For anyone who has ever tried to lose weight, you probably realize this is easier said than done. Weight loss is hard for almost everyone who really needs to lose weight.

Rather than trying all the popular diets that works out ways to restrict calories you might try a few simple steps to see if this will work for you:

?Limit refined carbohydrates that cause insulin levels to rise and speeds up hunger signals.
?Focus more on vegetables and whole grains that are digested slowly.
?Eat less saturated fats and trans fats while including moderate amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in your diet. Remember that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in your diet have proven health benefits.

No matter how many diets there are in this world I think everyone agrees that ?exercise? is a main component of healthy living. Regular exercise can help reduce your chances of getting a wide range of illnesses, keeps bones and joints strong and healthy, helps you to maintain vigor and independence in later years and definitely improves your mood and mental functioning. I say definitely improves the mood because just in general one might not think a simple thing as taking a 30 minute daily walk would help keep the mood level. Actually, it really does.

Study after study proves that fitness prolongs life. One study found that the simple, and for some, pleasurable hobby of gardening performed for more than an hour a week reduces the risk of death of cardiac arrest.

We even read story after story of people who live very unhealthy lifestyles, such as smokers, yet they exercise and reap rewards from the exercise alone. That is not to say, go ahead and live as unhealthy as you please and just do your exercises. It is just to say that for some people who refuse to live healthy lifestyles otherwise and who do perform some kind of regular exercise, the exercise has proven beneficial to those individuals.

Despite all the research, and written and oral material about the benefits of exercise, few people actually do it. Even worse than this is that studies show with increasing age, fewer and fewer people perform regular exercise routines. Women tend to become less active than men as they age.

We all realize that part of the problem is that ?routine exercise? is just no fun and especially for people who are already suffering from disabling pain in the bones, joints and elsewhere in the body. Some people worry about injuring themselves while exercising. And it certainly is true not all forms of exercise are right for everyone.

Even worse than this is we are told the most balanced and beneficial exercise routine is one that combines aerobic activity, strength training and flexibility. It truly is enough to make a person throw up their hands and say ?I give up; I just don?t know what to do.? We are constantly bombarded with this study and that study.

If you are in that seat of the person who says ?I just don?t know what to do,? you might begin by doing something very simple and then consulting with your private physician for some professional resources to get you on a uniquely prescribed exercise program.

The simple things could be:

?The normal lifting, bending, walking and whatever it takes to do those household chores.
?Hoeing, weeding, raking and lifting that goes into gardening delivers much of the same aerobic benefits of a more structured exercise routine.
?Changing activities helps ward off the boredom. Painting a bedroom can be pleasurable, mentally and physically invigorating.

The Origin Of Sadie Hawkins Day Or The Frisky Sister

About 1,500 years ago, a 16 or 30-something woman named Justa Grata Honoria was found flagrant d?ellicto with her employee, Eugenius, a stewardoverseerchamberlaincomptroller (upper management), by her younger brother, Valentinian III (CEO ? West Division), and his escorts (mopes) in a palace located in Ravenna, Italy. Val got mad and took it out on Eugenius, had him killed (strangled, most say, by a mope), a factoid of absolutely no historic importance until you learn what this event set in motion.

But, first, back to the sex. Honoria and Eugenius mixing it up was not exactly what made Val mad. It was not a ?dishonor my sister? thing. (If you were a mucky-muck, having sex with an employee was not politically incorrect at this time; indeed, having sex with just about anyone, your friends, their friends, your mopes, their mopes, your relatives, their relatives, your employees, their employees was okay as long as it wasn?t politically motivated.) (Val, in fact, did it all the time and his intention was politically motivated, not inherent friskiness. His management style was Manage by Humiliation and Furor, not Objective, so he had sex often with his employees? wives and told everyone about it to besmirch their reputation and make everyone feel bad. Some say it was too much caffeine; others say it was stress because of the Scourge of God, who we?ll get back to later; still others say, he was just a snake.)

He didn?t want Honoria to mess around because he had gotten her a good civil service job in the government when he became CEO ? West Division. Her job title was Virgin. Yes, this was a job in the 4th century in Rome and only noble born females could apply. (The thought process behind this job title was this: A woman didn?t need experience to fulfill the duties and responsibilities, she was born not knowing how.) Employees had immediate tenure, lots of benefits, lots of perks. The only drawback was you had to die to quit.

Word had gotten to Val in Rome that his elder sister, Honoria, was doing somebody else?s job with Eugenius in Ravenna and was pregnant. His chamberlain, Heraclius, who was in charge of Family Spying ? Ravenna Division amongst his other duties, told him. Val set off with an escort to Ravenna. Upon arrival, he yelled at the sentries enough to make them stop sentrying and went right to Honoria?s bedroom. He watched them do the dirty deed for a bit, then had Eugenius killed by a mope (and Goar, too, who was Honoria?s chamber guard, a Nubian she had purchased a while back?you just couldn?t get good guards in those days)

Some say Val beat up Honoria either before or after he had Eugenius killed, but others make no mention of this sibling fight. I suspect he didn?t. He was labeled feeble, while he was growing up (It ran in the family.) and this condition continued all his life. Let?s say he didn?t beat her up, rather, he yelled and verbally abused her, because that?s what feeble people do. They use what they got.

Actually, they didn?t get along and never had even when they were kids. (Elder sisters were put on this Earth to trouble younger brothers, I think. It?s good for them, makes them strong men.) Their mother, Galla Placidia, a single parent since Val was 6, just couldn?t make them play nice, but she was a distant mother, truth be told, very busy with her political work and philanthropic work, a real volunteer type woman, not too good at nurturing. Their father, Constantius III, a good guy, hard worker, Chairman of the Board, died young, when the kids were toddlers, and they had had a tumultuous early life, moved from place to place after their father died, and were raised by slaves and servants, none of whom was given the duty of bridling Honoria?s ferocity or strengthening Val?s feebleness. The unspoken question is why was Val CEO, not Honoria, but we?ll get to that later.

Val allowed Honoria to get dressed and her slaves and servants cleaned up the mess that Goar?s stabbing (or shooting with an arrow, no body?s sure which, but in either case, Goar bled and Eugenius didn?t) made and took away Goar and Eugenius to where ever dead people were taken before they were buried. He may or may not have turned down her offer to stay, have a cup of Starbuck?s latest boutique blend, Black Apron Exclusive Aged Sumatra Batch #4. (I have this fact on good authority, Dear Reader.). I?m sure he yelled more. Then, he and his escorts left, went back to Rome.

A couple of days later, a bunch of folk arrived from Rome to spy on her and report back to Val. Their news wasn?t good. She was either in a dither or walking around slovenly and showing even more signs of pregnancy or all three.

He sent her a scroll terminating her employment at the Virgin Agency effective immediately or retroactively, no one knows which was more legal, at the time of the dirty deed or after the dirty deed or at will of the employer. Breaking and entering was the grounds for termination.

So, there she was 16 or 30-something, unemployed for the first time in her life, maybe pregnant and unmarried, maybe not pregnant, but surely reverting to ferocious behavior which could be treasonous words against her brother, the CEO ? West Division. She called her Mother.

From a distance, her mother, Galla Placidia, told Honoria to stop yelling, opined that Eugenius hadn?t made a good impression on her the few times she had met him, stated a stewardoverseerchamberlaincomptroller and guard were easy to replace, in fact she?d call the Servants Slaves R Us place she saw advertised in the paper a couple of days ago, and said she?d talk to Val about a new job.

Which she both did and didn?t.

She told Val to wait a bit before he did anything because Honoria could be pregnant, not a good thing for Val?s CEO ? West Division job, since Honoria was the eldest child and her children would take precedence over Val and his kids for the CEO ? West Division job, the very reason Honoria?s former job was at the Virgin Agency. Val knew his Mother was a smarty pants and he listened to her advice all his life. In fact, that?s why he was set up to be CEO, not Honoria and not his Mother before him. Women in his family were given an honorary title ?Augustus,? which was similar to Your Royal Highness, but not quite, but couldn?t be employed as a CEO. It was gender discrimination for sure, but that?s the way things were in Rome in the 4th Century time. So, Galla Placidia dealt in the background, her volunteer political hobby, the one that took up so much of her time, telling feeble Son Number One what to do and what not to do politically. If Honoria were pregnant and had a boy child, she would become the power behind the CEO ? West Division, and Galla Placidia would be left with only philanthropic volunteer work to take up her time.

The ?take one step at a time? approach made sense. Nepotism was normal in 4th century Rome and it turns out their (unfeeble) Grandfather, Theodosius, a previous Chairman of the Board, had set up a nunnery in Constantinople and called it Sisters of Theodosius (what else?). This would be a good place to watch and wait to see if Honoria was pregnant. If she was pregnant, the child?s gender would determine what to do next. If she wasn?t pregnant, she would have a new job, Nun, with immediate tenure, no benefits or perks (and she would have to die to quit, too), a good punishment for all the trouble she had made for him all their lives.

So Val called the Head Sister and told her a new Nun was arriving soon, and she complied, of course, and redid her organization chart. Either he or their Mother called Honoria (No one knows.) and told her about her a new job. She complied, too, but no one knows if she was willing or unwilling. I suspect she was unwilling, but couldn?t do anything about it. To sweeten the pie, he offered a relocation package, sent packers and movers (more mopes) to Ravenna and they moved Honoria to Constantinople.

Although Honoria was allowed to take her eunuch, Hyacinthus, with her and all her nice clothing and jewelry and pets to the Nunnery, about 1,280 kilometers from Ravenna (80 miles away), she did not adjust well. At orientation, she learned the new job entailed prayer, fasting, and lots of vigils. Celibacy was not too terrific, either, after what she had had with Eugenius. She may have been pregnant or may not have been pregnant. No one knows for sure, but some sources say she had a child that was strangled at birth, so we have to believe she had a male, if this is true.

She stayed there 12 -14 years, so I guess it took 12-14 years before Val was sure she wasn?t pregnant?remember he was feeble?or he got tired of the Head Sister?s calls complaining about Honoria?s annual reviews, which were lousy. He called his Mother.

Galla Placidia had been in the communications loop all along, receiving BCC from the Head Sister, and direct complaints from Honoria about the prayers, fasting, and vigils for the past 12 ? 14 years, so Val?s call came at a good time. She came back from her distance, and said, ?Okay, okay, nunnery?s not for Honoria, either. Frankly, Val, her resume stinks. First fired from Virgin, now laid off from Nun. We?ve got to get her some vocational guidance counseling.?

And so they did.

Galla Placidia called Bishop Milo, a friend of their family, who did counseling as a side line, when he wasn?t bishoping. He was a good guy, did counseling for barter, and had known the family for years. His barter was often to spruce up his bishopric, build a church somewhere or renovate a church somewhere, which, Galla, a wily woman, figured, could be paid from state funds, not personal funds, if Val and his bookkeepers messed around a bit with the balance sheet and put it in a foot note as a donation to charity, so the Rome?s SEC wouldn?t notice the dispersion of funds for their family?s personal usage.

Bishop Milo went to see Honoria in Constantinople and talked with her quietly, gave her a couple of standardized test to determine her strengths and weaknesses in the job market, a tight job market for professions and middle- and upper managements, although sales positions in retail were strong (Women, bless their hearts, were in a shopping mode.). All in all economic conditions in Rome and its environs weren?t so good. They were on red alert all the time because of a guy, Attila the Hun, nicknamed the ?Scourge of God,? who was in Gaul (kind of France, kind of Germany at that time) and who shouldn?t have been there but was trying to be there because he wanted to take over this land and build his own empire and take the job title CEO of Everything in this World. Gaul was close to what eventually would be Italy, but was now just called Rome. Everyone was nervous.

Sales associate was out of the question for Honoria because she didn?t have the patience or discipline to zip, button, and snap women into their togas all day long, Bishop Milo determined, and she was too ferocious to manage a toga boutique or a toga franchise.

So, he reverted to his pastoral educational background and soothed Honoria with enough platitudes to get her to stop raving and concentrate on the standardized tests. It didn?t work, and he left.

On the ride back to Ravenna, he had an epiphany, and when he got home, he called Galla. ?Your kid is a mess,? he said. ?She?s 28 (or 30 or 42 or 44), too, shall we say, ?Lively? to spend her life in fasting, praying, and vigils, too sophisticated for a Nunnery, and too smart to report to anyone. Marry her off and she?ll be some one else?s problem. Now, about my fee??

Galla called Val and asked him if he knew of any nice, quiet guy who?s in civil service, dull as a stick, easy to push around, from a very good family, middle age, unmarried or never married, and probably impotent or just not interested much in doing the dirty deed.

?I know the perfect one,? Val exclaimed. ?Flavius Bassus Herculanus. He?s a Senator, bores me to tears when he speaks, can?t play poker worth a damn, and is nicknamed Senator Whatever. He?s friendless, a real shlepper.?

It?s not surprising that not much is known about Senator Whatever, who eventually became Consul just because of his tenure in the Senate. I believe he must have been delighted to finally obtain some positive attention from Val, and I?m sure he agreed immediately to become engaged to Honoria because he was lonesome what with all his personality defects and one physiological defect.

And so, Honoria and Senator Whatever became engaged via a memo from Val, which said ?Effective immediately, Herc, you are engaged to my sister, Honoria. CC: Honoria, co Sisters of Theodosius,? and Honoria hit the ceiling.

When she stopped levitating, she wrote her resignation letter and sent it to the Head Sister. Then, she began looking through her Filofax for networking contacts, finally taking her career into her own hands, you might say, while listening to the equivalent of 4th century CNN reporting red alert news about that Attila guy camped out somewhere in Gaul. Since her Filofax was a mess, she listened to the red alert more closely. And, she put her predicament together with the main character, that Attila guy. He sounded rough, but she was ferocious? She called for Hyacinthus, her eunuch, and asked him to find out where in Gaul that Attila guy was camped out. He was clever, although not clever enough to have stopped his castration, but still clever. He did his research quickly, and reported to Honoria. She gave him a ring of hers and some cash she had laying around and told him to go to Attila and offer him a deal: If he would rescue her from a life of marriage to Senator Whatever, which included killing Val and his kids and taking over his job, she would help him become CEO of Everything in this World. Then, she either packed up and moved back to Ravenna or stayed at the nunnery in Constantinople or moved somewhere else in Constantinople, nobody knows which

Somehow, Hyacinthus got through to Attila.

Attila was tickled. Even Barbarians have a sense of humor. Certainly, Barbarians appreciate chutzpah. In Hun country (vaguely Hungary), where he was born, women just didn?t do this. He probably rolled his small, deep-seated eyes, a characteristics of his that everyone talked about, scratched his flat nose, pulled the few hairs in his beard, rubbed his swarthy complexion, scratched in his large head, flexed his broad shoulders, paced around (He had nervous energy.), then offered Hyacinthus a snack (of human flesh, another characteristic that everyone talked about), and called an informal meeting to tell everyone around him what Hyacinthus said. They sat around and shot the shit for a bit, catching up on each other?s this and that.

Then, he went back to business and told everyone who wasn?t supposed to know certain things to leave, including Hyacinthus.

The ?Damsel in Distress? notion was about 800 years away, so no one could attach this label to Honoria?s offer. And, because they were Barbarians, they believed damsels were put on earth to distress. What Attila and his guys did understand was the phrase, CEO of Everything in this World, exactly what Attila?s management objective was. They bounced around a bunch of ideas and Attila?s Spin Doctor came up with this: Let?s say that Honoria is offering marriage to Attila, not asking for rescue. If we follow that thought line, then you know marriage comes with a dowry. A dowry can be a combination of money and assets. We get enough money from tributes. so, let?s go for assets?one half of Rome ? West Division is reasonable.

Attila complimented him and called for his lawyer to draft a reply.

Then, he called Hyacinthus in and gave him his terse reply: Honoria, you?re my bride, effective retroactive to your betrothal to Senator Whatever. Bring me one half of Rome ? West Division immediately. Attila PS What?s your sign?

Hyacinthus set off, back to Constantinople or Ravenna, sources are confused about where Honoria was at this time, but Hyacinthus knew. Attila sent a messenger to (another) Theodosius (not Grandpa), the current Chairman of the Board, with whom he had been doing business for years, (Paying tribute to Attila was a sideline of Attila?s, a way to get money and not have to use his hordes to lay waste to areas he could control.) and the guy Val reported to. Attila told Theodosius to tell Val to hand over Honoria, a new bride he had just taken, and one half of Rome ? West Division as a dowry immediately.

Theodosius called Val and told him to send Honoria to Attila immediately, tell Senator Whatever he was no longer betrothed to Honoria, and to send Attila a great deal of money immediately to stop Attila from coming in person to collect the assets.

Val was hysterical and did what he always did when it came to Honoria. He got mad at Hyacinthus.

He sent a bunch of mopes to bring Hyacinthus from Constantinople or Ravenna to Rome and when Hyacinthus arrived, Val had him tortured and then beheaded him on legal grounds that he had participated in treasonous activity. That finished, he took a coffee break and called his Mother. ?I?m gonna kill Honoria, too. You can?t stop me. She plotted treason.? he yelled over and over. Galla Placidia knew her son enough to know he wanted calming down, not sanction, so she calmed him down and he didn?t kill Honoria. No one knows exactly what they did next with and about Honoria because a lot of other stuff happened fast.

First, Theodosius inconveniently died, and a new guy, Marcian, was appointed or voted or took over as Chairman of the Board. He decided on a new style of management with Attila and that style was ?No, I won?t pay tribute anymore. So there.? So, Marcian was preoccupied with Attila and the Honoria thing fell by the wayside, put in his abeyance bin.

Attila got mad at Marcian and gathered a new horde to set off for Rome, traveling through what would become France eventually, and doing horrible things that Barbarians do. He got to Italy and did horrible things, but didn?t get to Rome. Close to Rome, two Senators, Avienus and Trygetius, went to Attila?s camp near the south shore of Lake Garda and negotiated something (No one knows exactly what, but some sources say money was exchanged. Other sources say the two Senators came and made some agreement that Attila may or may not have accepted, then plague broke out in the area, food ran short (When you rape and pillage and ravage, all the crops get burned up.) and Marcian?s army was seen coming down the road to fight, not to pay tribute.). Attila left the building quietly with his bodyguard.

Honoria?s plight never came out of the abeyance bin, so I?ll tell you what happened next:

Honoria married Herc and both died of boredom and old age. You won?t be surprised to learn they had no children.

Val was killed long after this episode at the instigation of Favius Petronius Maximus (who became Chairman of the Board after Marcian and who decided that Val?s killing of his colleague, Aetius, a very good employee and long time friend, was the final straw in a lifetime of lousy annual reviews). This happened while Val was attending a chariot race. The assassin?s name is unknown. His widow, Lucinia (or Licinia) Eudoxia, married Max unwillingly.

Galla Placidia died when she was very old while attending a Junior League meeting.

Attila died a year after his retreat from the Rome of a nose bleed on his wedding night.

About the Author: Barbara Nell is editor of The Perspicacious Woman OnLine, a bi-monthly fashion ezine, now in its 7th year of publication. She has been a closet history buff all her life.

Baby and Echo Boomers: How Generational Trends Affect the Real Estate Market

As the United States economy reaches the end of the first quarter of 2006 the real estate market has proven to be successful, despite a slowdown at the close of 2005. As experts predicted, what appeared to some as a bursting market bubble, is really a simple correction that has restored balance between home buyers and sellers. According to Realty Times writer Kenneth Harney, OFHEO chief economist Patrick Lawler stated, despite recent indications that a slowdown may be forthcoming, house price appreciation during 2005 continued to hover at near-record levels. While deceleration continues in some areas, Lawler continued, appreciation generally is still extremely strong. Harney also reported that the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) found that the average American house gained nearly 13 percent in value between the end of 2004 and the end of 2005. Home building and mortgage industry economists suggested that one reason for the continuing high appreciation rates may be exceptionally high demand tied in with demographic factors, writes Harney. These demographic factors are often associated with generational buying trends. David Lereah, chief economist for the NAR, also believes that other strong sectors of the economy such as US exports, construction activity and overseas economies will keep the housing industry moving forward.

Growing Up In the 80's and 90's

The Echo Boomers are the second largest generation in the United States, second only to their parents. Children of the Baby Boomers, Echo Boomers are the only generation to come of age with the technology of the twenty-first century. They are very different from their predecessors and are more willing to take risks. Their parents, Baby Boomers, were the first generation to have two income households, multiple careers and a 50% divorce rate. Most Echo Boomers were born between 1977 and 1995. They have more lending and mortgage options and purchase larger, more expensive homes at earlier ages. Currently, the average American has three major career shifts in life. Echo Boomers are more likely to be investors, unlike their grandparents, who lived in the same home until retirement. Echo Boomers often receive financial assistance from their parents when purchasing property. According to the article Understanding Generational Difference in Home Remodeling Behavior published by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Echo Boomers are also more likely to remodel their homes with do-it-yourself solutions. In 2005 the average spending for do-it-yourself remodeling was $602.00 for Echo Boomers compared to $587.00
for professional remodeling services.

An Economic Force To Be Reckoned With

Baby Boomers are still making a sizable impact on the economy of the United States, along with their children. These two generations affect the consumer market in almost every industry and marketing is even crafted specifically for them. In Real Estate Weekly last fall, John Heithaus, partner at Certified Closing Network, was quoted as referring to Baby
Boomers as he greatest economic force in the history of the United States. Baby Boomers and Echo Boomers are both major demographic groups affecting the real estate market. The Baby Boomers, raised by parents who survived the great depression, are more cautious. They came of age during the nation's transition from the conventional 1950's to the upheaval of the 60's and 70's; the Baby Boomers are the first generation to live within redefined cultural trends. The Baby Boomers are mostly born between 1945 and 1964 and according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University in 2005 the average spending for do-it-yourself remodeling was between $463 and $643. The average amount invested in professional remodeling services was between $1,588 and $1,686. The Baby Boomers are more likely to trust and hire an expert. They generally make more money than their parents and work to give their children every opportunity to succeed.

The Market Will Continue To Grow

Real Estate Weekly has reported that as Echo Boomers continue to move into adulthood, they are also suddenly becoming a strong buying and renting force. There are 80 million Echo Boomers in the United States, roughly one third of the population, who currently invest $170 billion in real estate each year. Their buying power, combined with that of their parents is a force that will continue to grow and evolve throughout 2006. Baby Boomers are less affected by rising costs and higher interest rates than other generations and they will pass this stability on to their children. The Echo Boomers will continue their trend of purchasing newly constructed homes and the Baby Boomers will continue buying second homes and planning for retirement. This will keep the real estate market balanced and with steady growth. Next month we will discuss creative financing in the current real estate market, to read more visit http://www.voncannonrealestate.com.

About the Author

Tenancy Laws Every Landlord Should Know

Laws vary from state to state and it is up to you to find out more about them. But here are a few general guidelines and questions which may help you discover what your state dictates with regard to these issues. Find out simple things like a limit on the amount of rent increase you can ask for, any interest on the security deposit you need to pay, maximum period of retaining a security deposit after the tenant leaves, any fee you can charge in case of late payment and how long you have to wait before you can demand for that fee, etc.

The rental agreement you draw up is usually taken care of by the attorney but it would not hurt to find out more about it. Find out about the various legal documents required in your state and how you can tailor these forms/ documents to suit your needs. In addition, learn more about where these documents get legally recorded ? related fees, taxes etc. A good attorney can usually see you through all of this safely.

It is essential that you know about the housing acts in your state. Tenants are usually guaranteed with some basic rights such as a dwelling fit for human habitation, unlawful discrimination, power to hold the landlord liable in case of damages caused due to the landlord?s negligence and protection against being locked out without a legal notice. You need to make sure that you do not falter here and in case of disagreements with regard to the above, you carry out the procedures legally.

When it comes to disclosing facts about the rental you need to cover a range of issues. Some states may require specific checks to be conducted on the house and the results revealed to the tenants ? like sexual predators in the neighborhood, presence of radon gas etc. There are both federal and state requirements regarding disclosure of certain facts to tenants and you must adhere to these.

Most of the above can be handled by yourself but when it comes to evictions, you need a good attorney and a thorough knowledge of the laws. If you at least have a basic idea then you may not do anything rash like shutting off the power supply because of a late payment. You need to find out the conditions on which an eviction is actually applicable. Additionally find out the exact procedure, the notice you will have to serve, the total cost etc. This will help you judge if you even want an eviction as opposed to a settlement out of court. If you do seriously consider eviction, hire yourself a decent attorney.

Knowing your laws is important as you want to stay well within the legal boundaries. It will make your life simpler and prevent you from making rash decisions that may cost you an arm and a leg.

Sadiya Anjum - ChoiceOfHomes.com - Find listings of Homes for Rent online. Home owners / landlords may also advertise their home rental online.

How to Survive the First Day of School A Survival Guide for Students

Are you ready for the first day of school?

Backpack full of supplies. Check!

First-day outfit clean and ready to go. Check!

You know where you're going and when to be there. Mostly.

You're in bed, the night before the first day of school, trying to sleep, but it's hard, isn't it? Maybe you're not sure about a new school, a new class, a new teacher. Maybe you got new clothes, but now you aren't quite sure where your shoes are. If you follow the guidelines below, it should help you sleep a little better.


Prepare. Make a list of everything you need to do before the first day of school. It can include getting school supplies (make sure you have the list,) calling friends to talk about schedules or clothes, going to orientation, or whatever is important to you. Check things off the days before school starts, so you feel better about being ready. Lay out clothes the night before, just in case your favorite socks are dirty or a shoe is missing.
Sharpen pencils ahead of time. It may seem like a little thing, but when the teacher tells you to take out a pencil and write your name on the paper, you don't want to have to go stand in line at the pencil sharpener.
Double-check the dress code. Even if it is over ninety degrees and your flip-flops look perfect with your new shorts, you need to check the school dress code. Make sure you know what is allowed and what is not, so that really cool first-day outfit doesn't earn you a trip to the principal's office.
Check the list again. You may have gone through your school supply list a thousand times already, but do it one more time before you leave for school. You may not have noticed that Dad borrowed your ruler or that your little brother dumped your crayon box under your bed. Don't be surprised when you get to school. If there were any school supplies you couldn't find or were sold out, be sure to let your teacher know; she will expect you to have them. Then, remind Mom or Dad to find and buy the supplies. You need them as soon as possible.
Eat breakfast. Even if you're late for school, make sure you grab something to eat. A hungry stomach and first-day nerves are a bad combination, unless you want to be the first one to throw up this year. Grab a portable yogurt, a handful of cereal, a piece of bread and some fruit, but don't take a some candy and a soda. Save that for after school. Breakfast is the perfect way to start the day with energy and a settled stomach.
Hopefully you can sleep better now. Have an awesome school year!

Visit Stephenie's site http://faith-filled.com/Faith-filledJournal.html for more ideas for kids. If you have more tips for the first day of school, let her know at her blog: http://blog.faith-filled.com/

By Stephenie Hovland

Dora Backpack A Little Happiness in a Bag

Looking around, kids of all ages have been totting bags with them where ever they go; here they hold some of their most prized possessions. They learn to keep these possessions close them no matter where they are. These bags range from the slip on, sling bags, belt bags, and the backpacks among numerous others.

Backpacks, on the one hand can be very useful to them when going out. They can bring along with them a storybook, a doll of her favorite movie character and other important things such as spare clothes.

Your child will surely love it. You can put some books on it and other educational items such as pencil, paper, books, crayon and coloring book, especially if you choose to buy the backpack of Dora the Explorer. In addition, since most kids love Dora, it will not be hard for you to get your child something she can enjoy and relish. Any outdoor activity can start out great as she packs her things in her Dora backpack.

Dora backpack can really help your child ease the hesitation of attending nursery school. In this way, she can feel the part of being a student and be at ease knowing that she has Dora the Explorer, a girl known for her courage and bravery, along with her.

As a parent, you can utilize the Dora backpack to begin educating your daughter on the proper way of handling and preparing a neatly packed bag. Thus, it makes her have a proper habit when she starts to go to elementary school.

Dora the Explorer backpacks are available in all different sizes. So, it will not be a big issue whether your childs size is small, big or extra large. The backpacks all come with Doras image and some of the wonderful characters of the show. But if your daughter wants to have a backpack that has only the image of Dora, it will not be a problem since there are so many available backpacks that features Dora alone.

However, before buying the Dora backpack make sure that you ask your daughter the type, design and size that she wants in order to avoid possible problems with your daughter. Dora backpacks will definitely suit the needs of your child. Better yet, take her along as you go shopping for a Dora backpack.

Some people would think that the backpack will cost them too much because of the popularity of Dora. Dora may seem to be very popular but the backpacks are all affordable because it was intended for children with mommies who can afford only the lesser price among the branded bags.
Not only that, Dora backpack was made available to the public in order to please children. And also to help the parents who find it hard to please their own kids.

Dora backpacks are pleasurable for a cause. And these cause benefits both the child and the parent. So, what is wrong about buying your small daughter a backpack? As long as it is Dora and it gives your daughter the cravings for education, then its all for good.

One great purpose why you should buy a Dora backpack for your child is that, she deserves to have it. After all, she is your little angel and it is just right to give her little happiness at least once in a while.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Dora The Explorer, please visit http://dora.articlekeep.com

By Low Jeremy

South Dakota Mortgage What to Know Before Buying a Home in South Dakota

Maybe you?re buying your first home in South Dakota, or perhaps you?re relocating to South Dakota from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on South Dakota home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you?ll need to know before buying a home in South Dakota:

The median price of a home in South Dakota is $79,600. The price of homes in South Dakota varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Rapid City, South Dakota, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $195,000; however, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the median price of a home was $171,000, and in Yankton, South Dakota, it was $149,000. Average interest and job growth rates in South Dakota are above the national average.

South Dakota state law requires that the minimum loan amount on a mortgage is $35,000. Additionally, it requires that an assignment of mortgage must be in writing and recorded. In the case of full loan repayment, the borrower must satisfy mortgage of record within 10 days of the lender?s written request. If they do not do so, they are held responsible for all damages the lender incurs as a result of their ill-compliance, including the lender?s lawyer fees and a $100 penalty.

South Dakota has a Fair Housing Law that prohibits mortgage discrimination against anyone because of their race, color, gender, religion, familial status, or national origin.

The Housing Development Authority in South Dakota assists low and moderate income families and first-time home buyers obtain mortgages. This program offers below-market interest rates and down payment assistance to borrowers who qualify under the state?s established guidelines.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about South Dakota Mortgage Rates and Loans.

Real Estate Economics at a Glance

Real estate business is like a whole different world in itself where different forces collect and affect one another and thus functions that world. Acknowledging the real estate market laws is rather essential because it is a proper, separate subject that needs to be given its due importance. It needs to be studied like any other subject that is studied in economics. Real estate economics should be studied because it provides information about how the economic laws, rules and techniques are used in connection with the real estate market. The aim of these markets is exactly the same as those of the other markets. To earn maximum profit at minimized cost. Exactly the way other forces of demand and supply are determinants of commodity market pricing and equilibrium, real estate market studies too hold equal importance.

Real estate has become the vital part of the economics. It holds within itself a revenue source for the governments. There are employment opportunities that are filled because of it. The circular flow of national income of a state gets a very big contribution from the real estate market and keeps it flowing steadily. When so much is depended upon it then it should definitely get a place amongst the much pondered upon issues.

Any market; whether it is a commodity market or some other markets there will always be certain forces working together to make it run. A brief overview of the running forces of this market can facilitate even an ordinary man in dealing with real estate matters. The real estate market is huge with two basic forces running it that is demand and supply of real estate. There are owners and tenants and their money capital that they are willing to invest in the properties. These are the two very main characters that play the entire role. Because they are the ones who have money they can invest. The others come second on this list. There are others who rent or lease out their property instead of consuming it themselves. The demand side depends on the population requirement while the supply side depends on all those inputs that help in building the stock of real estate.

The equilibrium formed thus by the forces of demand and supply depicts the mechanism of this market. The study of real estate thus provides tips for a better economic and social development of the societies of the World.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Real Estate, Business, and Finance

Traveling Around Alicante And Benidorm

The most popular and convenient way to get around in Alicante, Spain is to rent a car. Whether you?re traveling up the Costa Blanca to Benidorm, or staying in Alicante to sightsee, it?s great to have a car at your disposal. Renting is simple to do, and depending on your itinerary, it will generally be more cost-effective than any other mode of transportation. There are several key things to take note of before you go.

Alicante Car Rental

When you land at the airport in Alicante, you?ll find several different car rental companies to choose from, including worldwide names such as Avis and Hertz, and regional companies like Auriga and Centuaro. They?re easily accessible from the arrival area.

It?s best to book your car rental before your vacation to ensure you get the best price. Also, depending on when you?re traveling, it?s a good idea to pre-arrange a car in advance to be sure that you?ll have one when you arrive. Particularly in the summer, which is peak season in Alicante, you?ll find that rental inventory goes quickly.

You can use several different ways to reserve your car. You can book online, through a travel agent, or directly with the company you select. Many times you can find a great deal on a car rental as part of a vacation package. Be sure to shop several companies for the best rates. When shopping, include any additional charges, such as insurance, as well as any restrictions that will apply, to get a clear picture when comparing prices.

The car doesn?t always have to be picked up at the airport, though for some, that?s most convenient. Sometimes you?ll find that renting in town is more affordable than renting at the airport. Think about where you?ll be picking up and dropping off to ensure that you?ll have transportation to and from the rental location. If you?re renting from a location other than the airport, most companies offer complimentary transportation to the rental company.

Don?t Forget the Extras

Consider any extra features or charges when renting. Find out what?s included in the price. Some rental companies may include insurance in their cost, some may not.

One important issue to address is whether or not you?ll need to bring a child safety seat. You may have already brought it for the flight, and it?s a simple procedure to get it into the rental car. Or you may have planned to rent one once you arrived. Either way, if you have an infant or child in the car, Spanish law states that he or she must be secured in a safety seat. If a rental company provides it, there?s an additional charge.

Be sure to get a car with air conditioning. It might be an obvious feature, but one you may not realize you need until you?re in the sweltering heat of Alicante without it.

Careful planning and review of all of your options will ensure you have the best possible car rental experience.

About the Author:

Peter J. Wilson is writing principally for http://www.alicante-spain.com , a web page on Costa Blanca . His abstracts on Alicante car rental are found on his website .

NICK'S BACKPACK CAREPAK MISSION/Darryl E. Owens

Saturday, September 22, 2001

`LUCKY' TEEN KNOWS THE DESPAIR OF CHILDREN
IN ROMANIA, TRIES TO HELP
by Darryl E. Owens THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
Used with permission

The castoff child escaped 11 years ago, rescued from a hell called Orphanage No. 4.

An Orlando woman moved by a television report and a hole in her soul plucked him from a Romanian orphanage brimming with garbage and apathy.

He had a shaven head, piercing brown eyes, and white spots streaking across his thighs where injections of sedatives had scarred him.

Soon he was thousands of miles from the smoldering reality of revolution, living in a safe, sun-drenched city where people only have to step through theme-park gates to experience lands of make-believe.

Day by day, the waif grew into Nick Simon, a suntanned Florida boy eager to catch up on years of missed chocolate bars and loving hugs.

In June, more than a decade after he left the orphanage, Nick stumbled upon a 20/20 TV special that captured his interest. ABC correspondent Tom Jarriel had returned to Romania to see if anything had changed for the orphans since his eye-opening 1990 report. It had: Thousands, now in their late teens and early 20s, were living in the sewers. Waves of haunting memories washed over Nick.

He searched the despairing faces of children -- once warehoused, now turned out on the streets -- staring, knowing. Knowing among the faces might be children with whom he shared a crib and a cry.

Knowing among those faces were children certain to barter their bodies to survive, sniff glue as an escape, die lonely deaths from AIDS. Knowing his face could have been among those flashed in a blur across a 32-inch television screen.

But he knew, most of all, something must be done. And so it was that a grass-roots campaign, Backpack Carepak, a drive to collect and send winterwear and hygiene products in gently-used or new backpacks to street urchins in Bucharest was born in the heart of a 16-year-old native son.

What really struck me, he says, was, like, `Whoa! Hold up a second. They're living in the streets now? I was lucky to get out of there at the time that I did. I could have been one of these kids living in the streets. Not enough people are speaking out for the kids out there that need help.

Nick slides into a cramped booth at Panera Bread near Lake Eola on a recent afternoon and regards his lunch: tuna on honey wheat, Greek salad, a Pepsi.

With his nut-brown mop, bushy eyebrows, and an elongated face that narrows to a rounded V at the chin, Nick could pass for the shy, boyish cog in a boy band -- if he were shy. Truth be told, Hollywood is where his head is. Already he has appeared as an extra in films and starred as Jesus in a Godspell production.

He likes his girls cute and speaks the lingo. As Nick puts it, he is, out there, which is, apparently, something desirable, in the way that bad means good.

By all appearances, Nick is your average red-blooded, American teenager. Nothing like the 51/2-year-old who came to America unacquainted with Santa Claus. He stabs at his feta, looks up glassy-eyed.

I still have dreams of Romania, he volunteers.

Sometimes when he sleeps, he says, his mind paints Jackson Pollocks, scored by Rambo.
Flashes of white, blue, red.
Dogs barking.
Guns rat-a-tat-tatting.
Sirens screeching across his mind.

It was only later, when the woman he would come to call Mama told him the story behind his coming to Orlando, that Nick would tie his dreams to the revolution in 1989 that swirled around Orphanage No. 4.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1992: They look like a typical family; Mom, Dad, kids and the family dog. But Connie & Paul Simon, with a young Nick and Liana, paint their own special portrait of that theme.

The brush, however, is the same: the need to love and be loved.

A SILENCE THAT SCREAMS

It began in the summer of 1990, when Connie Simon, then a teacher at Howard Middle School in Orlando, traveled to Romania to distribute 14 boxes filled with toys, clothes, and medical supplies gathered by students, staff and others moved by a 20/20 segment on Romanian orphans.

The report pried the lid off a secret shame, born of the tyrannical 25-year reign of Nicolae Ceausescu. In an effort to swell the Romanian population, he banned birth control and abortions and heavily fined couples that produced fewer than four children.

Unable to care for the offspring, many parents handed them over to the state. According to estimates, about 100,000 children languished in Romanian institutions.

When the government fell in December 1989, Ceausescu was overthrown and executed.

The misery didn't die with him.

Even braced for conditions she had heard were common at the orphanages, Simon had to steady herself at the odor blasting into her nostrils. The heat concentrated the stench of diapers, changed -- if at all -- once a day. It happened like this: children with sticky legs sat stacked on trays like loaves of bread, changed in one fell swoop.

More than the smell, what struck her about this particular orphanage was the silence. Wards of tiny creatures stared blankly through bars in cribs, or rocked, rocked, rocked on filthy bare pads. Children with bloated bellies and babies crawling with lice had learned not to cry. Rarely would their screams move a caretaker to dab at their tears.

Simon delivered the care packages to the Spitalul Children's Hospital and several orphanages. At the orphanages, children buzzed about her as if she were the queen bee. One child swooped down on a pink bunny, wetting its fur with kisses.

Simon returned home to Orlando, changed. She knew what she had to do.

HUG MELTS AWAY BLEAKNESS

In late October 1990, Simon again was bound for Romania.

She and her husband, Paul, in their early 40s at the time, had tried and failed to adopt children in the states. Five times, the same thing. It was as if the children were ice -- when the Simons believed they were grasping something solid, the children slipped like water through their fingers.

On her first trip to Romania, Simon became smitten with a 2-year-old named Ana and started the adoption paperwork.

But soon her optimism faded like the black-and-white snapshot of the brown-haired little girl.

Simon found the red tape virtually impenetrable. Each court appearance brought disappointment and more frustration. Each judge she appeared before had his own rules for signing off on the adoption. That she spoke little Romanian didn't help.

Complicating matters, Simon was under a deadline: She had been in Romania for several weeks and with an airlines strike looming, she was booked on the last flight out of Bucharest before Christmas.

At least she had tried, she thought.

As one door seemed to slam shut, another opened. An interpreter, aware of her dead-ends with Ana, told her about a slight boy at Orphanage No. 4.

Simon visited the place. The building was old, frigid. Inside there were no toys. Outside packs of wild dogs roamed. The children slept in military cots. They shared a bathroom with rusty showers and two sinks.

After a while, Simon and the boy she came to meet were brought together, two strangers in the strangest of places. His father was dead and his mother was poor. His aunts, uncles, and cousins lived in a commune outside of Bucharest.

The child, in a sweater, long stockings, and knitted pants, reacted the only way he could: he ran as fast as he could over to Simon, snaked his arms around just under her waist and squeezed.

Within the week, the boy she called Nick was gorging on chocolates on a flight bound for Orlando.

Nick was miles away from speaking English, save for the words, chocolate and Mickey. And this: Her son could say mama.

DISCOVERING TIRE TREADS

After a while, when the newness rubbed away, the Simons confronted some unpleasant realities.

An institutionalized child -- one who had been warehoused virtually all his life without an encouraging word, without love -- was going to bear scars.

The first night he spent in his room, Nick stripped the sheets and ignored the pillow -- luxuries he had never had. He spent nights haunting the hallway, snacking on bowls of sugar.

Precious few things came naturally to him. He knew how to march and salute -- the orphans were groomed to be crack soldiers -- and when placed in a bathtub, Nick would grab a cloth and buff the chrome.

Since he had never seen a toy, he had to learn how to play.

Since he was rarely allowed to venture beyond the crib, he had to learn to explore. Once at school, teachers found Nick under a school bus, weaving his fingers through the tire treads. News story THE ORLANDO SENTINEL and may not be republished without permission.

Darryl E. Owens
Features Writer
The Orlando Sentinel
633 North Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 420-5095
Fax: (407) 420-5457

COME FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP, TOO. :)

http://joanbramsch.com eens/backpack.shtml

`LUCKY' TEEN KNOWS THE DESPAIR OF CHILDREN
IN ROMANIA, TRIES TO HELP
by Darryl E. Owens THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
Used with permission

The castoff child escaped 11 years ago, rescued from a hell called Orphanage No. 4.

An Orlando woman moved by a television report and a hole in her soul plucked him from a Romanian orphanage brimming with garbage and apathy.

He had a shaven head, piercing brown eyes, and white spots streaking across his thighs where injections of sedatives had scarred him.

Soon he was thousands of miles from the smoldering reality of revolution, living in a safe, sun-drenched city where people only have to step through theme-park gates to experience lands of make-believe.

Day by day, the waif grew into Nick Simon, a suntanned Florida boy eager to catch up on years of missed chocolate bars and loving hugs.

In June, more than a decade after he left the orphanage, Nick stumbled upon a 20/20 TV special that captured his interest. ABC correspondent Tom Jarriel had returned to Romania to see if anything had changed for the orphans since his eye-opening 1990 report. It had: Thousands, now in their late teens and early 20s, were living in the sewers. Waves of haunting memories washed over Nick.

He searched the despairing faces of children -- once warehoused, now turned out on the streets -- staring, knowing. Knowing among the faces might be children with whom he shared a crib and a cry.

Knowing among those faces were children certain to barter their bodies to survive, sniff glue as an escape, die lonely deaths from AIDS. Knowing his face could have been among those flashed in a blur across a 32-inch television screen.

But he knew, most of all, something must be done. And so it was that a grass-roots campaign, Backpack Carepak, a drive to collect and send winterwear and hygiene products in gently-used or new backpacks to street urchins in Bucharest was born in the heart of a 16-year-old native son.

What really struck me, he says, was, like, `Whoa! Hold up a second. They're living in the streets now? I was lucky to get out of there at the time that I did. I could have been one of these kids living in the streets. Not enough people are speaking out for the kids out there that need help.

Nick slides into a cramped booth at Panera Bread near Lake Eola on a recent afternoon and regards his lunch: tuna on honey wheat, Greek salad, a Pepsi.

With his nut-brown mop, bushy eyebrows, and an elongated face that narrows to a rounded V at the chin, Nick could pass for the shy, boyish cog in a boy band -- if he were shy. Truth be told, Hollywood is where his head is. Already he has appeared as an extra in films and starred as Jesus in a Godspell production.

He likes his girls cute and speaks the lingo. As Nick puts it, he is, out there, which is, apparently, something desirable, in the way that bad means good.

By all appearances, Nick is your average red-blooded, American teenager. Nothing like the 51/2-year-old who came to America unacquainted with Santa Claus. He stabs at his feta, looks up glassy-eyed.

I still have dreams of Romania, he volunteers.

Sometimes when he sleeps, he says, his mind paints Jackson Pollocks, scored by Rambo.
Flashes of white, blue, red.
Dogs barking.
Guns rat-a-tat-tatting.
Sirens screeching across his mind.

It was only later, when the woman he would come to call Mama told him the story behind his coming to Orlando, that Nick would tie his dreams to the revolution in 1989 that swirled around Orphanage No. 4.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1992: They look like a typical family; Mom, Dad, kids and the family dog. But Connie & Paul Simon, with a young Nick and Liana, paint their own special portrait of that theme.

The brush, however, is the same: the need to love and be loved.

A SILENCE THAT SCREAMS

It began in the summer of 1990, when Connie Simon, then a teacher at Howard Middle School in Orlando, traveled to Romania to distribute 14 boxes filled with toys, clothes, and medical supplies gathered by students, staff and others moved by a 20/20 segment on Romanian orphans.

The report pried the lid off a secret shame, born of the tyrannical 25-year reign of Nicolae Ceausescu. In an effort to swell the Romanian population, he banned birth control and abortions and heavily fined couples that produced fewer than four children.

Unable to care for the offspring, many parents handed them over to the state. According to estimates, about 100,000 children languished in Romanian institutions.

When the government fell in December 1989, Ceausescu was overthrown and executed.

The misery didn't die with him.

Even braced for conditions she had heard were common at the orphanages, Simon had to steady herself at the odor blasting into her nostrils. The heat concentrated the stench of diapers, changed -- if at all -- once a day. It happened like this: children with sticky legs sat stacked on trays like loaves of bread, changed in one fell swoop.

More than the smell, what struck her about this particular orphanage was the silence. Wards of tiny creatures stared blankly through bars in cribs, or rocked, rocked, rocked on filthy bare pads. Children with bloated bellies and babies crawling with lice had learned not to cry. Rarely would their screams move a caretaker to dab at their tears.

Simon delivered the care packages to the Spitalul Children's Hospital and several orphanages. At the orphanages, children buzzed about her as if she were the queen bee. One child swooped down on a pink bunny, wetting its fur with kisses.

Simon returned home to Orlando, changed. She knew what she had to do.

HUG MELTS AWAY BLEAKNESS

In late October 1990, Simon again was bound for Romania.

She and her husband, Paul, in their early 40s at the time, had tried and failed to adopt children in the states. Five times, the same thing. It was as if the children were ice -- when the Simons believed they were grasping something solid, the children slipped like water through their fingers.

On her first trip to Romania, Simon became smitten with a 2-year-old named Ana and started the adoption paperwork.

But soon her optimism faded like the black-and-white snapshot of the brown-haired little girl.

Simon found the red tape virtually impenetrable. Each court appearance brought disappointment and more frustration. Each judge she appeared before had his own rules for signing off on the adoption. That she spoke little Romanian didn't help.

Complicating matters, Simon was under a deadline: She had been in Romania for several weeks and with an airlines strike looming, she was booked on the last flight out of Bucharest before Christmas.

At least she had tried, she thought.

As one door seemed to slam shut, another opened. An interpreter, aware of her dead-ends with Ana, told her about a slight boy at Orphanage No. 4.

Simon visited the place. The building was old, frigid. Inside there were no toys. Outside packs of wild dogs roamed. The children slept in military cots. They shared a bathroom with rusty showers and two sinks.

After a while, Simon and the boy she came to meet were brought together, two strangers in the strangest of places. His father was dead and his mother was poor. His aunts, uncles, and cousins lived in a commune outside of Bucharest.

The child, in a sweater, long stockings, and knitted pants, reacted the only way he could: he ran as fast as he could over to Simon, snaked his arms around just under her waist and squeezed.

Within the week, the boy she called Nick was gorging on chocolates on a flight bound for Orlando.

Nick was miles away from speaking English, save for the words, chocolate and Mickey. And this: Her son could say mama.

DISCOVERING TIRE TREADS

After a while, when the newness rubbed away, the Simons confronted some unpleasant realities.

An institutionalized child -- one who had been warehoused virtually all his life without an encouraging word, without love -- was going to bear scars.

The first night he spent in his room, Nick stripped the sheets and ignored the pillow -- luxuries he had never had. He spent nights haunting the hallway, snacking on bowls of sugar.

Precious few things came naturally to him. He knew how to march and salute -- the orphans were groomed to be crack soldiers -- and when placed in a bathtub, Nick would grab a cloth and buff the chrome.

Since he had never seen a toy, he had to learn how to play.

Since he was rarely allowed to venture beyond the crib, he had to learn to explore. Once at school, teachers found Nick under a school bus, weaving his fingers through the tire treads. News story THE ORLANDO SENTINEL and may not be republished without permission.

Darryl E. Owens
Features Writer
The Orlando Sentinel
633 North Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 420-5095
Fax: (407) 420-5457

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