The Long Road Home Story of War and Family

From ABC White House correspondent Martha Raddatz, the story of a brutal forty-eight-hour firefight that conveys in harrowing detail the effects of war not just on the soldiers but also on the families waiting back at home.

In April 2004, soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division were on a routine patrol in Sadr City, Iraq, when they came under surprise attack. Over the course of the next forty-eight hours, 8 Americans would be killed and more than 70 wounded. Back home, as news of the attack began filtering in, the families of these same men, neighbors in Fort Hood, Texas, feared the worst. In time, some of the women in their circle would receive "the call"-the notification that a husband or brother had been killed in action. So the families banded together in anticipation of the heartbreak that was certain to come.

The firefight in Sadr City marked the beginning of the Iraqi insurgency, and Martha Raddatz has written perhaps the most riveting account of hand-to-hand combat to emerge from the war in Iraq. This intimate portrait of the close-knit community of families Stateside-the unsung heroes of the military -distinguishes The Long Road Home from other stories of modern warfare, showing the horror, terror, bravery, and fortitude not just of the soldiers who were wounded and killed but also of the wives and children whose lives now are forever changed.

Author: Martha Raddatz
Hardcover:  320 pages
Company: Putnam Adult  (2007-03-01) (2007-03-01)
ISBN: 0399153829
List Price: $24.95
Amazon Price: $12.75
Used Price: $12.94


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Channel :The Long Road  Home Story of  War and Family 

AC/DC - Family Jewels

It's always been quite rare to see AC/DC - unless you go to their concerts. Television appearances, and later music videos, have always been a necessary evil to this band of nononsense rockers. Consequently, only their early years were documented on television - mostly in Australia and Europe - and when the time came to switch to promotional video clips, the band always made their own and gave them the appearance of a live show. But they've also never wasted an opportunity to make a big statement with their clips. From singer Bon Scott dressing like a school girl (to Angus Young's school boy) and smoking(!) on their first major television appearance, to the giant rocking spectacle of the "Big Gun" video (with guest appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger), AC/DC has always been larger than life and their timeless brand of rock and roll has been as big on screen as it has off. Now for the first time Epic Records is proud to announce the first ever compilation of AC/DC videos from all parts of their storied career. Starting in 1975 on Australian TV's Countdown show through the Spanish TV clips filmed just ten days before Bon Scott's death - the first great era of the band is chronicled on Disc One. Disc Two starts with the promo videos for Back In Black (several never before available) and sees many of the 80's and 90's clips on DVD for the first time. This is truly a monumental collection of clips from one of the world's greatest bands - all completely remastered for DVD with the same care as the Epic CD remasters and the Live At Donington DVD.

Director:  Paul Becher, Russell Mulcahy, David Mallet, Brian Ward, Eric Mistler
DVD:  Color, DVD-Video, Original recording remastered, NTSC
Company: Sony  (2005-03-29)
List Price: $19.98
Amazon Price: $11.04
Used Price: $3.75


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Channel :AC  DC Family Jewels 

White Door Guardian Patio Door Lock

The Door Guardian Sliding Patio Door Lock is an elegant solution to sliding patio door security and safety. It was designed to replace the piece of wood, hcokey stick or broom you normally find in the bottom track of your slding patio door and is more attractive than a pin lock or charlie bar. It mounts easily to the upper track of most vinyl,wood and aluminum sliders. There is no drilling required , just run 2 screws into a keeper plate provided and then into the upper track. A 3" ventilation position is provided. Out of reach for children the Door Guardian Patio Door Lock was evaluated by National Safe Kids Washington, DC as one of the best childproofing devices for Patio Doors. All hardware and easy to follow instructions are included.

Misc.:  Deters prying and Lifting of your Patio Slider, Childproofs your Patio slider, Installs easily in minutes with keeper plate, No Drilling required, 3" ventilation opening without minimizing security
Company: Meranto Technology Inc. 
List Price: 
Amazon Price: $25.00


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Channel :White  Door Guardian Patio Door  Lock 

3D Home Architect Design 6.0 Special Edition (Jewel Case)

Designing your dream home is easier than you think!Product Information Whether building fromscratch remodeling or just dreaming 3D Home Architect Home Design Special Edition 6 deliversa complete selection of tools to help you bring your vision to l

CD-ROM:  CD-ROMDesign, edit, and plan out a dream home, addition, or remodel, Extensive collection of colors, textures, and architectural elements, Print plans to scale; virtual walkthrough to view from any angle, Change the appearance of any element with a single mouse click, Insert, move, and modify all the elements in both 2D and 3D views
Company: Riverdeep - Learning company  (2004-04-30)
List Price: $9.99
Amazon Price: $2.37


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Channel :3D  Home Architect Design  Special Edition Jewel Case 

Auntie Anne's At Home(r) Pretzel Kit

Pretzel Fun! Auntie Anne's special recipe, just for at-home baking! Perfect for slumber parties, school programs, birthday parties, club meetings, church programs, gift ideas or just family fun! Includes complete instructions for mixing, twisting and baking the tasty treats.

:  Auntie Anne's special recipe, just for at-home baking!, Makes 10 Original or Cinnamon Sugar pretzels, Vegetable oil, non-stick spray and butter not included, Complete instructions included, Perfect for slumber/birthday parties, school programs, club meetings, church programs, gift ideas
Company: Auntie Anne's 
List Price: 
Amazon Price: 


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Channel :Auntie  Anne At Home® Pretzel  Kit 

Surviving Your Extended Family

Second guessing your decision to help a family member in their time of need? Being proactive in planning for your relatives extended stay with help you weather the storm.

Surviving Your Extended Family
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Graham]Stephanie Graham

We all want to do the noble thing and help a friend or family member in their time of need. Natural disasters, illness, job loss, death, and a host of other unplanned circumstances sometimes makes it necessary for us to open our home to others. Despite your best efforts, your extended family situation can become extremely difficult to live with. Whether you are the host or the person in need of assistance, it is important to establish a few ground rules to keep the environment functioning harmoniously. If you don’t establish a few things upfront, emotions could flare up and result in arguments and sometimes even physical violence. Here are some helpful suggestions that will allow you to preserve your relationship with your loved ones:

DO: Meet with family members to discuss expectations (yours and theirs) during the extended stay. Familiarize your new guest with how things currently work in your household. Be sure to cover items that you are a stickler about (i.e., no shoes on in the house, no eating outside of the kitchen or nook area, smoking, computer usage, etc.).DON’T: Don’t assume that your family members have been observant enough to know what you want done in your home or how to do it. If your family member didn’t have a dishwasher or high tech appliances in their home, they may be apprehensive about using yours. The same goes for high tech electronics and other gadgets. Show your relative how to use your gadgets without altering your favorite settings. Another important point is usage of your personal computer. Let them know if your office pc is off limits. Additionally, let them know what to do to avoid downloading viruses and spyware onto your PC.

DO: Whenever possible, carve out a space or room where your extended family members can store personal items or have some privacy. They may still need to iron out some very personal matters in private. If a full bedroom is unavailable, provide a kitchen cabinet or drawer to help them to stay organized and keep their clutter out of your site. If this is not a good option, consider a room divider or curtains. DON’T: Don’t move your guests to a different place in your home every week. Think ahead about the most convenient place to make their temporary residence. If you know that the individual is a junky monkey, then don’t put them up near the entrance of your home or in areas frequented by your friends and business associates. It will cause a lot of unnecessary frustration for you and your relative.

DO: Do consider your guests’ dietary requirements. There are many people who are vegetarians or who exclude pork and beef from their diets. If your guests’ culinary preferences are too extreme, direct them to a place where they can purchase food or dine the way they normally do without inconveniencing you. You can also invite them to prepare their favorite dish as a way to make them more comfortable and to allow your family to experience a new cuisine. DON’T: Don’t expect your guests to eat salty, sugary, or high-fat foods, if they have indicated they’ve given them up for health reasons. Simply invite them to participate in the meal preparation or sit a portion of the meal aside prior to adding the salt or sugar that suits your taste.

DO: Solicit your guests’ participation in chores, errands, childcare, and bill paying regardless of how brief you intend for their stay to be. You’ll only handicap them by being too accommodating. If your guest has a cash flow problem and is unable to pay rent or a bill, they can still assist with chores, errands, or childcare. If they have a small amount of income, give them the responsibility of replenishing grocery items that are consumed quickly like milk, juice, fruit, bread, and cereal. DON’T: Don’t allow anyone to stay in your home without getting them to acknowledge the importance of making a contribution. They need to commit to doing something consistently to sustain the household. The well being of your household is of extreme importance to you and should be to them. Guests sometimes assume that because they spend the majority of their time in their designated room or area, that there is no need to contribute or be concerned with the maintenance of the rest of the house.

DO: Create a sign-up schedule for shared resources to avoid arguments. People tend to want to cook or wash at the same time someone else planned to do so. Disagreements about laundry, transportation, exercise equipment, computers, TVs and other media can become a huge problem very quickly. DON’T: Don’t allow your guest’s last minute activities to disrupt the entire household. Make your family planning calendar accessible so that your guest can advise everyone of his or her schedule far enough in advance. Transportation and other major issues should be discussed and resolved in advance.

DO: Insist that your guest continues to be the primary caregiver for their offspring. If your guest has a child, take steps to childproof your home immediately. Put away razors, matches, chemicals, and other harmful objects. Also, discuss sensitive issues like excessive noise, running through the house, bedwetting, and items that are off limits before problems arise.DON’T: Allow your guest to be careless with things that you cherish. Be sure to protect your valuables if you are accommodating guests with children. Make it clear that your guest should monitor their children at all times. If items are broken or damaged, advise your guest of how the incident should be handled (i.e., replace the item, clean the carpet, etc.).

DO: Do consider your guest’s likes, dislikes, (and their habits) before inviting them to stay at your home. You may get along just fine with your guest but what about their friends, family, and significant others? Does your guest expect to entertain and accommodate others at your expense? It shouldn’t happen but it can if you don’t address the issue up front. Is your guest a night owl? You should know these things in advance. Don’t: Allow guests to disrespect your home. Communicate your feelings about late night visitors, smoking, drinking, parties, loud noise, etc. What you consider to be "out of bounds" may just be the norm with your visitor

DO: Offer to provide your guest with the resources they need to get up to speed. Help with an online job search or a resume. Put them in contact with a business associate who may know of an opportunity. Be inspirational and uplifting DON’T: Buy into excuses that will result in you accommodating your relative much longer than the time you both originally agreed to. Don’t participate in the family gossip sessions that only serve to anger and alienate. Don’t discuss your guest’s personal problems with others without their permission. It could cause unnecessary family rifts. Treat them as you would want to be treated if the situation was reversed. Now that you’re in sync with the Do’s and Don’ts of living with extended family, think about what a blessing it is to have friends and family to share your home with in the first place! Stay optimistic about the situation and things are sure to work out. Invest a little time to help them get back on track with a [http://www.completemortgageprocessing.com ]career. Be encouraging and uplifting so that they will regain their self-confidence and independence. Life is short so make it sweet. Give what you can from the heart and your blessings will be returned tenfold.

Stephanie is an accomplished author, speaker, trainer, and business consultant for the mortgage industry. Stephanie facilitates live mortgage training and teleseminar events for mortgage brokers and loan processors across the United States. For more information about Stephanie, visit the company website at http://www.completemortgageprocessing.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Graham http://EzineArticles.com/?Surviving-Your-Extended-Family&id=453869

Family Nursing: Research, Theory and Practice

Book Info
California State Univ., Los Angeles. Brandon/Hill Nursing List first-purchase selection (#94). Addresses the full practice of nursing. Provides the detailed theoretical foundations of family nursing as well as nursing theories in practice. Features new family vignettes, chapter outlines, summaries, and assessment models. Softcover. DNLM: Family Nursing--Programmed Instruction.

From the Back Cover

Appropriate for students and clinicians alike, this popular text addresses the full practice of family nursing—from assessment to diagnosis to intervention. Teaching holistic, philosophical approach, it details the theoretical foundations family nursing as well as nursing theories in family nursing practice. Revised content throughout provides a comprehensive and relevant presentation, with updated statistics and references as well as new chapters that address practice areas. Well-organized and complete, this is the ideal resource for building a sound theoretical background of nursing interventions.
FEATURES INCLUDE
New Family vignettes at the end of each chapter apply content to real-life situations.
New Chapters addressing practice areas include family assessment, family diagnoses, and family nursing interventions.
New Coverage of family nursing practice gives comprehensive treatment to gender differences, sociocultural variation, and differences created by health alterations.
New Chapter outlines detail core content and organize learning goals.
Family assessment model details the knowledge needed to complete 4tssesstnent and develop diagnoses and intervention guidelines.
Chapter-end summaries, questions and answers highlight essential information and test understanding.
Discussions of advanced clinical practice settings offer insight into the field

Read more information

'Tis the Season to do Something for the Down and Out

'Tis the Season to do Something for the Down and Out
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_T_Jones,_Ph.D.]John T Jones, Ph.D.

Let’s do some pretending.

YOU ARE this widow or widower:

Your kids are strung from hell to breakfast and you seldom hear from three of them.

You are so old that most of your friends, and some of your children, are dead.

You’ve stopped taking medicine for the winter so that you can pay your fuel bill.

Your walks are covered with snow because you are too old to clear them.

You live on Social Security.

You have no savings or pension.

You suffer from arthritis pain day and night.

Sleep is something you did when you were younger.

You’ve got holes in your teeth but no money to have them repaired.

The cotton in your ears is because you have a constant ear infection.

You use a walker to get around the house.

Your car is low on gas so you decide to go to the grocery store but not to church.

You know you shouldn’t drive your car without auto insurance.

You wanted to go to the community dinner for the aged but the article in the paper said they were taking donations. You didn’t have a buck to drop in the box. You didn’t go and nobody brought you a dinner. (You knew that you didn’t have to donate to get your dinner, but you’re a proud person, and didn’t want others to know about your problems.)

You have no cable television. Your television set doesn’t work anyway.

The telephone company has threatened to cut off your service.

The power company has given you a grant for the winter so that you will have electricity. (If you die, it won’t be their fault.)

You have no life insurance. You couldn’t keep up with the premiums.

Now pretend again:

YOU ARE this divorced or abandoned woman with school-age children, or, your husband is well and at home, but out of work.

You don’t know where the rent is coming from.

You have insufficient funds and food stamps to feed your family.

The car has a dead battery, but you don’t have money to buy gas anyway.

The kids need shoes because they are growing so fast.

You need personal items because you are a woman but have no money whatsoever to buy them.

Your former friends and neighbors are embarrassed about your poverty and try to ignore you less you ask them for something that you desperately need.

Some neighbors say that your husband is out of work because he is too lazy to find a job.

Your church has never visited you to see if you have needs. You don’t go to church anymore.

Now pretend one more time:

YOU ARE living in a nursing home.

You are confused about what is going on at times; unless someone is kind or cruel to you.

The food tastes like straw.

It’s Christmas time but the vase of flowers has been in the windowsill wilting away since Mother’s Day. Nobody has bothered to empty the vase and you can’t even reach it.

The nurses are kind and efficient but the hourly employees could care less about your welfare. Some are mean and cruel. You use to ask them for help adjusting your bed, sitting you up, handing you a book, and personal needs. Now you wait until the nurse comes, knowing that she will help you. However, the nurse is busy and can’t always get to you when you have a need.

You are lonely.

You can’t wait to get out of the nursing home.

You will welcome death.

For those who care, here are some things you can do to help the down and out.

REMEMBER: You can’t do something for everybody. You can do something for somebody.

Some charities are able to reach out in a broad way. They solicit money, deduct administrative fees, and spread your wealth.

It’s good that this occurs.

That is not what this article is about except for those who can’t get out and help the needy. If you can’t give help, you can always give cash to the Salvation Army or your local rescue mission.

Try some of these activities :This is the time of the year when we should care about the needy, widows, widowers, people in nursing homes, etc. You can’t do something for everyone but you can for someone. First, put yourself in their shoes. I offer suggestions or you and your family.

ADT Protects Your Family and Home

ADT Protects Your Family and Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julia_Hall]Julia Hall

Many people are under the false assumption that crime can only happen to the 'other guy'. Statistics show that the number of 'other guys' is increasing, and this is just one reason you must protect self, family, and home against criminal elements as well as other threats to your family's well being. Home Security System gives you the satisfaction in knowing that your loved ones and home are protected 24-hours a day from devastating incidents like burglaries, medical emergencies, fire and smoke damage, and more. ADT provides a blanket of protection for you and yours with the latest advances in technology and equipment. Their services include protection against burglaries and break-ins, fire and smoke detection, medical emergencies, carbon monoxide level detections, and GPS tracking for vehicular emergencies.

A team of licensed professional technicians will install and test all your equipment for wireless uninterrupted security protection. Your system will feature a Master Control panel with 2-way voice, 24 wireless zones with 2 being hardwired, a 2-way talking touchpad, a handheld touchpad, and a keychain touchpad, a built-in siren, window signs and a yard sign, and a 24-hour backup battery. Prominently displayed yard and window signs often serve as deterrents against crime. Sensors are placed around the perimeter of the home as well as in high-traffic locations inside the home. When the alarm sounds, signals are transmitted immediately to one of five Command centers. These centers are strategically located in different time zones so as to provide person-to-person communications in times of need. Once an emergency is verified, they will automatically contact the appropriate authorities for prompt dispatch to your address. Arming the system is simple -- a touch of the keypad -- and panic buttons may be used to summon police, medical, and fire personnel without fully arming the system. Technology has improved sensors to such a degree that sensors can differentiate between animal and human body temperatures and can detect the presence of an intruder before entry onto your property. Specific information is then transmitted to the Command center that pinpoints the exact location of an intruder. Command centers are in full operation at all times -- even in the worst of conditions-- as each one is staffed with additional personnel with powerful backup computers and power sources. You, your family, and your home will receive protection and services regardless of the situation -- floods, major power failures, hurricanes, computer failures, tornadoes, or other emergencies.

Property values increase in homes with Home Security System protection, and a home-owner is entitled to a 20 percent savings in annual home-owner insurance premiums. Don't postpone your decision any longer -- act today!

J. Hall writes articles for consumers who want to find the best [http://www.kayosworks.com/ ]ADT home security offers currently available. She has written for many major publications about the latest [http://www.kayosworks.com/home-security-systems-.html ]home security system deals and promotions and how buyers can find the best discounts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_Hall http://EzineArticles.com/?ADT-Protects-Your-Family-and-Home&id=521397

Many people are under the false assumption that crime can only happen to the 'other guy'. Statistics show that the number of 'other guys' is increasing, and this is just one reason you must protect self, family, and home against criminal elements as well as other threats to your family's well being.

Homeschooling - The 4 Main Reasons A Family May Choose to Home School a Child

Homeschooling - The 4 Main Reasons A Family May Choose to Home School a Child
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green]Connie Ragen Green

It is estimated that more than 1 million children under the age of eighteen are receiving their education at home. It is impossible to know the exact number of families that choose to keep their children at home instead of sending them to traditional classroom settings. Part of the reason for this is that most states do not have an accurate count of these children.

Families may choose to home school their children for many different reasons. Sometime it is only temporary due to an illness or a cross country move. There are four reasons that children are being educated at home by their families:

They are deeply religious and want the children to be educated with fundamentalist beliefs. Many of these families use the Bible as their main text and use it to teach reading, math, social studies, health, geography and science. Older siblings may help teach the younger children. Consistent beliefs and values are maintained throughout the family. The parents of these children want to ensure that no ideas from outside of the family are introduced to their children without their approval. In years past this group accounted for the largest number of home schoolers. The family may live in a remote area where schools are not easily accessible. There are quite a few sections of the United States and Canada where this is the case. It may be a two hour or longer ride to a school and some families do not want their children to be on the road for that long, especially when the weather is bad. Many of these children do not attend school until they are in high school.Children who have survived a traumatic event, those who are going through a serious illness, or a child who has experienced a catastrophic event either at school or at home may be taken out of school for an extended period of time and educated at home by family members. Some of these children return to school within a few months and others continue to be home schooled until they reach the age of majority.They believe that what they can offer their children is superior to what any formal institution has available. The children in these families may receive professional music or dance classes, sometimes travel throughout the world with their families, or may have a connection with one of the many private universities across North America that offer programs for young people. Many of these children go on to attend universities successfully before they are eighteen years old.Many states require that you register your home as a home school, while other states require no such identification or registration. At one time it was typical for one adult family member to hold at least some type of teaching credential, but that is now a thing of the past. Textbooks are easily available to anyone who wants to use them in their home teachings. Resources such as libraries, local colleges and universities, and reliable internet information can now make teaching children at home an adventure rather than a chore. While the academic education of a home-schooled child may be enriched, many are concerned that the socialization of these children may be negatively impacted. However, according to the recent studies conducted by a variety of statisticians, the home-schooled child may have a higher level of self-esteem, have a highly developed set of social values and mores, and be more well- adjusted than children who attend regular day classes. Home-schooled children typically spend morning with academics and have afternoons available for organized sports, classes in music, dance, or art, and activities at their place of worship.

Choosing how and where to educate a child can be a decision with far reaching consequences. Much of this decision will be based on the needs and beliefs of the family, the individual child, and the educational system available to the family. By researching all of these factors, families can come to an intelligent decision that will be beneficial to all involved.

Connie Ragen Green is a motivational writer, speaker, and mentor. To find out more visit her at http://www.TheScienceoftheLawofAttraction.com .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green http://EzineArticles.com/?Homeschooling---The-4-Main-Reasons-A-Family-May-Choose-to-Home-School-a-Child&id=545446

More than 1 million children in the United States are receiving their education at home. Read on to find the 4 main reasons that families choose to home school their children.

Hidden Dangers in Your Home: Is Your Family Really Safe?

Hidden Dangers in Your Home: Is Your Family Really Safe?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ruby_Aragon]Ruby Aragon

Your home may be beautiful. Your home may be comfortable. Your home may be your dream home, but is it really safe? There are many hidden dangers that can lurk in your home without you even knowing it. The problem is that they can cause serious health problems if not detected. Three of the most common types of hidden dangers in homes are mold, lead and unsafe drinking water.

Mold is present everywhere in small amounts. The problems start occurring when there are large amounts of active mold in your home. All mold needs to grow is a food source such as wood, paper or dirt, and moisture. As it grows, it releases tiny spores that travel through the air and that people then inhale. Inhaling large amounts of spores can cause serious health problems such as allergies and respiratory illnesses.

You might have a mold problem in your home if you have a problem with moisture (from showers or stoves, improperly vented dryers, leaky roofs or damp basements, plumbing leaks or flooding. You might notice mold on the surface in the form of a discoloration of the surface, but it could also be hidden behind the walls. If people in your family start showing the signs of overexposure to mold, it’s a good idea to have your home tested. These symptoms include respiratory problems, congestion, eye irritations, coughing and skin rashes.

Even though lead naturally appears in the environment, even the smallest amounts can be highly toxic to humans. For many years, this highly toxic substance was used in many household products. Because of this, high numbers of children (who are often very susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning) were reported as having elevated lead levels in their blood. The EPA has been working to reduce the amounts of lead in gasoline, household products such as paint, pollution and drinking water.

This work has reduced the numbers of children who have high levels of lead in their systems, but it’s important to remain aware of the possibility of having lead in your home. If you live in an older home, there may be lead paint that your children could ingest in the form of paint chips or dust and the ground surrounding the home may be contaminated.

People exposed to high levels of lead might experience vomiting, diarrhea or even death. Long term exposures to low levels of lead can cause damage to the nervous system among other things, so it’s important to have your home tested if you think you may be at risk.

Drinking water is essential to sustain life, but if it contains harmful substances, you might be at risk. All new water sources should be tested for its safety before use and all older water sources should be tested periodically for changes. There are many possible impurities that could be in your water and the only way to know for sure what is in your drinking water is to have it tested.

Sources: California Department of Health Services (www.cal-iaq.org)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov)

University of Florida, IFAS Extension (www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu)

Tips to Help you Keep Yourself and Your Family Healthy

1. If you suspect there might be a hidden danger in your home, have it tested immediately, especially if you have children, elderly or ill people living in your home that may be more susceptible to the health problems associated with these dangers.

2. If your house has flooded (due to weather or plumbing problems) be sure to watch for mold growth and the symptoms of its effects since this is one of the major causes of mold growth in homes.

We’ve got the solutions to help you cope with all of these situations.
Your life becomes easier and safer when you have unique safety and protection products from RubyStone. Please visit the Germ Protection section at http://www.rubystone.com

You CAN Protect Your Loved Ones In An Emergency—By Being Prepared, Not Scared!

Ruby started RubyStone Enterprises to help keep you and your little ones safe and secure. At http://www.RubyStone.com we offer a wide range of Free safety advice, Newsletters, guides and tips as well as the very latest in unique safety products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruby_Aragon http://EzineArticles.com/?Hidden-Dangers-in-Your-Home:-Is-Your-Family-Really-Safe?&id=237222

Your home may be beautiful. Your home may be comfortable. Your home may be your dream home, but is it really safe? There are many hidden dangers that can lurk in your home without you even knowing it. The problem is that they can cause serious health problems if not detected. Three of the most common types of hidden dangers in homes are mold, lead and unsafe drinking water.

Home Remodelling Family Rooms – Providing All the Comfort You Need

Home Remodelling Family Rooms – Providing All the Comfort You Need
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic]Milos Pesic

Planning to remodel your home? Do you want a living area that’s both comfortable and inviting to spend time with your family in? Although statistics show that baths and kitchens are higher in the priorities to home remodeling, this doesn’t mean that home remodeling family rooms isn’t as important.

The keywords in home remodeling family rooms are family rooms. Just as the name suggests, it’s a place where the family can spend quality-time together. Aside from respective bedrooms, this is the room where each member of the family spends the most time in. Family rooms are also the place where guests spend most of their time when visiting family members. That is why home remodeling family rooms is a good thing to consider when making your house feel much more like a home.

Home remodeling family rooms does not necessarily mean tearing the room apart but creating a more comfortable environment for the family. The room should be able to reflect aspects from each member of the family without making it look cluttered. Home remodeling family rooms can be as easy and simple as repainting a room, adding pictures of the family, moving or changing around furniture and adding some other furnishings. But home remodeling family rooms can also be as hard and time consuming as tearing down a wall to create a larger space and completely changing the feel of the room. Either way, a great thing to consider with home remodeling family rooms is the amount of comfort it provides the family. You can’t decide to remodel the room and have it be too loud in terms of color for the grandparents to not be comfortable in, or have it become not child friendly. Family rooms must be inviting to all members of the family, as well as guests of the family, and provide them with the utmost comfort. This means that choosing a new color for the walls, choosing the furniture and creating the overall feel for the room is crucial when making remodeling plans.

Despite the array of changes that can be brought upon in home remodeling family rooms, the main focus of the room must be unchanged and not be compromised. That focus, is of course, family. Not only is the amount of space in the room important but the amount of comfort it provides for everyone in the family is also just as significant, even perhaps the most important factor when deciding to remodel a family room.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Remodeling and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Home Remodeling web site. For more articles and resources on Home Remodeling related topics, Remodeling Contractors, Home Remodeling Loans, Remodeling Ideas and much more visit his site at:

=> http://remodeling.need-to-know.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic http://EzineArticles.com/?Home-Remodelling-Family-Rooms---Providing-All-the-Comfort-You-Need&id=362581

Planning to remodel your home? Do you want a living area that’s both comfortable and inviting to spend time with your family in? Although statistics show that baths and kitchens are higher in the priorities to home remodeling, this doesn’t mean that home remodeling family rooms isn’t as important.

Family Coin Collecting - A Great Home Activity For All

Family Coin Collecting - A Great Home Activity For All
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Ralph]Chris Ralph

Although huge amounts of money can be invested in collecting some types of American coins, It is possible to have a load of fun collecting coins without really investing much money at all. I don't have much money invested in our little coin collections, including those that belong to my kids. In my opinion it's really not necessary. We don't do it as an investment or anything - its really just a family activity. The kids get a big kick out of it. When I was a kid, you could sort through pocket change and find coins minted in the teens and twenties. Now days you have to buy bags of wheat cents. Not to worry, they are fairly inexpensive. When I brought the first bags of wheat backed Lincoln pennies home, I didn't know if the kids would be interested, but they dove in and really had fun. It was like a treasure hunt and the blue Whitman collection folders, like I bought for children, are almost exactly the same as when I was collecting coins as a kid. We have also collected and sorted through old nickels, both Jefferson and Indian Head or buffalo nickels. I especially like those Buffalo nickels myself, but with all the Washington "statehood" quarters, there is a lot of interest in Washington quarters as well.

Collecting coins that are a century or more old gives one a special feel for the history of our nation. You wonder about the history these heavily worn coins have seen. These old coins also say so much about our nation, honoring Liberty and freedom above all. In the same way, today's politically correct coins which exclusively promote the politicians of the past tell of the foibles of our own modern USA (what subject could possibly be more dear to our self-absorbed and narcissistic federal politicians when they are trying to decide what should appear on our coins than the aggrandizement of politicians like themselves).

There are many types of coins to collect: error coin collecting, ancient coin collecting, international coin collecting, silver coin collecting - there are just so many ways to approach it that its hard to count them all. There really is no right and wrong way to collect coins, in spite of what many so called experts say. You have to decide what your goal is. Do you want to have a family hobby? Well, inexpensive wheat cents are an easy way to get started. Do you want to invest significant money in coins hoping that they will go up in price? Investment guides want you to buy the very highest grades of uncirculated coins, but sometimes regular old circulated coins appreciate significantly in price as well (circulated means the coin has some signs of wear – and sometimes a lot of wear). I have certainly seen the prices of the circulated buffalo nickels I purchase go up steeply in price over the last five years. In the end, its all up to you! I recommend that you buy the coins you like.

If you would like to see some of the coins the author collects and learn more about family coin collecting, take a look at the author’s website: http://nevada-outback-gems.com/coin_collecting/Family_coin_collecting.htm

For information about investing in gold or silver coins and other bullion products, take a look at the author’s website: http://nevada-outback-gems.com/gold_invest/investing_gold_vehicles.htm

Chris Ralph writes on small scale mining and prospecting for the ICMJ Mining Journal. He has a Mining Engineering degree from the Mackay School of Mines and currently works as an Environmental Engineer. He owns 3 Nevada turquoise mines and markets his own line of jewelry. His jewelry and information site can be seen at: http://nevada-outback-gems.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Ralph http://EzineArticles.com/?Family-Coin-Collecting---A-Great-Home-Activity-For-All&id=588256

When I brought the first bags of wheat backed Lincoln pennies home, I didn't know if the kids would be interested, but they dove in and really had fun. It was like a treasure hunt and the blue Whitman collection folders, like I bought for children, are almost exactly the same as when I was collecting coins as a kid.

Family Coin Collecting - A Great Home Activity For All

Family Coin Collecting - A Great Home Activity For All
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Ralph]Chris Ralph

Although huge amounts of money can be invested in collecting some types of American coins, It is possible to have a load of fun collecting coins without really investing much money at all. I don't have much money invested in our little coin collections, including those that belong to my kids. In my opinion it's really not necessary. We don't do it as an investment or anything - its really just a family activity. The kids get a big kick out of it. When I was a kid, you could sort through pocket change and find coins minted in the teens and twenties. Now days you have to buy bags of wheat cents. Not to worry, they are fairly inexpensive. When I brought the first bags of wheat backed Lincoln pennies home, I didn't know if the kids would be interested, but they dove in and really had fun. It was like a treasure hunt and the blue Whitman collection folders, like I bought for children, are almost exactly the same as when I was collecting coins as a kid. We have also collected and sorted through old nickels, both Jefferson and Indian Head or buffalo nickels. I especially like those Buffalo nickels myself, but with all the Washington "statehood" quarters, there is a lot of interest in Washington quarters as well.

Collecting coins that are a century or more old gives one a special feel for the history of our nation. You wonder about the history these heavily worn coins have seen. These old coins also say so much about our nation, honoring Liberty and freedom above all. In the same way, today's politically correct coins which exclusively promote the politicians of the past tell of the foibles of our own modern USA (what subject could possibly be more dear to our self-absorbed and narcissistic federal politicians when they are trying to decide what should appear on our coins than the aggrandizement of politicians like themselves).

There are many types of coins to collect: error coin collecting, ancient coin collecting, international coin collecting, silver coin collecting - there are just so many ways to approach it that its hard to count them all. There really is no right and wrong way to collect coins, in spite of what many so called experts say. You have to decide what your goal is. Do you want to have a family hobby? Well, inexpensive wheat cents are an easy way to get started. Do you want to invest significant money in coins hoping that they will go up in price? Investment guides want you to buy the very highest grades of uncirculated coins, but sometimes regular old circulated coins appreciate significantly in price as well (circulated means the coin has some signs of wear – and sometimes a lot of wear). I have certainly seen the prices of the circulated buffalo nickels I purchase go up steeply in price over the last five years. In the end, its all up to you! I recommend that you buy the coins you like.

If you would like to see some of the coins the author collects and learn more about family coin collecting, take a look at the author’s website: http://nevada-outback-gems.com/coin_collecting/Family_coin_collecting.htm

For information about investing in gold or silver coins and other bullion products, take a look at the author’s website: http://nevada-outback-gems.com/gold_invest/investing_gold_vehicles.htm

Chris Ralph writes on small scale mining and prospecting for the ICMJ Mining Journal. He has a Mining Engineering degree from the Mackay School of Mines and currently works as an Environmental Engineer. He owns 3 Nevada turquoise mines and markets his own line of jewelry. His jewelry and information site can be seen at: http://nevada-outback-gems.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Ralph http://EzineArticles.com/?Family-Coin-Collecting---A-Great-Home-Activity-For-All&id=588256

When I brought the first bags of wheat backed Lincoln pennies home, I didn't know if the kids would be interested, but they dove in and really had fun. It was like a treasure hunt and the blue Whitman collection folders, like I bought for children, are almost exactly the same as when I was collecting coins as a kid.

Home Remodelling Family Rooms – Providing All the Comfort You Need

Home Remodelling Family Rooms – Providing All the Comfort You Need
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic]Milos Pesic

Planning to remodel your home? Do you want a living area that’s both comfortable and inviting to spend time with your family in? Although statistics show that baths and kitchens are higher in the priorities to home remodeling, this doesn’t mean that home remodeling family rooms isn’t as important.

The keywords in home remodeling family rooms are family rooms. Just as the name suggests, it’s a place where the family can spend quality-time together. Aside from respective bedrooms, this is the room where each member of the family spends the most time in. Family rooms are also the place where guests spend most of their time when visiting family members. That is why home remodeling family rooms is a good thing to consider when making your house feel much more like a home.

Home remodeling family rooms does not necessarily mean tearing the room apart but creating a more comfortable environment for the family. The room should be able to reflect aspects from each member of the family without making it look cluttered. Home remodeling family rooms can be as easy and simple as repainting a room, adding pictures of the family, moving or changing around furniture and adding some other furnishings. But home remodeling family rooms can also be as hard and time consuming as tearing down a wall to create a larger space and completely changing the feel of the room. Either way, a great thing to consider with home remodeling family rooms is the amount of comfort it provides the family. You can’t decide to remodel the room and have it be too loud in terms of color for the grandparents to not be comfortable in, or have it become not child friendly. Family rooms must be inviting to all members of the family, as well as guests of the family, and provide them with the utmost comfort. This means that choosing a new color for the walls, choosing the furniture and creating the overall feel for the room is crucial when making remodeling plans.

Despite the array of changes that can be brought upon in home remodeling family rooms, the main focus of the room must be unchanged and not be compromised. That focus, is of course, family. Not only is the amount of space in the room important but the amount of comfort it provides for everyone in the family is also just as significant, even perhaps the most important factor when deciding to remodel a family room.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Remodeling and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Home Remodeling web site. For more articles and resources on Home Remodeling related topics, Remodeling Contractors, Home Remodeling Loans, Remodeling Ideas and much more visit his site at:

=> http://remodeling.need-to-know.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic http://EzineArticles.com/?Home-Remodelling-Family-Rooms---Providing-All-the-Comfort-You-Need&id=362581

Planning to remodel your home? Do you want a living area that’s both comfortable and inviting to spend time with your family in? Although statistics show that baths and kitchens are higher in the priorities to home remodeling, this doesn’t mean that home remodeling family rooms isn’t as important.

Flying RV Motor Home Semi-Dirigible Family Motor Coach

Flying RV Motor Home Semi-Dirigible Family Motor Coach
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow]Lance Winslow

Everyone seems to be talking about the Flying Cars of the future and is not considering the offshoots of this. Such as the Flying Recreational Vehicle of the Future; imagine taking a trip to see America and flying over the sites of interest or flying or hovering over those areas you really want to get a good look at? Of course you think this is all fantasy right? Well it isn’t really.

You see with new carbon nano-tube construction the materials will be much stronger and 20-50 times less weight. Meaning the entire RV may only weigh 1000 lbs or less. It does not take much energy to fly something that only weighs 1000 Lbs. Most ultra-lights weigh a third of that much. Maneuvering in parking lots will also be a lot easier too, no more bumping over curbs, you can fly over them and then land there in the parking space you desire. Piece of cake.

The question is will you indeed need to get a pilots license to fly your RV or motor home in the future? Maybe so, and this means you will most likely have to go down to the DMV and the FAA or maybe you can just register online for the license? Of course if you RV can fly you will save lots of money also crossing peninsulas, great lakes and following rivers instead for roads or maybe just following railroad tracks to your destination?

The future and your future retirement seems bright indeed. I certainly hope that the new flying RVs are available soon. How about you? I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; [http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/]http://www.WorldThinkTank.net. Lance is a guest writer for [http://www.ourspokanemagazine.com/]Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow http://EzineArticles.com/?Flying-RV-Motor-Home-Semi-Dirigible-Family-Motor-Coach&id=442526

Everyone seems to be talking about the Flying Cars of the future and is not considering the offshoots of this. Such as the Flying Recreational Vehicle of the Future; imagine taking a trip to see America and flying over the sites of interest or flying or hovering over those areas you really want to get a good look at? Of course you think this is all fantasy right? Well it isn’t really.

Hidden Dangers in Your Home: Is Your Family Really Safe?

Hidden Dangers in Your Home: Is Your Family Really Safe?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ruby_Aragon]Ruby Aragon

Your home may be beautiful. Your home may be comfortable. Your home may be your dream home, but is it really safe? There are many hidden dangers that can lurk in your home without you even knowing it. The problem is that they can cause serious health problems if not detected. Three of the most common types of hidden dangers in homes are mold, lead and unsafe drinking water.

Mold is present everywhere in small amounts. The problems start occurring when there are large amounts of active mold in your home. All mold needs to grow is a food source such as wood, paper or dirt, and moisture. As it grows, it releases tiny spores that travel through the air and that people then inhale. Inhaling large amounts of spores can cause serious health problems such as allergies and respiratory illnesses.

You might have a mold problem in your home if you have a problem with moisture (from showers or stoves, improperly vented dryers, leaky roofs or damp basements, plumbing leaks or flooding. You might notice mold on the surface in the form of a discoloration of the surface, but it could also be hidden behind the walls. If people in your family start showing the signs of overexposure to mold, it’s a good idea to have your home tested. These symptoms include respiratory problems, congestion, eye irritations, coughing and skin rashes.

Even though lead naturally appears in the environment, even the smallest amounts can be highly toxic to humans. For many years, this highly toxic substance was used in many household products. Because of this, high numbers of children (who are often very susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning) were reported as having elevated lead levels in their blood. The EPA has been working to reduce the amounts of lead in gasoline, household products such as paint, pollution and drinking water.

This work has reduced the numbers of children who have high levels of lead in their systems, but it’s important to remain aware of the possibility of having lead in your home. If you live in an older home, there may be lead paint that your children could ingest in the form of paint chips or dust and the ground surrounding the home may be contaminated.

People exposed to high levels of lead might experience vomiting, diarrhea or even death. Long term exposures to low levels of lead can cause damage to the nervous system among other things, so it’s important to have your home tested if you think you may be at risk.

Drinking water is essential to sustain life, but if it contains harmful substances, you might be at risk. All new water sources should be tested for its safety before use and all older water sources should be tested periodically for changes. There are many possible impurities that could be in your water and the only way to know for sure what is in your drinking water is to have it tested.

Sources: California Department of Health Services (www.cal-iaq.org)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov)

University of Florida, IFAS Extension (www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu)

Tips to Help you Keep Yourself and Your Family Healthy

1. If you suspect there might be a hidden danger in your home, have it tested immediately, especially if you have children, elderly or ill people living in your home that may be more susceptible to the health problems associated with these dangers.

2. If your house has flooded (due to weather or plumbing problems) be sure to watch for mold growth and the symptoms of its effects since this is one of the major causes of mold growth in homes.

We’ve got the solutions to help you cope with all of these situations.
Your life becomes easier and safer when you have unique safety and protection products from RubyStone. Please visit the Germ Protection section at http://www.rubystone.com

You CAN Protect Your Loved Ones In An Emergency—By Being Prepared, Not Scared!

Ruby started RubyStone Enterprises to help keep you and your little ones safe and secure. At http://www.RubyStone.com we offer a wide range of Free safety advice, Newsletters, guides and tips as well as the very latest in unique safety products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruby_Aragon http://EzineArticles.com/?Hidden-Dangers-in-Your-Home:-Is-Your-Family-Really-Safe?&id=237222

Your home may be beautiful. Your home may be comfortable. Your home may be your dream home, but is it really safe? There are many hidden dangers that can lurk in your home without you even knowing it. The problem is that they can cause serious health problems if not detected. Three of the most common types of hidden dangers in homes are mold, lead and unsafe drinking water.

Homeschooling - The 4 Main Reasons A Family May Choose to Home School a Child

Homeschooling - The 4 Main Reasons A Family May Choose to Home School a Child
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green]Connie Ragen Green

It is estimated that more than 1 million children under the age of eighteen are receiving their education at home. It is impossible to know the exact number of families that choose to keep their children at home instead of sending them to traditional classroom settings. Part of the reason for this is that most states do not have an accurate count of these children.

Families may choose to home school their children for many different reasons. Sometime it is only temporary due to an illness or a cross country move. There are four reasons that children are being educated at home by their families:

They are deeply religious and want the children to be educated with fundamentalist beliefs. Many of these families use the Bible as their main text and use it to teach reading, math, social studies, health, geography and science. Older siblings may help teach the younger children. Consistent beliefs and values are maintained throughout the family. The parents of these children want to ensure that no ideas from outside of the family are introduced to their children without their approval. In years past this group accounted for the largest number of home schoolers. The family may live in a remote area where schools are not easily accessible. There are quite a few sections of the United States and Canada where this is the case. It may be a two hour or longer ride to a school and some families do not want their children to be on the road for that long, especially when the weather is bad. Many of these children do not attend school until they are in high school.Children who have survived a traumatic event, those who are going through a serious illness, or a child who has experienced a catastrophic event either at school or at home may be taken out of school for an extended period of time and educated at home by family members. Some of these children return to school within a few months and others continue to be home schooled until they reach the age of majority.They believe that what they can offer their children is superior to what any formal institution has available. The children in these families may receive professional music or dance classes, sometimes travel throughout the world with their families, or may have a connection with one of the many private universities across North America that offer programs for young people. Many of these children go on to attend universities successfully before they are eighteen years old.Many states require that you register your home as a home school, while other states require no such identification or registration. At one time it was typical for one adult family member to hold at least some type of teaching credential, but that is now a thing of the past. Textbooks are easily available to anyone who wants to use them in their home teachings. Resources such as libraries, local colleges and universities, and reliable internet information can now make teaching children at home an adventure rather than a chore. While the academic education of a home-schooled child may be enriched, many are concerned that the socialization of these children may be negatively impacted. However, according to the recent studies conducted by a variety of statisticians, the home-schooled child may have a higher level of self-esteem, have a highly developed set of social values and mores, and be more well- adjusted than children who attend regular day classes. Home-schooled children typically spend morning with academics and have afternoons available for organized sports, classes in music, dance, or art, and activities at their place of worship.

Choosing how and where to educate a child can be a decision with far reaching consequences. Much of this decision will be based on the needs and beliefs of the family, the individual child, and the educational system available to the family. By researching all of these factors, families can come to an intelligent decision that will be beneficial to all involved.

Connie Ragen Green is a motivational writer, speaker, and mentor. To find out more visit her at http://www.TheScienceoftheLawofAttraction.com .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green http://EzineArticles.com/?Homeschooling---The-4-Main-Reasons-A-Family-May-Choose-to-Home-School-a-Child&id=545446

More than 1 million children in the United States are receiving their education at home. Read on to find the 4 main reasons that families choose to home school their children.

Treat Your Family To A Home Cooked Italian Feast

Treat Your Family To A Home Cooked Italian Feast
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michele_Robbins]Michele Robbins

As the scent of freshly made pasta sauce hits the air, popular Italian dishes often utilize the fragrant spices of rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, and garlic in their cuisine. While thoughts of spaghetti and baked ziti dance in your head, you may encounter one of the most famous of Italian meals cooking in the oven – lasagna – which often incorporates sheets of pasta, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, sauce, and the optional meat. The variety associated with this dish is never-ending, as spinach, fresh vegetables, and other items are also used to create this delicious treat. After dinner, perhaps you'd like to bite into the infamous crisp Italian cookie (biscotti) or sink your teeth into the softness of tiramisu (made with ladyfinger cookies).

Italian cuisine is extremely diverse, spanning an assortment of regional favorites that include well-known Italian cheeses (Asiago and Provolone); the calzone (folded dough filled with ricotta and other ingredients); and more than 650 varieties of pasta. An Italian meal may include linguine, spicy Italian sausage, fettuccini, angel hair pasta, or ravioli, followed by gelato (ice cream), pizzelles (waffle cookies) or a slice of panetone (cake).

The many different regions in Italy play an important role in the distinct cultural variety and interesting history that shows through in Italian cooking. The cuisine has also been shaped by many different culinary influences, such as Greek, Chinese, Arab, and Turkish civilizations. The regional differences in Italian cooking are seen through the variation in spices, ingredients, and cooking techniques, as seen in Roman cuisine, which heavily relies on sheep milk cheese. When making risotto (traditional rice dish), some regions like Piedmont and Lombardy grow their own unique blends of rice for the dish.

When exploring Italian cuisine, you will learn that some places in the country are known for serving the best in specific areas of Italian cooking. Emilia-Romagna is known for delicious tortellini (stuffed pasta), Parmesan cheese, and prosciutto (ham). Sicily makes tasty gelato. Naples is famous for their pizza and pastries.

In Italy, the infamous pizza also differs by region, especially when it comes to the crust. In Rome, the crusts are thin like crackers, while Sicilian and Neapolitan crusts are thicker. Also, many interesting combinations exist, such as pizza quattro stagioni, which is divided into four sectors – each representing a different season. For example, olives and artichokes are placed on this type of pizza to embody the spirit of spring.

While a wide range of cooking styles exist in Italy, some important ingredients, herbs, and spices associated with the Italian culture are heavily used by most. Individuals commonly make use of olive oil, tomatoes, capers, bay leaves, parsley, sage, olives, spinach, artichokes, and anchovies.

Once a meal is complete, within traditional Italian circles, dinner follows a menu consisting of many different parts. The start of the meal includes hot or cold appetizers called antipasto. The "first course" called primo follows often with a hot dish, like gnocchi, risotto, or soup. The "second course" (secondo) is the main dish, generally centered on meat or fish with veal, pork, and chicken representing popular Italian selections. A traditional menu presents a salad with the main course or another side dish, such as cooked vegetables. At the end of the meal, customary diners will encounter two different desserts – the first may consist of cheese and fruits, while the second (called "dolce") includes cookies or cakes.

For easy to prepare Italian Recipes, please visit us at http://www.yourcookingnow.com/italian/ where there is always something cooking!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michele_Robbins http://EzineArticles.com/?Treat-Your-Family-To-A-Home-Cooked-Italian-Feast-&id=625275

Italian cuisine is delicious and easy to prepare right in your own kitchen. Can't seem to get the family together at meal time? Watch the family eagerly gather round while the tempting Italian aromas tease their senses.

Family Friendly Home Theater - 6 Simple Tips For Making Your Home Theater More Family Friendly

Family Friendly Home Theater - 6 Simple Tips For Making Your Home Theater More Family Friendly
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jared_Dawson]Jared Dawson

A home theater can be a great way for you and your family to spend quality time together. What makes a home theater family friendly? The following tips will give you ideas to help design your home theater with your family's needs in mind.

Decorating Themes - What better way to create a special family environment then to give your room a theme and to decorate it accordingly. A theme will help you escape from reality and isn't that what a home theater is all about. How about a sports theme with sports memorabilia from your family's favorite team or from your children's youth sports team along with some bleacher type seating. Or how about a space theme complete with sci-fi memorabilia and a starfield ceiling? The choices are endless. Be creative and involve your kids in the design decisions.

Gameroom - A home theater can be a great room to enjoy games as well as movies. Make sure your home theater has access for the latest video game consoles. In addition, if you have room a board game table, pool table, foosball table, or pinball machine can be great additions to the room and can provide hours of entertainment for kids and adults alike even after the movie is over.

Isolate your equipment - Believe me I know how tempting the flashing lights, buttons and knobs on your audio and video components can be for children. Even if you think you have your children well trained in not touching the equipment their curious friends are bound to be tempted to get their hands on the equipment when you are not watching. Rather then deciding not to have friends over or getting frustrated at the kids consider placing your equipment in a separate room or cabinet that is out of sight. There are many infrared and other options available for relaying audio video signals back and forth without your equipment being out in the open.

Video Rockers - Kids love these affordable, convenient seats for both movies and video gaming. They can be easily moved around the room, are kid sized and easy to maintain. They are a wonderful complement to your comfortable home theater seating.

Counter seating - In my house we enjoy pizza and a movie night. Having a counter conveniently placed behind the main seating allows kids (and adults) to comfortably enjoy food or drinks during the movie without fear of spilling all over the home theater seating. The counter can be a natural room divider or it can be placed at the very back of the room depending on your room configuration. A counter with comfortable seating is also an excellent way to be prepared for overflow seating, even during non eating functions.

Dark speckled carpet - Lets face it, counter or no counter there are going to be accidents and spills in your home theater, especially with kids. You can attempt to have a completely sterile environment with no food or drinks and give your family and guests a lecture before each show in order to protect your home theater or you can prepare for the inevitable. Dark speckled carpet will help hide some of the natural incidents that are bound to happen with any fun loving, active family.

By following some of the tips listed above you and your family can turn a normal, lifeless room and transform it into a room that can provide hours and hours of safe and lively family entertainment. Remember that a great home theater room is a room that can also be enjoyed by all, even when the tv is not on.

For more information about [http://familyhometheaterguide.com/Home_Theater_Room_Design.html]Home Theater Design visit Jared's site at http://familyhometheaterguide.com

The Family Home Theater Guide is an informative guide to home theater, with a particular emphasis on family entertainment. Jared has a wife and three children that love to experience the magic of the big screen in the comfort of their own home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jared_Dawson http://EzineArticles.com/?Family-Friendly-Home-Theater---6-Simple-Tips-For-Making-Your-Home-Theater-More-Family-Friendly&id=602317

A dull, lifeless room can be transformed into a lively family entertainment hub with the addition of a family home theater. The following tips will help you design a family friendly home theater that will help you and your family enjoy the room both during the movie, but also during times when the TV is not on.

Scaling Down (Almost) Painlessly

Moving to a smaller house or apartment in a retirement community almost always involves a certain degree of trauma, both for the elder who's moving and for family members. However, by planning ahead you can reduce the discomfort involved and turn what might well become a nightmare into a pleasant event.

Begin by Planning for the Move

Where is the elder moving? Go to the actual house or apartment with tape measure, pad and pencil and write down measurements. Floor space is important, but don't forget about ceilings. Many elders own large pieces of furniture that may not fit into rooms with low ceilings. Your work here will determine which pieces can move with your elder.

And while you're at the actual location, talk to several other elders who already live there. What is their life style? Do they go outside the property on frequent trips? How do they dress? Casual lifestyles will require an entirely different style of dress than more formal ones.

Gather Supplies and Contact Helpers

Having all the supplies you will need in one place will speed your task. You'll want a number of storage bins; five or six should be sufficient to hold sorted items. Plastic bags can be used for discarded belongings and as a container for articles to be donated to charities. Packing boxes and supplies such as padding materials and wide sealing tape are must-haves. Labels and dark marking pens are essential to ensure that boxes go to their intended location.

While you're in the gathering stage, begin to contact helpers you'll need. Among these may be:




estate sale professionals


certified appraisers


moving companies


house cleaners


repair specialists (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters)



Ask friends, relatives, and senior real estate specialists for recommendations. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau to ascertain whether problems have been reported about particular companies or individuals.

Approach Your Task One Room at a Time

Who should help? The elder and one family member should assume responsibility for sorting all items and some packing. Do not include everyone in the family if you want to make the job quick and easy because distractions increase in geometric proportion to the number of persons doing the sorting.

Sort all the items in one single room at once, beginning and ending in the kitchen. Why start there? Because kitchens in small houses and apartments typically are short on storage space, and the elder needs time and experience to determine which items are true necessities, and which may never be used. If you reduce kitchen items to a bare minimum at the beginning, your elder can determine what's needed and what's not by living with them ahead of time. After living with fewer items, your elder may find that items once thought essential may not be needed. Complete work in the kitchen at the very end of your tasks.

Even though you intend to stay in only one room, distractions will occur. Resist them by stacking items that belong in another room at the door. A bin or box placed just inside the door can contain all the items that have homes elsewhere.

Make your motto One Thing at a Time; One Time for each Thing. Once you've picked up an item, decide then and there what its fate should be. Place it in one of the bins you've labeled:




Discards


Donations


Distribution to Relatives


Keepers


Uncertainties



Large collections of books may require their own bins. You might have bins for Collectors' editions, books to be stored, books to be sold to book dealers.

When you have finished categorizing all the items in the room, start the packing process. Items in the Uncertainties bin can be packed for storage.

If an unbreakable item is to be moved only a short distance, don't waste time on elaborate packing and padding. Items like crystal and china, however, require excellent packing, regardless of the distance they will be moved. If you can't do a great job, leave packing fragile items to professionals.

Mark boxes as you go.

Mark boxes as you go.

Mark boxes as you go.

Nothing is more frustrating than finding that you've shipped your elder's bed linens to Aunt Minnie and kept a silver salver you meant to send your nephew.

Don't try to do everything at once. Do only one room on any given day, and take the time to enjoy reminiscing as you sort items.

This is also the perfect time to have a certified appraiser come in to appraise items that may be of significant value. Very expensive items may be auctioned at an auction house such as Christy's or Sotheby's. Less expensive items can be sold to local antiques dealers. By having an idea of their value before going to dealers, you reduce the chance that dealers can scam you.

You could also consider selling items through an on-line auction. If you do so, remember that you will be responsible for shipping items and ensuring their condition to successful bidders.

Distribute Items to the Intended Recipients

Schedule a single day for distribution of items. In-town relatives can come to pick up items intended for them; they may also be helpful by taking bags to charities, books to resellers, boxes to storage, and trash to dumps.

Use this day for shipping as well. Small items can be shipped via UPS or FedEx; large pieces of furniture and antiques may require special handling by movers. Once you've finished distribution, you should have a considerably reduced pile of boxes and furniture. These boxes should contain only items to be moved to the elder's new residence or to storage. Remaining items should be those to be sold in an estate sale.

Move the Elder to His New Residence

Will the mover actually show up on time? Will the mover actually show up at all? Increase the probability of a good outcome for the move by contacting the mover to confirm arrangement a week ahead and the day before the actual move is scheduled. Of course, missed appointments may still occur, but if you've checked out the company with the Better Business Bureau and reminded the company of your appointment, the chances are good that the move will go as planned.

Accompany your elder to his new residence and help him with the moving-in process. Even if not all boxes can be emptied in a single day, he will feel more comfortable if a few items that are meaningful to him are unpacked and placed where he can find them.

Hold an Estate Sale

Once the movers have left the premises, the estate sale professionals should come in to evaluate and price items for the estate sale. Give them a key to the house, and then get out of their way. If you have chosen well, these professionals can do a great job of pricing items to sell and clearing the house of whatever remains. They will take a percentage of the sale receipts as compensation.

The days of the sale are good days to keep your elder busy elsewhere. A tearful elder does nothing to help sales.

Schedule a professional cleaning service to clean the house once the estate sale is over. When that has been completed to your satisfaction, turn the keys over to your senior real estate professional and give yourself a big pat on the back. You're done!

Click here for a checklist to help you through this process. Or copy this address into your browser address bar.

http://www.thebestisyet.net/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/pando19/start.cgi/movechecklist.htm

About The Author

Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. - Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, an internet company that helps seniors and caregivers find trustworthy residential care. She is the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them. She is also the daughter of a victim of Alzheimer's disease. Visit the author's web site at http://www.thebestisyet.net

pando19@thebestisyet.net

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5

Exercise Walking For Seniors: Preventing Foot Problems

Exercise has a very important role in the general health and the quality of life of everyone, but especially in seniors. Seniors who walk tend to look younger, sleep more soundly and have fewer visits to the doctor. Walking for 30 to 60 minutes four to six days a week will help improve osteoarthritis and decrease the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Walking is the top recreational sport for seniors.

Although many seniors may be scared to start an exercise program because they are worried about injury, the health benefits of exercise outweigh the risk of injury. Walking is considered one of the best forms of exercise because it's safe, cheap and easy. Unfortunately, foot problems can prevent seniors from starting or continuing with a walking program. Follow these tips to help avoid foot problems when walking:

1. Choose the right shoe. Make sure the shoe is supportive and bends only at the toes. The shoe should also be stable from side to side. If you can twist the shoe or fold it in half, it is too flexible. The shoe should have enough wiggle room for the toes, yet be snug enough to keep the heel from slipping.

2. Buy shoes in the afternoon. Feet swell during the day and it is better to fit your shoes at this time. The only exception to this rule would be if you always do your walks in the mornings. Make sure your foot is measured at the store to obtain your correct size. Feet change size over time. Most feet lengthen and widen over the years, increasing the shoe size. Don't assume you've always been the same shoe size.

3. Start slowly with an easy pace. Try a short walk of 15 minutes and gradually increase the time each day.

4. If you haven't walked before, make sure you start on a flat, soft surface. A great surface to start on is a level, dirt path. Don't jump into climbing hills until you build some endurance.

5. Warm up before walks. Gentle stretching before and after walking can improve circulation and prevent injury. But, don't over stretch. If you haven't stretched before, be careful not to over do it. This can lead to injury.

6. Avoid walking in bad weather. Cold, wet weather makes surfaces slippery and hard and decreases visibility. Muscles can become tight and the feet can become numb, increasing the chance of injury.

7. Examine your feet after the walk. Look for areas of irritation, red spots, blisters or areas of swelling. Self- treating can turn a minor problem into a major problem. Consult a podiatrist if a problem persists.

8. Avoid cotton socks. The white cotton socks you've been told to wear all these years are not appropriate for exercise walking. Synthetic or wool socks will help wick moisture away from your feet as you walk. This will decrease your chance of fungal infections, excess rubbing or blister formation.

9. Walk in well-lit places. The darker the trail or road, the more difficult it is to see and the higher the chance you will have of tripping, falling or twisting an ankle.

10. Don't walk through pain. As soon as you notice a foot problem, stop walking. If you continue walking with an injury you could be making the problem worse. If you feel it's necessary to continue your exercise program, try using a stationary bike while you give your foot a rest. If a few days of rest does not resolve the problem, see a podiatrist.

Christine Dobrowolski is a podiatrist and the author of Those Aching Feet: Your Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Foot Problems. For information on common foot problems, visit NorthcoastFootcare.com/footinfo. To learn more about Dr. Dobrowolski and her book visit SkiPublishing.com.

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Review of the Changing Protein Requirements for Seniors

Youth, it is said, is wasted on the young. Too busy figuring life they hardly take the time to enjoy it. Fortunately, with medical research and scientific progress, lifespans have doubled over the last century. We can now start life at fifty and have another go at youth. Health consciousness, appropriate diet and exercise, can make the later years of life a pleasant experience. Dietary principles play as especially important role in this regard. Compensating for the physiological changes of aging, they can give us better odds at achieving our genetically determined lifespans.

The advancing years experience a complex interplay of changes affecting the mind, body, and the environment. Alterations in organs systems and cellular function can often predispose to malnutrition and a host of chronic illnesses (Servan 1999). Some of these problems can be attributed to the decrease in the total protein content and are in themselves preventable with appropriate attention to the protein content of the diet.

A decrease in protein turnover, such as that seen in aging, has far reaching effects (Chernoff 2004). Vital organ systems like the heart and lungs slow down, becoming incapable of further exertion. Neural processes like thought, planning and cognition are also affected. The immune system becomes weak, exhibiting a delay and difficultly in dealing with infections (Thompson 1987). Wound healing and repair, which requires a constant supply of amino acids, is also compromised.

Another issue associated with aging is the reduced capacity to deal with free radical species. These highly reactive molecules are produced by cells under stress. Free radicals can precipitate a chain reaction, damaging cell membranes and the genetic code. They have been implicated in a variety of disease processes from infection, heart attacks and cancer. This inability to handle free radicals is also responsible for aging. It is now believed a high protein diet can be helpful in attenuating many of these problems (Chernoff 2004).

Merely providing proteins through regular diets fail to meet the special requirements of the elderly. A protein supplement is often needed to ensure easy digestion, rapid absorption and assimilation. The protein supplement should also be of good quality and contain all the essential amino acids in adequate quantity. Such a supplement can adequately provide essential amino acids irrespective of the gut’s ability to assimilate them. Such a protein supplement will be able to address the increase protein demand and malnutrition seen in the elderly, restoring the ability to build and repair tissues. A good protein supplement also has other significant benefits in the elderly that often go unrecognized.

A high protein diet has a ‘thermogenic’ or fat-burning effect. The body spends more energy to assimilate protein than carbohydrates or fats. This energy is often derived from the adipose tissue, thus burning fat in exchange for protein (Bloomgarden 2004). Then if the protein supplement has whey in it, it can also inhibit cholesterol absorption in the gut, reducing the risk of obesity and cardiac disease (Nagaoka 1996). Protein supplements that have casein can form a clot in the gut, thereby slowing down intestinal motility (Boirie et al. 1997) and giving the gut enough time to absorb all the amino acids from a meal. This property is important considering that aging also slows down and compromises digestion.

Protein supplements that combine casein with whey multiply the advantages of each component. Both casein and whey protein have a group of substances called kinins that can lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels (FitzGerald, 2004.). Both proteins enhance the immune system through several mechanisms (Ha and Zemel, 2003). Lactoferrin, in whey protein, binds iron and depriving many micro-organisms of a growth stimulus. Free iron induces the formation of free radicals and is one factor responsible for colon cancer. This is also prevented by protein supplements that contain lactoferrin (whey).

Whey also has other antioxidants to offer. It is rich in cysteine, a precursor of Glutathione that is potent at mopping up free radicals (Counous, 2000). This generalized improvement in antioxidant capacity can counter cancerous and aging processes seen in the later years of life. Whey protein is also known to enhance memory as it promotes the synthesis of a neurotransmitter, serotonin that is involved in cognition and thought (Markus 2002). Milk basic protein, a component of whey, has the ability to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of bone forming cells as well as suppress bone resorption as found in vitro and animal studies. This can protect against weak bones, or osteoporosis, especially in the post-menopausal women (Toba 2000).

Thus there is extensive medical literature in support of a high protein, casein and whey supplement in the elderly population. These studies have also failed to document any major adverse effects with long-term intake of such supplements. Such a supplement can go a long way in making the later years of life more productive and fruitful.

ABOUT PROTICA

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

REFERENCES

1. Arnal MA, Mosoni L, Boirie Y, et al (1999). Protein pulse feeding improves protein retention in elderly women. Am J Clin Nutr; 69: 1202-1208.

2. Bloomgarden ZT, Diet and Diabetes. Diabetes Care, volume 27, number 11, 2004

3. Boirie Y, Dangin, M, Gachon P, Vasson, M.P et al. (1997) Slow and fast dietary proteins differently modulate postprandial protein accretion. Proclamations of National Academy of Sciences, 94: 14930-14935.

4. Bounous G (2000). Whey protein concentrates (WPC) and glutathione modulation in cancer treatment. Anticancer Res 20:4785-4792.

5. Campbell WW, Crim MC, Dallal GE, Young VR and Evans WJ(1994).Increased protein requirements in elderly people: new data and retrospective reassessments. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 60, 501-509.

6. Chernoff R (2004). Protein and Older Adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 23, 627S-630S.

7. Counous, G (2000). Whey protein concentrates (WPC) and glutathione modulation in cancer treatment. Anticancer Research, 20: 4785-4792

8. FitzGerald R J, Murray B A, and. Walsh D J (2004). Hypotensive Peptides from Milk Proteins. J. Nutr. 134: 980S–988S.

9. Ha, E. and Zemel, M.B (2003). Functional properties of whey, whey components, and essential amino acids: mechanisms underlying health benefits for active people. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 14: 251-258.

10. Hernanz A., Ferna´ndez-Vivancos E., Montiel (2000). Changes in the intracellular homocysteine and glutathione content associated with aging. Life Sci, 67: 1317–1324.

11. Kent KD, Harper WJ, Bomser JA (2003). Effect of whey protein isolate on intracellular glutathione and oxidant-induced cell death in human prostate epithelial cells. Toxicol in Vitro, 17(1):27-33.

12. Lands LC, Grey VL, Smountas AA (1999). Effect of supplementation with a cysteine donor on muscular performance. J Appl Physiol 87:1381-1385.

13. MacKay D. Miller AL, 2003. Nutritional support for wound healing. Altern Med Rev; 8:359-377

14. Markus C R, Olivier B, and Haan E (2002). Whey protein rich in α -lactalbumin increases the ratio of plasma tryptophan to the sum of the other large neutral amino acids and improves cognitive performance in stress-vulnerable subjects. Am J Clin Nutr, 75:1051–6.

15. Meyyazhagan S,. Palmer R.M (2002). Nutritional requirements with aging. Prevention of disease. Clin Geriatr Med, 18: 557–576.

16. Nagaoka S (1996). Studies on regulation of cholesterol metabolism induced by dietary food constituents or xenobiotics. J Jpn Soc Nutr Food Sci, 49:303-313.

17. Servan R P, Sanchez-Vilar O, de Villar G N (1999). Geriatric nutrition. Nutr Hosp, 14 Suppl 2:32S-42S.

18. Shah NP (2000). Effects of milk-derived bioactives: an overview. Br J Nutr, 84:S3-S10.

19. Thompson JS, Robbins J, Cooper JK (1987). Nutrition and immune function in the geriatric population. Clin Geriatr Med, 3(2):309-17.

20. Toba Y, Takada Y, Yamamura J, et al (2000). Milk basic protein: a novel protective function of milk against osteoporosis. Bone 27:403-408.

21. Walzem RL, Dillard CJ, German JB (2002). Whey components: millennia of evolution create functionalities for mammalian nutrition: what we know and what we may be overlooking. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 42:353-375.

22. Weinberg ED 1996. The role of iron in cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev, 5:19-36.

Copyright Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

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How To Find Affordable Senior Housing

A few years ago Miranda M. became a widow. After a short time her grandson (her only available relative) persuaded her to move across several states to be closer to him.

He located a nice retirement apartment where meals, housekeeping, and transportation are provided. By using her small Social Security income, and funds left by her loving husband, Miranda was just able to afford her rent and basic living expenses.

She didn't much like taking all her meals in the community dining room, so she continued to fix some of them in her own kitchen.

She reluctantly accepted the help of housekeeping for the heavy cleaning. But, as she said, "I need to keep busy. If I can't make my own bed and dust around I feel like a useless slug. I intend to keep doing for myself just as long as I can get up out of this chair."

But for one unforeseen disaster, Miranda and I never would have met, and she would have happily lived on in her sunny apartment.

You see, disaster struck because Miranda lived too long.

Both she and her grandson had counted on Miranda dying before her 85th birthday. It made perfect sense, they thought, as her family was not generally long-lived.

Her sister and brothers had all passed away at relatively young ages, as had her parents. Miranda figured she would be long gone before her money ran out.

There was only enough left to cover two more months in the retirement apartment when Miranda's grandson called me.

What was she to do?

Her monthly income of under $900 wasn't enough to pay for rent, utilities, food, and her medications in the least expensive apartment he could find. He asked me to find her a place in a Medicaid nursing home.

Well, Miranda certainly wasn't nursing home material.

There was nothing wrong with her mind. She could fix her own meals, and she could keep up her apartment (with a little muscle help). She really had no medical needs, and wouldn't have qualified for Medicaid and nursing home care even if she had wanted to.

Which she certainly didn't.

Her only real problem was lack of money (and a grandson who wasn't any better at planning ahead than she was).

After talking with her doctor and the manager of her apartment to confirm that she really was capable, I set out to try to find a "Section 202" apartment.

Section 202 housing - named after the section of the federal legislation authorizing it - is rental housing specifically for people over the age of 62 who have incomes under 50 percent of the area median income.

According to HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the average Section 202 resident is a woman in her 70s with an annual income of less than $10,000.

Section 202 residences are built and run by private, non-profit groups who have received loan incentives from HUD. HUD is not involved in day to day operations. Rents are calculated according to income, and rental assistance funds pay whatever balance remains.

Luckily for them, Miranda and her grandson live in a large metropolitan area. There are always more options in a larger town. But somewhere between 20 and 25 percent of Section 202 funds have been set aside for use in non- metropolitan areas, so these apartments aren't only found in big cities.

Hunting for a Section 202 apartment can be labor-intensive. When an apartment becomes available it rarely stays empty long. Often there are lengthy waiting lists.

The first piece of business was to telephone every apartment complex on the Section 202 list (see below for the web address to get a list). I verified that they were still participating in the program, and asked whether they had any vacancies.

Frankly, I didn't expect a "yes" to the vacancy question, but it never hurts to ask.

Lo and behold, and miraculously for Miranda, there actually was a vacancy in an older building near downtown. Because it's not in the pretty suburbs it isn't as popular as some of the others. For our purposes, it was a palace and a kingdom all in one. Beggars couldn't be choosers!

If there hadn't been a vacancy, Miranda and her grandson would have had to visit each apartment complex and place her name on every waiting list. Sometimes the wait can be as long as 2 years or more, so I don't advocate waiting as long as Miranda did.

Along with her application form, Miranda was required to give the apartment manager proof of her income (a Social Security statement or a pay stub). She was asked about previous landlords who could vouch to her suitability as a tenant. She was asked to provide copies of her pharmacy bills, as those expenses are taken into account when the rent is calculated. This particular apartment manager also wanted a statement from her doctor that she was truly independent.

If she had planned on visiting multiple places, Miranda would have taken along several photocopies of all her information so she could leave it everywhere she applied.

This is where having someone to come along is invaluable. The job can be overwhelming and exhausting for an older person.

If she hadn't found this affordable place, Miranda probably would have had to move in with her grandson (NOT a happy thought for either of them), or find a little private room to rent in someone's home, or try to find someone looking for a roommate. I was ready to try whatever it took to keep her off the street.

Because time was short Miranda had to take what was available. She has since put her name on the waiting list at two other apartments that are a little nicer and closer to her grandson. The great thing about Section 202 apartments is that you can move whenever and wherever you wish - depending of course on the terms of the lease you have signed.

To locate a directory of Section 202 housing in your state, go to http://www.hud.gov/directory Choose your state in the upper right corner. From that point on you might have to search around a little for "renting," because the information seems to be in different places on the state pages.

If you want to talk with someone in a HUD office, click on the web address below for a directory of offices: http://www.hud.gov/directory/ascdir3.cfm

If you, or someone you care for, is over 62 and on a limited income, Section 202 housing can be a lifesaver. It's very important to plan ahead, though, because these apartments are popular.

If you have concerns about finances becoming a problem in the future, start NOW to investigate your options. There's nothing more frightening than outliving your savings - - ask Miranda.

About The Author

Molly Shomer, LMSW is "Head Coach" of The Eldercare Team, and a dedicated advocate for those who are caring for elderly adults. Please visit her web site at http://www.eldercareteam.com for more elder care articles and important resources for caregivers. "Eldercare News You Can Use," the bi-monthly newsletter, is also available there. Write to her at: molly@eldercareteam.com; mshomer@eldercareteam.com

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