Give Liam Back....

I've had a major blogging lag.

This summer has been filled with news and media coverage of tragedy after tragedy...from auto accidents, recent mid air helicopter crash and the list goes on..

I just learned about Liam. How can social services in this country where he is being held in an orphanage ignore the pleas of his father, who has sole custody? This sickens me. How can a country be ALLOWED to blatantly violate International Law?

It occured to me a year or more ago that this country has a major glitch in their judicial system. Has this ever occured to anyone else? This is the second atrocity between the same two countries. Immediately, Amanda Knox comes to mind!


This suddenly occurs to me...BILL CLINTON who just secured the release of Euna Lee, Lisa Ling's sister needs to somehow be reached. Maybe, just maybe there can be another miracle, even greater.

www.saveliam.org

Current Events in Real Estate News!

Really, really good information that you should check out and read!

Home prices are in sync with incomes!
http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2009/07/29/what-the-case-shiller-numbers-mean-for-home-buyers/

Home prices up for 1st time in 3 years!
http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/27/real_estate/May_Case_Shiller/index.htm?postversion=2009072811

Smart Homeowners are Buying Now..Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP1DVnXlaFM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSbF6h7ties&feature=related


Home Resales in U.S. Increased 3.6% in June, More Than Forecast.
http://njrereport.com/index.php/category/national-real-estate/

Only 124 Days for First Time Home Buyers to close on their Dream Home and benefit using the $8,000 Tax Credit!

http://www.weichert.com/firsttimebuyer/

Deserves a RePost Folks!

Meatballs with Mushrooms

Staceys Mushroom Meatballs

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
3/4cup flavored breadcrumbs
2 eggs
¼ cup cold water


4 cups roughly chopped Portobello mushrooms- double if you love mushrooms
(I have also made this with a variety of mushrooms)
S&P
1 ½ cups cola soda (I use diet coke/pepsi)
Serve on egg noodles or a rice/grain


Combine first 4 ingredients into meatballs-
Spray a skillet with oil spray and heat, cook/brown meatballs. Drain and remove meatballs, leaving a small amount of fat in the pan.

Add roughly chopped Portobello mushrooms to pan and sauté (just to heat the mushrooms is enough or you might have to add some oil spray). Deglaze with ½ cup of cola soda- immediately return meatballs, add mushroom soup and combine using a whisk adding another ½ cup soda. Continue cooking, you will probably need another ½ cup of soda for the right sauce consistency.

Great over noodles or rice.

Let Freedom Ring.......

Tocsin of Liberty: rung by the state house bell, (Independence Hall;) Philadelphia, July 4th. 1776 Photo Credit: National Archives

It was not declared a legal holiday, until 1941. However, folks have been observing Independence day since July 8th, 1776.

July 4th Independence day
On this date in history . . . . .

1781 - The first official state celebration as recognized under resolve of a legislature occured in Massachusetts; at Newport, R.I., the militia hosts French officers at a celebration dinner

1801 - The first public Fourth of July reception at the White House occured

1804 - The first Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi occured at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

1805 - Boston has its first fireworks display; in Charleston, S.C., the American Revolution Society and the Society of the Cincinnati meet at St. Philips Church

1866 - General George G. Meade watches 10,000 war veterans parade in Philadelphia; the Nashville Banner, in an editorial, urges its citizens not to celebrate the Fourth

1876 - Centennial celebrations (many are three-day celebrations, 3-5 July) occur throughout the United States and abroad

1884 - The formal presentation of the Statue of Liberty takes place in the Gauthier workshop in Paris

1887 - First Fourth of July celebration in Yellowstone National Park takes place

1912 - The new national flag with 48 stars is "formally and officially endowed"

1926 - The 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence takes place throughout the nation

1960 - The 50th-star American flag waves for the first time as Hawaii is given statehood

1976 - The nation's Bicentennial occurs.

Eat Cake! It's the Fourth of July, Celebrate! ~Be Safe~

In the State of New Jersey, all Fireworks are prohibited. In other states where they are permitted, check out this web site for Safety precautions and handling;

They urge SAFETY!
Check out the site! www.americanpyro.com

---

If you follow some simple tips,
you can avoid rushing to the Emergency Room this Fourth of July.

July 4th Safety Tips: Be Uber Careful with Fireworks!

Fireworks are not toys. Sadly there are many irresponsible folks who play with these explosive devices.

Many people even allow their children these fireworks to play with before the 4th of July extravaganza. This is the #1 reason why many children are rushed to the hospital each 4th of July.

Consider everyones safety when buying fireworks. Supervise your older children very closely if you're going to allow them to help you. Children under the age of 13 should not even be allowed to light their own fireworks. (thats NOT my personal recommendation though.) Use your judgement if you allow your children to help, only you know your child best to make the decision.

On a vacation someodd years ago we drove to Myrtle Beach, SC from our home state of NJ. It is tough to miss the shops dedicated to selling Fire Works, they are legal to 'set off' there. Being native New Yorkers, having spent many childhood years watching the grown ups set off a beautiful display of fire works made us want to have some fun with our kids on the beach. We didnt allow our kids to ignite any, our son was too young and our daughter who is older had no desire. It was a wonderful, SAFE and memorable night on the beach.

---

Featured Today will also be Fourth of July Fun Foods and Recipes, so Please Stay Tuned!

*******************************************************
RECIPES
This 4th of July, invite your kids to turn ice cream cones into edible, festive Uncle Sam top hats.

(© http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50261)

More: 4th of July Desserts RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 Wafer ice cream cone
White frosting
Blue fruit leather
Red and blue decorating gels
Red and blue M&M's
Canister of ready-made whipped cream
1. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a plate and return it to the freezer to harden. Meanwhile, construct an Uncle Sam hat out of a wafer ice cream cone.

2. Use frosting to attach a blue band of fruit leather around the bottom of the cone. Squirt vertical stripes of red decorating gel down the sides and blue gel on the top.

3. Using a star tip, squirt on white frosting stars around the blue fruit leather, if desired. TIP: To avoid smudging the Uncle Sam hat design, have your child hold the cone from the inside while decorating it with fruit leather and icing.

4. Remove the ice cream-scoop "head" from the freezer and top with the Uncle Sam hat. Working quickly so the ice cream doesn't melt, add blue M&M's eyes and a red M&M's nose. Finally, add a whipped cream beard. To do this, have your child hold the canister upside down while squirting on a long white beard.

5. Serve up your Uncle Sam ice cream cone immediately. Makes 1.

**********************************************************

FLAG CAKE





Make this festive Flag Cake this Memorial Day or Fourth of July and be the talk of the party!!

Ingredients

Margarine
Flour
1 package (2-layer size) white cake mix (plus ingredients to make cake-listed on box)
1 package (4-serving size) JELL-O brand gelatin, any red flavor
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
3 1/2 cups (8-ounce container) Cool Whip brand whipped topping, thawed
1 pint strawberries, washed and sliced
1 cup blueberries, washed
1 cup Kraft miniature marshmallows

Tools
13 x 9 baking pan
Large fork (two-pronged type)
Medium mixing bowls
Mixer
Measuring cup
Rubber scraper or large spoon
Large tray or cutting board (must be larger than 13 x 9 pan)
Table knife
Aluminum foil

Directions
Grease 13 x 9 pan with margarine and dust lightly with flour. Prepare, mix and bake cake mix according to package directions. Cool cake for 15 minutes.
With large fork, make holes in cake about every 1/2 inch.

Pour gelatin into mixing bowl. Add cup of boiling water and use scraper to mix thoroughly until gelatin is completely dissolved. Use measuring cup to pour gelatin over cake. (It will run down into holes, making sliced cake have red stripes.)

Chill cake in refrigerator 3 to 4 hours.

Cover tray with aluminum foil.

Put about one inch of warm water in kitchen sink. Take pan out of refrigerator and dip bottom (don't let water come up over sides) into water for about 10 seconds. Put large tray on top of cake, and invert.

Frost sides and top with whipped topping. Arrange strawberries and marshmallows in alternating rows for stripes, leaving upper left for field of blueberries. Chill again until time to serve.
*********************************

Emeril Lagasses Deviled Eggs

Copyright 2009 Television Food Network G.P.,All Rights Reserved

Prep Time: 30 min Inactive Prep Time: 0 min Cook Time: 0 min Level:
Easy Serves:
12 deviled egg halves
Ingredients
6 eggs, hard boiled, cooled, and peeled
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon finely chopped chives
Hot pepper sauce
Paprika
Salt and pepper
Variation: add 1 teaspoon chopped canned jalapeno peppers
4 radicchio leaves, for garnish
3 parsley sprigs, for garnish
Directions
Place the cooked egg yolks in a bowl. Using a fork,
work the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, chives, and salt and pepper into the yolks to form a smooth paste.
Taste. Place 1/2 of this mixture in a small pastry bag with a large star tip. To the remaining mixture, add
the jalapenos and season with Hot pepper sauce. Fill 6 of the egg halves with the basic filling. Fill the pastry bag with the jalapeno filling. Fill the remaining egg white halves. Top with paprika. Place on a
platter on the radicchio leaves, and parsley sprigs.

I'm Baaack

My Blog is back! Im so excited! I have been accumulating posts in my head!! Uh oh...Now I have to see if I can find them so I can post them!

So much (I'm sure?) has gone on since my last post! I just dont know where to begin! ***three days have now gone by since I started this post. That tells me my life is busy and busy = good!***

Well, I thought I was back~n~blogging, I peeked out my home office window and my contractor was pulling into my driveway! Screeeech...........halt.........Call him and tell him he is unexpected and I need to get out of my jammies!

Moving right along.....I
I'm SO Exicted to be Tweeting with so many new folks today!
Kids have left for work, now I start my (house) work...
and prep for Dad's Birthday dinner later! 75 yrs young TODAY! Happy Birthday Dad! We Love You...

Weichert $8000 Tax Credit Countdown

Rising Mortgage Rates Mean..........................

BREAKING NEW JERSEY NEWS

Housings analysts say rising mortgage rates mean potential N.J. buyers missed best deals - NJ.com Call Me if you know of anyone looking to purchase real estate in central NJ

Housings analysts say rising mortgage rates mean potential N.J. buyers missed best deals


Though New Jersey home prices are expected to continue falling for a few months, a recent spike in mortgage rates may wipe out any savings buyers manage to wrangle from sellers. Economists say the time to buy may have been, well, yesterday.

Mortgage rates are rising, and a federal tax credit for some buyers will no longer be available after November.

Full Star-Ledger coverage of Business News

"For those that are still waiting, they've already missed that perfect moment when prices were low and interest rates were also low," said Jeffrey Otteau, whose East Brunswick company, Otteau Valuation Group, tracks New Jersey real estate data.

Average rates jumped last week to 5.59 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for borrowers with good credit, according to mortgage company Freddie Mac's weekly survey. That's nearly three-quarters of a percentage point above the low rate of 4.78 in late April.

"For people that are first-time homebuyers or don't have good credit ratings, it's not good news," said Brian Bethune, an economist with IHS Global Insight, an economic analysis and forecasting company in Massachusetts.

The 0.75 percent rise makes a big difference -- roughly 6.75 percent of the purchase price, Otteau noted. Plus, it affects the monthly payment, around which a family budget is built. The monthly payment on a $300,000 mortgage at 4.75 percent would be $1,565. At 5.5 percent, the monthly payment tops $1,700.

30-year mortgage rates from from Aug. 7, 2008 to June 11

Real estate agents say they have seen an uptick in activity over a couple of weeks as the deadline for the tax credit approaches and mortgage rates rise.

Tara Sheng, an agent with Weichert Realtors in Mountain Lakes, said that over the weekend prospective buyers were anxious to get into houses. She held an open house and also took three couples around to see homes.

"I would say I was busier this weekend than any weekend in a long time," she said. "I slept late today. I was still recovering."

At the same time, Sheng worries that the run-up in interest rates is forcing some would-be buyers to retreat. "I hear people who are frustrated and are taking a break," she said.

Why are rates moving this fast? Experts say it has little, if anything, to do directly with housing markets. Mortgage rates are driven by the rates on the 10-year Treasury bills issued by the U.S. government. They touched 4 percent last week, double from December.

Fair or not, a buyer's monthly mortgage payment is affected by inflation, rising oil prices and the security of government debt relative to other types of investments, economists say. Those are the factors international investors consider when buying the 10-year bills, Bethune said.

If mortgage rates continue upward, experts fear it will stave off a housing recovery, because people will not be able to afford what they thought they could.

"Rising mortgage rates could be very harmful if they keep going to the overall housing market," said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. "It was the one bright spot that we had."

There is some disagreement over where mortgage rates will go over the next months -- whether the markets are overheated by speculation or not. But most do not expect rates to dip below 5 percent again.

Otteau bumped up the time frame in which he thinks house prices here will stop falling from September to August.

"Consensus is starting to build that the recession may be ending soon," he said. "It looks like the perfect time was yesterday, but today is still better than tomorrow."

Lois Pagano, 57, got on the boat before it left the dock. She closed on her house in Summit in April and got an interest rate below 5 percent.

"I feel very blessed," she said.

Pagano was also able to take advantage of a tax credit of up to $8,000 for people who meet the income requirements and haven't owned a home in three years.

Shorthand, it's called the first-time homebuyer tax credit. It is set to expire Nov. 30, but that doesn't mean a buyer can walk into a home Nov. 29 -- or even Oct. 29 -- and make an offer. Buyers must close on their deal by the deadline, and agents say closing has been taking two to three months, longer than before.

Agents also are saying they are seeing multiple offers on the same houses, so buyers waiting for prices to drop could get pushed out by others willing to sign a contract.

"It happens all the time," said Robert Northfield, a broker with Burgdorff Realtors ERA of Maplewood.

Sandra Moore, 43, who is searching for a house in Monmouth County, knows the longer she waits, the more money it will cost.

"There's a lot of pressure," she said. "If I wait another week, another day, I'm subject to looking at the rate increases, and I don't want that."

Moore, a divorced mother of two grown sons, said she's itching to close, not just so she can get the first-time homebuyer tax credit, but so she can move out of the hotel she's been staying in since her house in Freehold was sold in April.

"I don't really have a lot of time," Moore said. "I just want to be in my home."


*reprint* original can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=91007199471&h=DFux3&u=AK-wn&ref=mf
by Lisa Fleisher/Star-Ledger
Monday June 15, 2009, 5:46 PM

National Lobster Day! Wish I was in Maine....

Celebrate National Lobster Day

Celebrate National Lobster Day
By Brian Schwartz

A lobster is a fine treat for any occasion, but celebrating National Lobster Day gives you a special reason to enjoy these crustacean delights. National Lobster Day celebrated on the 15th of June each year may not be an official holiday as far as work is concerned but you can make merry all the same with a groovy lobster concoction.

So, where do you get your live lobster on National Lobster Day? Do you just hop down to your local supermarket and buy one that's been struggling for survival in a tank or do you go online and get a fresh live lobster straight off the coast of Maine? If you're really keen on getting the perfect lobster to grace your dinner table forget about the supermarket. The poor creature at your store has probably lost most of its meat in its scuffle to stay alive. Instead, go online and pick a meaty lobster that will get to your doorstep alive and kicking. What's more, you can choose one with all the trimmings like lobster bibs, clams, steamers, little necks, napkins and forks to name a few.

Now that you know where to get fresh live lobsters, you probably need help whipping up a delicious lobster delight to commemorate the occasion. There are several ways to cook lobsters. You can boil them, steam them, grill or bake them. But no matter which way you decide to go, the result is always spectacular.

Here are some tips to cook that perfect lobster on National Lobster Day.

Boiling is the easiest and most popular way of cooking live lobsters. All you have to do is fill a large pot with three quarters of water and proceed to boil this water. Dip the lobsters in headfirst and submerge them completely. Cover the pot and cool the lobsters for 15-20 minutes. You can tell if the lobster is cooked when it turns red and you can pull out its antennae easily. Serve warm with hot melted butter.

If you intend steaming your lobster on National Lobster Day, here's how you go about it. Fill a large kettle with about two inches of salted water and bring to a boil. Dip in the live lobster and cover the kettle. Steam for about 13-20 minutes depending on how much the lobster weighs. Serve with exotic dips and fresh lemons.

To grill a lobster, fill a kettle half full with salted water. Dip the live lobsters and boil for a few minutes only. Remove the lobsters and drain them. Crack the claws and use a knife to split the tails near the ribs. Put them on a grill for about 10 minutes and flip them so that both sides get grilled nicely. Garnish with juicy lemons and serve hot.

If you intend baking a lobster, you'll have to kill it first. Split the lobster lengthwise and remove the yellowish sac from the sides of the head. Heat the oven to about 200 degrees centigrade. Detach the claws, place them on a baking pan and cook for about 8-10 minutes. Remove the baking pan from the oven and add the halves of the lobster with their fleshy sides up. You could also dab them with melted butter and lemon juice and bake them for another ten minutes.

National Lobster Day may not be as important as Christmas, Thanksgiving or a wedding. But nevertheless if you love eating lobsters, it gives you another excuse to celebrate and savor this wonderful specimen.

Celebrate, anytime of the year, anywhere in the country, with the finest live lobster from http://www.LongLiveLobster.com
Happy Cracking!

© 2008 Long Live Lobster

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Schwartz
http://EzineArticles.com/?Celebrate-National-Lobster-Day&id=1197942

Are Trolls Ruining Social Media?

Are Trolls Ruining Social Media?

Shared via AddThis

********************************************************************************
June 11th, 2009
Are Tweets and Facebook updates telling burglars when to strike?

http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=19632

Texting Kills...... Links to Share with Your Kids

Its an epidemic and it kills. Cars are weapons. You can text 5,000,000,000 times and the 5,000,000,001 might be the time you get into an accident and someone loses their life, even worse, many lives are lost. Its happening over and over again, but there is really no conclusive documentation to support just how often. Most folks dont walk into hospital emergency room rooms for injuries (minor) and tell the administration that they were texting when they hit the parked car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXQwP4BfBUE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssbqp2bQjtA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDlYSPVro0Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJyU3h0dNT0&feature=related


Admit it, It's a Digital Life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JyGlqZN5EE&feature=channel


You can Find State By State Cell Phone Laws here:
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

And a post isnt a post without some current real estate information for you.

Existing-Home Sales Rise in April. See it Here:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1465406675?bctid=24520709001

Four out of every 10 recent home sales were to first-time buyers....
http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2009/06/30_under_30

Random Post Alert!

The Rolling Stones, my all time favorite band!


1966 single release- Paint it Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oza-v7q1c8o&feature=related

1981 From Tattoo You, one of my Favroties, Waiting on a Friend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0NYKWLMgx0

1981 Start me Up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBppp_YpSr4

This is AMAZING LIVE!!
Love is Strong Video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpo5fVUGNG0&feature=related
Live here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku8pj9L2p_w

Who doesnt love them?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fMkMLGj23g&feature=related

Wild Horses, Sticky Fingers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AREdXmuhvQs

Stay tuned...............

Up To the Minute 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Information

Friday
May 29, 2009


ANNOUNCED by HUD: RECOVERY ACT'S HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT CAN IMMEDIATELY HELP THOUSANDS OF FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS TO BUY A HOME
FHA plan will stimulate new home sales and help stabilize housing market.

Read here: http://tinyurl.com/mrdns3


$8,000 Tax Credit can be applied tro closing costs, etc using an FHA mortage NAD 3.5% down. Read on....

Great Opportunity in Princeton, NJ

Dont miss out on seeing this wonderful single family home in Princeton, New Jersey with Blue Ribbon West Windsor-Plainsboro Schools.

Mortgage rates dip...remain above record lows

People on the fence, its time to get off and give yourself the greatest gift, Home Ownership!

I spoke to alot of people over this past holiday weekend who arent convinced we're near bottom. This puzzles me. Some folks still dont know about the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers (if you havent owned a home in 3 years, you can be considered a 1st time home buyer; see earlier post on this topic)- this also puzzles me. I wonder if some people chose to not pay attention to the news and economy?

Below is a link to a good article on Mortgage rates. Why not take advantage of low, low housing prices and low mortgage rates? Anyone who can read this, in our lifetime, this opportunity will most likely never reoccur.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7148582/ns/business-real_estate/

**********************************************************************************

Oh! More great info today! Here it is! All Real Estate agents shopuld have some awareness of this-


Law protects renters from foreclosure evictions

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30891380/

H1N1 aka: Swine Flu @ Sea & CCL Pax Overboard?

Well, instead of Sail Away....now suggested: quarantine.

Flu ship passengers urged to quarantine themselves

May 25, 2009
reprint
Passengers tested positive: The Pacific Dawn docking at Circular Quay earlier this year (Getty Images: Mike Flokis, file photo)

Video: New measures introduced as swine flu spreads (Lateline) Audio: Swine flu on the increase (AM) Map: Sydney 2000
Related Story: Flu cases hit 23 Related Story: Mexico to erect statue to swine flu 'patient zero' More than 2,000 passengers from the cruise ship Pacific Dawn have been asked to quarantine themselves for a week, as fears of a swine flu epidemic mount.

The latest confirmed cases are two five-year-old children, who arrived in Sydney onboard the passenger ship yesterday, and a nine-year-old Sydney boy who returned home at the weekend after a US holiday.

The national total now stands at 23, with 13 of the cases in Victoria.

Scientists say that while the strain does not appear to be deadly, more people could be at risk because they have no immunity.

It was a long wait for passengers looking forward to starting their cruise onboard the Pacific Dawn yesterday.

When the ship arrived in Sydney from its previous voyage to the South Pacific yesterday morning a number of passengers showed flu-like symptoms.

When tests found the children had swine flu, the ship could not leave for its next destination, the Whitsunday Islands, until health authorities gave it the go-ahead.

The ship eventually left but many passengers, inconvenienced by the wait, say they would rather be safe than sorry.

"We'd be complaining if we all got sick and the recycling air conditioning doesn't help flu and all the rest of it," one passenger said.

"We've actually stocked up on Tamiflu, so I'm not too concerned," another said.

One-hundred-and-thirty passengers who arrived in Sydney yesterday have been contacted and many will be tested for swine flu.

Queensland Health has tested 13 people from the ship who were displaying flu-like symptoms when they returned to the Gold Coast yesterday.

A child and an adult were kept in isolation in hospital overnight, while the others were sent home to remain in quarantine for a week.

But New South Wales chief health officer Kerry Chant wants all 2,000 passengers who were on the South Pacific cruise to quarantine themselves.

"We are all requesting that all people onboard this ship remain in quarantine for seven days," he said.

"This is in order to prevent transmission to the community of the human swine influenza."

Sandy Olsen from Carnival Australia, owners of the Pacific Dawn, says the ship sailed last night after receiving the all-clear from New South Wales health officials.

"I think it's important to note here that we have very well-trained doctors and very well-equipped medical centres on board our ships," she said.

"In some cases we're better equipped to deal with the spread of contagious disease, better than perhaps many other holiday destinations are.

"That's why we can and we do move very swiftly to deal with any illness on board and that's what we did in this circumstance."

The chairman of the influenza specialist group, virologist Allan Hampson, says some cases cannot be immediately traced to any known contact.

"In other words, we don't know that they've been in contact with somebody who's come in recently from overseas or been exposed to one of the family contacts of those people," he said.

"That means the virus is in the community at this stage."

Allan Hampson says it is not the time be alarmed as so far the cases in Australia have had mild symptoms.

But he does say it is likely the virus could spread rapidly through the community, especially with winter approaching.

"The whole issue with this influenza virus is it's certainly a new virus so there'll be very little immunity, if any, in the population, which means that it will probably spread more widely than we normally expect with influenza," he said.

(By Michael Edwards)

***************************************************************************

More Cruise News in the minute;

Carnival Fantasy cruise ship had an 18yo passenger went overboard last night, search continues.
I am an avid cruiser. I love everything from the History of Ocean Liners to the construction of the modern Cruise Ships we see today. My Humble question continues, "Is it really possible for someone to inadvertantly fall from a Cruise Ship?

Devils Advocate- First and foremost, lets all send prayers to the family in hopes their son is found and in good spirits.
On the otherhand;
I find it really tough to beleive it is possible for anyone to fall off of a cruise ship. Without knowing much about physics, a person would have to be mighty tall AND very very top heavy to topple over a rail specifically designed at a safe height.

This is what some of your kids are doing on cruise ships while you're out partying. This was from the last cruise I was on! Do you think these parents should be banned from cruising? If one of these kids 'fell', is the CL responsible?

American Idol

Its amazing what Tweeples have to say about Idol and Adam Lambert on Twitter..... & here it is:

fatcat: @s_n If I google Adam Lambert rioters, does sngo pop up? I've actually never heard him sing..don't hurt me

babyitsf: i may stop tweeting about adam lambert. may.

Guitar: cant believe adam lambert didnt win american idol...what a rip off...

IAMTHE: I am still in total shock! How? could America make such a grave error? Adam Lambert was discreminated against. Ironic given the Miss Calf.

step: yes I am a conservative christian but I still think Adam Lambert deserved the win! He definitely will be the bigger star no matter the votes

Nick: @blake Is Adam Lambert gay? Didn't know that.

me28: Adam Lambert is the best I have seen in years and American did not get it right! He is not just your run of the mill Adam is phenomenal!

JeD: Hey CBC news, last time I checked Adam Lambert's last name was not pronounced "Lamberrrrrre". Nice try though.

bad: 2 voting upsets in 2 days Gilles Marini & Adam Lambert are runner-ups. Its like Truman beating Dewey

miami: congrats, Kris Allen for winning the American Idol :D:D and also Adam Lambert for making it to the finals :D:D

Hal: Adam Lambert is number 4 on itunes usa with his version of mad world.

Sta67: Adam Lambert On Rumors: 'Blogs Have A Lot Of Opinions, Don't They?': 'Kris won because he's .. http://bit.ly/5vn2W

Bria: @iluvkisses Oh i agree with you about Adam Lambert on American Idol. I cannot stand him either. He thinks he is like gods gift or somethn

Michel: "America Got It Wrong: Adam Lambert lost the Idol crown" http://tinyurl.com/rauoef (i may have modified the article's title)

babyf: @Nine9 agreed. i always pick a winner at the beginning. carrie underwood, elliot yamin, david archuleta, adam lambert.

Converging: Candidates begin Iran election race, Gurkhas Adam Lambert http://bit.ly/aOhKU

Groups: "Boy-Next-Door" Kris Allen is the new Amerian Idol! Both he and Adam Lambert will be in G.R. to perform at Van Andel Arena on September 6.

Digital: Maybe we need to do an Adam Lambert fan Digital Scrapbook Kit? Hey Adam what do you think? LOL http://digitalpaperhearts.com!

Nickle: RT @elvisduran: Adam Lambert! Exclusive interview in three minutes! Http://www.elvisduran.com

MORE

ME!~~~>RealtorGirlNJ: My guess was Kris Allen was going to win!! Woo Hoo!Loved Adam Lambert too but glad Kris has the title! He truly connects w/ his audience.

craaazy: Lol. I just noticed that Kris Allen is number 1 in the Trending Topics.

i_love: Kris Allen huh? Well, at least it's not Adam Lambert.

bebe: Imagine Kris Allen, A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a, and Jason Mraz, razz-razz-razz-razz-razz-razz-razz-razz. Hugh Jackman, man-man-man-man-man-man-man-man

XYZ0: Kris Allen upsets Adam Lambert to win 'American Idol' http://tinyurl.com/otsryb

tania: I judged the last two by what it means to be an american idol...? Support of you family, friends, not only vocalist but musician Kris Allen!

Shygirl: Kris Allen! SAT score + Math tests = FML

hpc89: Kris Allen is the man!!! Poor Adam!! LOL

keys: @imsuper Didn't know you have a Twitter! You're not a Kris Allen fan?

toned: American Idol loser Adam Lambert is going to be more successful than winner Kris Allen. Just wait and see..

jackct: Kris Allen American Idol Adam Lambert #SaveEarl #qanda #britflicks Memorial Day #ravelry Cavs Gurkhas

natg: I LOVE KRIS ALLEN MORE NOW. I LOVE YOU KRISTOPHER NEIL ALLEN!!!! YOU DESERVED TO WIN!! VICTORY IS YOURS!!

BACH: Keith Urban and Kris Allen's duet was awesome!! They sounded great together!!

Jayde: F*** YOU !! KRIS ALLEN YOU SON OF A BIATCH !!

midge: KRIS ALLEN WON , THOUGHT ADAM LAMBERT WILL...:))

hannajane: Kris Allen is the winner.I loved Kara's performance I kept laughing.

Mitzi99: I think that Kris Allen got all of Danny's votes to win American Idol.

Kerry: is super excited about Kris Allen winning! its almost being the weekend!

antioxidants: SO happy for Kris Allen! Also thankful that I didn't have to swim from my car to the building at work this morning =)

Oops! I'm a day late! Geez, I need more hours in the day! I hope all the Mama's I know had a wonderful day.

Buyers and sellers of Real Estate in New Jersey its time to- JUST DO IT, so get your sneakers on!

Getting the best value doesnt always mean waiting, sometimes when we wait just that bit too long, its gone. We try on a pair of shoes that feel wonderful, but we wait knowing in a few days there is a huge sale, only to find out on SALE day that they are gone. How many times has that happened to YOU? I know it has happened to me. The GOOD news is you dont need to wait to find your DREAM HOME! Everyone is already buzzing about historically low Interest Rates, but some think the bottom of the housing market is still a distant vision. Wake up, once we feel and see the economy on the rise, once you see more folks out shopping for that great pair of comfortable high priced shoes, you might have missed out on your Golden opportunity to find your best value in the perfect dream home just for you.

Dont wait until it is TOO LATE and inventory is short, start your looking now. Call Me: 609.799.3500 x118 voice mail 24/7. Instinctually we all want that bargain, but beware, when you see home prices on the rise you already might have lost your dream home.

Nouriel Roubini, NYU Professor
April 2008-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51SxmcaKJIw
September 30, 2008 seminar talk "The Deflating Mortgage...."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6cyOtGnhyQ&feature=related
October 2008-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82878Lbi8gY&feature=related
November 2008


If you do the math of Dr. Doom's 12-18 month prediction then you know its time for you to find that home you've been dreaming about.

Explaining it all....

From the New Jersey Association of Realtors

NJ Housing Mortgage Finance Agency Offers Cash Advance for First-time Buyer Costs
The New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) is offering cash payments of up to $5,000 for qualified first-time home buyers to help defray closing costs or satisfy down payment requirements and help new buyers to get into the housing market.

The loan, offered as part of NJHMFA's "Prefund" program, would function like a cash advance against the $8,000 tax credit being offered to first-time buyers who purchase a home between April 8 and December 1 of this year. In its simplest terms, purchasers would be provided with the payment as a loan and would be required to repay the advance when they receive their federal tax credit.

The cash advance is available to first-time home buyers who:

Arrange their financing through the NJHMFA. (Obtain a list of participating lenders by calling (800) NJ HOUSE)
Are qualified for the tax credit offered as a part of the federal stimulus program
Pledge to apply the proceeds of their tax credit to repay the cash
View the full details of the NJHMFA's First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit Loan Program (TCLP).

Home > Consumers
Consumer Resources At Your Fingertips
Whether you are interested in buying, renting or selling, it is always a wise decision to consult a REALTOR® to help with your transaction. View the various resources and information on:

Buying | Renting | Selling

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Offers Advice on Flood Insurance
Floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S. and most homeowners insurance does not cover damage it causes. Flood risk and flood insurance are important topics that home buyers should be aware of. View the NAR checklist, "Protect Your New Home: What to Ask Your Insurance Agent," for tips on how to ensure that your new home is adquately protected.

NJ Housing Mortgage Finance Agency Offers Cash Advance for First-time Buyer Costs
The New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) is offering cash payments of up to $5,000 for qualified first-time home buyers to help defray closing costs or satisfy down payment requirements and help new buyers to get into the housing market.

The loan, offered as part of NJHMFA's "Prefund" program, would function like a cash advance against the $8,000 tax credit being offered to first-time buyers who purchase a home between April 8 and December 1 of this year. In its simplest terms, purchasers would be provided with the payment as a loan and would be required to repay the advance when they receive their federal tax credit.

The cash advance is available to first-time home buyers who:

Arrange their financing through the NJHMFA. (Obtain a list of participating lenders by calling (800) NJ HOUSE)
Are qualified for the tax credit offered as a part of the federal stimulus program
Pledge to apply the proceeds of their tax credit to repay the cash
View the full details of the NJHMFA's First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit Loan Program (TCLP).
Fannie Mae Issues Guidelines for Loan Limits in High Cost Areas
On March 30, 2009, Fannie Mae issued Announcement 09-08, implementing the 2009 conforming loan limits for high cost areas (known as high-balance loans), like New Jersey. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), loan limits on mortgages secured by Fannie Mae were increased. Loan limits from Fannie Mae are limited to $417,000 to $729,750, depending on the county where the home is located and the loan program. The guidelines instituted in the announcement apply to loans delivered to Fannie Mae starting May 1, 2009.

The Fannie Mae announcement specifies eligibility requirements for high-balance loans, including:

Loan must be conventional, first-lien mortgages only.
One to four unit properties are eligible.
Loans must be fixed-rate or adjustable rate loans (no balloons).
Loans must meet loan-to-value (LTV) and minimum credit score requirements. For one unit properties with a fixed rate mortgage, the maximum LTV is 90 percent. The minimum credit score is 700 for LTVs above 75 percent and 660 for LTVs at or below 75 percent. For one unit properties with an adjustable rate mortgage, the maximum LTV is 75 percent and the minimum credit score is 680. For second homes and investment properties, the maximum LTV is 65 percent and the minimum credit score is 740. Other rules apply to other categories.
See HUD's website for details on local loan limits.

(njar reprint)

Are people tired of watching their dollars?

I read a wonderful article somewhere and frugality is so yesterday! Yipeeee was my first reaction! Having been stuck in the house for the past 6 weeks really makes a girl want and need to shop. Mission...shopping and pedicure ASAP.

I think there is a balance and for everyone I talk to, it's different. Some folks income of $250K allows them to just get by in their lifestyle and they talk of how they need to conserve and how hard its been. Others are pretty much going about their lifestyle cutting out things like dining out 3 or 4 times a week, knowing that this is a time to be modest.

I hear....

"Frugal Fatigue"

is the new buzzword! Sure makes me smile in hopes of more and more folks looking to find their Dream Home. I read somewhere that there are folks that beleive everyone should continue being obsessively frugal, not shop, not go out, buy less of everything. But, will that help our economy? I dont tihnk so.

TOTD (Thought Of The Day)

Once main street feels the economy on the rise mortgage rates will already be up, housing will be up and there will be less inventory!


PLUS..If you're not a Home Owner or know others that do not own their own home see below for Tax Credit and Prefund info! (up to $8,000)

This might sound cliche, but this truly is a

"Once In A Lifetime" opportuniy!

Don't be left out of the BEST Real Estate Market there will be in your time.

Who Created the Worst Financial Crisis?

(reprint)


Commodity Online

The world is going through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of 1930s? Who created this global financial meltdown? Here is the flawed list in order of responsibility that Time magazine thinks are people who are behing the global economic crisis.

Time Magazine’s list of 25 people to blame for financial crisis…

1. Angelo Mozilo – Co-founder and former head of Countrywide

2. Phil Gramm – Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee from 1995 through 2000

3. Alan Greenspan – Former chairman, Federal Reserve

4. Chris Cox – Former chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission

5. American Consumers

6. Hank Paulson – Former Secretary of the Treasury

7. Joe Cassano – Founding member, AIG’s financial-products unit

8. Ian McCarthy – CEO, Beazer Homes

9. Frank Raines - Former chairman and CEO, Fannie Mae

10. Kathleen Corbet – Former CEO, Standard & Poor’s

11. Dick Fuld – Former CEO, Lehman Brothers

12. Marion and Herb Sandler – Former heads, World Savings Bank

13. Bill Clinton – Former U.S. President

14. George W. Bush – Former U.S. President

15. Stan O’Neal – Former CEO, Merrill Lynch

16. Wen Jiabao – Premier, China

17. David Lereah – Former chief economist, National Association of Realtors

18. John Devaney – Hedge fund manager

19. Bernie Madoff – Ponzi scheme orchestrator

20. Lew Ranieri – Father of mortgage-backed securities

21. Burton Jablin – Programmer at Scripps Networks, which owns HGTV

22. Fred Goodwin – Former chairman and CEO, Royal Bank of Scotland

23. Sandy Weill – Former chairman and CEO, Citigroup

24. David Oddsson – Former Prime Minister, Iceland

25. Jimmy Cayne – Former chairman and CEO, Bear Stearns

I dont like this anymore..........

Dry Cleaners, whats the problem? Why? Is it that tough?

Today I asked my son to try on his Tuxedo. He is 16 years old, but yes he has (had) a Tuxedo because we've cruised often and like to get dressed fancy and stuff.
He has a nice size closet with a lot of clothes but when he took out his Tuxedo and tried it on.... (Im wondering why I didnt immediately take a picture, lol)- it was apparent it was not his. He could have added a person into the waist of the pants.
That one was my husbands! So, off he went to the basement, where our 'things' are pretty organized. He came up quickly with a Tuxedo. I questioned if it was the "extra" one that I have lingering (which I recalled afterwards I donated last year during Spring Cleaning efforts) but off my son went and tried it on.

Almost like the three little bears, one waist too big and this waist too small, although the waist did close. I know other Mom's who would have made him wear it, but the problem was....I had never seen it before and never purchased a Jeffrey Banks suit (no, not Jos Banks). My sons was a Nordstroms suit I bought new on eBay for half the price of retail. As the three of us stared blankly at eachother, I knew our trusty dry cleaners who we like soooo much was the issue. This is not the first problem and Im sure whoever has my son's tuxedo is just as annoyed as I am.
........and, I'll give you one guess where his Tuxedo shirts are. Im sure they're with his tuxedo.
Torn between renting and buying, by the time we'd rent tuxedos through his High School career, it would be three times and would cost more than having his own that can be tailored through the years if need be.


FB Status: is it only me or have you gotten other peoples stuff back frm the dry cleaners and not your own? then it takes a year to find out b/c it was mens formalwear and wasn t needed until...it was GONE? Now my boys are out Tuxedo shopping! *wow, how much can you write in here? :o/8

Make a GREAT First Impression

Staging Tips to position your home in its best light!
What you can do to prepare your house for Sale.

First impressions are vital to selling your home for the best price and least inconvienence in this competitive market.

It begins with curb appeal.
Tidy your front, remove weeds, dead foliage, trim bushes and hedges, pick up stray garbage, and toys if in the area. Make repairs as necessary (gutters, downspouts, sweep, paint wood trims and powerwash if necessary). Buy a new doormat, be certain the doorbell works, if you have one.
Inside we gooooo
Collect your Clutter.
Put away your Photos.
Take down Trophies.
Tuck away the tchotchkes.
Minimize momentos.

Use the "keep" and "store" method and go room by room. Keep will be used for staging, store needs to leave the house and go into storage. Less is more. Remove unnecessary furniture.

You want buyers to feel connected to your home and want to live there. Buyers 'notice' the room from each doorway. If you're staging a bedroom, after you remove then move things around, go back to the doorway to see it how a potential buyer will first notice it, remember, every first impression is critical to setting your home apart from the rest.

Dont leave tables empty after you remove family photos, group a handful (that means 3) of items together on your table(s) ie: candlestick, lamp, book.

Clean! Clean! Clean! Curtains, window treatments can accumulate a lot of dirt and dust, clean them. Window sills, tracks and YES, you guessed it, the glass should all be clean. Buyer look to see how a home for sale is maintained, you want them to see it as a pristine, well-cared for home.

Photos, momentos, trophies and such are all 'personal' and immediately distract the buyer to looking at them instead of seeing their future Home. Their loss, Your loss!

PERCEPTION! You're selling your space, show it off! Less on the walls reveal big walls. Less furniture= larger room!

Staged homes sell for almost 7% higher than non=staged homes and in half the time!

The Basics for First Time Home Buyers

(reprint)

Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach

As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.

Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream.

Who Qualifies?
First-time home buyers who purchase homes between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.

To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

Which Properties Are Eligible?
The 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.

How Much Will the Credit Be?
The maximum allowable credit for home buyers is $8,000. Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two factors:

The price of the home—the credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000.

The buyer's income—single buyers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.

If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?
Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.

The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 for single buyers and between $150,000 and $170,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $95,000 for singles and over $170,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.

Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?
No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during the three-year period, the credit will be recouped on the sale.

IN ADDITION The following is very exciting news!!
PREFUND PROGRAM
Find info here: http://www.state.nj.us/dca/hmfa/consu/buyers/ownprg/tclp.html

---

Fun Fact:
Did You Know?
Nearly one-quarter of first-time buyers are single females who purchased their first home on a median income of $47,400.

Source: 2008 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Follow me on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/RealtorGirlNJ

Dessert Flavored Toothpaste....

........D Day and the topic is, "Words of Inspiration" Suggestions from my FB People;


"Don't eat that...Put that down"
Pain equals beauty..hahah!
You are a gorgeous young blonde. What more inspiration can I can give u!!!
And who says that thin is so great. Men don't like flat asses!!
Bathing suit weather is in sight

Thank you! Keep 'em coming! Like little fortunes to think about and grab when ya need one.

Am i really hungry? Wait 10 minutes and do something else
When in doubt, chew gum or get an air popper for popcorn:

Daniela at 11:10am April 28
If you crave sweets (candies!) .... ... go and brush your teeth! It does help ...

Oh Daniela thats a very good one. Ive heard it before, just keep forgetting it. I wonder why noone has come out with dessert flavored toothpastes? lol

Daniela at 11:11am April 28
I agree! I can see a huge market gap here .... cheesecake , peanut butter cookie and brownie ice cream is the way to go!!!!

---

---

I think we're onto something here! What do you think? I think Neiman Marcus would agree. They already have a line of Wine/Champagne flavored toothpaste.

Is Everyone a Stranger or is Everyone a Potential Friend?

Yeah I was going to write about Strangers VS. Potential Friends, but today must be D DAY. I'll get back to my thoughts from yesterday, later.

and

Eloise from that damn Lifestyle lift commercial is really starting to bug meee! How can it make a 70yo woman look 45?

Back to D Day; 5 weeks ago when I became unable to ambulate (sounds fancy schmancy huh? better than I broke my little foot!), well I had hoped dieting would be easy. With the suggestion from my Mother to "stay out of the kitchen", I decided hanging out in my bedroom would be helpful....and it is, but eventually down I go. Actually, Ive created a way to get around my kitchen so I can cook dinner, it works and keeps me occupied too.

Word(s) of the Day: Nutrisystem! Plus protein, fiber and Im still thinking about that knitting! LOL

I should have retitled this, "An Apple a Day".

Back to "Friends and Strangers" later on, Stay Tuned....

Miracle Sails from NY

It's April and Carnival Miracle is back in NYC ready to sail. She sailed 4/22 and is at sea for the 4th day, probably in St Thomas today. Which brings me to April in New Jersey, it should not be 90 degrees today OR I should be at the beach. Well, really, Id rather be cruising!

---

Here is a link to cruises leaving from NYC, specifically Miracle.
http://www.newyorkcruiseguide.com/carnival-miracle.html

Having been a "Loyal to Royal" fan, we defected December 2008 to Carnival. Mostly it was because we had to cancel a Royal cruise because a series of unfortunate events. We were pleasantly surprised to report that Carnival Miracle surpassed any expectations we might have had. Actually all the skepticism you hear is from folks who have never cruised Carnival. The moral of the story is, when you're a cheerleader for one thing, dont put down the next if you dont have clear and specific first hand information.

I've received many emails with questions from my reviews, CruiseDivaNJ, published on Cruisecritic. Here is my most recent review, of course since the topic if Carnival Miracle, it is my review of Miracle.

First time on Carnival from Royal and a good choice

Carnival Miracle 12/23/08 Review Grab a coffee! Since I didn't post a Live From thread, this will probably turn out detailed.
This was our 8th cruise (5 on RCI, 1 on =X= and 1 on Chandris line back in 1987). DH and I are in our mid 40s, kids are 20 and 16 and it was their 6th cruise. Let me start off by saying that on a whole Carnival met and exceeded any expectations especially because we've always heard mixed reviews throughout the years. We're accustomed to leaving out of the northeast since that's where we live. CCL made all the arrangements for us, flights to Florida and transfers. Since we had to cancel our RCI cruise last minute due to a family medical emergency, having someone handle all the details made it easy. We arrived in Florida and were greeted by friendly CCL staff, escorted to a (cabana coach co.) bus where we proceeded to go to the next terminal to pick up more pax. CCL staff advised the driver to take us without waiting for the others since they were waiting on their luggage and CCL didn't want to hold us up. We appreciated the gesture and decision very much. Boarding was a breeze, the terminal was empty, and they were waiting for us with happy, welcoming faces. We boarded and went directly to our cabins on the Empress Deck- deck 6, Cabins 6194 and 6212, both balcony cabins. We met our Cabin stewards who DID ask us to sign that we had met him. The moment was hurried but he didn't mention we were signing to ok the condition of the cabins, although he did ask if we had already been in our cabins (so even tho he asked us to sign that we met him, Im not 100% why we signed- if cabins were acceptable condition and cleanliness as others have mentioned or if it was merely that we met like he indicated). I swear we were the last to embark b/c it seemed like muster was shortly thereafter! After muster we had our kids bring back the vests and meet us at the Orpheus Bar aft Lido deck for our Unofficial Meet & mingle from Roll call. Being new to the CCL boards I am STILL unsure if CCL would have hosted a formal M&M like RCI does- If roll call members register. (if any CCL reps can enlighten me on this it would be great). Roll call met up, it was great to put faces to names and see some around while on board! (and wondered and hoped if some we hadn't met made it on board safely!)

The first thing we noticed was Miracle is smaller than we're used to. DH and I enjoy smaller vessels, so we were happy. (yes we knew it was, what I mean is that we felt the difference and liked it) Muster was quick and painless. I never did find out if the ship was at full capacity, but we weren't often crammed into an elevator and we never waited too long for one.

We were seated at Table 333(late seating), at a booth for 4. Our waiter and asst. were very good and quickly caught on that we were not newbie cruisers. After the first evening they always had a large bottle of water waiting on the table for us and the bar waitress knew what soda the kids wanted (until they switched to ginger ale b/c we hoped even the tiny amount of ginger something would help the tiny bit of nausea from the motion of the ship). We have heard mostly positive critiques, but have heard a small handful of folks that were not pleased with the food. We can compare to RCI- we were very pleased with everything about the food in the dining room. We were happy to see that CCL still maintains the charm of classic pretty (heavy) china plates- on our last 2 RCI cruises they were cheesy. Let me first say that my husband and I are both foodies and critical of food quality. Knowing banquet preparation is very different from fine-fresh dining this is our critique on the food. Presentation of all of our food was excellent- choices were plenty, most everything we ordered was tasty and properly cooked. We do not like anchovies and they are minced into the Caesar dressing, therefore after a couple days of Caesar we just had to pass. They could have had more salad choices. Our daughter is a chilled soup connoisseur; she did not like the chilled peach soup and said it tasted like watered down peach yogurt. My husband and I ordered filet one night both medium rare and they came well so we sent them back. They were very apologetic and quickly brought out what we ordered. Other than those instances, there is nothing we can say wasn't excellent. Service wasn't slow, but also wasn't rushed, it was a perfect flow for us. Our son is allergic to nuts and had a personal dining consultant, as the kids called her, stop by every evening to take his order for the following night (they prepared it separately) and she was very nice. The majority of people were well dressed in the MDR. An announcement was made the night before Cruise Elegant on what attire they would not allow in. We did not see any shorts or jeans or t shirts. We did see tuxedos, and most men were wearing suits. Very few wore casual khakis and a polo shirt. Women spanned the gamut from gowns to cocktail dresses to chiffon pants and one woman wore a very short red santa dress with boa trim. She looked like she was wearing a costume or a very tacky bedroom outfit from Fredricks; it didn't belong on a cruise ship (but she was a body builder most likely on steroids). I will end the review of the MDR with, 'we thought we died and went to heaven when we tasted the chocolate melting cake"……..My daughter already has the recipe!

We had 2 balcony cabins, 6194 and 6212. Both were about the same as on RCI. CCL has more closet space which we liked, but the bathroom was just the slightest bit smaller, NO biggie at all. We all agreed the shower tube was also somewhat bigger on CCL. The balconies are noticeably smaller on CCL but we managed. ? We don't like the placement of the balcony lights though….one of our neighbors used it as a nightlight and it was very bothersome. When we wanted to relax on the balcony at night it was like being in a brightly lit city and we were blinded by the light from his balcony. Our Steward spoke with him and (lied) and told him that he had to keep the light off unless he was using the balcony b/c…..and I honestly forgot what he told him, but when he told us he was laughing and saying how he had to lie to the man. A day (night) later my husband knocked on his cabin door b/c they still had the light on that night- the man said his wife is afraid of the dark cabin so they use it as a nightlight. My husband offered the idea that if he keep the bathroom light on or the few stage lights on the desk mirror that would work too. We never saw their balcony light on at night again. We like the sliding doors on RCI much better than the regular doors CCL have 'because'… no one including my husband holds the door to shut it. Therefore when you're out on your balcony you hear an awful lot of slamming doors.

Cards and safes….and soda cards…So many cards!! Why? Cant we consolidate CCL? Use a 'shape' hole-punch for pax who purchase a soda card. A trained eye will easily notice a triangle or something different to the card. As for the magnetic-strip operated safe I guess nothing can be done about having to use a separate card, but CCL you can step it up, the process seems archaic to say the least. Having smart boards near guest relations and the excursion desk is a great idea but we didn't see many folks use it.

As for Miracles function, we thought she did a superb job at navigating us on the mighty seas!! Before we left there was so much negativity on the boards regarding the poor functioning (right) azipod and rumor that the stabilizers were not working at all. Im not an engineer but if you're a seasoned cruiser and wake- watcher you could tell that one azipod was weak, but still functioning. When we just sailed along we were at 17+ knots and there really didn't seem to be difficulties. We have sailed in December before and the seas are never like glass. April out of Florida to GC, Jamaica were more choppy on a larger ship, so we didn't notice any extra rocking n rolling that was anything even remotely out of the ordinary. As for the stabilizers, hmmm, never really saw anyone walking side to side and from the small amount of rock n roll they were not 'needed'. As for the high winds, you can't control mother nature. I don't remember a cruise ever not being windy on the top decks. Why do folks complain about the wind but still cruise?

(I am interjecting a comment on galley and food prep on CCL. I just rec'd an email from a friend overseas who does hiring for the upper cruise lines. (ie: seabourn and silversea, regent type lines). She said she was not surprised to hear the food was top notch because lately "the galley reviews of Royal have been bad", but surprisingly the "frequently criticized CCL culinary dept has become rather opulent. They must be investing more time and money in the galley area using good quality and fresh products". That is inside trade information.)

Shops on Board, we didn't find any unique jewelry ? Other shops didn't carry simple things like pepto (son needed it) or body lotion (they had one brand but I opted for the other shop with the good stuff!). I don't cruise for these reasons but I thought it was worth the mention. The casino could use better ventilation. I am an x-smoker and I thought the casino was very smokey.

The SUSHI!! Okay, here goes. Its nice to have a little spot that they open from around 5pm to 8:30 (not all days). It is the best attempt to date for presenting on board Sushi and it was nice that they rolled it in front of you instead of having pre-plattered sliced items. The sushi offered was cooked. You did not find delicacies like tuna (bluefin or ahi) and salmon (yes there was salmon but it was lox not raw uncooked). The tuna was seared and very good, the salmon (lox) was good, nothing was great or outstanding and some was downright uneatable. (mackerel was one, I don't recall the other icky rolls). One night there was a roll with cooked shrimp. Presentation was very good, including pickled ginger and wasabi and chop sticks. You were able to purchase Saki but we didn't enquire. Do NOT get excited if you're a Sushi snob, but if you need a 'fix', go for the tuna! Debarking and embarking the Miracle to and from islands was smooth. They could honestly use more security measures. There are many parents that allow their teens to walk around the islands unsupervised. The teens purchase clear alcohol and pour it into water bottles. CCL you need to step it up a notch and check the kids water bottles. Most nights the young teens are walking around 3/4s trashed. I admit that CCL does well with having security around the ship but what are they really doing I wonder? My best guess is they are there to make sure fights to not break out and kids do not get rowdy, but I tend to think they turn their heads on drunk kids or they have zero training to notice. We also noticed 2 gentlemen handing over their 8 bottles of boxed alcohol but security didn't notice their 'opened' backpack with 4 clanking bottles of wine sticking out. Just saying…..

Entertainment; a tough comment so I will compare. We think it was merely entertaining. Good enough to watch, sometimes I fell asleep, somewhat cheesy but you could notice excellent effort. Jazz moves were simplistic, we expect more if we have expectations. We missed the Motown Classics, I was kind of sad b/c I like Motown. Guitar Music (Scott) in the Gotham Lounge MUST be missed. He had to know someone for them to hire him, he was beyond awful. Maybe he should stick to playing guitar and NOT singing. Your ears hurt just walking by listening. Folks raved about the Beatles Tribute….why in the world would dancers be dressed in mexican garb doing the weirdest moves to Hey Jude….some of it was very good, but 'most' was lacking any cohesiveness- the dance and costume should be tied to the song. It was so confusing and annoying to the eye and ear. Enough said. The Newlywed (Love & Marriage) show left little to be desired. The CD didn't know how to get out of a sticky situation and instead of having the right age brackets on stage he had the senior couple, the newlyweds married about 2 months and then a cpl like in their early 60s or something. The middle couple probably should have been married 25ish years. It almost mirrored Royal Caribbeans game but Royals is BY FAR more entertaining, each and every time! It is "interactive" whereas CCLs is not. Again a comparison. We loved the Hypnotist, he was excellent! The scavenger hunts were great. I wouldn't fathom doing arts and crafts while on board but I could imagine instructing them in my senior years (then we can live on board). ? Not many used the Water Slide when it was opened, but we enjoyed it, wind and all! The wind did not deter us.

The Captains Welcome party was very nice. We didn't want to stay long, we were meeting friends, but we ended up staying a bit and having a cocktail. Always enjoy listening to the Captain, I just wish he'd speak for even longer. ?

Pools, we only went to the Orpheus pool which is supposedly Adults only. I finally arrived where both my kids are old enough for us to enjoy the area and there were little ones there too. It honestly didn't bother me at all, the handful there were well behaved and pretty unnoticeable, just a mention. The hot tub back there is smaller than mine at home. It does mention in the Caper, do not save chairs for long periods of time, but they do not have any signs on deck. Chair hogs were out in full force! The first sea day we opted for lounges on the sun deck, easy to find any time. The wind was minimal. The second or third sea day my husband and I got to the Lido deck Orpheus pool at 8AM and EVERY chair was taken by a towel, tee shirt or book. Very few were occupied by people. We finally found two chairs together near the rail and got comfy. Next to my husband was 3 chairs taken by 'the tee shirts" and next to me were 2 chairs taken one by a book one a towel. At around 10:30 a lady comes to the 3 chairs just as our daughter is arriving, she offers one of the three lounges to us then goes on to say if we need another one, she really only needed one. Funny, as this was happening, my son arrived and we needed her second lounge. Then she only stayed for 30 minutes and left. (anyone reading this, don't do this, its so disrespectful to your fellow pax. Sorry had to say it.) A little before 1pm the two chairs next to me were still the way they were at 8am…no one ever came and it started to rain, we left. I just don't get it.

Oops, I almost forgot about Horatios and other food options! We had room service every morning, coffee and croissants. They always came early, which was kind of unexpected, but after 3 mornings we knew their schedule and adjusted the time. The coffee is very good. I do not like (will not drink more than a morning sip) Seattles best on board RCI so I was VERY happy to have coffee I liked. We only ordered room service one other time and tried the shrimp salad, it was very good. I will compare Horatios dining experience to the Windjammer (Voyager Class/RCI, most recently ExOS- 25 days total on board). Breakfast; past Explorer cruises the bacon was unrecognizable. Everyone we were with thought the same and it was an ongoing joke. The food is typically never really hot, it is always lukewarm to warm. You kind of just go on to justify it by saying, "well it is buffet food and kept warm, it isn't straight from the oven". We eat omelets and toast and avoided the rubbery pancakes and nasty tasting sausage and the 'what is that bacon. On CCL we were pleasantly surprised that the bacon looked like bacon, wasn't laying in grease and was easily taken with tongs from the tray and not all gunked together. The turkey sausage was very good, the omelets very good, the only complaint is CCL get some REAL good whole wheat bread, please ?. The whole wheat was mostly white w/ traces of ww flour. Anyway, it is hard to find anything bad about breakfast at Horatios. Onto lunch, on Explorer I stuck to salads, they seemed to be the only freshest thing to eat. The first day we do the greasy burger thing but not again the whole cruise! The rest of the hot foods can only be rated as eh. At Horatios you can always find good pannini and wraps. Always excellent pizza 24/7 too. They offered Taste of the Nations including Mexico, Indian, France, Caribbean, America and Mediterranean. Horatios has a grill grilling burgers and hot dogs (vs. WJ where they lay out sitting on fat and pax pick and pull at them and throw them around). I did like the layout of this area for the most part…kids didn't. I think they pack whatever they can into one long area in WJ and I liked the different sections in Horatios. The last day they had a continual afternoon Chocolate corner. A chocolate fountain dipping anything you can think of. This was the ONLY time I ever saw a line all afternoon. (note, the line went quickly but there was a line all afternoon). I did not like their salad bar ? We also didn't like the Caesar because it had bits of anchovies, just not our thing. Two afternoons (or more?) they had make your own sundaes out on deck by the ice cream and frozen yogurt stations.

Itinerary, we booked St Maarten, St Lucia, St Kitts. St Lucia was dropped and we went to Grand Turk. I was okay with this, as I hadn't been to either and I had always heard the water in Turks and Caicos was beautiful. We didn't do any excursions. This was the first time we decided to 'wing it' and just go to the beaches. In St Maarten we took the water taxi over to the beach/shopping area, a 2 minute ride across the bay. If you're in decent shape you can easily walk it but it will take a little longer. We met folks who we knew from our Explorer 2007 holiday cruise, the Dad hung out with us most of the day on the beach and it was great talking and comparing cruises. The kids were so excited to see each other, they kept in touch throughout the year and looked forward to all being together for the 2008 Explorer cruise again, then we had to cancel….so running into them and being able to spend time was very memorable. My kids both enjoyed Jet Skiing. It was very easy to find Jet skiis to rent, they were all over!! We were thrilled to see them! It was tough getting this kind of info before we left for some reason. In case anyone is interested it cost $50 for 30 minutes for one and $55 if two ride.

2 Lounges and an umbrella runs $10.00, some have deals with 2 beers, if you drink beer! Read the signs. We didn't shop other than designer sunglasses for the kids. (part of their Holiday gift). St Kitts- last year we went to So Frigate bay this year I wanted to go to Cockleshell beach….it was raining and we ended up walking the town of St Kitts instead of going to the beach. We had a great day! Grand Turk the water was as everyone says……beautiful to swim in and hang out in all day. The way I feel about Bermuda and GC. Id love to go back and see a different area of the island though. The majority of folks got off and stayed at Margaritaville, carnival cruise center beach area. I wanted to walk down to before the pier to Jacks Shack, we made it 3/4s and I didn't feel good so we laid our towels in the sand and enjoyed the water where we were. Our kids walked down but didn't see anything at all, other than a seemingly closed dive shack. I think later in the day something opened that had lounge chairs to rent, but at that point we were heading back to Margaritaville. It was a nice day…..2 ships right there in port as you swim, kind of interesting…I think I rather see a different area of the island if there is one.

We wouldn't hesitate sailing Carnival again. I think it would be a different experience out of the northeast, but knowing Miracle sails from here spring/summer months is another option now for us, we live in NJ and NY is very convenient.

I hope I didn't miss anything, I covered a lot, hope the info is helpful. Feel Free to contact me at cruisedivanj@yahoo.com and remember… **Every cruise is a different experience, even on the same ship! **


Publication Date: 01/04/09

I found an interesting site some cruisers might be interested in:
www.craftcruises.com

.......wrote 3 days ago & now Im posting? wt?

The orthopedist sentenced me to another 3 weeks until my next appointment. Im glad to say he could see bone growth/regeneration. In his words, "it is healing as expected". I'm even getting good at hopping (very) short distance.

...........If Arnie is so strong why does he want to overheat?...............
She named the car Arnie because its a tank. Must have been a tough Saturday night on the road because Arnie was angry and overheating and by 11:30PM he wanted to go to sleep. Funny this happens now, when we have that extra vehicle since Im not driving..Oh How I want to buy my girl a new bug when she graduates University!

OOoooOOooo Its always something. I can do without rain for a few days since we now have to caulk outside, under the deck where some kind of line comes into the basement.

Birds of a feather...

Birds of a feather flock together. People like to share commonalities with those they flock with, it all makes sense. It provides countless hours to spend quality time.

Opposites attract, really is it a cruel joke?

http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/features/do-opposites-attract

Ah ha! So, I might be housebound (well, not totally, Im exaggerating) but crutches are for someone else, not me. So while Im not as mobile as the average normal chick without a couple broken bones in her foot, I am still watching my local Real Estate market and paying close attention to whats selling and being listed as well as the still prevelant Price reductions. Ive had clients come and go because they still just cant make up their minds. No matter the statistics, so many "know better". So, is this forced R&R a time for me to come up with new strategies? So many things I can be convincing at without effort ;-)

Another from the indulgent days

...am I doing it right?

Did I say that?

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Navigating (learning) blogger.

Who is that girl.....?

Indulgent days....My Me world 2004 (thought this pic was 02)

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Another....

(maybe not. learning blogger, but I know I should be able to add more than one picture!)

Turku Beckons

Turku Beckons

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A Taste of Spring

Finally, nice days full of sunshine. I dont have a green thumb, but I like when my gardens to look pretty. My husband is pretty good at this, so I leave it to him. This weekend we're going to the nursery to pick out more bushes and flowers and 'stuff'. Im not sure how thats going to go. We discussed it last night and my husband said if I cant see from the car, he'll take pictures and show me...I dont think that will work. I might have to risk it and try to walk with crutches over the rocky terrains that nurseries usually have. Hmmmm, we must buy bushes this weekend!

Busy mind today, I might write later. For now Im pondering "kissing", yes thats the topic of the moment, the effect it has on health.

Comments

Holidays

I want to celebrate that Passover is, "over". Its one of my favorite Jewish holidays but the foods are only foods you can eat one week out of the year! Time to move on, back to fruits and veggies, oh and nutrisystem, tomorrow. Then to ponder...excersize for the temporarily walking imapired?? I guess it has to be old floor routines, horizontal excersizes that dont require a right foot. Time to get serious. Remember, stay clear of hanging out in the kitchen!

I must be keeping busy, I havent looked for my knitting. Ive cleaned out some drawers, as suggested by my Guru friend Rudy, now Im thinking about the bottom of my closet, I can sit on the floor and organized it, I think. I know I have a lot of things to organize in the office downstairs...

As I type I hear the morning media announce that home sales are finally picking up a little. They add, "stay tuned for what is happening where", or something like that. I can easily whine and complain, "why me?", but I dont. Its more productive to think towards the future, the near future! And, organizing the office.

Flowers are blooming, have to my dear hubby plant the tulips that are dying on the dining room table. I dont have a green thumb, Im good with a dozen roses every week.

I read a great book recently, short unpublished novel that has left me thinking....

Why do bad things happen to good people?

There is no explanation, no justification. I cried off and on all day, I hugged my daughter and son. I thanked G_d for my family. A child should never leave this world before a parent, no one should ever have to experience such a cruel tragedy. There is no greater loss in the world than to suffer losing a child. And, our town is in mourning. I knew Emily from the high schol swim team, she graduated a year after my daughter. They had a class or two together and Emily was very good friends with two of my daughters good friends. A really wonderful girl brutally taken from this world, a world she wanted to help save. A sweet and gentle soul is who she was. As a parent and Mother I extend my deepest sympathy to her family and pray my children will always be protected from the sick people that exist in our world. I pray they make the right choices because they've had good guidance and I pray they are watched over by loved ones who have left this world at ripe ages to watch over us and protect us. I hope for justice although I doubt that could bring solace to any greiving parent. I dont think I am a strong enough person to live through a tragedy so great.

Why do bad things happen to good people? There is no explanation.

Dedicated to Emily Silverstein and her family.

Im taking up knitting again!

Knitting is very therapeutic, even when it turns out a scarf or doll blanket with holes. I remember it was calming when I quit smoking and in the past few years on the 4 hour drives to visit my daughter in college. Do I attempt to look in my closet for what I was last working on? It is a beautiful ribbon yarn in vibrant jewel tones.
I think I will enlist my hubbys help after dinner; odd new house projects, wouldnt you say? :-/

The orthopedist today said "you need to be off your feet 8 weeks minimum, then we go from there". I can still hear the sound of his voice telling me if it doesnt heal properly i'll end up with arthritis in my foot and it will be painful. He did agree with my suggestion of doing some strength excersizes at home when I told him my back, neck and everything else was killing me!!!

In a couple very short weeks Ive heard three tragedies that immediately come to mind. Natasha Richardson died after a fall while skiing unknowing she had a brain injury. The next tragedy was a young girl, a sophmore at my daughters college who while on vacation in DR after an enjoyable day trip on a boat, stepped out of the boat into only 2 feet of water, friends saw her tilt her head back under the water and never come up. Lastly, my Manager told me of an associate in another office who while visiting her daughter and grandchildren fell down stairs, hit her head and died.

I'm feeling very lucky, even when I want to think about "why me? why now?....",
so, I'm going to find my knitting.

Times flies when you're makin' lemonade!

Almost 2 weeks have flown by and Im making lots of lemonade, as the saying goes; "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade"!


I keep typing and deleting, paragraph's have come and gone. Instinctually I want to make lemonade, because I just dont like to be the complaining type. I always feel there is someone worse off than me. I wanted this blog to be about Real Estate, even something about Cruising (None in the works right now, so Im currently creepin' my brother/sister-in-laws Roll call offerring advice to newbie cruisers going on Adventure OTS in April) but its going to be all about me.

In my quest to find better health in 2009 I (re)started in Dec 08, Jan 09 was good (good test results), Feb 09 began a series of bad turning worse but all fairly managable, or so I thought....until a nicely planned March day turned into my broken foot!! *pout* I am very pissed but quickly adopted the "this too shall pass" attitude. Now I need a real plan. With an already problematic shoulder and elbow and of course opposite sides, sigh, how do I manage them so they dont worsen!? I was supposed to start physical therapy, another "on hold". Being on one foot for the past 5 days is killing my back. The ER gave me codeine, I cant take it. Breathe...."this too shall pass". Crutches= good for the young and physically fit! Thats how I feel about them right now. Tomorrow I will start an excersize routine of floor excersizes to strengthen my back and keep it that way! Nothing I can do about my elbow, but I will resort to old shoulder excersize. Nutrisystem to the rescue, Im not allowing this to get me down and make me eat!

Family= wonderful, although they are starting to tease me. You know what, its whimsical and definitely keeps us in a better frame of mind. Husband, Id marry him all over again for all his compassion and help in picking up everything I usually do and still smiling. (Thank you Hal for presenting it that way, you summed it up, now Im going to have to plan a vow-renewal! lol)

Passover in just a week! A week of GREAT cooking special foods that speak Tradition in our home for over 20 years. I will do what I can to make sure my boys & girl have some favorite foods. Im learning to navigate my kitchen when possible.

Thanks to my friends who have given words or inspiration.

This is only a bump in the road and this too shall pass.

Going Green!

http://www.greentechforum.net/category/news/2009/01/22/green-building-alliance-awards-240000-in-product-innovation-grants/


http://www.njbiz.com/industry_article.asp?cID=8&aID=48505518.3221049.1007604.6048945.8516794.263&aID2=77499

Why meeeeeee?

Well, thats the way it usually goes......I wish someone could answer the question of, "why"?

I just got a call from one of my First time Home Buyers who totalled her car. Most important is no one was hurt. I sympathize, been there myself, more than once. She and her partner are good acquaintances of mine. I feel terrible!

I've walked in the same shoes, the funds I might have had to buy one thing, now gets distributed to necessity; in this case, my friend needs to buy a car more than a home.

Sigh....

Im glad the sun is shining right now! :-)