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April 2008

1 -- April Fool's Day
1 -- Firefighter's Day
13 -- Thomas Jefferson Day
15 -- Tax Day
15 -- Leonardo da Vinci's B-day
20 -- Full Moon Day
23 -- Shakespeare's Birthday
25 -- Arbor Day

April 1. This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four.
-- Mark Twain

Existing-Homes Sales Show Improvement

According to a late-March report by the National Association of Realtors®, sales of existing homes increased in February and remain within a fairly stable range.

Single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops rose 2.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.03 million units in February from a pace of 4.89 million in January, but remain 23.8 percent below the 6.60 million-unit level in February 2007. The sales pace has been in a fairly narrow range since last September.

“We’re not expecting a notable gain in existing-home sales until the second half of this year, but the improvement is another sign that the market is stabilizing,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Buyers taking advantage of higher loan limits for both FHA and conventional mortgages will unleash some pent-up demand. As inventories are drawn down, prices in many markets should go positive later this year.”

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $195,900 in February, down 8.2 percent from a year earlier. Because the slowdown in sales from a year ago is greater in high-cost areas, there is a downward pull to the national median with relatively fewer sales in higher priced markets, the report said.

Home prices in metropolitan areas indicate a positive trend. The most recent data shows roughly half of the metro areas experiencing price increases, with healthy gains in markets such as Oklahoma City and Trenton, N.J. “In other areas such as Sacramento, a rapid price decline has induced buyers to come into the market and sales are now rising,” said Yun. “The relationship between home prices, interest rates and income has improved to the point where buyers are more serious about making offers.”

The national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 5.92 percent in February from 5.76 percent in January, according to Freddie Mac.

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April hath put a spirit of
youth in everything.
-- William Shakespeare

Spring Is the Time to Plan Your Family Garden

Looking forward to spending some time outside with your family this Spring? Then consider a vegetable garden. Gardening can be a fun activity that combines learning, relaxation and quality time together. In addition, gardening helps children become more responsible by teaching them that plants need care, introduces them to new foods and helps build self-esteem by putting them in charge of a project. Following are some ideas.

• If you don't have room in your yard, consider a container garden, using common household items like milk and juice cartons, empty cans or plastic buckets.
• You don't need much space, a two-foot plot is adequate. A sunny spot on the steps, rooftop or balcony works fine.
• Prepare the soil for the kids (so they don't have to handle fertilizers, compost, chemicals) and try to find smaller sized garden tools that are easier for small hands to handle.
• Let the kids help choose the seeds or seedlings.
• Use a small watering can that's easily carried and handled.
• To make it more of a learning experience, chart the weather, watering, and the plant's growth. Have fun by experimenting with different soils, fertilizers, or amount of sunlight and water.

If this is your child's first garden, choose plants that are easier to successfully grow, such as carrots, beets, cucumbers, green beans, peas, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce, herbs, okra and peppers. If you have more room, squash and pumpkins are good choices, corn too.

Gardening can be messy, but don't worry about it. Put each family member in charge of something, whether they're a preschooler or a teenager. Keep in mind kids can help with nearly any gardening chore, from tilling the soil and planting the seeds to watering the plants and picking them at harvest time. And, of course, the whole family will enjoy tasting and cooking something they grew as a family.

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It may be true ... that "you can’t fool all the people all the time," but you can fool enough of them to rule
a large country.
-- Will Durant

9 Tips to Improve a Home Showing

This article could easily be summed up as follows: Clean like you've never cleaned before. If you're not the cleaning type, it will pay off to hire someone to do it for you until the home is sold. For the do-it-yourselfer, here's where you should focus.

1. Clean, clean, clean. Cluttered rooms, dirty floors, dusty shelves and a sink full of dishes turns buyers off. Get out the Pledge and make your furniture shine. Pick up anything that doesn't belong on the floor. Polish or wax your floors. Clean your appliances. Organize your cabinets and drawers.
2. Fix dripping sinks, showers or running toilets. Make sure all the lights work, including the garage and closets. Eliminate anything that suggests plumbing or electrical problems.
3. Make sure all your doors open and close smoothly. Fix your cabinet doors as well. Little things add up to big things in a buyer's mind.
4. Organize your closets to make them appear bigger. Clean out the garage. You're going to be moving anyway, get a head start and improve your home's storage outlook.
5. Make your bathrooms shine. Yes, clean the toilets, tubs and sinks. Repair any caulking if needed. Put out your best towels and buy a new shower curtain.
6. Today's buyers want a master bedroom, so make it look like one. Get rid of all excess furniture, especially TV's and exercise equipment. Buy a new bedspread and window coverings. Hide away any personal items.
7. Open the blinds or curtains and turn on all the lights. Make your buyers feel welcome and let them know you have nothing to hide. If it's a nice, sunny day, open up a window or two to let some fresh air in.
8. Clean your screens and windows.
9. Disappear for the showing and let your agent give the tour. Buyers will rush the showing if they feel like you're watching them. If you want to sell your home, the buyers need to be relaxed and be able to take their time. If you have pets, take them with you.

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The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.
-- George F. Will

5 Steps to Make Your Windows Sparkle

Have you ever noticed some homes have sparkling clean windows? It's not magic, just follow these steps.

1. Make a cleaning solution by mixing two teaspoons liquid dish soap with five gallons of lukewarm water. If the windows aren't too dirty, skip the soap and just use lukewarm water.
2. Remove the screen and brush the inside and outside surfaces with a household brush. You don't want to put dirty screens on clean windows.
3. Clean the windowsills and frames to prevent dirtying freshly-washed window panes. Vacuum and then wipe down with a solution of mild detergent and warm water.
4. Using a strip washer or a cellulose sponge, clean the entire window with your cleaning solution using a back-and-forth motion. Don't use too much solution, as there's no reason to wipe up more than you need to or create a dripping mess.
5. Squeegee the window dry by pulling it across the top of the window first, then down to nearly the bottom, wiping the squeegee dry between strokes. Continue doing this with overlapping strokes and finish by pulling the squeegee across the bottom of the window.

Other Tips:

• Water spots can be removed by scrubbing the pane gently with steel wool (fine grade) or using a razor blade. Wet the surface first, then scrape in one direction to avoid scratches.
• To clean mirrors, spray the cleaner on your cloth rather than directly on the mirror.
• To quickly clean a few indoor windows, use a tight-knit cloth that has been soaked in white vinegar or non-streaking ammonia.
• Newspaper is over-rated for drying windows. Use a squeegee or tight-knit towels that don't leave behind lint. Also, avoid paper towels, which create a static charge and attract dust.
• Wash the windows in the morning to help prevent streaking.

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Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume.
-- Jean de Boufflers

Wine 101

Other than trying a wine or getting a positive recommendation from a friend with similar taste in wine, it can be challenging to discover a new wine without the risk of disappointment. Several rating systems are available to help you along. While ratings are useful, they are subjective. So, if you are interested in a wine with a good rating, you may want to read the notes to see what produced the score. Following are a three popular systems, though there are many more.

• The Wine Advocate Rating System - This well-respected system was developed by Robert Parker and employs a 50-to-100-point quality scale. Points are awarded for color, appearance, aroma, bouquet, flavor, finish and overall quality or potential for improvement (aging). Wines rated 50 to 59 are deemed unacceptable; 60 to 69 below average; 70 to 79 average; 80 to 89 barely above average to very good; 90 to 95 outstanding; and 96 to 100 extraordinary.
• Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - This bimonthly subscription-only service gives you access to Stephen Tanzer's tasting notes dating back eight years and covering thousands of wines. Wines are scored relative to their peer group based on their expected quality during their period of peak drinkability. Wines rated 90 or better are highly recommended; wines rated at least 85 are recommended bottles that should provide pleasurable drinking; 80 to 84 good; 75 to 79 average; 70 to 74 below average; avoid wines with scores 70 or below.
• The Winespider Evaluation System - Nick Chlebnikowski of Nicks Wine Merchants/Vintage Direct designed the Winespider system in response to dissatisfaction with other rating scales. The Winespider rates four fundamental attributes: sight (colour, viscosity, brilliance, depth); nose (aroma, faults, variety, intensity); palate (complexity, concentration, fruit, length); finish (aftertaste, balance, tannin/phenolics, acid). Up to 10 points are awarded in 16 categories which produces a graph; the better the wine, the more circular the graph. Unlike other systems, you need to be able to view the graphs, as a wine may score high pointwise but be seriously lacking in some important aspect. Winespider is also a subscriber-based service.

I saw the angel in the
marble and carved until I
set him free.
-- Michelangelo

Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) Lyndon Johnson had a famous pair of beagles. What were their names?
a.) Spot and Rover
b.) Commander and Chief
c.) Spot and Rover
d.) Him and Her

Question 2.) Under which Chinese dynasty were the Opium Wars fought?
a.) Yuan dynasty
b.) Liao dynasty
c.) Qing dynasty
d.) Ming dynasty

Question 3.) Which sea route runs along the southern tip of Chile, first navigated in 1520?
a.) The Panama Canal
b.) The English Channel
c.) The Strait of Magellan
d.) The Straits of Gibraltar

Question 4.) What was the name of John F. Kennedy's family cat?
a.) Tom Kitten
b.) Jackie
c.) Kitten Mitten
d.) Honey Fitz

Question 5.) Romance author Nora Roberts also writes mysteries that take place in the future under what pen name?
a.) Mary Roberts
b.) J.D. Robb
c.) Jane Higgins
d.) Nora Robb

TOP | ANSWERS

I had the blues because
I had no shoes until upon
the street, I met a man
who had no feet.
-- Ancient Persian Saying

No Pain, No Gain

We've all heard the mantra, "no pain, no gain." But is it true? Following are a few things to help you determine if your exercise program is working for you.

To be clear, most exercise should not hurt. If you are just beginning an exercise routine, there will be discomfort, but you should not feel pain. Discomfort and pain are not the same thing. If you feel pain, you have probably suffered an injury.

Soreness, on the other hand, is a part of exercising, especially for newbies. If you get so sore you can barely move, back off a bit the next few workouts; however, do not skip them. Soon your muscles will recover and you'll be able to increase the intensity of your workout. Conversely, you should be a little sore, or you aren't pushing yourself hard enough.

Another thing you may notice is a drop in energy, or an increase in appetite. This is expected as you have changed your activity level. Within a month or so your body will adapt and you should start to have more energy than you did before you started exercising. If your energy level does not improve after a few weeks, consult a health professional to help determine what changes should be made.

Lastly, you don't have to sweat like a horse to have a good workout, but not sweating at all may indicate you could be exercising harder and need to step it up a notch. A possible exception to this is resistance training where you're not as likely to work up a sweat.

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April Movie Releases

• April 4
  • Leatherheads
  • Nim's Island
  • The Ruins
  • Shine a Light
• April 11
  • Street Kings
  • Prom Night
• April 18
  • 88 Minutes
  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall
  • Forbidden Kingdom
• April 25
  • Baby Mama
  • Deception

*Wide releases only. Opening dates subject to change.

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It's never safe to be nostalgic about something until you're absolutely certain there's no chance of its coming back.
-- Bill Vaughn

Carnitas-Style Grilled Beef Tacos

As the weather warms up, it's time to break out the grill and spice up your evening with this classic Mexican meal.

Ingredients - Serves 6

• 4 beef shoulder top blade steaks -- about 8 oz. each
• 18 small corn tortillas -- 6 to 7 inch diameter

Marinade

• 1 cup prepared tomatillo salsa
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Avocado Salsa

• 1-1/2 cups prepared tomatillo salsa
• 1 large diced avocado
• 2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup minced white onion
• 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions

1. Combine marinade ingredients in bowl. Place beef steaks and marinade in food-safe plastic bag; turn steaks to coat. Marinate in refrigerator 30 to 120 minutes.
2. Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Place steaks on grill over medium heat. Grill covered 10 to 14 minutes for medium rare to medium doneness, turning once.
3. Meanwhile combine avocado salsa ingredients in medium bowl. Set aside.
4. Place tortillas on grid. Grill until warm and slightly charred. Remove; keep warm.
5. Carve steaks into slices. Serve in tortillas with avocado salsa. Top with onion, cilantro and lime wedges, as desired.

Wine Pairing

• Château Tour de Goupin Red 2005

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Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man
and the universe.
-- Anatole France

The Wi-Fi FreeSpot Directory Keeps You Wired

Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, it's becoming increasingly important to stay connected. The Wi-Fi-FreeSpot™ Directory helps you do just that by listing locations that offer free Wi-Fi. U.S. state-by-state listings come first with Europe and other regions of the world listed later. In addition to the main state-by-state listings are several specialty listing pages.

• Companies with multiple locations with free Wi-Fi
• Airports with free Wi-Fi
• Hotels, motels, and resorts with national and regional chains with free Wi-Fi
• RV parks and campgrounds with free Wi-Fi
• Vacation rental properties with free Wi-Fi

Check it out at: www.wififreespot.com.

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Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.
-- Carl G. Jung

Watch and Control Your TV with Your Laptop

The Slingbox™ SOLO allows you to watch and control your favorite TV source -- including your HD content -- from anywhere in the world on your laptop or cell phone. So now you can watch your DVR, digital cable, satellite receiver, or DVD player wherever you see fit. With the Slingbox SOLO, you can watch your favorite TV shows and sporting events from anywhere. Available online for $179.99

Check it out at: www.slingmedia.com.

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Anyone who stops
learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.
-- Henry Ford

Cool/Free/Fun/Trendy: Expert Village

Expert Village claims to be the world's largest how-to video site with more than 80,000 videos on learning just about anything from cooking a turkey and self-defense techniques to playing the guitar and mastering your golf swing.

Learn more at: www.expertvillage.com.

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Vocabulary: Arcane

Definition: [ar-KAYN] - 1.) Understood or known by only a few.

Example: Under Indonesia's arcane system of land tenure, disputes between local residents, and between locals and developers, are commonplace.

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This eNewsletter contains information, facts and opinions from various individuals and organizations. This eNewsletter is provided on an "as-is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. I/We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Consult with your doctor, fitness consultant, attorney, accountant, or other professional advisor when necessary. © 2008 eNewsletterSolutions.