- Real Estate Update
- Home & Family
- Buyers & Seller's Corner
- Home Improvement
- Wine 101
- Trivia Challenge
- Wine Trivia Challenge
- Health & Fitness
- New Movie Releases
- Recipe of the Month
- Travel Tips
- Technology Corner
- Cool/Free/Fun/Trendy
- Word of the Month

November 2007

4 -- Daylight Saving's Time Ends
6 -- Election Day
11 -- Veteran's Day
13 -- Young Reader's Day
22 -- Thanksgiving Day
24 -- Full Moon Day

Get your facts first, and
then you can distort them
as much as you please.
-- Mark Twain

Conditions in Mortgage Market Improving

According to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®, conditions in the mortgage market are improving for consumers, which should help to release some pent-up demand in early 2008.

“Conforming loans are abundantly available at historically favorable mortgage rates," said Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, noting that widening credit availability will help turn around home sales.

“Although sales are off from an unsustainable peak in 2005, there is a historically high level of home sales taking place this year, a lot of people are, in fact, buying homes,” said Yun. “One out of 16 American households is buying a home this year. The speculative excesses have been removed from the market and home sales are returning to fundamentally healthy levels, while prices remain near record highs, reflecting favorable mortgage rates and positive job gains.”

The 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is expected to average 6.4 percent for the next two quarters and then edge up to the 6.6-percent range in the second half of 2008, the report said.

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The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.
-- Harold B. Lee

Winter Is a Good Time to Enjoy the Movies

As the weather grows colder and outdoor activities become less appealing, suddenly "the movies" start looking good. Though, in some areas, movies have become expensive, especially if you're taking the family. Here are some tips to help you save a few bucks.

• Concessions -- Theaters make money from selling popcorn, candy and soda; they can cost more than the admission tickets. Instead, go out for a fun lunch or dinner before the movie. Munchies aren't as appealing on a full stomach. Buy the super-size popcorn or soda and share it if necessary.
• Matinees -- Many movie theaters offer a discount for movies during the afternoon. Be sure to call first to check the times, some stop discounting after 3 p.m. and others may not offer discounts on weekends.
• Local Dollar Theaters -- Some cities still have a "dollar theater" or "second-run theater" where they play older movies at discount prices.
• Movie Theater vs. Home Movie -- Let's face it: Some movies aren't any better in the theater. Learn what the movie is about and decide whether it's worth seeing on the big screen. Keep in mind the cost of renting one movie is less expensive than one just one ticket.
• Discounts & Coupons -- Check your local newspaper or coupon book for discount coupons. Many theatres offer AAA members discounts too.
• Purchasing Videos -- Most video rental stores sell previously-viewed movies at reasonable prices, some for under a buck. It's definitely worth buying children's movies, even if you pay full price, because they'll watch them over and over again.
• Discount Movies -- Online sites, such as half.com by ebay, offer a decent selection of movies at discounted prices.
• Libraries and Churches -- Most libraries and many churches will let you check out a movie, just like a book, for free. You may be pleasantly surprised at the titles.
• Family & Friends -- After someone tells you what a great move they saw, ask if you can borrow it. Be sure to return it promptly with a thank you gift (bag of popcorn) and return the favor.

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The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him.
-- Henry Stimson

Make Home Repairs Before Listing

Most home sellers are aware that there's a lot of competition on the market right now. And, most buyer's know they have a lot of choices. So, what can a home owner do to get an edge?

Try this: Have your home inspected and all repairs made prior to putting it on the market. If your home is already in great condition, the cost will be minimal. If your home needs a lot of work, you would probably have to make the repairs anyway or discount the price to engage the buyer. A pre-inspected home in good repair could pay off with a higher asking price and quicker sale.

Believe it or not, when a buyer has two comparable homes that meet his needs and desires, the home that doesn't need any work will probably win out. After all, who wants to move into a new house and have to fix a broken window or repair the cracked toilet?

Keep the report handy to show potential buyers what has already been done. Chances are they'll still get their own home inspection, but knowing in advance the home has been "cleared" makes it easier to make a fair offer and more difficult to make a low-ball "this-home-needs-a-lot-of-work" offer.

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To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
-- Thomas A. Edison

7 Tips on Winterizing Your Yard & Garden

1. Clean Up -- Cut down and remove annuals and vegetables. After the first hard frost, cut back faded or dead foliage on perennials. Never compost diseased or pest-infested plants and remove dead plants and debris immediately to avoid insects and disease the following spring.
2. Mow -- Rake the leaves up and bag or compost. Pull all weeds before mowing the grass for the last time of the year. Spread mulch around trees and shrubs to protect them.
3. Evergreens -- Give them a good watering and spray them with antidesiccants before the ground freezes. If it isn't raining, continue to water them weekly until the air temperature reaches freezing. You should protect your evergreens from wind damage by erecting a screen of burlap stapled to wood stakes if you don't want to spray them with an antidesiccant product.
4. Perennial Bed -- Cut back the plants for neatness and disease control. Leave a few inches of stem to hold snow for winter protection and cover tender perennials as soon as the ground begins to freeze.
5. Cover Up -- Cover any containers that will remain outdoors to prevent them from filling with water, freezing, and cracking. Clean terra-cotta pots and other containers before storing them in the garage or shed.
6. Put Away -- After you have finished winterizing, roll up and store your hoses, turn off outdoor taps, and take some time to clean, oil and sharpen any tools before stowage.
7. Mark It -- If you live in an area that snows, you may want to mark tree stumps, posts, fallen branches and other items that will get covered by the snow and become a hazard.

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It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
-- Abraham Lincoln

Wine 101

In October we covered Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Following are three other well-known varietals.

1. Syrah / Shiraz -- Wines made from Shiraz are often full-bodied with strong tannins and complex combinations of flavors including berry, plum and smoke. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries, chocolate, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called typical though blackberry and pepper are often noted. It is called Syrah in France, Argentina, Chile and the United States, and Shiraz In South Africa, Australia and Canada. Winemakers may choose one name over the other to signify a stylistic difference in the wine they have made. Shiraz is widely used to make a dry red table wine, though it is often vinified on its own. It is also frequently blended with other grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. It is grown in many wine-producing regions around the world, with concentrations in Australia, the Rhone Valley in France and the U.S. In addition, it is used as a blending grape in Spain and Italy.
2. Petite Sirah -- Petite Sirah, a synonym for Durif, is a variety of red wine grape mostly grown in California and Australia. Petite Sirah produces dark, inky-colored wines with firm texture and robust, tannic tastes -- often with spicy, plumy or peppery flavors. The "petite" in the name refers to the size of its berries and not the vine, which is particularly vigorous. The wines are very tannic with aging ability that can exceed 20 years. Petite Sirahs may complement meals with rich meats.
3. Merlot -- Merlot is a red wine with medium to full body and hints of berry, plum and currant. Merlot's softness, combined with its earlier ripening, make it an ideal grape to blend with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. This flexibility has helped make it one of the most popular red wine varietals in the United States and Chile. Merlot is primarily produced in France, Italy, California and Romania, but it is also grown on a smaller scale in about another dozen regions. Merlot grapes are identified by their loose bunches of large berries. The color has less of a blue-black hue than Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and with a thinner skin, the grapes also have fewer tannins. And yes, there is such a thing as White Merlot, which is made the same way as the more popular White Zinfandel.

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History will be kind to me
for I intend to write it.
-- Sir Winston Churchill

Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) What does the word "karate" mean?
a.) Mental strength
b.) Power within
c.) Concentrated power
d.) Empty hand

Question 2.) What is someone who practices anthropophagi?
a.) A necrophiliac
b.) A perpetual student
c.) A cannibal
d.) A recycler

Question 3.) What are the ridges on the side of a coin are called?
a.) Ridges
b.) Reeding
c.) Striping
d.) Linnets

Question 4.) How long is a fortnight?
a.) 40 nights
b.) 14 nights
c.) 1 lunar month
d.) 1 calendar month

Question 5.) Which nation is larger than Canada?
a.) United States
b.) China
c.) Russia
d.) South Africa

TOP | ANSWERS

Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment.
-- Baltasar Gracian

Wine Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) What word describes the taste left on the palate after the wine has been swallowed?
a.) After taste
b.) Bouquet
c.) Fragrance
d.) Balm

Question 2.) Which term is used to describe an undeveloped wine, one not ready to drink?
a.) Timid
b.) Hesitant
c.) Modest
d.) Backward

Question 3.) A wine is said to have balance when it has a harmonious combination of which attributes?
a.) Tannin, acidity, texture and bouquet
b.) Tannin, acidity, flavor and texture
c.) Acidity, texture, body and flavor
d.) Texture, acidity and flavor

Question 4.) A tasting term used to describe a wine with very little or no aroma or flavor?
a.) Confined
b.) Chambered
c.) Closed
d.) Restricted

Question 5.) In Australia, a 300-litre barrel is known as what?
a.) A hogshead
b.) A giant joey
c.) A king's keg
d.) A Brit's barrel

TOP | ANSWERS

Nothing’s better than the
wind to your back, the sun
in front of you, and your friends beside you.
-- Aaron Douglas Trimble

4 Tips to Keep Diet & Fitness More Exciting

The bottom line is that if you want to build and maintain a healthy body, you must make your exercise and diet plan exciting and worthwhile. Following are four tips to keep you interested.

1. Reward Yourself -- The rewards should be small, but something you like, such as a small piece of chocolate or a handful of peanuts or raisins. Once in awhile, reward yourself with a half bagel or muffin, a slice of pizza or a glass of wine. You don't have to deprive yourself of the foods you love; but, you should use them as a reward and in small portions.

2. Record Your Workout -- Keep track of your daily workout and and give yourself a "gold star" every time you beat your last effort. Whether it's more weight, more reps, a faster time or a longer distance, keep track and challenge yourself to do better. If you continuously achieve your goals, reward yourself with a new bike, a dinner out or a mini-vacation (or whatever you think is worth working toward).

3. Make It Fun -- If you do the treadmill seven days a week, you probably won't last long. Spice up your routine by adding a fun and healthy activity at least once a week. Go for a walk, go jogging, hiking, biking or swimming. Play soccer or basketball with the kids. Try kayaking, weightlifting or take up golf or tennis. If it's fun, you're apt to do it again and again.

4. Learn -- Listen to books on tape or watch an instructional video on something that interests you. Just think, while you're getting in shape you could be learning a new language or how to kayak.

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November Movie Releases

• Nov. 2
  • American Gangster
  • Bee Movie
  • Martian Child
• Nov. 9
  • Fred Claus
  • Lions for Lambs
  • P2
• Nov. 16
• Beowulf
• Love in the Time of Cholera
• Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
• Nov. 21
• August Rush
• Christmas in Wonderland
• Enchanted
• Hitman
• Stephen King's The Mist
• This Christmas
• Nov. 30
  • Awake
  • Thomas Kinkade's Home for Christmas

*Wide releases only. Opening dates subject to change.

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Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you, and be silent.
-- Epictetus

Pork Chops with Apples and Sweet Potatoes

November doesn't have to be all about turkey. Try this simple-to-prepare meal; it's tasty.

Ingredients -- Serves 4

• 4 pork chops
• 2 onions -- sliced into rings
• 2 sweet potatoes -- sliced
• 2 apples -- peeled, cored, and sliced into rings
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Season pork chops with salt and pepper to taste and arrange in a medium, oven-safe skillet. Top pork chops with onions, sweet potatoes and apples. Sprinkle with brown sugar and season with 2 teaspoons pepper and 1 teaspoon salt.
3. Cover and bake 1 hour in preheated oven until sweet potatoes are tender and pork chops have reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.

Wine Pairing

• 2004 Metairie Merlot Les Oliviers

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Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
-- Andre Gide

Save Money the Next Time You Travel

Just because you're going on vacation doesn't mean you have to pay though the nose for everything. Before you reserve your next trip, consider checking out the Entertainment Book online to see if they offer a coupon book in your destination city.

The Entertainment Book has coupons with up to 50 percent discounts and 2-for-1 deals at local restaurants, shops, attractions and sporting events. And with the included membership card, you can save on hotels, movie theatres, car rentals, airline tickets and dozens of other businesses.

There are more than 160 local Entertainment editions, covering most major cities throughout North America; Hawaii has a multi-island book. Prices range from $25 to $45 -- so you can see the book will easily pay for itself by only using it a few times.

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There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance.
-- Hippocrates

Wireless Remote-Controlled Camera

The Hammacher Schlemmer remote-controlled surveillance camera pans and tilts at the touch of a button for a range of motion not common in lesser cameras. In addition, it sends clear images and audio to the LCD on the handheld remote, allowing real-time monitoring up to 330 feet.

The camera pans 210 degrees and tilts 63 degrees for an optimal field-of-view. The remote's 2.5-inch thin film transistor LCD has 480 x 234 resolution -- and infrared LEDs in the camera allow night-time observation up to 16 feet. A 2.4 GHz wireless signal operates on three different channels, minimizing interference, and the device includes an AV cable for connecting to a television. The camera can be found online for around $250 at www.hammacher.com.

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When the character of a
man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
-- Japanese Proverb

Cool/Free/Fun/Trendy: Online Courses

Study anthropology or the history of jazz, gain new skills related to your job, learn a new language, or just study subjects that interest you -- all for FREE -- online. Some of the courses offer podcasts, MP3s, videos, resources and downloadable courseware.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Offers most of its undergrad and graduate programs at: http://ocw.mit.edu.
• University of Washington -- Offers several courses at: http://extension.washington.edu/openuw.
• BBC Languages: Learn French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese and other languages at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages.
• Covenant Seminary -- Study theology at: http://covenantseminary.edu/worldwide.
• John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Heath -- Offers opencourseware on public health at: http://ocw.jhsph.edu.
• The University of Nebraska -- Offers economic studies at: http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu/teachsug.htm.

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Vocabulary: Ostracize

Definition: [OS-truh-syz] - 1. To banish or expel from a community or group; to cast out from social, political, or private favor. 2. [Greek Antiquity] To exile by ostracism; to banish by a popular vote, as at Athens.

Example: The mayor called on city council members to unite in an effort to eradicate terrorism and to ostracize those that refuse to join.

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Trivia Answers
#1. a.) Empty hand; #2. c.) A cannibal; #3. b.) Reeding; #4. b.) 14 nights; #5. c.) Russia

Wine Trivia Answers
#1. a.) After taste; #2. d.) Backward; #3. b.) Tannin, acidity, flavor and texture; #4. c.) Closed; #5. a.) A hogshead

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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, realtor, or other professional advisor when necessary.