This is George the pot bellied pig. He comes to the Palm Springs street fair every Thursday and many people take pictures of this guy. Just before I took this picture, a group of people sat down beside him for a picture. He was very happy with all of the attention. He oinked happily with pleasure at all of the attention. The Palm Springs street fare takes place every Thursday and thousands of people attend every week. The street is blocked off for 8 to 10 blocks. Both sides are lined with booths of all types. As a result it is a very popular event and well attended.

George The Pot Bellied Pig

There were so many people on this particular night that we could hardly move with everyone browsing and chatting on the street. There are all kinds of food vendors, vegetable vendors, clothing, jewelry and many arts and crafts. As a result there is lots to enjoy in addition to seeing this pot bellied pig. Of course George is there every week enjoying the crowds and having his picture taken.

Subsequently updating this post a few years after it was first written, we sadly have to report that George is not at his usual spot any longer. Perhaps he has gone to hog heaven or perhaps his owner can no longer bring him to the street fair. If anyone knows what happened, please leave us a comment regarding George The Pot Bellied Pig. Hence he was one of the many attractions that come and go at the street fair.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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Bullhead city on the Colorado River is a small city in the north western part of Arizona long the Colorado River and just across the river from Laughlin, Nevada. It is a nice little town with all of the services that one might need while spending the winter away from the cold, snow and ice of the northern winters.

One interesting fact about Bullhead is that it is on Mountain Time and just across the river in Nevada, they are on Pacific Time, a one hour difference. Many people live in Arizona in the city of Bullhead and work in Laughlin in one of the casinos just across the river and must keep track of the one hour time zone difference.

Bullhead City on the Colorado

Winter Time Temperatures

Bullhead is a great place to spend the winter. Of course they will get some cool temperatures; however we have been there for a couple of weeks in January and experienced temperatures in the 80’s during the day and cool 50’s at night. They get well over 300 days of sun in a year, so you are pretty much guaranteed to have sunshine on your vacation. There are quite a few condo’s to rent, however there seems to be much more locations which cater to RV’s and trailers for people who move around and live in their trailers for the winter.

Summer Time Temperatures

We have not been there in the summer time, however we are told that the temperatures are routinely well into the 100’s and that there are literally hundreds of boats and sea do’s out on the water along the Colorado River. We also have seen people swimming in the Colorado in March, however there are a couple of things to keep in mind when you swim in the Colorado River at this location.

First of all this is a very fast flowing river and anyone swimming must keep in mind that they can lose their footing and be carried away by the current. Secondly the water is very cold. It is fed by melting snow up in the mountains and the water is ice cold. Anyone swimming will experience hypothermia very quickly so it can be very dangerous even for strong swimmers.

No Gambling in Bullhead

There are no casinos in Bullhead. You have to go across the river to Laughlin to play in the casinos. Fortunately there are several bridges from the Bullhead side to the Nevada side that will take you across to Laughlin and to a point several miles south of Laughlin. Patrons of the casinos can also take a free water taxi across the river to Don Laughlin’s casino. There is free parking on the Arizona side of the river and both tourists as well as people working at the casinos will take the water taxi back and forth to the Laughlin side of the river.

Tourists can also take a water taxi from several of the water front condos over to the casinos. They can also take a water taxi from one casino to another one along the river. There is a small charge per person for the water taxi and it is a neat thing to do once and awhile to get out on the river if you do not have access to a boat.

RV & Trailer Parks

Parks abound for people who are spending the winter in their trailers traveling around the south-west in both Laughlin and Bullhead. There are large RV parks within walking distance of the casinos on the Laughlin side of the Colorado River and also in Bullhead.

Even the casinos have set aside parking space for trailers with no hook ups for patrons to spend a few nights. There are no hookups so you see people with generators and solar panels to generate electricity for their trailers and RV’s. This is not my idea of a vacation; however this is a great place to stop over for a few days without having to pay hookup fees for your RV or Trailer.

Every year we go to Laughlin and stay in one of the casino hotels. We go to Bullhead to fill up with gas and do our laundry. It is cheaper; there are fewer taxes on the Arizona side. We gill up with gas at a gas station called Terribles were you can get your oil changed for $29 and this comes with a free car wash. Gas is always cheaper on the Arizona side. For more posts about Bullhead and Arizona, click here.

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The best time to go white water rafting in most locations is early to mid spring once the ice has left the rivers. The spring runoff is just beginning. The snow in the mountains is beginning to melt. The rivers are higher than they will be in the summer providing roiling rapids that provide fantastic river rides. Book early for an exhilarating ride with one of the river guide companies. If this is your first time river rafting you may want to wait until the water is a little calmer before you go. In some locations you can watch from shore and gauge just what the rafting trip will be like.

Tourists who prefer a more laid back approach to white water rafting can wait until the weather warms. The rivers are calmer and the flowers have begun to grow. At this time of year the water is lower, there are calm sections to the rivers were you can relax and enjoy the scenery. At the same time go through rapids at various stages that will provide a white water ride to remember. These rides are more suitable for families with young and older children enjoying the outdoors.

Warm Weather White Water Rafting

When the weather is warm, ,many people also enjoy overnight camping excursions as well that are part of the white water rapid trips that many outfitters offer. For more details always check with a number of outfitters to find the best trips, the best whitewater services and the most exhilarating trips.

If you have your own rafting or canoe, always check the conditions before you go and make sure that these conditions match your equipment and your skill level. The best way to get into trouble on the river is to not be prepared and to not know how to handle your canoe or raft on the river. Make sure that you have all of the safety equipment that is needed for your trip.

In the spring time and on mountain streams even in the summer time when water is from snow melt, the water can be very cold. A few minutes in the water can give you hypothermia and people have died very quickly as a result. If you do go white water rafting on cold water rivers, always have the proper gear including wet suits if you think there is a remote chance of ending up in the water. One river guide told us that he had several people die on him due to hypothermia because they did not listen and went for a swim in the water at night without telling anyone or even wearing a life jacket!

What an outstanding picture of the display of Marilyn Monroe! Marilyn in Palm Springs! This is in downtown Palm Springs and attracting a lot of visitors along with their cameras. Just across the street from Starbucks, you cannot miss Marilyn in that famous striking pose that she is known all over the world for. Everyday, hundreds of tourists pause to have their picture taken with Marilyn. Even tall men or women do not even come up to her knees.

She is apparently 26 feet high, although the writer feels that she is closer to 30 feet high. There have not been many women that have matched her beauty and her figure. She has never been matched either previously or since she came on the scene. There is no actress as beautiful and voluptuous as Marilyn was. She will be well known for many years.

Marilyn in Palm Springs

Unfortunately, Marilyn is no longer in Palm Springs. She was here for a year and they are trying to get her back, but nothing to report just yet.

Since Marilyn was in Palm Springs, they have torn down the old mall and they are in the process of building several new boutique hotels and stores. This is really a major upgrade for Palm Springs and the downtown core. Perhaps there will be Marilyn in Palm Springs once again.

The Palm Springs street fair takes place every Thursday bhttp://gccihome.com/travel/category/palm-springs-california/palm-springs-posts/eginning at 5 pm. We just got back and there are literally thousands of people who go to the street fair every Thursday evening. There are all kinds of cooked foods available, vegetables, dates tomatoes, peanuts and then there is every kind of art works, crafts, jewelry and so on. There seems to be something for everyone.

For more information about the Palm Springs area, click here.

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Puerta Vallarta vacations are offered by many different companies with an assortment of hotels, condos and single family homes. Before you book, check out the place you will be staying as much as possible. This is to ensure that it is going to meet your needs. They all have something to offer that will appeal to people on vacation. But not every place appeals to every person. Cleanliness, proximity to the beach, nearness to down town are just a few of the criteria that people use to pick a location for a vacation in Puerto Vallarta.

Location is everything in Puerto Vallarta, just like everywhere else. You can stay downtown in Puerto Vallarta. Experience the hustle and bustle of everyday life 24 hours a day in the city. For us it is the constant roar of the buses that rumble through town on their hourly runs, blowing exhaust and scaring anyone who goes near the road. A few blocks away from the main street area, it is quiet and peaceful.

Marina at Puerta Vallarta Vacations

Out in the marina area of Puerto Vallarta, there is golf, there are the beaches and several restaurants. If you need to go anywhere including down town, you must either drive or take one of the previous mentioned buses. Once you get used to them they are not bad, and they are quite inexpensive, especially if you use them everyday like we did.

There are also buses that can be taken to the surrounding towns. They run a little less often and they are more comfortable. For us this was the simplest and least expensive way to get around Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding areas. We stayed in the marina area and took a bus somewhere almost every day.

Riding the Buses

One small practical tip about riding the buses is that you should note the direction that the bus is going and which side the sun is shining on. Sit on the opposite side to avoid being roasted by the heat of the sun. This happened to us. All of the locals were sitting on the shaded side and all of the empty seats were on the other side. We endured an hour bus ride in the hot sun. We enjoyed our trip, but that part of it was not a lot of fun.

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We had lunch with friends at Las Casuelas Nuevo today. They had invited us for lunch and we were happy to accept their offer at this Mexican restaurant. It is actually located in Rancho Mirage and there is a sister restaurant in Palm Springs.

The good was pretty good and the drinks also. We had a fajita and our friends had an enchilada. Both meals were the usual great Mexican food that we love to enjoy. We also enjoyed a grande margarita made from a really good tequila.

Las Casuelas Nuevo

We sat outside on the patio with shade trees to protect us from the sun. This is a really nice quaint restaurant that takes you out of Palm Springs and places you in a small town in Mexico without ever leaving the United States or Palm Springs California. There is lots of character at this location and you are protected from the hot sun as well. With the trees, shade, and mist during the hot months, this is a really great place to spend some time and have a nice Mexican style meal.

At the entrance, there is this beautiful fountain to welcome you and provide a traffic circle. All in all, not a bad spot to enjoy brunch or dinner. For more information about restaurants in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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Just had a stone chip repaired on my car’s windshield. The shop I went to was Safelite Autoglass Repair. I know it was a Monday morning, but they took me in at 9:00 am and I was finished 20 minutes later! This is the third time I used their services and I have been more than satisfied each time. They offer great service and each time, I was able to have my car serviced within 30 minutes of arriving at their facility.

I choose to go into their repair depot, but for $20 more I could have had their Safelite service at my location. Talk about service!

Safelite Autoglass Repair

This repair is under warranty for as long as I own the car and if the windshield cracks, they will subtract the cost of the original repair from the cost of the new windshield. Coverage is across the US in all states and also in Canada at companies displaying the Safelite logo.  The warranty is excellent. We have used this service multiple times we are more than satisfied with this company and their service.

If you are Canadian a new windshield is going to cost $850 in Canada. While in Palm Springs where these repairs were done, the cost is $247! Go figure! They are located at 1243 N GENE AUTRY TRAIL PALM SPRINGS CA 92262.
Tel. 760-779-5583

For more general travel stuff, click here.

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We had dinner at the Kaiser Grill again this year in Palm Springs with some friends and as usual the service and meals were excellent. It was on a Saturday evening and the restaurant, in fact all of the area restaurants are very busy. We were fortunate to have a table on the patio close to the sidewalk. We could also people watch as we enjoyed our meals. Around 7pm they turned on the overhead heaters just to take the chill off the night air. These heaters are really great and provide a comfortable environment.

Palm Springs Kaiser Grill

We enjoyed pizza, Caesar salads, penne pasta, grilled salmon and several appetizers. With such a broad order and a busy night, Saturday, all of our food arrived on time and all of it was hot!

In addition it tasted great too! We have never been disappointed by this restaurant. We also enjoy sitting at the bar for happy hour were the prices are reduced. The food is also great. Happy hour is served only at the bar, inside at the high tables and the side patio. The front patio is reserved for patrons who are dining and paying full price. The Palm Springs Kaiser Grill is a great place to dine and we recommend it. As a result we will be going back their soon.

For more Palm Springs Restaurant reviews, click here.

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Ever wanted to see Marilyn Monroe ? Well now you can in Palm Springs! Her stay in Palm Springs apparently has been extended to the end of the year for 2013. The Palm Springs council is trying to have Marilyn become a permanent resident of the city. As a result they managed to hold on to her until April of 2014. She was dismantled and shipped to New jersey to be placed on display there. She really adds a great deal to the downtown area. As a result it is one of the most photographed locations in the city. Hence Palm Springs will miss her and we hope they can return her to Palm Springs some day soon.

Palm Springs Marilynn

This image or statue of Marilyn is 26 feet high and shows her in that famous pose holding her dress in place. Thousands of tourists have their pictures taken every day with Marilyn. They only come up to her knees! Day or night she still takes a great picture. As a result both kids and adults are enjoying her stay in Palm Springs.

This one was taken at night with my iPhone 5. Which I think did a great job considering it was so dark.  She was located downtown across the street from Starbucks and beside the old mall. Which is being renovated. There is a new hotel going in and there are more shops and restaurants being added as well. All of this should be completed by the end of 2014 or early 2015. Palm Springs is attempting to revitalize the down town are and create or compete with Palm Desert. In addition they also want to compete with some of the other desert valley towns. This is really considered the ist phase of the development and should greatly improve the city. Returning Palm Springs Marilynn will also add to the cities attractions and bring many people down town to shops and restaurants.

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The women in this picture is wired up for a sleep study at a sleep clinic which is specifically equipped to study how we sleep at night and how well we sleep. Having gone through one of these sleep studies, the writer can tell you that although it is a bit intimidating with all the wires, it is well worth the effort. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, this can be one of the reasons for a sleep study; however there are other reasons that doctors will order this kind of study. In the writers case it was because I have a lot of allergies and I was suspected to have sleep apnea.

Reasons for a Sleep Study

Basically I was not sleeping well. I was very tired all of the time and could fall asleep almost any time that I closed my eyes, sitting up, lying down, in my office chair etc. On top of that the snoring was pretty bad and I think my spouse had had enough. After the sleep study it was confirmed that I had sleep apnea and that I should start using a CPAP machine. It was the best thing that I have done. I sleep very well now and I do not snore, thanks to my wife’s suggestion.

What Sensors are Connected During a Sleep Study

There are quite a few sensors connected during your sleep study. They are monitoring a variety of aspects which can interrupt your sleep as well as monitoring how well you sleep. They are as follows:

• Air intake to measure your actual breathing rhythm
• Sensors beside your eyes to measure eye movement and rem sleep
• Sensors on your head to measure brain activity
• Senor on your chin to measure whether you sleep with your mouth open or not
• Sensors on your chest to measure heart rate
• Sensors on your legs to measure how much you move your legs in the night
• Sensor on your finger to measure the oxygen levels in your blood

This can seem like a lot and you may wonder how you will ever get to sleep with all of this stuff on. But you do go to sleep and all they need is four hours of sleep to complete a sleep study. Most sleep apnea people are pretty tired anyway and have no trouble sleeping just about anywhere. One caution if you are going in for a sleep study. Do not have a coffee after three o’clock in the afternoon and do not bring one with you to the hospital. Apparently people do this and then wonder why they cannot sleep.

Results of Sleep Study

The results of the sleep study were pretty amazing and really they justify the reasons for a sleep study in the first place. During my study, I did stop breathing at various times due to sleep apnea. When this happens, you wake up partially so your sleep is disturbed and you do not get a good sleep especially if this occurs often enough. In addition, my oxygen level lowered to dangerous levels during this time frame and my heart also sped up to a very high level. Apparently your blood pressure also sky rockets during a sleep apnea episode; however they did not measure that. All of these things can contribute to a heart attack or a stroke or both! These are the primary reasons for a sleep study. All of us want to avoid having either a heart attack or a stroke.

During my sleep study, I actually did sleep, although not well due to my ongoing sleep apnea problems, they were able to collect all of the information they needed for the doctor to assess and make a recommendation for me regarding a CPAP machine.

Impact of Using a CPAP Machine

I now have one of these machines and it has made a wonderful difference in my life. I sleep well now. Also I do not snore, and the machine is so quiet that it does not bother me or my spouse. It also has a side effect in that it helps me breathe better when my allergies are bothering me. If you have or suspect that you have sleep apnea, I strongly recommend that you go for a sleep study. You will sleep much better. You will eat less since you will not need that burst of energy you normally look for from snacking food. That means getting control of your weight as well.

For more information about sleep studies and sleep issues, click here.

A test of blogging using my iPhone. You can really do a lot with an iPhone including maintaining your blogs while doing the laundry or other activities that involve waiting for something to complete. In this case, I was waiting for the dryer to finish its job, but just as easily could have been shopping with my wife and I could be blogging while I was waiting for her to make a decision on a pair of shoes or a new purse. This is a great tool for writing on blogs.

Writing on blogs

Just trying blogging using my new iPad mini! Works really great! If you are a blogger earning your income from your websites or just enjoy blogging, then the iPhone or the iPad, either the mini or the regular-sized version are great tools of the trade. There is a WordPress app for these devices that lets you monitor your blogs and makes the activity of reading comments, approving them, or deleting them an easy process. Users can trigger updates to the WordPress engine or the plugins that you use as well as update and create new posts.

I have only been using the iPhone for this purpose for the past two months to update my blogs. I really like the idea of being able to take a picture and have it on my blog within minutes. It is basically as soon as I can upload it to the blog.

If I do not have the time or are just not into it that day, I can also send an email to the blog with the picture and it will be posted on my blog as well. Now isn’t that neat? Well best be getting along now and doing some more blog posts and updates to my other posts.

For more general travel information, click here.

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It has been many years since we have dined at this restaurant called Mamma Theresa’s at the corner of Somerset and O’Connor streets in the city of Ottawa. It is located in a nice old building with lots of history and character. The building is old and if you enjoy this sort of thing is a great place to spend an afternoon. Or an evening  having a drink or going for dinner. When you walk in the main entrance you will find the dining room on the right. The bar area is on the left. We were there at lunch time in January. The place was almost empty so we expected really good service and food.

Mamma Theresa’s Restaurant – Review

Unfortunately it did not live up to its reputation. The service was fine and the servers were very attentive. After all they did not have to work too hard since there was only about 5 other tables that were occupied. This is a rather large restaurant which seats roughly twenty tables or so.

The food just did not live up to our original memories of the place or what you might expect of this kind of restaurant. We each had a lunch time meal of pasta, a salad, one beer and two glasses of wine. The bill with tip for lunch came to $70, an outrageous price for what we were served.  The pasta did not seem fresh and my wife ordered  pasta with cream sauce and she was served one with tomato sauce.

There is parking around the corner off of O’Connor street and also on the street if you can find a parking spot. You must feed the meter or risk a parking ticket. There is also parking in nearby parking lots were you need to surrender your keys to the attendant since the lots are usually so full.

Need less to say we will not be going back to this restaurant for many years. For more things to do in Ottawa, click here.

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These two pictures were taken just east of the parliament buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. on the Ottawa River. We were with some friends who have a boat that they moor at one of the marina’s on the river. We boated from this location up to the parliament buildings, back to the Gatineau river and up this river to the inlet that takes you to the Hull Casino at Lac Lemay.

Ottawa river

The casino has a boat dock so we went there and tied up the boat and headed into the casino. We had something to eat, gambled a bit and then headed back to the boat to go home. This was a really nice day and we won a little bit of money as well. Our friends wanted to be off the river before it got dark, otherwise we would have stayed at the casino for a little while longer.

The Ottawa river is a great river to go boating on. It is deep and wide and for the most part quite safe. You do need to pay attention to where you are going and look for shallow locations which are marked in most places. This can be a very fun way to spend a day out on the water. Many people also go fishing as well.

For more hiking related posts, click here.

It is common sense that a central vacuums are better for your health with the canister / motor located outside. They are better for your health and for your allergies than almost any other vacuum! Why is this, the case you ask? The traditional vacuum that you use today is only as good as the filter. It captures a percentage of the dust and dirt that finds its way into your home.

It will capture the larger particles with no problem. You routinely empty all the dirt into the trash can. However the finer particles will pass right through the filter and back into the air of your home. These fine particles consist of dirt, bacteria and viruses. Many people are allergic to these things and some of these can even make you sick. While they were on the floor and not being disturbed they really do not bother anyone. They are so small that you do not see them and you do not breathe them when they are at rest on the floor or furniture.

Once the vacuum stirs them up they are now in the air for you to breathe and ingest into your lungs. They can irritate the linings of the nose and throat and the lungs causing an allergic reaction among many people.

How Are Central Vacuums Different

Central vacuums are no different if the canister is located inside the home. They have an exhaust and will blow the fine particles around the house in the same way that the regular vacuum will. In fact they may be worse since many people will locate them in the utility area close to the furnace which will capture these particles and blow them throughout the house.

Consumers who locate the central vacuum outside in the garage will be doing themselves and their families a huge favor. Now all air is exhausted outside the living area of the home. Your garage may be a little dustier as a result; however this is far superior to having any of these particles inside your home. Now all dust, bacteria, mites and viruses are not longer suspended in the air of your home. They are outside in your garage. Some homeowners will even open the garage door to allow better circulation of fresh air.

One work of caution, do not locate the canister for the central vacuum close to the fresh air vent for the furnace or air exchange system. Most are not in the garage; however we thought that this point should be included for obvious reasons.

Other Advantages of a Central Vacuum in Addition to being Better for Your Health

No one likes to dust furniture. We all have to dust furniture all of the time, since no matter what we do, there always seems to be a fine layer of dust that settles out of the air onto the furniture. This is partially some of the dust that passes through your vacuums dust bag into the air inside your home.

By exhausting the exhaust air from your central vacuum located in the garage, there will be much less dust particles in your home and the amount of dusting you need to do will be vastly decreased. The same is true for all cleaning that is needed on a regular basis.

Central vacuum hoses are covered with a cloth bag so that they will not mark the furniture as you drag it about the house while doing your vacuuming. Central vacuum hoses are also lighter and easier to move around your home compared to the large traditional vacuums.

Why Did we Include this Topic on a Diet Site

We strongly feel that diet, allergies, and tiredness from not sleeping due to allergies are all related. If you are tired all of the time, the tendency is to eat to replace the energy you do not have. People eat high sugar foods to give them that instant energy hit. It helps them get you through the day. If you can reduce the dust by using a central vacuum there is a better chance of getting a good night’s sleep. Hence as a  result eating much less.

The more we investigate all of these topics related to diet, we are finding that there is a link and we want people to be aware of these links and topics. For more information about allergies, click here.

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This picture is the front of the Beau Rivage Biloxi Mississippi facing north. Beautiful spot, very classy with several fine restaurants and a really good buffet. Friday nights is a seafood buffet with all you can eat crab legs. We will add more to this post shortly.  We stayed at this hotel for two nights in January 2013 and sampled the slot machines, the pool area, and the restaurants. we enjoyed our coffee at the coffee shop, which by the way will give you a free refill all day long as long as you have a receipt to show that you purchased a coffee that day. Pretty good deal for coffee, especially if you drink a lot of coffee.

Beau Rivage Biloxi Mississippi

We also ate at their restaurant which you can order your meals. Large portions of food with every meal. We suggest that you split your meal since the portions are so large. This restaurant is located at the front of the hotel and there is an atrium with lots of windows that make the place bright and cheery. We also tried the buffet on Friday night which was a seafood buffet. A bit expensive and more so because the crab legs were really not up to par for us.

The pool area is pretty nice too. Located on the third floor on the south side you are guaranteed sunshine all day long.  The pool overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. There is a bar located near the pool and they serve food as well. A great place to spend an afternoon.

For more casino information, click here.

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Reality shows fake or not? Of course they are not real in the sense that the show is not scripted at all. These shows have some things that are based on reality and they are enhanced to improve their appeal to the audience! Even dancing with the stars is planned in every detail with the main exception that the outcome is really up to the skill of the dancers, the judges scores and the scores from the audience. It is probably the most realistic of all of the reality shows. Of course one show that is clearly scripted and actually not very well is the show called Storage Wars.

Reality Shows Fake or Not

Even its participants have indicated that some of the units that go up for sale have planted items in them to make it more interesting. For example the vast majority of units that go up for sale are just junk piles that need cleaning out. If you have ever been to an auction you know they can be pretty boring. No TV audience is ever going to watch this unless you spruce it up!

How many lockers do they go through for example before they find something interesting? How come other buyers never seem to win a locker? Barry for example never seems to make money!

For more posts about reality shows, click here.

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Can you imagine being at this Beau Rivage Casino pool? Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and enjoying the sun! This is a great place to spend an afternoon, soaking up some rays and enjoying the water.

This pool is on the third floor of the hotel with a large gym to work out in as well overlooking the pool area. There are a bar and restaurant in the pool area. During busy times this bar is hopping. On this particular day, it was overcast a bit and cool. It was January and what would you expect. Still, there were people sun tanning and taking the occasional swim even if it was January.

Beau Rivage Casino Pool

The treadmills in the gym even have their own personal TV for each machine. The service is great, the food is excellent and the portions are large. The rates are also reasonable as well and you can walk to the Hardrock Casino which is just two blocks away if you are looking for something different.

The Gym is also on the 3rd floor and looks onto the pool area. There are free towels and there is no charge to use the gym.

We enjoy staying at this hotel and will come back again. and especially the Beau Rivage Casino Pool. For more details about Biloxi, Mississippi, click here.

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Lip Syncing Beyonce – WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 21: Beyonc? performs the national anthem as U.S. President Barack Obama looks on during the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as President of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Did Beyonce lip-sync the “Star-Spangled Banner? Who really cares? Lip Syncing Beyonce is just one more fake movie star that earns too much for what the do. The important thing is that she did not flub the song which would have been the talk of all the networks the next day. Instead, they focused on the inauguration and the important stuff. It only came out later that she may have lip sync’d and really who cares if she did or not.

Her career would have suffered if she had flubbed the anthem or if her voice gave out in the cold. Her career right now is red hot, so why risk damaging that. She can always come back later in better conditions and sing the anthem for real, which she apparently did just to prove that it can be done and she can do it.! I am sure the president did not care if she lip sync’d or not. He would prefer everything to go smoothly we assume, which it did

Lip Syncing Beyonce

They are still talking about how he flubbed his lines the previous time when he was sworn into office. Besides, it was really cold and although we do not sing in our family, we understand that singing in cold weather is difficult. The throat can be dry and the sound does not carry the same among other issues.

Dance and Sing at the Same Time

So who really cares. We want the best performance and we got it. So that brings me to the videos were they dance and sing at the same time.

There is no way these performers can be active and sing perfectly. They would have to be in outstanding shape and even then they would have to be a little bit out of breath to be able to dance and sing! Just try it yourself to see how far you get without your breath beginning to rasp a bit. So get used to it, lip-syncing has been going on for a long time and will continue to do so.

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This topic, tips for restaurant servers, is a really contentious topic. Most people leave tips at restaurants and many leave the standard 15% whether they are happy with the service or the food. They just do not want the hassle of dealing with a server who might show their annoyance because of a low tip. We know people in the industry and they are adamant that you should always leave a tip regardless. The servers rely on this income since they receive minimum wage or no wage at all. Tips can be a huge source of income for these people. The unfortunate thing is that some of these servers, especially the younger ones feel that they are entitled to a large tip regardless of the level of service they provide.

Tips for Restaurant Servers – An Example of Excellent Service

Here is an example of what we mean by really good service. You go to a coffee shop and the server fills your coffee mug and servers it to you at the cash. Should you provide them with a tip when they just did their job and did nothing special? At another coffee shop the server takes a mug, fills it with hot water to warm up the cup, pours the water out and then fills the mug with hot coffee. Should you tip this person? We think that they are very deserving of a tip, much more so than the first server. We always tip the second server and never the first because they also do not even acknowledge their customers, nor do they say thank you ever. Our excellent server will also bring us our coffee to the table if she happens to be busy as well.

Some might argue that if we tipped we might get better service in our example above. In some cases we would but at most coffee shops they are just kids who do not know the first thing about service.

Guidelines for Tipping for Restaurant Servers

We suggest that the following guidelines might be used to help people decide if they should tip and how much. Start with the standard of 15% and if they measure up in terms of service, timeliness of food delivery, attention to your order, follow up in a timely manner to ensure that you have everything to enjoy your meal and provide friendly service they should receive the standard 15% tip.

If you have to wait a long time for your drinks, the food is served cold, they mix the orders up or they are very unfriendly, well I would really consider a much lower tip depending on how poor the service actually was. If they are able to do something special which please your group and is appreciated, then why not tip them more. You might even provide a large tip if you feel that they deserve such a large tip.

Would You Leave a Zero Tip

Not too many people will leave a zero tip. They just do not want to risk the confrontation or potential confrontation. However the service industry needs to understand that they are on the job to provide good friendly service. I believe that we as patrons should treat them in a professional manner. If the service is not great, I think that we should let them know verbally in a nice way and that they still will receive a tip, but a little less than 15%. In the future if the service has not improved, then this is the time to reduce the tip even further.

I always tip the lady that serves me a coffee in a mug that has been pre-warmed with hot water. She is only serving coffee. But she makes sure that her customer receives really great service and a hot cup of coffee every time. That deserves a tip in my mind.

In Canada, there are a lot of people who are in their teens working in the service industry. They are too young to understand what it means to provide great service vs. average service. In the US, I have found in our travels more older people who have made it their profession and take providing good service seriously. They understand that good service directly impacts their incomes and they generally provide great service.

That’s my opinion, let me know if you agree or disagree about tips for restaurant servers. For more thoughts on tipping, click here.

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Going river water rafting can be one of the most exciting things that you do. Whether it is part of a guided tour, or out there on your own with a group of friends the thrill of white water, the scenery and the sheer experience will be something you remember for the rest of your life. Go with some friends. It is just as much fun to share the experience as it is to go on the trip it self. You will be talking about your raft trip for many years ! The adrenaline rush from your trip will be appreciated too and remembered for many years. Many people will update their social media with videos of these trips.

River Water Rafting – Safety

One side point that we want to make for safety reasons is that consumers who do go river water rafting should always go with a group or at least one other person and that they should always tell someone who will not be with them were they are going and when they are expected to return. they should also be experienced or have an experienced guide who is familiar with the river to go along with them. Pay attention to your guide and when they tell you to do something follow through with what they are saying. It could be your life or that of your friends if you do not follow the instructions.

If an accident occurs, at least your friends and family will know when and where to begin looking for you. Many people have lost their lives, simply because they did not tell anyone where they were going. Search parties eventually find them, but by then it is too late. If only they had told someone where they were going. They can also lose their lives if they are drinking and cannot respond quickly to dangerous situations.  Avoid drinking alcohol while on a river water rafting trip.

River Water Rafting – Water Levels

There are various levels of river water rafting and most companies providing guided tours will rate their rivers to indicate the skill level needed for their guests. These rivers can change daily due to run off from snow melt, due to storms in the area increasing the runoff and even release of water through dams to lower the level of water above the dam.

Check often with your guides to make sure that your skill level will match the rivers white water on the day you plan to go. The flow on the river can change on a daily basis based on water releases from dams, storms well up river and even temperature changes that can influence snow melt.

Attendees at a recent Hotel U presentation in Puerto Vallarta  were promised large 1900 sq ft suits, concierge service and 40,000 cash back two year guarantee. In turn they could buy a 15 year plan to use 4 weeks a year. The company would buy back 3 weeks at 1500 a week to sell to casino users so it would only cost $820 for the first week.

They said they will start building the Hotel U the first thing in Jan 7/12. The grand opening would be Dec 12 , 2012 for the first unit. As a founding member they would also receive one round of free golf a week.

Hotel U Puerto Vallarta – Comments

Comments on this post urged potential clients to run away as fast they could. That pitch is very similar to the spiel that was given to buyers at the Belaire. Before it was rebranded the “U”. There’s a good chance that somewhere in the background the same people are still running the show here. They’re just recycling the same old operation under a new name. Be careful and avoid this sort of sales pitch.

Additional comments that we read indicated even if this were now a legitimate operation it would still be a bad deal. This is an overpriced property in an inferior location. A first class resort, as they try to paint themselves, is not going to be located next to an airport and away from the beach. Vacationers coming to Puerto Vallarta for the level of accommodations purported for the Belaire/”U” will at a minimum want a resort on the beach, not inland.

Review the Law

The laws in Mexico are not the same as other countries. Foreigners must be very careful when they are buying property in this country or any other foreign country. Make sure that you have a good lawyer to represent you. In addition make sure that you have a clear title to your property.

Many make assumptions that property is handled in the same manner as in your own country. You may find that those assumptions will be wrong. As a result our property could cost a great deal more than what you might have originally planned for it to cost.

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One of the big negatives for many patients regarding sleep apnea is the cost of the CPAP machines. In Canada at least these machines are running around $1200 for the machine. This includes all of the accessories such as hoses and masks, along with a humidifier for the CPAP machine. This is a huge cost for consumers. Many people cannot afford this cost. As a result they just continue to live with sleep apnea. In addition to the corresponding risks associated with not treating it.

Fortunately in Ontario, Canada, the Ontario government kicks in 75% of the cost. Which leaves approximately $400 that the patient must pay for. Unless they have CPAP insurance or their own private health insurance which provides coverage for health devices.

Private Health CPAP Insurance for CPAP machines

If a patient does not have coverage of any kind, they are faced with a $400 cost. Which is much better than the $1200 total cost. However if they do have insurance, these plans will cover approximately 80% of the cost. In this example $320 of the cost. This leaves the consumer with a cost of $80 which is much more affordable for many consumers.

It is really important to investigate just how much you have to pay out of your own pocket vs. what can be covered by other sources. Not everyone has access to health insurance. As a result many people just make the decision to not investigate. They feel that it is going to just cost too much. There are significant consequences to this decision. You have to wonder about how people reach this decision.

Consequences of not Purchasing a CPAP Machine

The consequences include (we are being blunt her to get your attention):

• Lack of sleep will cause all kinds of accidents which is going to cost you much more
• Sleep apnea can cause heart attacks
• Sleep apnea can cause strokes
• Severe sleep apnea in addition to the above, can cause severe sleep deprivation and organ malfunction

If any of the above occurs, the cost to you and your family is going to be far more than the cost of a CPAP machine even if you have to pay for the entire thing yourself. This cost cannot be measured if you have a heart attack or stroke, lose your job and cannot support your family.

Tax Deductions

The cost of a CPAP machine is tax deductible in most jurisdictions. Although you may not get much back depending on the state or province where you live, it is still something and consumers should always retain receipts and add this to the overall cost of the machine.

How Long Does a CPAP Machine Last

CPAP machines are well constructed and most machines will last a very long time. A neighbor has a machine which he has been using for the past 6 years without any problems. Of course he has had to replace the mask and the hoses several times. These accessories to the main machine are covered under your personal health coverage that you may have. The Ontario government will only cover 75% of the cost of the machine and not the accessories.

The accessories include the hose, the mask, the straps that hold the mal in place and the filter that filters the air before it enters the machine. All of these can be purchased from a health store that specializes in CPAP accessories and the cost claimed to your personal health insurance coverage.

While we are not aware of specifics, consumers should ask if there any support networks available in your area that can provide discounted equipment or financial support for these machines. Every little bit helps and will be appreciated by most people.

Before you make any purchases, investigate what insurance coverage is available to you so that you will know up front what the net cost to you will be and how much will be covered by your CPAP health insurance coverage. For more information about CPAP Insurance issues, click here.

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We have been stopping at this land mark snack bar, the Alfred Snack Bar – Hot Dogs, Poutine and more, for the past 15 years. Any time we travel through Alfred, Ontario, we tend to stop there and have a meal. We happen to like the hot dog platter which includes two hot dogs, french fries and a soft drink for approximately $9.00 including tax. The hot dog buns can be either steamed or toasted. We always order the hot dogs all dressed. Which includes coleslaw in addition to relish and mustard. The french fries are excellent especially with lots of vinegar and salt. We know this is bad for us, but it tastes so good. We only have this meal every couple of months.

Alfred Snack Bar – Hot Dogs, Poutine and more

The fries can be either plain or you can have them with gravy or the french standard of poutine, which is gravy and cheese curds. They have a full menu of hot dogs, hamburgs and a few other things on the menu. They also serve breakfast as well with the standard eggs, bacon and hash browns.

We have been going there for years, as we mentioned and have noticed a few changes over the last couple of years. The place looks the same, but the staff has changed and the menu is slightly different. We cannot quite put our finger on what has changed but something has.

A year or two ago the restaurants was taken over by new management and although the menu has not changed the service has dropped a bit. For example today, we ordered and our food was brought to us without a drink which we had ordered. A small thing, but then you would think that a restaurant like this one, a fast food restaurant would get this simple thing right.

The server was abrupt and direct, rather than friendly, which unfortunately is becoming typically Canadian. We routinely get better service and friendlier service in the US. It might just be him, but it sure is not the way to treat a customer especially if you want them to come back.

We will likely go back and give it one more try before moving to another place in Alfred, Ontario. For more information about Ottawa, Ontario, the Nations Capital, click here.

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What are the consequences of not getting enough sleep? We spend approximately 1/3 of every day sleeping. One third of every day working. Also  1/3 of the day getting too and from work and looking after personal things that are going on in our lives. Quite often work takes longer. We don’t want to or cannot give up some of our personal stuff. So what happens is that we squeeze the time we have left to sleep. When we do not sleep, whether it is for the reason above, health issues or we just cannot get to sleep, we suffer in multiple ways.

Consequences of Not Getting Enough Sleep

Here is a list of what can potentially happen when we do not get enough sleep:

• We tend to eat more food and especially snacks
• You will gain weight from all of those snacks and reduced activity
• You may not live as long if you get less than 5 hours a night
• Chronic sleep loss contributes to brain shrinkage
• Your blood pressure can increase
• You are more susceptible to colds and getting sick
• You may also experience memory loss
• Being tired, you tend to skip exercise
• People who miss their sleep tend to be more cranky
• You are not as alert and with it

We tend to eat more food and especially snacks to make up for energy that we need to get through the day and our coffee intake goes way up as well to help us get through the day.

You will gain weight from all of those snacks and reduced activity and this is weight that is difficult to reduce once it is on because we simply do not have the energy to exercise and work it off.

You may not live as long if you get less than 5 hours a night. Based  on studies that have been conducted, people who are sleep deprived on a chronic level tend not to live as long for a variety of reasons. Some are accident related due to lack of concentration while others just get sick more often and it eventually catches up with them.

Brain Shrinkage

Chronic sleep loss contributes to brain shrinkage or less dense brains which impacts memory retention and decision making abilities.

Your blood pressure can increase as much as 40% which is a significant problem if your family history is prone to strokes and other heart related diseases.

You are more susceptible to colds and getting sick when you are run down. The body just does not have the strength to fight viruses off and we end up being sick much more often.

You may also experience memory loss, both short term and long term memory which makes us far less productive in our daily lives.

Being tired, you tend to skip exercise which contributes to weight gain even more.

People who miss their sleep tend to be more cranky and grouchy. We are more short tempered and have a lot less patience for ourselves as well as others. This can hurt our social relationships a great deal.

You are not as alert and with it when you are sleep deprived. As a result more people with this condition are prone to accidents, falling asleep at work and other problems which can lead to very serious accidents causing bodily harm and even death.

What Can a Person Do to Get More Sleep

Several of our previous posts have outlined a number of steps that people can consider to get more sleep. There also could be an underlying health issue such as sleep apnea. Which we have also written about that affects many people and contributes to all of the above problems previously mentioned. If you have eliminated all of the non health reasons that may be affecting your sleep, see a doctor. He or she will assess health issues that could cause this. Sleep Apnea is only one condition that could cause this problem.

We are writing posts like these because we know that diet and weight gain can be caused by many different conditions and we want to make people aware of the consequences of not getting enough sleep and what they can do about it. We also feel that many people have sleep apnea and do not know about it. As a result they suffer daily from lack of sleep and are potentially prone to heart attacks and strokes as a result. Have your condition checked by a doctor to see if there is any underlying cause for your lack of sleep.

For more information about the Consequences of Not Getting Enough Sleep and other sleep issues, click here.

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Google’s driver less car has been on the road for over 300,000 miles now. A recent update suggests that Google is not in the driver less car business. They are going to focus on the software and not the hard ware. In fact it is several cars that are being tested. But the fact remains they have driven that many miles and apparently without an accident. Well, we heard there was one accident were the human in the car took over control of the car and caused an accident. Now several states have put laws into place that allow driver less cars on the road. But there must be a driver in the car’s driver seat that can take control of the car if needed.

Googles Driverless Car – Other Driverless cars

In addition the major car manufacturers are working on models of their own that can be driven without a driver in control of the car. Just think in a few years the designated driver will no longer be needed. Take me home car and away you go. We are not sure if the laws that have been passed in these states include having a driver that is sober behind the wheel and able to take over if needed. Not sure how that would work, the driver is drunk, the car gets into an accident and who do you charge with causing the accident – the drunk passenger(s), the car, the software maker, the part that failed ?

We believe that they will perfect the driver less car and we will likely accept the notion that you will not need passengers who are able to take over the car if necessary. Remember when there were operators in the elevators. You could not go from floor to floor without an elevator operator running the controls for you. At least they got to talk to people once and awhile.

Will there be Auto Pilots on These Cars

Now let’s imagine you are in Goolgle’s driver less car or one of the other manufacturer’s cars. You are the designated control driver, the person supposed to take over if needed. Does this mean that you must pay attention all of the time so that you can take control based on your judgment or will it be like the auto pilots in planes that sound an alarm to alert you to take control? Sometimes pilots fall asleep while on the job although they are not supposed to. You can bet there will be a lot of people who will be sleeping in these driver less cars. That auto pilot had better be good, reaction time and warning time to alert the pilot.

What Impact will Driver Less Cars have On Supporting Auto Industries

The main assumption is that there will be less accidents with driver less cars. Proper space will be maintained between cars and cars will not run red lights. Drivers will not be drunk behind the wheel, and distracted drivers will not cause accidents. Now you can shave, do your makeup, finish breakfast, even talk on the phone and not worry about driving. If this works as planned, there will be a lot less accidents as a result and that will have a direct impact on auto repair industries, such as windshield repair companies, auto body companies and so on.

There will still be accidents since it will be a long time before everyone is in a driverless car and everyone is forced to use the capability, bit it will come once it is demonstrated that these cars do in fact save lives and reduce accidents. Just imagine on a foggy road, were you can barely see the car in front of you. With radar installed, there will be no problem stopping when needed and not hitting the guy in front of you.

How Long Will it Take for Driver Less Cars to be in the Majority

No one really knows at this point. However it will really depend on just how good these cars are when it comes to control and accidents. If the statistics can prove they have less accidents, the insurance companies may reward car owners with these cars with lower insurance. They may jack up the insurance for people with cars without control. Penetration of this technology will move quickly.

We think that this will be a hot news story for some time to come and we are excited to watch what happens with the driver less car future. For more thoughts about traveling on vacation by vehicle, click here.

Most white water rafting companies provide everything you are going to need for their raft trips, however there are a number of items that travelers should bring with them to make their trip truly enjoyable. The raft trip organizer or white water rafting company can provide you with a complete list of things to bring with you. This is in addition to whatever they are providing. These will be suggested items and most people will heed their advice.

What to Bring on Raft Trips

Probably the most important things are your bathing suit and a change of clothes. Let’s face it you are going to get wet and sometimes the weather is cool to cold in the mountains. The water is also usually quite cold. Many of these rivers are fed by melting snow and the water can be ice cold. A warm change of clothes in a water proof bag is very important for most people. You may not want to wear a bathing suit. But you will want to wear warm clothes which will go under a rain suit or even a wet suit. Even with these precautions a warm set of clothes that you can put on when you are finished is almost mandatory for any raft trip.

The rafting company will usually provide either snacks or a meal depending on the length of the trip. You can esquire before you book to find out exactly what they provide. A snack usually means a very limited snack. So if you feel that you need something more than that, we suggest you bring it along with you as well in a water proof bag. If you are the type that sometimes finds that their blood sugar drops during the day, a snack will be just what you need. bring whatever is appropriate for your condition and make sure that it is kept dry in a water proof drag.

Overnight Raft Trips

Overnight trips require changes of clothes, sleeping bags etc which the trip organizer will tell you. They should provide you with a complete itemized list of things to bring with you. While the days may be warm, the nights can be very cool in the mountains or in the desert wherever you are rafting. Raft trips can be a lot of fun and exhilarating. Keep them fun and safe, follow the instructions and bring those extra clothes to make sure that you are comfortable throughout the day and the evening.

Talk to the experts, talk to people who have been on raft trips before. These people can give you lots of advice that can make the difference in enjoying a trip vs. not enjoying a raft trip. Follow their advice.

The Zen restaurant is in the center of Palm Springs surrounded by other restaurants such as LuLu’s and the Kaiser Grill which we have also written about on this blog.

They have expanded their patio out onto the sidewalk which is covered by the roof so you are still sheltered from the sun and yet have the feeling that you are sitting outside. We sat on one corner and enjoyed our happy hour very much with a couple of beers and several appetizers.  The cutlery is real and there are white table clothes on the tables, so it is really a cut above some of the other restaurants in the area. The waiters are excellent providing very good service as well and we were very pleases by the overall experience.

Zen – Palm Springs Restaurant

The only negative was the price of one of the appetizers which was on one of the happy hour menu items.  We ordered toasted bread with humus as a side for a price of $3.00 . You really do no know what to expect when you are trying something out and we were quite surprised to see a small plate with two small pieces of toasted bread on it with humus spread over these two small pieces of bread. I said to the waiter that this was ridiculous to deliver something so small and charge three dollars. He was embarrassed and nodded agreement and shrugged his shoulders, before walking away. Although there was acknowledgement, there was nothing done to deal with the situation. We paid pour bill and left.

Unfortunately we will not go back to this restaurant because of this although everything else that we had looked great and also what other patrons had as well. We can give this a positive recommendation, however just do not order the toasted bread with humus unless you do not mind the price for a really small appetizer.

Restaurants in the Palm Springs Area

There are many restaurants in the downtown area. Also the surrounding area of Palm Springs in addition to the Zen restaurant to try out. With so many to choose from there is lots of variety and competition as well. Which makes prices and quality excellent. We are slowly trying all of the restaurants in the downtown area and will report on more as we try them.

If you are staying at a motel or condo, near down town, you can walk to everything. Also walk home without the need to worry about drinking and driving. We are fortunate in this regard since we stay two blocks from the downtown area and walk to everything. This is the best way to travel and stay in the Palm Springs area.

Restaurant Happy Hours

Almost all restaurants in the area have a happy hour. They all start around 4 pm and end around 6pm to 7 pm. You have to check with the restaurant you going to for specific hours. Also what is included in their happy hour. Many have reduced prices on selected beers, wine and mixed drinks or well drinks as they are called in the area. Appetizers are also reduced in price as well while some will have special menu’s for happy hour.

Thursday night is when the street fair is held in Palm Springs beginning at 5 pm. This is a great time to take in one of the happy hours. You can watch all of the people who come to the street fair. It is extremely popular with thousands of people attending every Thursday night. It is one of the best times to come to a happy hour at the Zen restaurant. Or one of the others and then go for a walk up and down the street to admire all of the products from the various venders in the area.

For more information about restaurants in the Palm springs area, click here.

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We saw this quote from Mary Kay cosmetics the other day and felt that we just had to include it on our blog. Mary Kay is the person that started Mary Kay cosmetics and built it into an empire. She did well in life and we think that when she has something to say, we should probably listen. She has a great deal of experience and has passed much of what she learned along to many women. While you may not like or use her cosmetics, the following quote has a ring of truth to it and that is why you should take the time to read it and pay attention to what she has to say.

Even if this post helps only one person, we feel it was worth it to take the time to make this post. Also if you are a male and feel that this does not apply to you, just read the quote and then decide if it is useful for you. There is something in it for everyone.

Here is the Quote from Mary Kay:

We have two ears and one mouth – so listen more than you speak

On life’s stages, she had another really interesting quote:

From 1 – 18 years, you need your parents

From 18 – 40 years, you need your looks

From 40 – 60 years you need your personality and

From 60 on you need money”

Guess that is why you see so many old guys with young wives. No young women would ever want these old guys, but they sure want their money! They are willing to give up their dignity and their pride to live well and to be married to someone much older than they are. Perhaps they hope their partner will move on at some point and they will be left holding the nest egg.

Perhaps marry Kay did know a thing or two from all of the years she spent building her business. Ladies pay attention to the above quote, keep your looks and save your money for when you turn 60!

For more posts about life changing events, click here.

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Medical supplies CPAP devices can be purchased from many different clinics, home care stores and even online. But what are the best prices and are you buying the right supplies for your particular CPAP machine? When do you need to replace your supplies?

Well it turns out that most of the supplies will last between 6 months and a year. Depending on how well you take care of all of the components. Plastic and rubber does age and when it does it becomes brittle. Which then leads to cracking and leaks of the pressurized air. Once a leak starts, the machine will not be able to deliver the proper pressure to manage your sleep apnea.

Medical Supplies CPAP – Cleaning and Maintenance

My particular instruction book recommends that the mask should be cleaned every day. Cleaning can be accomplished with mild soap. Clean both the inside and the outside of the mask to avoid body oils building up and causing the rubber or plastic to prematurely age. Clean your mask every morning when you get up to ensure that it also has time to dry before you need to use it in the evening. The water reservoir for the humidifier should also be emptied out. Then rinsed with warm water and allowed to dry during the day as well. This not only prolongs the reservoir container. It also avoids mold from beginning which you do not want entering your lungs.

Also you should wash your face with mild soap as well prior to using the mask. This will help to avoid body oils and perspiration contacting the mask more than necessary. This is by far the best way to prolong the life of all of the supplies you will need for your CPAP.

Once a week all components need to be washed with mild soap to remove any body oils that might have accumulated. Again do this in the morning so that the straps, mask and hoses have an opportunity to dry properly before they are reused that night.

Were can You Purchase medical Supplies for CPAP devices?

We have found that the best place to purchase these supplies is at a home care center store. They tend to stock everything you need for all of the different machines and they have someone on staff all of the time to help answer any questions that you may have. Support is important to help people make adjustments and also monitor progress that you are making with your apnea. These locations will be more expensive, but the support you get is typically included. You will want to speak with a respiratory specialist who knows these machines and who also can look at the memory chip to assess your progress.

This last comment is actually very important. The information on the memory chip will tell the therapist how often you use the machine, whether you have any major leaks and how well you are doing relative to your sleep apnea. They may make a suggestion to increase or decrease your air pressure to improve your sleep apnea.

While you may be able to purchase some of these medical supplies at other locations at less expense, it is important that you consider the support that you get for that price.  An alternative is to purchase extra components as your system ages while at the same time going in for a check once and awhile to confirm your air pressure and progress with the CPAP device.

CPAP Supplies Online

We have never used an online store to make purchases of this type for any medical supplies. If any of our readers have done so perhaps you would not mind taking the time to leave a comment about the results and satisfaction level with your purchase. By the time you take into account shipping costs and also problems that you might have with returning parts that do not fit properly, it might be just easier to purchase from a real store were you can try your device with the supplies.

Parts supplies that you might order include:

• Mask
• Straps
• Connection hose
• Long feeder hose
• Filters

That’s our opinion about medical supplies and were you may want to purchase them. If you do purchase online, take the time to make sure that you are buying exactly the right parts for you r particular CPAP machine. For more information about medical supplies CPAP, click here.

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Five Guys Restaurant – Ottawa

Just had lunch at Five Guys burger restaurant this week. This was the first time we have been to this restaurant. Two burgers with the works plus fries and a drink cost $18.00!  The works include all of the standard stuff plus fresh tomatoes and lettuce. Plus a bunch of other things that are optional and all included in the price.  These are real burgers, like you would see on your barbecue at home. Also more fries than you eat! You have a choice between a small burger and a larger one.  The only difference is the price. The fact that now you have two patties of meat and a larger bun. Of course this is much more than you can eat, at least for most people.

Five Guys Burgers

The decor is basic with a cement floor and tables. Decoration is framed write ups from papers from various cities they operate in around the US and Canada. They have a lot of them and all of them are glowing reports of how great the food is for a burger joint. We have to agree that of all of the places one can go for a burger and fries, this is by far the best. It was packed at lunch time and people were also taking a lot of take outs.

We enjoyed our meal very much and will go back sometime when we are ready for a really home made burger and great fries.

One other point which we forgot to mention is that they have peanuts in the shell which you can help yourself to. They are salted and something to munch on while you wait for your burger. All I needed at this point was a beer, but unfortunately it is not licensed as far as we could tell. As a result you should stay away if you have peanut allergies.

The two Five Guys restaurants that we are familiar with in the Ottawa area are in the Train Yards and also on Innes road in Orleans. There are probably others in the city, however we have not discovered them yet.

If you are looking for a really great burger, this is the place to go. We are not in any way associated with this restaurant. just wanted to pass along that it is a great place to eat and enjoy a fast lunch or dinner. Check them out. For more things to do in Ottawa, click here.

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