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I should have posted this information a long time ago.
For any of you following the Christmas Day story about how David Belniak crashed into the back of another vehicle that was stopped at a red light, killing 3 of the 4 people inside, you were probably just as anxious as me to find out how authorities were dealing with the case. Especially in light of the fact that Belniak has killed while behind the wheel before and never been charged!
He has been charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and reckless driving. Belniak’s blood alcohol content was .045 and he was driving 88 mph in a posted 55 mph zone at impact.
Rest in Peace:
Linda McWilliams
Gerard Bassi
Denise Bassi
I have bought and sold my share of houses since 2000. When I was married, we moved so often that it felt like we always had a house on the market. We even got to the point where we had specific professionals we liked to use regularly for our transactions. I am not sure we will be using all of the same people when we sell this current home, but that is simply because we are taking such a beating from the real estate market right now. I get so mad I could spit when I think about my ex’s timing on the divorce,… and the blasted real estate market condition.
If you have been involved in even one real estate transaction, you understand the importance of title insurance. When I was talking about having preferred professionals we worked with over and over, our title insurance company was one of those. On the whole, most title companies seem very much the same, but when you look a little deeper you will find that they differ greatly when it comes to reputation and community standing.
Basically, title insurance is your protection against the possibility that someone might come along who feels like they have some sort of legal claim to the property you have purchased, such as an inheritance or a lien. There are cases where someone purchases a property without knowing that another party had a lien on the property and that situation can get terribly messy. Title insurance covers the situation for future loss. You want to make sure the title company you are working with is thorough and reputable. That is why we tended to stick with one company over and over.
…but, the catch is that they are going to raise the commission sellers pay for items that do sell. All in all, eBay is still planning on bringing in the same money as they do now. Their fee changes are an attempt to entice more people to list more times. They say they are making the changes in order to keep pace with other online commerce sites.
But, is cutting the listing fees by up to 50% really going to convince more people to go back to using eBay to sell items? It may have, if the commissions you have tp pay on the final sale price were not going to go up a whopping 68%. Sellers will now pay 8.75 of the final sale price for items under $25.
The new fee structure goes into effect February 20 in the United States. More pricing changes are coming shortly in the United Kingdom and Germany.
EBay says that their growth has flattened out and they are currently seeing a drop in the number of items being listed for sale. They feel the fee changes will remedy this. They are up against sites that do not charge listing fees, like Amazon.
I say, simply remove the listing fees altogether. I know that I stopped selling on eBay when the fees got too high. I could do as other sellers do and simply charge more for shipping, but I feel that is dishonest and I cannot bring myself to play that particular game.
On the other hand, I met a mom at school today who sells new and used Gymboree on eBay for a living. We talked about her selling my daughter’s used boutique clothing. She says there are ways to make sure you make more than enough profit to cover fees.
Have you ever made one of those smashed pennies? I am not talking about the old fashioned method of putting a penny on train tracks, though I have done that in my time. I am talking about those hand cranked penny press machines you see at tourist attractions?
My step mother collects smashed pennies and every time we go to one of the Disney theme parks we look for a penny machine and make one for her. It’s an economical souvenir and easy to ship. We just put it in a regular envelope along with a letter. No fuss. Plus, they are a hoot to make – at least the hand cranked ones are fun. I am not as charmed with the fully automated machines.
In fact, we are going to Disney for the Princesses and Pirates party in February and already have plans to make several smashed pennies to send off to my step mom. Since we are going to hit at least three of the theme parks over that particular weekend, we should be able to make at least three unique coins for her.
I have to buy a gift for a birthday party my daughter is attending this Saturday. Money is tight right now and I want to be frugal, but I also want to give the child a nice gift. She is in my daughter’s class and has ridden in my van for field trips. She is one of the sweeter girls in the class and gets along well with my daughter.
I made a compulsive stop at the local Hospice Thrift Store and was thrilled to find someone had donated cases and cases of brand new Cherished Teddy figurines by Enesco. I picked through the box and although I could not find one for a 5th Birthday specifically, I found loads of nice figures and even a plush Cherished Teddy. Most of the items were priced at $1.99, so I stocked up and bought ahead for other events. Just because I did not pay full retail does not make these cute Cherished Teddies any less thoughtful or appropriate.
I love a thrifty find like this! Stretching my dollar as far as possible is important to me.
I think since our seasons are so different here in Florida, we do a lot of things differently than the rest of you up there in the great white north. Take, for example, Spring Cleaning.
It’s only January, but our strawberry crops are already in. So, it is starting to feel a little bit like spring down here. We put in some tomato plants last week and I have noticed the grass is getting greener. So, that makes me feel like throwing open the sashes, putting up the garage door, and cleaning the dickens out of this place. It is time to wash windows and take down curtains. It’s time to air the rugs and shampoo the upholstery. I also want to get rid of a lot of the clutter in the garage and go on over to my storage unit and see if I can thin out my boxes.
I have some friends who are already working on their back yard for the season. They are putting in pavers and making a raised patio out near the back garden. They bought a new boat for the summer and are working with a local charity on a boat donation for their old boat. If we could just grow bulb flowers down here, I could see them hip high in tulips and daffodils by now.
In case you were wondering about the charity my friends picked to give their boat to, it is Carangel.com. They use the money from vehicle donations to make the coolest videos for kids, and they give those videos away at no charge.We love their Donkey Ollie cartoons.
In a practice that has now become part of the social norm in the United States, Britney Spears is commanding headlines right alongside the Florida primary elections and the current state of our national economy. It’s a silly society that we live in and there comes a point where you just toss up your hands and agree to begrudgingly join them, since you can certainly not beat them. Of course, I have no idea who “they” are.
So, the big news is that Britney Spears’ friend Sam Lutfi contacted Barbara Walters to tell the pseudo-reporter that Britney has mental issues, is seeing a psychiatrist, and things are quite treatable.
For lack of a better response: well, duh!
Spears has two very small sons and she currently has no access to them whatsoever. Of course she is having mood swings, trouble sleeping, and questioning her own mental health. Take a mom’s kids away from her and she will absolutely go bonkers. I don’t care how good or bad of a mother someone is in practice, they still have a bond to their children that is strong enough to make you nuts when you are apart from your child.
Just the alternating long weekends that my daughter is with her dad are enough to bring me down emotionally. I loathe being away from Gigi. If the courts were to actually rule that I was not allowed to live with her or even visit her, I would also be seeing a psychiatrist – that’s for sure.
You can’t turn on the TV, listen to the radio, or browse the net without seeing an ad telling you about how to get a free credit report. When I had my identity stolen several years ago I contacted each credit bureau individually, but that was decidedly time consuming and confusing. That’s why these ads for free credit reports are so tempting.
Legally, we are entitled to see a copy of our full credit report once a year at no cost. The confusion comes from companies who automatically enroll you in their paid monthly service once you request your initial free credit report. You have to go slow, read the fine print and make sure you understand what you are signing up for before you hit submit.
Experian, for example, has a small disclaimer that many people miss. It says: “When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. If you don’t cancel your membership within the 30-day trial period, you will be billed $12.95 for each month that you continue your membership.”
If you hunt around, you will find a link to the actual free site AnnualCreditReport.com.
As for free monthly monitoring of your credit score, there is actually a no cost option.
Credit Karma offers you access to your credit score for free, with no hidden fees. You can check your score from month to month and watch for patterns. Is it going up or going down? What can you do to improve your score? There are tips and articles to help you build your rating and credit strength.
The cool twist is that they also show you consumer offers based on your preferences and it is these Karma Offers that are enabling the Credit Karma system to be totally free for your use. By selling advertising on their site, Credit Karma does not have to charge you for the cost of pulling your credit score. Unlike other companies who tell you that your credit report score is free, Credit Karma is not going to ask you to enroll or pay after 30 days. Their services start out free and stay free. You can also be sure they are not selling your personal information. They maintain a TRUSTe approved privacy policy.
Credit Karma is still in Beta, so you will need an invitation code to sign up. Lucky for you, I have a code right here: CKFRND
Here in Florida, our Governor is quite well liked. So, it is big news that Charlie Crist has endorsed Senator John McCain. With our primaries coming at us fast, the timing on this endorsement was crucial.
Crist announced the endorsement at a Pinellas county GOP dinner in St. Petersburg. It should also be noted that Florida Senator Mel Martinez is also backing McCain. Although I voted for Martinez, he has fallen out of favor with me over the years so I take his endorsement with less authority. Crist, though, I still respect greatly.
Winning Florida means 57 delegates for the count. That’s huge. Consider that Romney had to win Nevada, Michigan, and Wyoming just to rack up 67 delegates.
Oddly, McCain and Crist differ in their options about one topic very near and dear to Floridians. McCain does not support a national catastrophic insurance fund for Florida and other hurricane-prone states. He says he would rather develop a relationship between industry and government to protect homeowners. Crist does support a national fund. I assume most Floridians also support a national fund.
I had fun planning my wedding in 2000. We had a small ceremony on the intercoastal waterway, just steps from the Gulf of Mexico. A small jazz combo played the reception and we all kicked off our shoes and just enjoyed the salty sea air. I’m not happy that my marriage ended, but every now and then I think about the fact that one day I might choose to marry again and that would mean I would be able to enjoy planning yet another wedding for myself. That’s a fun prospect.
In the meantime, I spend a LOT of time helping various friends plan weddings. I have become the go-to woman in my social circle for such things. I have the time, the connections and the know-how. I can throw a pretty good party, if I do say so myself. I’m helping no less than three of my friends plan wedding s as I speak. I enjoy the vicarious thrill.
My friend Sarah is planning a simple ceremony around sterling roses, so I’ve been hunting for a very simple invitation that would reflect the feel. I think I’ve found just the thing. It’s a purple folder style invitation with a sheer ribbon. It’s simple, elegant, and just about the same color as sterling roses. I am ordering a sample to make sure. I found the cards at 1st Class Wedding Invitations. They’ve got tons to choose from and I spent quite a while looking through the options until I came to this design. I think it is perfect.
Every year I enter the Home and Garden Television’s Dream House Sweepstakes at least once. I just went over and spent some time looking at this year’s house and I entered. I might go back and enter some more. I know the odds are not in my favor, but it sure would be nice to win a house that is right here in Florida.
This year the HGTV Dream House is in the Florida Keys, not quite halfway down and closer to the top and Key Largo. It’s on Key Islamorada. It’s lovely, though the décor is beachy and not really my style. Nonetheless, it is cozy and stylish. The layout is not ideal for a family with children, but I’m sure you could make do. Of course, the biggest concern would be having the money to pay for taxes and insurance, not to mention general upkeep. I would, were I to win. Have to find a larger source of income than I currently have.
Still, it’s fun to go through the virtual walk-through on the website and dream a little bit. Winning a fully decorated home, and a car, in a lovely location is something nobody could pass up when it comes down to it. Would you have to sell? Would you be able to maintain it and live in it? You would have to cross that bridge when you come to it, I suppose.
I’ve written before about how I love niche social networking sites. There are social networking sites for crafters, horse lovers, college students, religious groups and just about anything else you can think of. It seems to me a more interesting way to go than just joining a catch-all social networking site.
Well pet lovers, there is a site for you, too!
Take a look at AnAmigo.com. It’s a community where you can actually make a custom profile for their pet and connect with other pet enthusiasts in the United States. Membership is free and signing up is quick and easy. I did it in about a minute and then the system sent me a confirmation e-mail. At that point I was able to go in and complete a profile. I was prompted to choose a profile style for myself, a dog, a cat, or a horse. I made a profile for my Maltese, Echo. Bless her little heart. When I have more time I will put up a profile for Chloe, the cat queen of the house.
You can add pictures, swap stories, comment, keep a blog, trade tips, and sit back and have fun connecting with other animal lovers. The site is super easy to use and family friendly. The folks at AnAmigo had a launch party at the Sundance Film Festival and celebs like Jack Black and Felicity Huffman stopped by. Cool.
Budget cuts in Florida have led to big changes in the university system. It was already announced that there is a hiring freeze at eleven Florida schools. Also, according to a friend of mine who is a professor at the University of South Florida, a lot of people got laid off early this year. Thankfully, his position looks secure so far.
Yesterday, the Board of Governors approved changes that will allow college leaders to lower enrollment, lay off employees, and raise undergraduate, in-state tuition 8%. On the other end of the spectrum, they also decided not to enact a plan that would raise tuition by around 13% over the next five years.
Although this seemingly does not impact me right now, since got my initial degrees in the early 90s and finished my teaching program last summer, it does make me take notice due to a comment make by Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie.
“It’s frightening to think that the Board of Governors would seriously consider a proposal that would, in effect, destroy the prepaid college tuition program in Florida. This is the camel’s nose under the tent,” Pruitt.
This is a disturbing thought. We purchased a pre paid plan for my daughter the year she was born, locking in the tuition rates at the cost of that particular year. In theory, she will be able to attend when she is of college age, using this pre-paid voucher. I’ll be looking into that issue a little more. I was only able to find the quote by Pruitt and not much information to back it up with details.
I’ll admit this is a delicate topic, but you are reading a woman’s blog, so you’ll have to come to terms with the fact that there will be women’s issues discussed here. Just a fair warning; when I say this is an intimate topic I mean as in intimate apparel.
After I had my daughter, my bra size changed. It’s a matter of nursing, gravity, a little weight gain and the wonder of the ever changing female body. Things are just different once you have children. One thing that is not different is that I still do not like plain or “old lady” looking lingerie. I like fine lingerie that makes me feel girly and feminine and pretty. I’m sure I’m not alone in this preference.
There are a lot of retailers that just plain don’t sell bras over a particular size. There are even those who purport to cater to the curvy woman, and still don’t carry anything out of the general norm. So, when you do find a comfy bra that fits well, it is usually decidedly matronly. I’m not having any of that, thank you very much.
Bits of Lace not lonely sells a wide variety of sizes, they also carry truly stunning lingerie. These are tasteful, lovely under things at their best. They concentrate on European styles and brands, from classic Marie Jo bras to the trendy Spanx shaping collection. If you care about how you look from the skin up, this is a logical starting point for you.
