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December 2009

2 -- Hanukkah Begins
7 -- Pearl Harbor Day
15 -- Bill of Rights Day
21 -- Winter Solstice
25 -- Christmas Day
31 -- New Year's Eve

What is Christmas???

A good conscience is a continual Christmas.
~ Benjamin Franklin

Existing-Home Sales Show Big Gain

Driven by the first-time buyer tax credit, existing-home sales showed another big gain in October with a strong up trend established over the past seven months, while inventories continue to decline, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Existing-home sales -- including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops -- surged 10.1 percent to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.10 million units in October from a downwardly revised pace of 5.54 million in September, and are 23.5 percent above the 4.94 million-unit level in October 2008. Sales activity is at the highest pace since February 2007 when it hit 6.55 million.

“Many buyers have been rushing to beat the deadline for the first-time buyer tax credit that was scheduled to expire at the end of this month, and similarly robust sales may be occurring in November,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “With such a sale spike, a measurable decline should be anticipated in December and early next year before another surge in spring and early summer.”

Now that the tax credit has been extended and expanded, potential buyers have until April 30 to have a contract in place. “There is still a large pent-up demand that can be tapped before the tax credit expires," said Yun.

Total housing inventory at the end of October fell 3.7 percent to 3.57 million existing homes, representing a 7.0-month supply at the current sales pace, down from an 8.0-month supply in September. Unsold inventory totals are 14.9 percent below a year ago.

The national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.95 percent in October from 5.06 percent in September, according to Freddie Mac, adding that the 30-year rate recently dropped to 4.83 percent.

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Change your thoughts and you change your world.
~ Normal Vincent Peale

9 Board Games Your Family Will Love

If you think video games have replaced board games, you'd be wrong. Board games are still a great way to spend time with your family -- and if you haven't played one in a few years -- you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how much fun everyone has. Board games still rule!

1. Monopoly -- This classic real estate game brings out the capitalist in everyone. It's not just Park Place anymore; there are several new versions with different tokens and properties, such as Boston's Fenway Park, Houston's Johnson Space Center and Mega Monopoly. Ages 7+.
2. Scrabble -- Remember sitting by the fireplace playing scrabble with Grandma? This classic remains a favorite with young and old alike. Ages 5+.
3. Clue -- Mr. Green did it in the library with a rope. Or, was it Ms. Scarlet? Have fun finding clues while playing detective with this mystery game. Ages 8+.
4. Sorry -- Your kids will love this perennial classic. Ages 6+.
5. Checkers - A simple game that's easy to learn and never gets old. Ages 5+.
6. Chess -- While there is a bit of a learning curve to this classic strategy game, older kids will find it addictive. And, it won't take more than a few games before they beat the supposed master. Ages 6+.
7. Life -- Spin a dial, and the next thing you know you're getting married, have landed a high- (or low-) paying job, and have a boy and a girl. Kids love it! Ages 6+.
8. Candy Land -- This 50-year-old classic has been entertaining kids across the world with colorful cards, fun characters and tempting treats pictured along the path in Candy Land. Ages 3+.
9. Risk -- A game of world domination, where the object is to conquer the world. To win, you must attack and defend – attacking to acquire territory, and defending to keep it from your opponents. Ages 8+.

The ages are approximations only. If you have really young kids, team them up with an older child or adult. They'll likely have fun just rolling the dice, holding a token or acting as an "advisor."

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Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.
~ Abraham Lincoln

3 Solutions to Your Closet Nightmare

Is your closet so full and disorganized that it has essentially become a useless waste of space? Do you have shoes or clothes from the last century stored away in there? Do you waste a lot of time looking for things in your closet because it's so messy?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you're not alone. For many people, the closet becomes a dumping ground for anything and everything, and soon becomes so disorganized you don't even know what's in there. Well, fortunately you can clean up the situation with these simple solutions.

But first, if you don't have an adequate closet organization system -- such as shelves, shoe stands, hooks, baskets or drawers -- go invest in what you need. It doesn't have to be expensive, just functional. Now, depending on the size of your closet and amount of clutter, choose the best closet solution for you and get to work.

1. Take everything out of the closet, slowly go through it, and after careful consideration only put back things you really want or need. If you haven't worn clothing or a jacket or a pair of shoes in the past 12 to 18 months, you probably don't need it. If it's broken and you haven't repaired it yet, take it to a repair shop or get rid of it. Sure, there are certain items you don't use often but still need, such as a rain coat or umbrella, but for the other stuff -- sell it, donate it or throw it away.
2. If you have a very large closet or storage room, tackle the problem in sections. Visually break up the closet space into four sections, and go through each section -- one at a time -- as described above. By using this method, you can take care of a big chore over several days and end up with a well-organized closet.
3. Make organizing your closet part of your house cleaning regimen, just like vacuuming, dusting and cleaning the bathroom. By adding "organize the closet" to your chore list, your closet will stay functional and won't turn into a wasteland for the unwanted.

By keeping your closet organized, you will save time, get better use out the items you keep, and spare yourself the frustration that comes from a cluttered lifestyle. Just because something is "still good" or "barely worn" doesn't mean it has to clutter up your closet. Just let it go now -- and in a few short days, or less -- you won't ever think about it again.

406 SANTA FE DRIVE

Total Sq. Feet: 3,094
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 2

1519 CHESAPEAKE LANE

Total Sq. Feet: 2,442
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2

5412 DENALI DRIVE

Total Sq. Feet: 1,100
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2

A picture is worth a thousand words.
~ Napoleon Bonaparte

Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) Palm Springs is a city in California and what other state?
a.) Arizona
b.) Florida
c.) New Mexico
d.) Texas

Question 2.) What is the name of Herman Melville's unfinished novella about a sailor charged, convicted and executed for murder?
a.) Beowulf
b.) Bad Blood
c.) Billy Budd
d.) Billy Black Box

Question 3.) Who sang the 1990s hit, "Lovefool"?
a.) Celine Dion
b.) Heart
c.) Toni Braxton
d.) The Cardigans

Question 4.) What is the name of the director who worked with George Clooney on these movies: Ocean's 11, Solaris and Out of Sight?
a.) Fred Miller
b.) Neil Burger
c.) Quentin Tarantino
d.) Steven Soderbergh

Question 5.) What well-known city boasts these famous places: Princes Street, Royal Mile, and Holyrood Palace?
a.) Cardiff
b.) Dublin
c.) Edinburgh
d.) Glasgow

TOP | ANSWERS

Control your own destiny or someone else will.
~ Jack Welch

Walking: One Exercise With Dozens of Benefits

It might not be glamorous, but walking is an excellent low-impact exercise with numerous benefits, such as improving your cardiovascular health, improving circulation, bolstering the immune system and burning calories. In addition, walking is good for the legs, hips and trunk, and can help protect the bones from osteoporosis.

According to many fitness consultants, no other exercise is necessary. If you just walk 30 to 60 minutes a day, you'll do your body good, similar to jogging, aerobics and other vigorous forms of exercise. Following are some other benefits:

1. Walking is super easy, there's nothing to learn, and you don't need to practice. If you are really unfit, obese, or have a minor physical disability, chances are you can still walk. Just start out slow and step up the pace over time. And if you're already healthy and fit, walking will help you stay that way.
2. Walking is free; no expensive equipment or memberships are needed. You can do it any time, any where. The only investment is a good pair of shoes.
3. Walking is safe. It's a rare event that somebody gets injured while walking. Of course, you'll want to walk in a safe neighborhood; if that's not possible, drive to an area that is.
4. Walking can be sociable. Hook up with another family member or friend and walk together. You can actually get some quality time in with someone you like and improve your health at the same time. Sounds like a winner.
5. Walking can help you focus. If you leave your phone and pager at home, you can walk freely and just think. You don't have to solve all your problems, but you can think through your issues and shake off any negativity. Some serious walkers claim the exercise is similar to meditation in its ability to put your mind at ease and focus on enjoying the moment.
6. Walking is fun. OK, maybe not roller coaster fun, but taking in the scenery, breathing fresh air, and living in the moment is rewarding.

Other benefits include reducing the risk of diabetes and breast and colon cancer, improving cognitive function,  alleviating symptoms of depression, and improving physical function while preventing physical disability in older people. With all the benefits of walking, you can get on the path to health and fitness today, one step at a time.

Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street.
~ Zig Ziglar

Spicy Turkey Enchiladas Suizas

Ingredients - Serves 4+

• 8 oz. cooked turkey breast -- diced
• 8 corn tortillas -- stacked and wrapped in foil
• 1-1⁄4 cups green salsa / salsa verde
• 1⁄2 cup sour cream (reduced fat OK)
• 1-1/2 cups Swiss cheese -- shredded
• 1⁄4 cup cilantro -- chopped
• 7 oz. roasted red peppers -- sliced
• Garnish -- diced tomato and sliced scallions

Directions

1. Warm tortillas in oven at 425°F. Prepare a 2-quart baking dish.
2. Mix cilantro, sour cream and salsa in a bowl. Spread 1⁄2 cup over bottom of baking dish. In a separate bowl, combine turkey, 1 cup cheese and roasted peppers. Remove tortillas from oven.
3. Spoon 1⁄2 cup turkey mixture into center of each tortilla, roll, and place seam-side down in baking dish. Pour remaining salsa mixture over top.
4. Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes until bubbly. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Serve and enjoy.

Wine Pairing

• Château Gaillard Touraine Sauvingnon Blanc 2008

A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?
~ Albert Einstein

Quick, Easy Way to Email a Web Page

It's amazing how long you can use a software program and not use some of it's most powerful features. Sending someone a web page link is one of them. The next time you're surfing the web and discover something you want to share with a friend -- just click and share it. Here's how you do it.

Firefox -- Right-click somewhere on the page and select "Send Link." This will launch your default email program with the link imbedded.

Internet Explorer -- While on the page you're viewing, click File, Send, Page by E-mail. You can also send a link by choosing the Page by Link command.

Opera --Right-click on the web page you're sending and select "Link by Mail."

Netscape -- While on the page your viewing, select File, Send Page.

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Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.
~ Wayne Dyer

Cool/Free/Fun/Trendy: The Freecycle Network

Saving, conserving and going green are hot topics, and The Freecycle Network is playing an important role. Similar to a nationwide swap meet -- except no money exchanges hands -- the network is organized into local groups with the goal of reducing waste, saving precious resources and keeping useful toys, furniture, appliances and other products from filling up our landfills.

So, if you have something you need, or something you want to get rid of, check out The Freecycle Network at www.freecycle.org. Membership is free and groups are popping up everywhere.

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Description

Trivia Answers
#1. b.) Florida; #2. c.) Billy Budd; #3. d.) Cardigans; #4. d.) Steven Soderbergh; #5. c.) Edinburgh

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Dana Wagenhals
2029 Grand Ave.
Billings, MT 59102

This eNewsletter contains information, facts and opinions from various individuals and organizations. This eNewsletter is provided on an "as-is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. I/We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Consult with your doctor, fitness consultant, attorney, accountant, or other professional advisor when necessary. © 2009 eNewsletterSolutions.