The Weekender

I just received the condo sales report for Orange County for the month of September and the average Condo in Orange County is listed for $315,528 while the median list price is $299,000.  Just for comparison sake, the average condo in Laguna Woods Village is listed for under $200,000 – that is 1/3rd off what the “average” condo is listed for in Orange County.  I have always said that Laguna Woods Village was a bargain!

Also out this week was the sales report for September.  30 condos sold in Laguna Woods Village for an average purchase price of $240,000.  839 Condos sold in all of Orange County last month for a median  purchase price of $300,000.  Once again, Laguna Woods Village comes in almost 1/3rd less in price on the “buy” side than any other condo in Orange County.  BUT, prices are rising, especially the condos on the low end of the market.  Average days on market has gone down to 102 days, a little more than 3 months on the market for the average listing…  That is down from 150 average days on market 3 months ago.  So we are seeing a trend develop!  WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.  I will put that in caps because I really believe it!  Inventory is going down and there is pent up demand to purchase – at least in Laguna Woods Village – remember, Real Estate is very local, and what is happening here might not be happening everywhere…  If you would like to purchase a home in Laguna Woods Village, call Patrick McNamee at 949-293-7814 or visit his web site at: www.leisureworldre.com

For the past decades new methods of alternative medicine have emerged for diagnostics and treatment of various diseases. It is believed that modern western medicine is not able to offer any effective means to treat certain types of health problems. What are these methods?

Autonomic response testing. One of such methods is the autonomic response testing. The concept of this method is based on using nonspecific reactions of the autonomic nervous system in response to provocative actions, which may cause general stress response. It could be a direct contact with allergens. Advocates of this method believe that close contact between allergen and human body causes their bio-energetic interaction. E.g. contact with wheat may cause body’s stress response where the autonomic nervous system is involved.

Evaluation of treatment effects. It is possible to measure body’s reaction to allergens using methods of express assessment of the autonomic nervous system function. They may be used as auxiliary tools in allergy diagnostics and as instruments to help choosing adequate treatments and dosages.

Measuring reaction of the autonomic nervous system. How to measure reactions of the autonomic nervous system? A muscle testing technique is one of the most popular techniques among specialists practicing alternative medicine. Here is how it works. Patient is asked to stretch an arm and keep it steady. Doctor tries pushing it down but patient must resist. While pushing the patient’s arm the doctor evaluates the strength of patient’s muscular resistance. It was empirically shown that any kind of stress reaction causes muscular strength to drops no matter how the patient consciously tries to resist. A well-trained doctor is able to recognize minute changes in patient’s strength.

During the assessment typical allergens are applied one by one immediately followed by a muscle testing procedure. A diagnostic conclusion is made based on the results of this testing.

However this method of the autonomic response testing may look rather subjective. Are there any more objective methods? Yes, methods of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis may be used too.

HRV analysis as the assessment of the autonomic nervous system. HRV analysis has reputation of a very reliable and accurate quantitative assessment of the autonomic nervous system function. Changes in specific HRV parameters may reflect changes in the autonomic function in response to many stress factors.

What are the tools available for HRV real-time monitoring? Most professionals and educational institutes, like East Carolina University, NIH and Ithaca College, prefer HRV Live!, a PC-based instrument developed by Biocom Technologies. This tool is good for continuous real-time monitoring of HRV parameters. It has been successfully used to monitor the dynamics of the autonomic function and perform the autonomic response testing in various clinical assessment and treatment procedures.

Commercial dog food can be hazardous to your dog’s overall health. This type of dog food is generally processed food that contains preservatives and additives that you may not want your dog eating. These foods can increase the chances of health problems for you best friend.

A few years back, there was widepsread pet food recalls across the U.S. This incident led to a spike in people wanting to learn how to better protect thier pets by finding dog food recipes and cookbooks. While the reports of tainted pet foods has subsided, the interest in providing a high quality food to your pet hasn’t.

By using some all natural dog food recipes to feed you pet, you can be assured that if another incident happens with the processed dog food, your pet will be safe. Feeding your dog homemade pet food is not has hard or expensive as it sounds. There are several books on the market that shows you how easy it can be.

No I don’t mean the color green, I mean having your dog live an eco-friendly life that also gives him the best quality of life.

Keeping his insides green

Everything starts with a high quality dog food. When you feed an organic dog food you can rest assured your dog is eating a nutritionally balanced food that does not include poisons or chemicals.

You know the saying: The healthier the food the healthier the dog. And speaking of health, make sure your vet is eco-friendly. Find out their opinions on vaccinations. There is no dispute vaccinations are needed but as your dog ages their built up immunities may make certain vaccinations unneeded.

Also make sure your vet is keeping up to date on new information. In the case of my cat, Slakk, my first vet had no clue about Feline Diabetes and told me to put him to sleep. My new vet (and still my vet) is not only up to date, she is open to many of the ideas I have brought to her.

Keeping her outsides green

Fleas and ticks are horrible and so are many of the poisons that most people use to kill them. Did you know there are some great organic products out there to help your pets rid these awful pets? Why not try one and see how great it is then tell your friends.

The same goes for pet shampoos and grooming tools – organic pet shampoos and accessories are available. A shiny, healthy coat can be accomplished without additives, chemicals and pesticides.

Making green even greener

Simply taking your dog for a walk is an eco-friendly must do. First, exercise is a key ingredient into a healthy dog and secondly it is good for the pet owner. Life can get so stressful and a nice walk with your best can keep you both in tip top shape.

While I was learning about feline nutrition I was astounded at what I thought I knew that was not true. Here are a few of the things I have learned on the way that I thought I would pass on.

Dry Food helps your cat prevent dental disease

False. Dental disease has no correlation to food choices. Studies have shown there is no difference between cats fed canned cat food or dry.

Most cats that get Feline Urologic Disease eat dry cat food

True. FUS can be prevented by feeding your cat a quality pet food with high protein as this type of food tends to raise your cat’s acidic urine. Acidic urine prevents the growth of germs that cause Feline Urologic Disease.

Feeding your cat a high quality food is expensive

False. The lower the quality of food you feed your cat the more you have to feed of it. Most obesity in cats comes from feeding your cat a low quality food. In order for your cat to get the nutrients they need in these foods they need to eat more. The more they eat the more calories they ingest the more weight they gain.

A Grazing Cat is a Happy Cat

False. In nature a cat makes a kill and eats it. They do not have a refrigerator or ability to can. They kill and eat. Automatic feeders cause your cat’s metabolism to slow and cause obesity (my own cat Slakk in his kitty crack days used to fall asleep with his head in the food bowl). As noted above, there are health implications such as Feline Urologic Disease as well.

Cats can get addicted to food

True. There are a couple of the low quality canned foods that I have fed in the past and it was tough to get the cats off of them. Artificial flavors, tuna, salt and sugar are the main culprits.

Most pet owners will agree that the organic dog food is the best food choice for their dog but many are unable to justify the higher cost. A can or bag of premium organic dog food can cost substancially more than it’s regularcan or bag counterpart. Here are some things that you should keep in mind when making your decision.

You get what you pay for. A premium organic brand of dog food will include human grade meat. This means your pet is getting the best meat, the regular brand will include chicken beaks, intestines liver and whatever is scraped up at the bottom of the a slaughter house and ground up and labeled by-product.

Ease of worry. It seems that every day another major pet food company is recalling their food as the wrong additive or too much additive is found in their food and pets are sick. Many times it is too late to save your pet when they are exposed.

Pets feel better, look healthier. Ask anyone who puts their animal on an organic diet and they will tell you their skin looks better, their coat shinier and have increased energy.   Many pet owners will tell you that their pet is healthier. Better health means less trips to the vet which save money in the long run

Any or all of these reasons should give a pet owner plenty of reasons to switch to organic. If another is needed, one just has to think of the ecological benefits. Organic foods have a smaller carbon footprint, they do not harm the planet.

So no matter what reason, superior ingredients, elimination of poisonous chemicals, better health or simply to be more green, pet owners should look closely into organic dog food for their dog.

Though Lost is a very dramatic serial it has a number of parodies which makes it quite entertaining. If you will go on internet you will find that there are a number of videos of parody on lost and they are very funny ones. There are many lost parodies which are even more successful than others and honestly if these parodies on lost wouldn’t have been there all the seasons of Lost would have been very serious all the time.

When you will go on the web and search for Lost Parody you will see that a number of website like youtube or keepvid are airing parodies on lost from all seasons. Even in the website of ABC Lost you will be able to download Lost Parody videos which are extremely humorous. Lost seasons could not have been so enjoyable if the Lost parody did not exist.

If you have not seen the previous seasons then you certainly missed out the lost parodies, but don’t worry because ABC Network sometimes features these episodes and you can fully enjoy the drama with a dash of Lost Parody. As the next season is about to go on air in 2010 we’ll be able to witness a lot more fun and drama in it.

Lost is aired on ABC Lost and this has made this show and the channel ABC Lost very famous all over US. Lost on ABC was aired on ABC Lost Network a long time back and it all started with the first season. Every one in the US now knows that all the ABC Lost series are superb and hence the popularity of it has increased tremendously. ABC’s Lost a large number of fan following and the airing of it every Wednesday has reserved people on their couches for the ABC Lost Series.

ABC Lost’s 6^th season is going to release in 2010 and the fans are eagerly waiting for this ABC Lost Series. Lost on ABC is very popular among people of all ages and everyone enjoys the drama, tension, and parodies on it to the fullest. Since ABC Lost has started it has been popular al throughout. Lost on ABC by its creators was a great hit, but a website has also been made which has all the features and applications which made its fans very happy.

In the ABC Lost website there are many user friendly application which will give you access to a lot of feature in it. The website of ABC Lost also has some applications like information about ABC Lost Series episodes; there are pictures you can see of Lost on ABC, ABC Lost website will make sure that as you are stuck to the television while watching your favorite show, you also stay connected to the web while surfing ABC Lost’s website. There are numerous shows to download of the ABC Lost Series and they are all free on the ABC Lost website. If you have not seen any particular season or episode on ABC Lost then many videos of Lost on ABC are also available on this website. Other applications on ABC Lost website are special videos of Lost Parody which ABC Lost Series features on ABC Lost network. Get connected to all the fans of Lost on ABC network and you will be able to interact with all of them easily about the different episodes and seasons.

Every one in the US knows till now that Lost on ABC Network has become very famous. In ABC Lost, the 6^th season is going on air in 2010 and it is certain that this season will be there all over the web. ABC Lost has its official website where you will get all the scoops about the show and the stars in bulk. You can even watch free episodes on ABC’s Lost website if you have not seen them before.

ABC lost series 6 is going to start in 2010 and all the fans of ABC Lost are very excited for it. You will see that the network is showing many episodes even of the previous seasons of Lost on ABC. ABC Lost is not an infamous television show it showcases some very serious episodes and some normal ones of al the ABC Lost Series.

The website of ABC Lost also has some applications like information about ABC Lost Series episodes; there are pictures you can see of Lost on ABC, ABC Lost website will make sure that as you are stuck to the television while watching your favorite show, you also stay connected to the web while surfing ABC Lost’s website.

We are asked all the time the best way to clean a custom saddle and thought our first blog would be a great way to do so. Please read all instructions before beginning.

1. To maintain the light color as long as possible, the saddle should be kept covered and out of the light when not in use. Any light, especially sunlight will darken your new saddle gradually.

2. The saddle should not be left in your trailer for extended periods of time. The heat inside the trailer can be damaging to the leather and will cause the silver to tarnish rapidly.

3. If compressed air is available, your dusty saddle should be blown off to remove dust and dirt. A vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment also works well for this task. This should be done after each dusty horse show.

4. Once the saddle is dirty enough to need a thorough clearing it muse be washed or wiped down with a damp cloth. Each part must be cleaned separately; fenders, seat jockey, skirts, etc

5. If washing is necessary, use a mild soap solution such as Harris Blue Foam finish. Do not use saddle soaps since it will darken the leather. Wash each piece with a soft cloth using the blue Foam Finish. A soft brush can also be used if the carving is very dirt. After cleaning each part separately, it must be dried with a towel before washing another part of the saddle. Do not allow the clear to dry on the parts. Also do not rinse the saddle or wash the suede seat.

6. To condition your saddle after cleaning we recommend “Lexol NF”. Please remember that the conditioning process is not necessary to maintain the light color and may alter the color somewhat. Leather conditioning is the option of each individual.

7. If your saddles has silver trim it must be cleaned before you add the protective finish to the leather. Clean the silver with a liquid silver cleaner. We recommend “Goddard Silver Dip”. Using a toothbrush, wash each piece of silver and wipe dry or rinse with cold water and then dry. For tougher silver cleaning jobs a wadding such as “Never Dull” or a paste like “Wenol” is best. These work well in removing lacquer coating that is on some silver trim. Should you use a paste or wadding cleaner, avoid getting the black residue on the leather bordering the silver.

Should this happen, wash off with soapy water. The silver dip also works great to rinse the silver after using wadding or paste cleaners. It is okay to get the silver dip on the leather. Once the silver is clean, shine with a “Goddards Silver Cloth” which will restore the luster and look of a new piece.

8. A protective finish on the leather is the next step. We recommend “Harris Acrylic Finish”. This will add a shine and give your saddle a new look. This should be applied only after the saddle has dried completely. To apply the finish, pour a small amount in a cup or bowl. A soft terry cloth is best to apply the finish to the leather parts. Soak the cloth heavily on one end and apply to all areas that need to shine. Use the dry end of the cloth to soak off heavy applications or runs. Apply evenly to all visible parts of the saddle, except the suede seat. Take care to not get the finish on the suede seat. The finish will dry to a shine in approximately 30 minutes.

9. The last step in cleaning your saddle is to brush the suede seat. A brass bristle brush for suede is best for this.