It was in 1968 that the United States Congress initiated the National Flood Insurance Program so that ensuing related private and business property damage would be reduced. Available through insurance companies and insurance agencies, the coverage is managed and dictated by government laws and can protect the property owner from damage caused by flooding.

A Standard Insurance policy for a dwelling is meant as coverage for a one, two, three or four-family residential building, as well as a single-family home.

A general property flood policy can insure five or more family residential buildings, as well as buildings that are not used for a residence.

A Residential Condominium Building Association policy can insure a residential condo association building.

This type of policy should incorporate two types of related coverage: building property and personal property, defined as the contents in your premises.

Three Essential Things about a Related Insurance Policy

• Contents coverage needs to be purchased independently from the building coverage.

• Flood Insurance is not a valued coverage, meaning, it only covers the actual damages up to the policy’s limit.

• Flood Insurance does not feature guaranteed replacement cost coverage that is not bound to limits. Flood insurance only pays for damages up to the policy limit.

More Things to Understand

It is important to note that the government-run program provides special consideration when there are numerous flood claims submitted by the same policyholder. Officially regarded as ‘severe repetitive loss’, where intervention may be warranted to prevent future losses, these claims may result in an offer of a FEMA mitigation grant if applicable.

Acceptance of the grant is voluntary, but any policyholder that declines the opportunity for government-funded improvements that are designed to reduce the likelihood of property flood damage, may be strapped with a rate increase that is equivalent to one-hundred-fifty percent of the rate charged for property when the grant was offered.

Policyholders with severe repetitive loss property can be eligible for the grant if the following conditions are present:

• 4 or more different insurance claim payments (including building/contents payments) have been issued and every one of them is more than $5,000

Or

• A minimum of 2 different flood insurance building claim payments have been issued that all together are more than the current property value

For more about flood insurance and how a respective policy can be tailored to your individual needs, please contact an experienced independent agency.

It’s been almost three years since I’ve posted an article here. So much has happened in that time. Let me tell you.
I published my book. In May 2017 it was published. I was proud of myself for the accomplishment and then it was over and life moved on.

In Oct 2017 Doug and I moved to Florida. We took my parents with us and moved 1000 miles away from our kids and grandkids. There were a lot of reasons why. Go read my article on detaching with love and you’ll have an idea of what was behind the move. Anyway, it was done. With the move came a lot of activity and business that lasted well over two years. Moving to a new state is a lot! And it took time to get acclimated. Heck I still am getting acclimated! Also in May of 2017 I started selling travel again. This is something I did for awhile back in 2007 and enjoyed very much. I was a Realtor for about 13 years and found it to be extremely stressful. I found travel to be very similar to Real Estate in so many ways; without all the stress.

So I had a new life, new home, new business and things were going very well. I love Florida and especially love the part of Florida we moved to. It’s in the Northeast part of the state. I researched and visited the place for a few years before deciding on it. Ya all know I wasn’t going back to Orlando! So, as I said, things were going well! In my travel business I specialize in cruising and living in Florida is great for that particular specialization! I also decided to start vlogging my personal cruises. To that end I started a YouTube channel. I’ve had the channel for about 4 years but have only gotten serious about it in the last year. I’m finally consistent in my uploads and I think I’m on my way to having some idea of what I’m doing! Haha

As you can see life has taken a turn from writing to travel. It’s not a bad thing, but I have had recent traumas in my life that have made me gravitate back towards my writing days. Mostly because they were also the most spiritual days of my life. The greatest trauma I experienced in 2019 was the very short (3 months) fierce battle my brother fought against pancreatic cancer and lost. That has rocked my world and caused a rift between me and God. My brothers passing occurred in June, June 21st to be exact, and for the last 6.5 months I’ve been drowning. I don’t know how else to describe it. But what I do know is this- it has to stop. I have to find my way back.

For some reason when I started my travel business I let go of my writing. I didn’t think the two could co-exist in my life. After my brothers passing and my inability to handle it well- I’ve come to the conclusion that they must learn to co-exist! I’ve reached the end of my rope here. I have no options left. Nothing is working to help dig myself out of this dark hole I’ve fallen into. And giving up my writing, because the content is not about my cruise business, well that just isn’t working for me anymore!

So here I am. Back at writing. I’m going to learn to combine my beliefs in gratitude, forgiveness, encouragement and the power of love with my love of cruising and vlogging! I’m hoping I’ll figure this out and somehow one love will support the other. Encouraging them to grow and enrich my life and maybe some one else along the way. I do not know what this all means. I do not know if it means I combine the two projects or if it means I use one to enhance the other! I just don’t know! But what I do know is there is nothing more spiritual, to me, than being on the ocean at sunrise. So that’s where I’ll start!

Good morning!

You are a beautiful and amazing person and you have value!

Do you know what that means? That means that you yourself have a unique ability to impact the world in a way that no one else can. There is something about you that no one else has and I want to talk to you about that for just for a minute okay.You need to understand that you yourself – you alone possess what is uniquely you. There is nobody else that can be you no matter how hard they try. It is impossible for them to be you!

In the same regard, it’s impossible for you to be somebody else. So don’t try to compare yourself to another person. Don’t compare yourself to their results, to their path, to their journey… it’s irrelevant. The only thing that is relevant is “What is your journey? How are you going to take the steps necessary on a consistent regular basis to get you where you need to go?”

Your outcomes are your outcomes alone your no one else’s. No one else can achieve them. No one else can appreciate them and no one else will value them the way that you value them.So go after them 100% with your whole heart. Take hold of them ahead of time. What I mean by that is you to reach out into your future and grab hold of the emotional state that you’re going to enjoy when you have attained your outcomes. Hold that feeling on the inside because when it becomes real – it becomes attainable, and if it’s attainable it’s yours so today!

Remember that you have immense value.

There is unlimited potential within you.

There is nothing outside of you that can hold you back once you set your course to your outcome.

Did you know that you can buy and sell used panties? Here are a few things you should be aware of about the trade:

Buying of old panties

There are many reasons why people would buy old underwear:

Collectors: These simply collect the underwear and store them. They are similar to car collectors, but now they are passionate of the panties. They collect the garments depending on the material, color, design, and even the brand. In most cases, these types of buyers will be interested in clothes that are rare and from a particular era.

Broke: As you know, used products are cheaper than their new counterparts. Some people will get online and buy the used undergarments as they can’t buy the new ones. In most cases, people that will buy these are those that have a preference for an individual design or brand but can’t afford it when new.

Fetish: These are the most common types of buyers. Some are women, but most are men. Just as some people that have feet, hand, boob fetish, some people have a fetish for used underwear. These often don’t care about the brand or design of the panties. As long as its worn, they will buy it.

Selling of used underwear

Just as there are many types of buyers for the old panties, there are many types of sellers of the units. You can decide to sell the units if you are broke and you have a pair of panties that you don’t use. If they are in good shape and you don’t wear them regularly, you can sell them online and make some money.

You can also consider selling your undies if you have an expensive pair such a corset that you don’t wear. Since you bought it at a high price, there is no reason letting it collect dust in the closet when you can make some money from it.

Do you love the feeling that someone is admiring your garment? You should consider selling your panties online. There are people out there who will worship your undies thus making you feel good about yourself and also make some money out of it.

Tips to consider when buying and selling used panties

For you to get the most out of the trade, use a reputable site. Due to the magnitude of the trade, many sites have come up. As a buyer, some of these sites will ask you to make your payments and fail to send you the used panty. For peace of mind, always do your research and ensure that you are trading with a reputable company.

As a seller, you will be dealing with different types of buyers. The fetish customers will have many demands. Some will ask you to wear the panty for a certain length of time. Others will require that you engage in different activities such as running and many others. Those that collect the underwear will be interested in seeing the design and look of the outfit. It’s up to you to decide the type of buyers that you want to work with.

If you are thinking about learning to kitesurf but you are too frightened, or you think that you are not made for it, rest assured that you are not the only one who feels that way. Many people feel the same way, and many give up before even contacting a professional instructor. In our quest to put people at ease and answer some of the most commonly asked questions about learning to kitesurf, we have teamed up with our friend and experienced kitesurfing instructor, Mahmoud Elneny who teaches in Egypt, Red Sea Zone.

Is kitesurfing easy to learn?

Kitesurfing is like any other sport, some people have more talent for it, some others less. How quickly you can learn kitesurfing depends of a few factors: for example, where are you learning kitesurfing. If you are taking classes in a spot that has shallow water, good wind conditions and it’s not too crowded, then you stand a better chance in learning quicker. However, if you choose a spot that has waves, gusty wind, or is very crowded, it might take you longer, as you’ll be spending more time walking with the kite rather than trying to get on the board.

Can girls learn to kitesurf?

Yes, many girls do kitesurf already and the sport is becoming increasingly popular with girls. They are very quick to learn, and they seem to enjoy themselves a lot when they are riding.

Do I need to be a good swimmer before learning to kitesurf?

When you are kitesurfing, you are above water. But, yes, you need to be at least comfortable in the water and be able to swim a little. Of course, it is advisable to wear flotation device when you are going in deep water.

Do I need strong legs and arms? Which muscles are most solicited in kitesurfing?

When you are kitesurfing, you are pulled on the water by the kite, which is connected to you through the harness. But you will be using your legs to maintain your position, and your arms to steer the kite. The most solicited muscles are normally your thighs and core muscles. Paradoxically, the more you will be kitesurfing, the stronger you are but you don’t need to use your muscles so much because your technique improves. So, the better you are technically, the less physical effort will be required.

How young/old one must be to learn kitesurfing?

For insurance purposes, the school can only teach students that are over 15 years old. But, privately, we can teach younger people too. The youngest student I’ve had here, privately was an 8 years old boy from Germany. Both his parents are kitesurfers and were very keen for their offspring to learn as early as possible.

The oldest student we had was a 70 years old gentleman from Italy. He is still full of life and wants to enjoy it to the maximum.

What is the most difficult thing when learning kitesurfing?

Kitesurfing, for beginners, can feel a little bit counter intuitive. If you ride a bike for example, you go faster if you pedal with more energy. In kitesurfing, you get the energy from the wind which pulls the kite, so you don’t need to use force to go faster. You need to harness the wind by piloting the kite. So, our first focus is to teach the student how to effectively pilot the kite and harness the power of the wind. After that, it’s the balance and working with the board.

Going through a divorce is arguably one of the worst things you’ll have to go through in your life. Emotionally, going through a divorce is analogous to go into a death in the family. The proper term for a divorce in the state of California is “dissolution of marriage.”

The difference between a divorce and legal separation, is that in a divorce, formal dissolution of marriage paperwork has been filed with the court to terminate the marriage, whereas a legal separation can occur either by filing papers for legal separation with the court, or by one of the parties in a marriage deciding to separate with the intent to permanently end the marriage. It should be noted that a legal separation can occur even if the parties still live together.

The difference between a divorce and an annulment is that in the case of an annulment, the marriage is void, voidable, or not legal from its inception. In most cases it’s much more difficult to obtain an annulment, then a divorce.

A divorce involves the legal termination of a marriage by court order. A divorce is not final in California until a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order stating that the marriage has been terminated.

In California, there are two types of dissolution of marriage proceedings are available; (1) Summary dissolution of marriage, and (2) Standard dissolution of marriage. Most marriages will not qualify for the summary dissolution of marriage procedure that is available in California.

Marriages can be contested proceedings, uncontested, or by way of a default judgment when one of the parties cannot be located, or refuses to participate in the proceeding.

California is one of the so-called “no-fault” divorce states. The most common ground for requesting a divorce in the state of California is irreconcilable differences. A party can also request a divorce on the grounds of death, or insanity.

The most common issues involved in a divorce case in the state a California are: dissolution of marriage, child custody, child visitation, child support, alimony which is actually known as spousal support in California, family support, the division of community property, determination of separate property, the division and/or allocation of community businesses, and the division and/or allocation of retirement plans.

Due to the complex nature of family law litigation in the state of California, we highly recommend retaining an attorney to represent you. Our law firm can represent you in your divorce proceeding, and all the issues related thereto. Our law firm can also provide limited representation for you with respect to certain issues related to your family Law case. We can even do document preparation for you if you decide not to retain an attorney. You may call us now for a free consultation at 818-739-1544 extension 10.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq. © 2006

Many of today’s reptile keepers are very well informed consumers who have done their research online about the pet lizard they are about to acquire. There are also a number of popular shows that focus on reptiles and amphibians from around the world that help broaden the average person’s understanding of these rare and exotic animals. Unfortunately there are still a few myths and misconceptions about lizards and we hope to dispel some of the more obvious ones in this article.

One of the most common misconceptions that seems to be held by most newbie reptile enthusiasts is that all large lizards are Komodo Dragons. Komodos seem to be the King Kong of the Monitor Lizards with their impressive size and their infamous name. The fact is that only zoos can house, display and breed Komodo Dragons and every single one is the property of the Indonesian Government which strictly prohibits the access to these rare creatures. They are found on five Islands in Indonesia where they are a huge draw for tourists and bring in a large portion of the local peoples income. Although a close relative of the Komodo Lizard that gets very large in size is the Indonesian Water Monitor, those animals can be sold and are not protected so they are normally the source of the misconception.

Another misconception about lizards for sale in captivity is based on the Caiman Lizards of Central America. These brightly colored cousins of the Tegu Lizard have a broad plated body that is very close in appearance to their namesake the South American Caiman. They grow to a manageable adult size of four feet in length and are normally found on or near tree branches over hanging rivers in Paraguay, Peru and Colombia. Although they have very sharp teeth that they use to capture and crush their prey consisting of snails, fish and invertebrates, Caiman Lizards in captivity are calm and easy to handle. They can also be kept on a diet consisting of canned food, frozen snails and ground turkey or monitor and tegu diet.

Another misconception is that all lizards have the ability to regenerate their tails when in reality this is a rather confusing ability for some lizards and geckos while an impossibility for others. The amazing ability of regenerating a body part exists in most geckos, most iguanas and tegus while their close relatives completely lack that ability. Although the regenerated tail will never look the same as the original the replacement is functional and a whole lot better than a stump. It is even possible for some of these animals to grow a forked or branched tail if the damaged are is minor and not a complete break.

While many questions regarding Lizards and their habits and habitats have been answered by the hard work of researchers and breeders around the world there are still many interesting facts that will come to light in the future. As always do your due diligence and find out about the individual pet lizard’s needs when it comes to diet, lighting, habitat size and longevity before making a purchase.

We recommend workers compensation lawyers who work almost exclusively in the workers compensation industry and have years of experience with hand and wrist injuries. Generally, it is advantageous to hire an attorney who has experience with a specific injury, because experienced attorneys are more likely to obtain the maximum benefits for injuries allowed by Illinois law.

The following information is a brief overview of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by a wide range of factors including pregnancy, repetitive bending of the wrist, repetitive forceful grasping of the hands, typing, menopause, thyroid disease, arthritis, and wrist fractures.

CTS is named after the tunnel that hosts the median nerve that travels from the wrist to the forearm. The tunnel also contains nine tendons that connect muscles to the wrist bone, allowing fingers to move. When the membrane surrounding those tendons becomes inflamed, it causes pain, swelling and numbness in the hand.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CTS affects more than eight million people nation wide, and is the most common stress injury in workers compensation. Symptoms include numbness and pain in the hand that extends up the arm and sometimes into the shoulders, which can lead to clumsiness while handling objects. If you think that you might be experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor who specializes in CTS. To determine whether you have this injury doctors administer a nerve conduction study or EMG. Sometimes, however, itcan still be present when the test is normal.

Carpal Tunnel Treatments

The goal of treatment is to decrease the swelling of the inflamed membrane and relieve pressure on the median nerve. Early detection of and treatment reduces the chances that wrist surgery will be necessary.

If caught early, a doctor may only prescribe a splint that prevents the wrists from bending to relieve pressure on the nerve. Doctors can also proscribe anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling and relieve pressure on the nerve. More severe cases of CTS require cortisone injections to the carpal tunnel to relieve swelling of the membrane.

If treatment doesn’t work, surgery may be necessary. Over 200,000 carpal tunnel surgeries are performed each year, so it is very common. Doctors refer to this surgery as a release surgery. Surgery essentially entails a doctor cutting the ligament that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel. A local anesthetic is used so that the surgery is painless and so that patients don’t have to spend a night in the hospital.

Workers Compensation for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

When CTS arises out of a work related activity, a worker can expect to recover all money that is spent on medical costs, including co-payments and out of pocket expenses. Workers can also recover lost wages when treatment requires absence from work. Thus, overall compensation depends on the severity of the injury, and the value of any lost wages. To get an estimate of what your injury may be worth, call us and we can connect you with an experienced workers compensation attorney.

Other Repetitive Stress Injuries:

Other injuries can also involve symptoms that are similar to CTS. Sometimes workers who think they have CTS actually have injuries such as radial tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve compression, cubital tunnel syndrome or DeQuervian’s tenosynovitis. If you call us, we can refer you to an attorney who is experienced with handling cases involving injuries like these.

We’ve all heard about the power of positive thinking, and many have really tried to think positively but may not have noticed the results they desired. Read on and see how positive attitudes can bring about positive results.

A Positive Attitude Doesn’t Mean Ignoring the Obvious

Some people would like you to believe that you can change the world by merely pretending that everything is wonderful, no matter how bad your situation is. Positive thinking isn’t ignoring the obvious, but ignoring the obvious can be detrimental and demoralizing.

Positive attitude is instead, a process of finding something positive in every situation, even the bleakest. Looking at the positive side will usually allow you the clarity of thought to find new ways to move out of bad situations into better ones, and eventually to good or great situations. Conversely, looking at the negative side of a situation blocks creativity and thought, and generally leads to more negative situations.

Benefits to a Positive Attitude

Positive thinking brings about benefits that you wouldn’t at first imagine. A mental attitude that expects good or favorable results helps mould our behavior towards activities that create a positive environment. Generally, a positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and success in whatever endeavor you attempt. When you do encounter less than favorable circumstances, you will find you are more resourceful than someone that does not have a positive attitude, thereby helping insure your success.

Henry Ford was known to say “Whether you think you can or think you cannot, you are right.”

This particularly rings true when it comes to keeping a positive attitude.

Beyond Mere Attitude

Actually, calling attitude “mere” may be doing it disservice, as your attitude is the result of quite a number of factors, the least of which may be your conscious actions. However, it is clear that your conscious actions greatly affect your attitude. While you may not think so at first, you CAN affect your attitude through some very powerful tools that are relatively simple and easy to implement.

First, watch yourself and see how you talk. Back in the early or mid ’90s, I attended a series of lectures by Gregg Braden, and one of the thins he brought up during one of the breaks was the concept of positive speech. With positive speech, you make statements that are positive in relation to what you do, want or need, instead of negative ones. This deliberate speech moves you to a more positive way of being that can radically affect your attitude. Yes, they are a form of affirmation. I was particularly interested in a habit he had of “canceling” phrases we use every day. Whenever he would say something that could be interpreted literally, such as “I laughed so hard I nearly died”, he would follow it with “cancel that thought” as soon as he realized it could have been mis-interpreted. If you say “I want this thing” the universe allows you to want, instead of helping you provide it. If, as you watch yourself, you find that you are using a lot of phrases that could be considered negative, try to change how you speak. Every little change you make in turning your speech positive will help improve your attitude, and that will help make you life more positive.

Changing Your Life With a Positive Attitude

As you change your speech, you will find your attitude improves. To further help, try to avoid the habit of complaining about what isn’t right, or isn’t going the way you wish it would. the universe interprets your statements as statements of fact. If you state things in a positive manner as if they have already happened, they are much more likely to happen. On the other hand, if you continually dwell on the negative side, and complain (especially to others you think may share your pain), you only reinforce those negative actions and bring more of them to yourself. A positive attitude begins with positive speech. By avoiding speaking negative things, you can lessen the power you give to the negative and begin to move you energy to the positive. With each negative you no longer express, and each positive thing you do express, the closer you get to a better, more positive attitude, and with it, a more positive life.

I have seen many cases in my own life where the above concepts were proven true and effective, and watched others descend into relative pits of negativity because they were apparently unable to accept that positive speech and actions could make even the smallest change in their situation. I have personally been in more than one situation where I could find little positive to see, and had to be reminded by someone else outside of the direct effect to see even the smallest positive. Once I did find the first positive element, then built one upon another and before long I was out of the negative pit and back with a positive attitude.

The universe operates much as if it were this immense conscious computer, and our speech and attitude were the programming that determined what was to come. How and what we think has a profound effect on our individual future.

As a parting comment, I again repeat the words of Henry Ford:

“Whether you think you can or think you cannot, you are right.”

There are things that a woman can do to shame her man or make him feel bad about himself. Men, even though they may not openly show it, are vulnerable and have a fear of being hurt. They are not as emotionally “tough” as they might try to portray. Women are often surprised to discover this and men are not very quick to bring it to a woman’s attention.

Here are 10 things that women do that can lead to a man feeling bad about himself and, ultimately about her and about the relationship.

1. Flirt with someone else when he is around.

2. Make fun of him, especially when someone else is around.

3. Ignore him when he asks you a question.

4. Talk frequently and at length about all of the wonderful things about another man, like a guy at work, the man next door or one of his friends.

5. Turn your head when he tries to kiss you or refuse to hold his hand if he reaches out in a gentle and loving way.

6. Never ask about his day, his work or his activities but tell him a lot about yours.

7. Talk negatively about his mother or his best friend.

8. “Forget” about a date, cancel at the last minute or just stand him up.

9. Poke fun, even in good humor, about some aspect of his physique or one of his habits.

10. Roll your eyes, sneer, or in any other ways, put down or make fun of what he says or how he expresses himself.