Real Estate & Investing

Solar Panels and plumbing, not two things people usually connect with each other.  Installing solar panels for alternative means harnessing energy for electricity.  This extends from the use of lights and appliances, to the water heater.  All over the country, in cities from Phoenix to Manhattan, from San Diego to Baltimore, plumbing companies have been getting on the “green wagon” and offering services that are in conjunction with alternative forms of energy.  And this is a great thing.

Installing solar panels, means that not only will your electricity bill go down, you will get, for the next forty plus years, free hot water.  Yes, free.  The initial installation will cost some money, many government programs offer rebates, but savings in the first few months will pay for the installation.  Over the years the savings will total in the thousands, not to mention the added equity to the value of your home.  A solar water heater is the easiest way to initially invest in renewable and alternative energy.  And it just feels right, as taking a hot bath in water heated by the sun, feels natural…for those who dig that kind of thing.  That’s wear heat should come from right? From the sun, not from wires and fuses.

Solar energy has been in use for years, and the technology behind it has stood the test of time.  The solar water heater is reliable and efficient.  Some of the models vary, but they all store the heat in a collector, and then transfer that heat to the water heater, where it is stored until it is ready to be used.  By choosing to go solar not only will you save money, but you will be doing the environment a great service.  Solar water heaters offset approximately fifteen thousand pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, thus having a drastic effect the greenhouse effect.  This is one of the easiest, big things that you can do for yourself, and for the environment.

The majority of people run into a time in their lives when they feel the need to see a counselor. It could be after a loss or in the midst of a big transition. The leading Scottsdale counselor and energy coach, says that the stigma associated with counseling is almost gone. Most people understand its value and respect those that seek help when they need it most.

By the early 17th Century metaphors about maps were so easily recognized that poets such as John Donne and William Shakespeare were quoting them in their works, in their prose and their plays.  North America had been ‘discovered’ and was often times referred to as a female persona throughout Europe.  The world globe had been mapped and many people were carrying around atlas’s in their pockets.

During this time, a road map was more than a map about the physical, it was the beginning of the concept that was used to explore and to make sense of the inner and the outer worlds as well as the world of science.  The people of the seventeenth century had one hundred years of world travel and exploration behind them, and they knew exactly was was meant in the references made by Donne and Shakespeare.

The world map collection known now as the “atlas” was first published by Ortelius, but the name was not coined by him.  Gerard Mercator was the first person to use the term.  He used this term not in reference to the Titan of the same name, mythologically reported to have to support on his head, the heavens, but it was a reference to a King of Libya.  He was the scientist, the astronomer and the philosopher who is reported to have made the first globe representing the world.

His atlas was a piece of work that he had devoted twenty-five of his life to completing, and had not finished it by the time of his death.  There were two sections to the atlas, one that was published in 1585 and the second part in 1589.  His son, Rumold, completed the atlas for him in 1595.  This was a time not only of scientific exploration, but of the surrounding realms as well.  The lower world, the heavens, and the map of the human spirit.  It was a time of wonder and discovery, one that carries through to modern times…when we are still searching for scientific knowledge as well as the knowledge of our human souls.

Do you enjoy singing with your family by a nice cozy Napoleon Stove? It is a perfect way to enjoy time with your loved ones. Maybe you have a list of songs or a song book that you already like to play together. Well now that you can already play the guitar or piano and sing together, how about creating your own songs to sing together. It would add even more pride to your family time. So what does it take to make your own song? Well, there are a few key things that would help.

If you can already play an instrument then you have already learned a few musical chords. It also helps if you can read a bit of music and know some of the theory of music. But let’s just say you want to make a song with the knowledge of the few chords you do know from learning other songs. That is doable. So take three or four chords and start some sort of progression with them. Which means put them in and order. Then add a rhythm to it. This would come with how you strum your guitar or play on the piano in a certain time. Then listen to the combination of rhythm and chord progression on its own for a few rounds. Do you hear any melodies in your head? Just listen and let any melodies come to your mind. Then start to sing. Even if it is just La la la la. Just get an idea of where you melody wants to go.

Now it is time to pick a topic. To get an idea of what to write about just soak up your moment. Who you are with, what you are talking about, where you are, maybe the fire itself can all become apart of your special song. You can rhyme your words if you want to but it is not necessary. Let everyone add a line or two so that everyone feels included. Top it off with some fun harmonies and Wa La you have created a song together as a family.

Well after you have had a good nights sleep in one of the hotels Lisboa has to offer you really need to get over to the Belem Tower. It is also known as the Tower of St Vincent. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It represents the early maritime discoveries of the Portuguese. King John II commissioned this tower to be built as a part of the defense of the city but also as a gateway to Lisbon. What you will discover about this tower is that it was built with a variety of architectural styles but it is mainly a Portuguese Manueline style. It was built out of limestone for the most part and it stands about 100 feet tall, which is like four stories high. Originally the town was built on a small island near the shore of the Tagus River.

From the water the tower looks like a miniature castle. The Bastion terrace has some nice features with the virgin with child in the foreground and then the sloped roof and arches showing off the Renaissance loggia. The view from the inner cloister of the tower is beautiful as it peaks out to the sea and distant land. The bastion is one of my favorite areas to look at. It is an amazing casemate curving around and lights up with the natural lighting. Then the turrets and cupolas show the moorish style but with the Manueline cross.

It sure is amazing to feel the cool ocean air as it blows through the tower walls and windows. It take you back to the time of kings and Queens and the battles they entertained. King John II started this construction and King Manuel I finished it. It was designed by a military architect named Francisco de Arruda. The tower was dedicated to the beloved Saint Vincent. It was used as a fortress by Spanish troops as they fought for the Portuguese throne. It was also used as a political prison. If people were migrating to Lisbon they would come here first.

What is one of the things that makes trudging through the snow in the colder states, climbing the stairs in your apartment building, and stepping into your home, so delicious?  It is the warmth provided by well crafted fireplaces and wood stoves.  Add to that that having an efficient model will serve to lower your monthly electric bill, the warm scent of burning wood such as cedar will have a soothing effect on your soul, and create a homey and very cozy atmosphere, something that is necessary when the world outside is cold, and black and white without the green leaves on the trees or flowers lining the trellis.

What you need to know about wood burning stoves is that the right wood makes a difference in the heat that they will provide, and should you need more circulation of the heat, blowers can add this feature without creating much of an added expense.  Many people have recently made the switch to the gas fueled fireplaces and stoves, and while this is convenient with a flip of a switch, and is less of a clean-up, there really is nothing that is so aesthetically appealing as a fire in a wood burning unit.

The ambiance that is produced is just very difficult to match, even though the “logs” in a gas fireplace may look realistic.  They do no snap and pop like the real thing does.  One aspect of the “right” wood, is that you simply need to make certain that that wood is dry.  Also, if you are trying to burn green wood, be aware that it is just about fifty percent water, so lighting it and keeping it burning may be a bit of a challenge.

The wood must be cut in advance and given proper time to dry out thoroughly.  If you do manage to get the green wood lit, the creosote fumes will build up faster and thicker in your chimney, and not only means that you will need to clean the chimney more often, it could become in and of itself, a fire hazard.  It just takes a bit of time, to learn about a fireplace should you choose to add one to your home, and it is well worth the investment.

Connecting with the larger worlds around you is a part of every journey, and it’s what makes a job fulfilling, and a relationship vibrant.  It’s the ability to leave your small spheres of concerns and let go of the ego enough to enter into another realm for at least a little while.  It’s nothing less that opening up your world to allow for other ideas and perspectives to come into play.  To enter, you have to be able to suspend judgement, in order to see things as they really are.  It’s a beautiful process, but it can also be very difficult, because sometimes it’s difficult to tell if you’re sleeping or awake.

However, the interesting contradiction here is that in order to enter into another world that’s outside of your ego, you have to be able to replenish the personal reserves, and that means having access to solitude and quiet time.  A personal spa in your own home can be like a portal to another world, in a sense, and often it’s the portal to your own world, or your own private Idaho.  Deciding which spa is right for you, then, is very important, because it will become a touchstone for your personal growth, and it’s certainly going to be a place of respite and regeneration.

Working with choosehottubsdirect.com is a great way to go, because of the excellent customer service and selection.  You can leave your worries behind, because you’re working with a company that works closely with their customers every step of the way.  This means you can focus on the serenity you’re looking for, and spend time considering what it will look like.  You can also start to daydream about the days to come, when you can climb out of the world of responsibility and into your own space again, and let the relaxation carry you away to a very splendid place.

Kyle and Tom had been saving up for a trip to Europe for three years. They began this project during their sophomore year in college, which is also the year they met. They happened to take French together and ended up as partners during a few exercises. And as sometimes happens, they just hit it off together and became instant friends. They spent a lot of time together that semester and during a particular class discussion about the prevalence of the French language throughout the world the two almost spontaneously said they should at least explore Europe and speak French wherever they could.

This transitioned into an actual plan to travel to Europe and explore as many of the countries as they possibly could. They began in France and traveled east before returning back in the opposite direction. They got as far as the Netherlands and when they arrived in Amsterdam, they decided it was definitely the end of the road. It was absolutely the most amazing city either of them had ever experienced and they decided to spend the rest of their trip in that city.

So they chose the best Amsterdam hotel and settled in, for four days, but still they settled in. They enjoyed many of the standard tourist attraction areas and aspects of the city though they were mostly interested in some of the incredible historic buildings and landmarks of the city. They spent an entire afternoon in the Van Gogh Museum, which both of them loved. Tom in particular was a major fan of Vincent Van Gogh and loved the fact that this museum had the largest collection in the world of his drawings and paintings. Kyle was interested in exploring the work of Van Gogh’s contemporaries though they both had a great time that day. And while they didn’t get to visit every city and country they wanted to, this was definitely an amazing trip and they decided to come back as often as they could.

Developing a sense of community, that is what the business of TransGlobe Property Management is all about.  Choosing to move to a city halfway around the world was not an easy choice to make.  But I had been to London once, ten years ago, and could not get the vibe of that city out of my system.  On that first trip, an older gentlemen actually sang a Bob Dylan song to me as I passed him on the street.  He knew by my accent that I was American, and the song did serve to make me feel right at home.

The decision to move to London was prompted by a friend, who had also been on that first trip.  We were then, part of a theatre company getting ready, and resting up, for our next three weeks of performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  While I had turned from theatre to the visual arts world of painting she had become a playwright, and with our hearts set on the UK, we decided to just simply go for it.  Having no idea where to look for an apartment and studio spaces, we turned to the staff at TransGlobe Property Management, and they did indeed provide us with what we needed, on both counts.

Not only did we have a great new flat, but we also found a work space, with big windows for me and my paintings, and the perfect spot for her to write her new plays.   The buildings were well kept and cared for, and the other tenants matched our own specific personalities.  The employees at TransGlobe, whom now we know are backed with years of experience, knew what we wanted and needed before we did.  This made our move across the world, less stressful…it made it great actually.  Now she writes, and I paint, in London.  We had pretending ten years earlier, that we actually lived there, and were heading to the theatre because it was our job.  Now the arts are our jobs, and we still sometimes, have a hard time believing it.

Our planet consists mainly of water.  Our bodies are made up, mainly of water.  Without it we would not be capable of surviving.  The tides have conjured emotion, and the many people, depending on their belief systems and ideologies, consider the earth to be one living being.  And as we as humans are extensions of this planet, many cultures throughout history have contended that because of the similar elements, we are all just part of the one big whole.  This has led many to the shores of bodies of water, one of the four basic elements,  along with fire, air, and earth, to worship, to participate in rituals and celebrations, and to be affected by the healing properties of that water.

One scientist from Japan, has created scientific studies on water and the crystal elements in water.  When the water taken from all parts of the globe, are placed under his microscope, the patters of the crystals will change, forming complex shapes when spoken to with kindness and love.  Now, whether one believes this is up to each person, but throughout history, the healing properties of water, be it in the salt waters of the seas, the fresh waters of natural springs, or the warm waters of hot tubs and spas, the health benefits of water can simply not be denied.

Many people now are able to afford their own personal hot tubs, and check the site choosehottubsdirect.com to check out the options and learn more about home hot tub installation.  By adding this elegant appliance to you home and to your life, you will experience what people throughout the ages have, and that is the calming and peaceful effects of immersing yourself for a soak, in the quiet and the privacy of your own backyard.  You will be relaxed and rejuvenated, all at once, your concerns will melt away, and your slumber will be filled with perhaps…thoughts of delicate and complex crystal sculptures.