Archive for September, 2009

September 28th, 2009

Glad I got a two person hot tub!

I have really been enjoying my two person hot tubs. I am so glad I had it installed. I was thinking of going bigger and finally decided on the two person size. I have the room for a larger tub, I just didn’t want to go to the added expense of larger tub at the time I had it installed. However now in retrospect I am really glad I got the smaller size. Not only for the easy of maintenance, how quickly I can change the water and refill when necessary and the smaller volume of water heats faster. But also that my friends know it is not big and as much as they would like to come and use my tub with me they know it not big enough. It saves me from having to up set them and say no to coming over if there is simply no room for them. I never thought I would be happy I settled for a smaller tub, in fact in retrospect I though I would be sorry I had got a smaller tub and not gone with something larger. Well no!

I just love coming home and being able to soak in my tub in peace and quiet all alone. I really enjoy getting away from people and having that time. Now just about every day I can come home and take  out an hour or so for a relaxing soak. I enjoy feeling the stress and tension of the day dissolve into the hot bubbling waters. My muscles loosen up and aches and pains are washed away. Since begin using my hot tub I am sleeping much more soundly and waking up feeling much more refreshed than I have in years! My only real regret is that I didn’t get a hot tub sooner.

September 28th, 2009

Legal Professionals and Customer Service

Costumer service is an important aspect of most careers and work fields, though it is often only associated with retail, restaurant and direct service oriented jobs. However, it is important to realize that most professions deal with a costumer of some type and this includes the medical and legal professions among many others. It is easy to feel that fields such as these are actually doing the client the favor and costumer service priorities can often take a back seat to both the provider and the consumer. In his own work, Steve Barbarich recognizes the need for all purpose awareness of costumer service, satisfaction and trust. And he is aware that this actually accounts for a much higher portion of overall satisfaction of a consumer in any field, though it is frequently overlooked.

When a client approaches a lawyer or paralegal they are usually in a difficult situation and are more concerned with having the problem corrected than with the details of how they are treated in the office. This is what one would expect when looking at a simple list of client priorities when dealing with their legal professional. However, knowing the specifics of proper client respect and interaction actually makes all the difference in regards to the client’s trust and belief in not only the lawyers abilities but also in having faith they are actually on the client’s side. Believing that the lawyer is there for you has a major affect on the client’s trust in the outcome. And at the point where one requires the services of a law professional, it is certainly a time when trust in their ability and commitment to the case matters. This means that taking time to discuss things with the client is important, as well as looking them in the eye and actually talking with them, not to them. Promptly returning phone calls and speaking with respect to the client are also important.

September 26th, 2009

Enjoying my friends hot tub

I have been having such a great time here at my friends place, enjoying the hot tub while my friends are on vacation and I am watching their house and pets for them. Their hottubs is on a deck about 8 feet over their back yard. The yard is full of beautiful plants and lovely blooming flowers. At the end of the yard are some huge trees, so beautiful and very tall. I have been enjoying watching them sway in the late afternoon summer breeze wile soaking in the hot tub. I have been enjoying it so much I have to say I am seriously considering getting one for my own place now.

The relaxation is unbeatable, messaging away the tension in my shoulders, my back and my neck has been a very welcomed relief while I have been staying here. i know I will be missing this once they get back home and I go back to my place.

The benefits of the hot tub are amazing. I have been reading up and see reports that people have found relief from chronic headaches, back tension and muscle aches. All this can be attributed by the increased circulation caused by the messaging effects of the water and vascular dilation caused by the heat. Man y  people say they get a deep sense of relaxation after soaking in their hot tubs. This results in a better nights sleep. Some have even said this has had an enormous effect on the insomnia.

I am going to have to look into getting a hot tub. The enjoyment and the relaxation are the only things I need to know to want one. But after reading more and researching some of the additional beneficial effects of hydrotherapy I am sold on the idea of getting one.

September 25th, 2009

Bangkok’s As Yet Unnamed

Thailand has a long reputation for hospitality and generosity, and some of the world’s greatest dreams of the good life look like Bangkok.  One of the most vibrant places in the world, and one of the world’s most complex and fascinating cities, Bangkok is a feast for the senses.  Visually it is always stunning, from the traditional to bold fashions of the local population, the amazing spectrum of color at the local markets, and the art that hangs all over the city.  It’s one of Thailand’s most multicultural places, and seems like a powerful charm to attract some of the best artists and thinkers in the region.  A city as cosmopolitan as this must have a special sense for creating the perfect 5-star hotel.  Bangkok will never disappoint in this regard, and aims to outdo itself in terms of offering service, hospitality, and style.

The hotels are sumptuous representations of the city, giving a distilled taste of the adventures that are outside.  Our hotels are unique, with a sense of design that works with the best of the old and the promise of the new.  We also offer a host of amenities, so that you could have your own adventure without ever leaving.  But, the city calls, and there are amazing things to see here.  There is something definitely brewing in the art scene.  There was an explosion in China in the 90s that affected all of Asia, and in Bangkok, many groups of artists suddenly emerged, looking at themes like identity in a shifting society, and asking questions about how to make art that matters here.  There have been various responses, but the most exciting insights seem to be largely underground.  Groups like As Yet Unnamed come about from this impulse to ask questions and continue to make art.

They formed in the late 90s, and their goals are for developing processes that work for the individual artists.  It’s an interesting move, and very strategic.  Making a public decision to avoid the commercial at all costs in favor of producing meaningful contents and contexts, has historically been the beginning of something revolutionary.  It will be interesting to watch, and so far this group has produced some extremely exciting symposia.  As far as their impact on Bangkok culture goes, the products are As Yet Unnamed, but perhaps even asking questions of impact are far beside the point for this intriguing group’s aims.

September 24th, 2009

The Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Addiction treatment centers are not by any means a new invention.  They go back to at least as far as the 1930’s, the Oxford Group,  and Bill Wilson’s founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.  The way we look at addiction and treat, however has changed.  With the formation of dual diagnosis treatment many  facilities are offering addicts a relatively new approach to addiction treatment.  Instead of offering treatment for only one part of the problem, dual diagnosis treats both.

Most dual diagnosis treatment centers offer treatment for both alcohol and drug addiction, it is then combined with treatment of a co-occurring psychiatric or emotional disorder.  The first step in proper dual diagnosis treatment is identifying the real problem that could be perpetuating the substance of abuse.  This includes depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even schizophrenia.  Once properly diagnosed, treatment can begin.  Most drug and alcohol treatment centers use the 12 Step program as the preferred method of treatment for the addiction.  The psychiatric disorders often require treatment through additional counseling, therapy, and a supportive environment, specific to them and the disorder they face.  Often the emotional or psychiatric disorder will manifest itself in the drug or alcohol abuse, so it is vitally important to identify each problem and deal with both of them effectively.   Although it would seem almost natural to treat both the addiction and disorder together, research has shown that treating both problems separately, facilitators are better able to gauge the progress of both conditions. If both are not properly treated, a relapse is eminent.

Addiction treatment has come a long way in the last 70 years.  We can only hope that through continued advances in medicine and psychology greater strides can be made in the field of addiction treatment and more lives will be saved.

September 21st, 2009

The Lure of Water: Hot Tubs and Spas

There is an immense pleasure in knowing that when you get done with your busy day you can go home to your hot tub and let the stress just melt away.  It adds a whole new dimension to your life that never gets old.  The hot tub is the place to relax, entertain friends and family, unwind before bed, and to have great conversations about the meaning of life.  Our hot tubs and spas are made with the latest technologies, and we have a wide selection so that you can find the perfect fit for your tastes and lifestyle.

Water has a mysterious pull on all of us.  We are, after all, mostly water, and the sensation of floating is a reminder, directly to the body, of its own origins.  It also causes an immensely pleasurable sense of equilibrium, the buoyancy relieving weight on the muscular system, which can have profound physical benefits.  For mental clarity, there is nothing like relaxing in the water, and with heat and water jets, the relaxation is enormously more complex and invigorating.  The appeal of water is very deep, and very old, and civilizations all over the world have a fascination with water that is really ancient.  There is a long history of water in art that speaks to this obsession, and has produced some of the great works of painting, literature, and film.

Many of the great psychologists have written about the relationship between water and the unconscious.  Carl Jung is perhaps the most widely discussed on the subject, and his work investigates how water recurs over all cultures and time periods.  It is related to the moon, to the depths of the self, to the place where dreams come from.  Having a hot tub can speak to these fascinations, bringing the element into your home in a very profound way.  Of course, it is also enormous fun.  However the experience of your own spa might speak to you, you’ll be able to add new possibilities to your life, and share the joy of these possibilities with the ones closest to you.

September 17th, 2009

Investing in Property?

Having just inherited a sum of money i am faced with the challenge of investing it. I have not had to invest a chunk of change before so this is all new to me. Not wanting to make a poor decision I have been doing a lot of thinking about how and where to invest this money. So not having much experience with this I find myself at a loss.

Not being comfortable with intangible investments like stocks and bonds, I thought property would be the beast choice given that. Knowing that the real estate market is at a low this seems to be a good time to make such a move. I began looking around, there are a lot of properties out there single family residential, semi detached residential, attached residential, condos, townhouses, patio homes, complexes and a whole myriad of commercial properties. It is clear I need help! I stumbled across Transglobe property management on line. Seems as if the advise of a property management firm would be appropriate.

I have agonized over the decisions on what to do with this money for some time now. Keeping it in a money market accounts and CD’s really isn’t a good long term strategy. I suppose I am in paralysis regarding this situation as doing nothing seems easier than possibly making a bad decision. Well today I will have to contact Transglobe property management and break this inertia and get these accounts closed out and the money invested. Making up my mind is good, setting up a meeting is better and finally getting this done will be a great relief and put a close to this whole situation.

September 15th, 2009

Lovely Jaipur

I needed a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of jaipur and was advised by someone at Jaipur luxury hotels that this historical outpost with the high look outs might be a nice place to go. Actually, this made sense, as military forts (are there any other kind?) will go to the high ground, naturally, as it is easier to defend. As it is on a hill, the rick sh-aw i was riding in had a tough time hauling my carcass up that hill, at times I thing I had to get out about and get ready to walk or push, but somehow we made it in the morning light. This guy who had it had nine wives apparently, (as any one who has had one, one wife is enough, in a good way of course!) and I could not imagine having so much and being a rajah, if that is the right word. This one, known as the Fort of Victory and was once part of a princely state located in Rajasthan and founded by Maharaja Sawai. I noticed they make headlamps here for automobiles in one of the industrial areas. Aside from light industrial, on e would think tourism must be huge here. And it is, what with pink forts and astonishing architecture of this once militarily significant past redoubt. The lanes and streets of the city are designed on a grid pattern, which seems to follow a kind of architecture, rather than a jumble of confused lanes, like in other cities in India and in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Ambur Fort gleams in the light, and the place has a kind of fairy land existence of stunning architecture and wide and spacious boulevards. the geometry of the city is pleasing, and reminds of the classic designs of Olmstead in turn of the nineteenth century America.

September 15th, 2009

Golf Singapore

What are the top five tourist attractions in Singapore? Well, that’s really a difficult question to answer in a city as dynamic as Singapore that really offers great possibilities for all interests and tastes. Many people prefer the standard historic landmark and cultural attraction route, while others dive right into the local cuisine and others still are attracted to the local performance scene. Some people enjoy a sampling from all aspects of Singaporean culture and others know exactly and specifically what the want to do and see while they are there and enjoying a stay a Singapore hotel resort. One of the things that is attracts many people is the zoo, while others may prefer to spend there day at a game of golf. And if golfing is on the agenda, Singapore has the perfect course for any golfer.

Many of the golf courses are located just outside the city of Singapore and provide great scenery in addition to a great game. Most of the courses also include pro shops and some of them rent equipment. The pro shops offer top name accessories, balls, clothing and clubs such as Titleist, FootJoy, Sun Mountain and cobra. This is a good thing to know for tourists who did not bring their own bag of clubs and need to acquire some for the afternoon. A few of the public courses include the Tanglin Golf Course located on Minden Road, Seletar Country Club, which is located on Seletar Club Road, Green Fairways, located on Fairways Drive and Executive Golf Course located on Mandai Road. It is important to note that of these mentioned courses only Seletar Country Club is an 18 hole course. Golfers should also keep in mind that many of the courses have a dress code and they are enforced. Most of them also have plenty of locker rooms, showers and of course restaurants, cafes and bars to make a golf outing complete. It is important to make reservations early as golfing is extremely popular in Singapore and the courses do fill up fast.

September 14th, 2009

Cooking with Precision: Fish

Making the choice to move from indoors to an outdoor kitchen is a fantastic experience in learning and discovery.  At the end of all the work, there are always glorious new flavors, and thankful eaters, so it’s never a fruitless endeavor.  There is always more to learn, too.  As you start to work with your new kitchen, you’ll soon come to know the joys of sharing recipes and the sheer pleasure of your new experiments.  Cooking with our drop-in grills adds another touch that will make a huge difference in how you prepare food.

One of the greatest advantages to a drop-in grill is the level of precision that suddenly becomes part of your experience.  The heat is extremely well-controlled, and when this factor is no longer a variable, you’ll be free to experiment with flavor.  Fish can be especially tricky in any circumstances, and cooking fish on a grill requires an even greater precision.  With our drop-in grills, this precision comes easy, because you can always be sure that the temperature is exact, and the grill is always ready.

With fish, the level of heat is extremely important.  Some types of fish do better cooked slowly, and others need the fast blast that other meats require to make a mouth-watering meal.  Once you’ve determined the right degree of heat for your fish of choice, then the whole question about cooking fish with precision becomes focused on the sauce.  Here, a whole new world can open up.  It’s not simply lime with garlic, although those are always staples.  Feel free to experiment with different flavors for the sauce.  With salmon, different kinds of squash, or oranges and mangos, can add a whole new dimension to the taste.  Experimentation really is the key, but with the drop-in grill, you will be sure it’s cooked perfectly, and you’ll be able to dazzle your guests with the various new flavors you can bring to the table.