The newest handheld gaming system from Nintendo just launched earlier this month. It is the DSi, the third installment in the DS franchise. I can’t tell you whether or not it is worth trading up for just yet, but in time it may have some extra content through the DS store worth checking out. What I do know is worth checking out, if you haven’t already, is the DS Lite. It is basically the same thing without the cameras and the same games play on it. From what I understand now, the new DSi games will play on the DS Lite, but not all of the features will be available. There are supposed to be DSi exclusive content on the carts. No worries, there are plenty of great DS games that will play on the DS Lite as well as Game Boy Advance games.

The feature to play GBA games is not available on the DSi and without the GBA slot; games like Guitar Hero On Tour are not available to play on the new system. There are plenty of great games on the DS like New Super Mario Brothers and Super Princess Peach. The Mario Cart game is very fun as well as the new Zelda game which uses the touch screen exclusively. Switching gears a little bit, there are many fun games on another system called the PS3. PS3 games are the most detailed and complex of any home console. The power of the PS3 is unrivaled except for maybe powerful home computers. There have been many exciting and awesome games released for the PS3 since its launch in 2006. Some of the best PS3 games are exclusives like Resistance and Metal Gear Solid 4. The PS3 also has some motion controlled based games that use a gyroscope built into the vibrating controller. This opens the possibility of new game play mechanics for the developers of PS3 Games. The PS3 has been gaining popularity as people realize the power that the machine does have and the extra benefits that it has over the competition. With free online play and a store for purchasing new and exclusive content, the PS3 is built for the future and should continue to have a good future of games. The exclusive games are usually the best games on any system because the developers are able to concentrate on only one system to develop for.

Posted by Kate on Friday, May 01, 2009 @ 11:43 AM

Sometimes, when all you see is doom and gloom everywhere, it is important to step back and reexamine the things that are important in your life. The real important things. Like family and freinds. It is important to realize that these are things that make life worth living. It is also important to take the time to do the things you enjoy, the things that make you happy when you think about them. Whether it is a favorite hobby like gardening or working on an old car in the garage, it is important to make time for these things. Sometimes just laying on the hammock under a tree in the shade in the back yard and reading a book is enough to recharge after a hard week. What is important is to find out what you like and to do it. Sometimes in the hectic, day to day things that make up most of your life, you have to stop and take a break. Sure, running all over the place on the weekend is a break from the work week, technically it is, but it can sometimes feel like work as well. There is such a thing as getting stuck in a routine or rut and forgetting how to have fun. This fun doesn't have to be something that you do yourself, but it can be an escape for the whole family. It could be as simple as going to a family movie or going to the park for an actual picnic. Not the kind of picnic that you do on a regular basis, with groups like baseball teams and gymnastic teams or social groups, but the kind that go on for hours with nothing pressing against you to get to the next thing. The kindof picnic that is just with the family, the closest people around you. Don't rush it, take your time and let the time stretch out, without worrying about the next practice or rehearsal or meeting. Set the time aside and you will be happy that you did so. Work will be there, rehearsals will be there, but quality time, time with your family when you have nothing else to do but enjoy the sunshine won't always be there. Kids grow up and move away, new complications arise, why not take the time to enjoy now.

Posted by Kate on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 @ 5:59 PM

When Is Student Health Insurance Needed?

Your children have probably always been covered under your Family Insurance Policy and this coverage will continue until they are 19 years of age or, if they are full time students, up to the age of 25.  Of course, where they attend school might have an effect on this coverage and needs to be considered, particularly if they are not going to a local school.

If your child is a full time student at a school far away from home, you will have to contact your health insurance company to ascertain whether or not he needs a student health insurance policy.  Your insurance representative should be able to inform you as to whether or not they can provide coverage in the area in which your child is located.  Some policies provide worldwide coverage so that this would not be an issue.  Others, however, use local HMO groups only, or coverage is dependent on using a specific group of doctors and hospitals (PPO’s), which may only be located in your state or it’s general area.  Some could also be in surrounding states, but it is important to verify that your child is in a location where coverage is available at local doctors and hospitals.  If this is not the case, your child may require his own student health insurance policy that specifically relates to the area where his school is located.

If you have determined that a separate policy is necessary, there are many ways that you can apply for one and obtain quotes.  You can inquire at the school and they will be able to assist you with local health insurance brokers or companies.  You can contact health insurance companies directly, or surf the Internet where you will find numerous sites that will be more than willing to provide rate quotes and policy details to you.  How you go about obtaining a policy is up to the individual, the important thing is that you make certain that you have coverage while away at school.

Student health insurance policies are similar to individual policies when it comes to the coverage provided.  They contain a policy maximum, usually $1 million lifetime and $100,000 per illness/injury.  Individual calendar year deductibles apply in the form of $250, $500, $1,000 and $2,500.  Once the deductible has been met, the policy will generally pay 80% of the next $10,000 and, frequently, 100% up to the $100,000 illness/injury maximum.  Inpatient prescriptions are often covered, but subject to deductible and coinsurance.  The same might well apply to office visits but wellness benefits are often not available.  As you can see, most of the benefits are similar to what you would expect your individual or family policy to cover.  The rate may be less than you would expect, but remember your are most likely insuring a young and healthy person who would be the company’s ideal candidate.

Posted by Kate on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 @ 8:50 PM

There are many different ways to get the exposure you want for your business. Some of the best things that I have seen are the promotional items that companies use to get their companies name out. Advertising using promotional gifts can be a great way to reward your clients and get your business name out there all at once. I have worked for several large companies and it seemed that all the companies I worked for that were thriving knew the value of using promotional items and promotional gifts to keep the business flowing in.

At one time I worked in a chiropractors office and they had promotional items everywhere. Their pens were promotional and we used them all the time and let people take them whenever they wanted. They used promotional gifts to thank their patients for referrals and to wish them happy birthday. They even had birthday cards and Christmas cards that were also promotional items, specifically designed to advertise chiropractic and specifically their office. One set of pens was even crooked, like an out of whack spine with our name and number on it to help people remember to come in.

It is amazing to see how promotional items and promotional gifts keep people happy. Most loved it when we would give them these promotional items and would very much use the items that we would give them. As a matter of fact many of them would tote in the promotional umbrellas that we gave out one year, and honestly many of them still had them quite a few years later. Now that just goes to show how you can really stretch the advertising dollars, useful promotional items and promotional gifts are the ones that people use over and over again.

Even though people were using these promotional gifts, I don?t think that they really ever considered that they were advertising for us. I think they were just enjoying using their free umbrellas and that they came in handy. Of course, I realized that not only were the promotional items working, but people really liked them, and you know if they were using them to come into our office on a rainy day, then they were using them to go into other businesses as well. They were also a very unique color and I know that people would have to ask our patients when they went to other places, hey, where did you get that neat umbrella, which not only provided us with advertising on the promotional items, but also a word of mouth advertising from our patients which was the best type of advertising we could ask for.

If you really want your business to be successful then be sure to purchase some promotional products and some promotional gifts and start handing them out. You will be really glad you did.

Posted by Kate on Thursday, December 04, 2008 @ 9:40 AM

For all the years that Josh’s parents were together his mom was a stay at home mom and had never really had to handle her own finances. Now Josh’s father is still giving her some money, but managing it has become solely her responsibility. She is now beginning to realize that she really needs to get some credit cards in her name and start building her own good credit. For years she has just relied on him and his handling of her finances, so she really doesn’t have much on her credit report. She has been applying for credit cards in her maiden name and because they are still legally married, she is using his income to help her get approved for some cards. So far she has gotten an American Express card and a Visa Card, so I think this is a good start, however, I am not really sure if doing this is the right thing, but unfortunately she needs to start somewhere and being that she has been married to him without her own income or real credit for so long, it seems her only option. This is a good reason to be careful how dependent you are on your spouse, if they leave you or die, you could be left with no idea of how to take care of yourself, and that is a scary place to be in.

Mom is taking some big steps in the right direction, like establishing a good credit rating; she has also gotten a job. She is really starting to fall in to her new role as her own woman and I really didn’t think that it would happen, but it is nice to see.

I am glad that she has gotten a job and begun working; I think this is a good step for her, to get her out of the house and be around people during the day. She needs a break from the house and her own thoughts I think. Plus she has been going out with her friend Milly a lot and that is really good for her as well.

Overall, I think that she will really be okay, which is really good news not only for Josh, but for me as well. The truth is Josh and I are trying to plan a future together, and quite honestly, in my book that doesn’t involve having his mother with us forever. I will always love her and help her in everyway possible, but I don’t really want to live out the rest of my days with me on one side of Josh and her on the other. I think that would be kind of creepy.

Posted by Kate on Monday, November 10, 2008 @ 3:16 PM

Well, it looks like we got Josh’s mom over the hump. She is done with the moping phase of this lost relationship, and is on to a whole new phase, which at least makes her a little easier to be around. She is in a place now where she has decided she is going to get all her soon to be ex-husband’s money, and she is already making lots of plans on spending it. She started going to a counselor and has begun her healing process. She has joined a singles group and has been toying with the idea of dating, but I don’t think that she is quite committed to the idea yet. In any case, she is definitely on the rebound. Josh is just really glad that he doesn’t have to feel like he is on suicide watch any more. We decided that she really needs to get away for a little while and with her friend Milly’s help we made arrangements for her at a beachfront property. It is only for a weekly vacation rental, but we thought it would be a nice getaway for her and Milly. Milly has been alone since her husband passed away 10 years ago. The two have always been close and we thought a vacation home rental would be a nice and inexpensive trip. Mom is going to pay for her half of the condo rental and Milly will pay for the other half. We were going to pay for mom’s airfare, but she insisted on paying it herself, saying that she would just take it out of dad’s money.

I know the two of them will have a blast, and they are leaving for Florida next week, which not only affords them the opportunity for a break, but one for Josh and I as well.

I will probably stay with him at his mom’s for this coming week, and it will be nice and a much deserved break after all the turmoil of the divorce. Not to mention maybe this will give Josh the opportunity to deal with some of his own feelings about all that has been happening.

Anyway, his father has been trying to lie low and give everyone the space they need to heal a little from this whole thing, which is perhaps the only good thing that he has done so far. Josh thinks he is staying with his girlfriend since he moved out, but he doesn’t know for sure, and truthfully, I don’t think that he really wants to know. The more he knows the more he might let slip to his Mom and that is just not what she needs right now.

Posted by Kate on Friday, October 03, 2008 @ 2:11 PM

Well, unfortunately the only thing that I have found to do to help Josh out with this whole divorce mess that his parents are going through is to go with him to visit with his parents, especially his mom, because right now he is kind of concerned about leaving her alone, which is understandable, she is a bit off balance from this whole thing. Well, the other night, she was acting really depressed and Josh had to go to work, so he asked me if I would come over and keep her company while he went to work. Don?t get me wrong, I like his mom and I really do feel sorry for what she is going through, but I really didn?t want to spend the whole night with her alone, she is really just a little off. Anyway, when I got there Josh had already left and she was watching TV, I think it was Biggest Loser or one of those shows, and all of a sudden she starts saying that she knows that she is overweight, and if she would just have tried to lose weight, then her husband wouldn?t have cheated on her. Well, I told her that it wasn?t her fault and that she didn?t do anything wrong, and that he was the one who made a bad choice, but still on and on about weightloss she went. She started by talking about which diets would be best, would she go on the Atkins diet, Weight Watchers, or Jenny Craig. Then she went onto just eating right and exercising to get herself in shape for all the future men in her life. Then it stopped being about the dieting and started being about the men she was going to meet and how any guy would be lucky to have her and that he was just a loser and blah, blah, blah. Well, I don?t really know for how long this went on but after a while I just stopped talking to her about it because she was getting all worked up and I just started watching TV and making small talk, and that made for a nicer evening for both of us. She can?t keep focusing on this 24/7 it is eating her alive. Josh got home around 12:00 and I was glad because I was really tired and his mom was already sleeping, so we said goodnight and I went home. I was really glad to see him, it had been an emotionally draining night, and it was good to finally be heading home away from it all. Now at least I can see why this whole thing is taking its toll on him. He feels that he needs to be there for her, but doing that all the time is probably causing him to bury his own emotions about the whole thing.

Posted by Kate on Thursday, September 18, 2008 @ 3:53 PM

Josh is really distraught right now and I feel really sorry for what he is going through. He lives with his parents and last week, well let?s just put it this way, everyone found out that his father was cheating on his mother. His mother, honestly, claims that this is not the first time and that she has suspected that he was running around on her for quite some time, but knowing it and having to come face to face with it are just two totally different things. In any case, on Friday night, his father called and told his mom that he needed to work late, and she just knew that it wasn?t true, so she went over to the building where he works, and just a few minutes after she arrived he came out of the building with his arm around a woman, and they both got into his car and took off. She carefully followed them and found out that they went to a house, which seemed like it belonged to the woman, because she had the key and they went inside. She said that she saw them kiss and then they disappeared out of view, so frustrated she went knocking on the door and when the woman answered she told her that she would like to speak to her husband. Well, we are not even sure that the woman knew he was married, because she seemed really surprised when his mom said that. In any case, she made a scene and threw him out of the house. Well since that night, his mother has been a mess. She lies around and cries a lot, and then gets on the phone and gets really angry. She has called her lawyer friend, a divorce lawyer, and even a hotline for free law advice. Josh thinks that maybe she should just give it a little time, but he is really angry at his father for this. He says that he is fine with it, but I can tell he isn?t. Today he went to lunch with his father and when he told him that mom was calling attorneys, dad went ballistic and started raising his voice right there in the restaurant and telling Josh that maybe he had better get a divorce attorney from a top law firm to represent him, so that his mother doesn?t get all his money. The whole thing is just a mess. I just wish Josh would feel free to express his real emotions about this. I know he is hurting, but I am just not sure what to do to help him.

Posted by Kate on Thursday, September 18, 2008 @ 3:53 PM

About a year ago Josh brought me to a football game on a whim. It was supposed to be a surprise, but actually he had to find tickets and one day while I was at his place I overheard him talking on the phone to a friend about a ticket seller and that he needed to find some football tickets. I didn’t let on that I had heard anything, but I was curious because I didn’t think that it would be a surprise for me, after all sports were just not my thing. Well, it turns out they were a surprise for me and he I guess because I said that I had never been to a football game, he thought I wanted to go or something. We had just been talking and when I was a kid, my father’s boss used to sometimes give him baseball tickets or basket ball tickets but I had never been to a foot ball game. I guess maybe in his mind I was showing a desire or something anyway he decided to surprise me with sports tickets, so I acted all excited and thrilled. I can tell you this much, I am not sure I will attend another football game, I think I would prefer to watch it on TV from my living room. It was cold and overcast and although everyone got excited for me going to see the Bears I wasn’t really thrilled. The strangest thing about the whole experience is unlike in baseball, in football the game just goes on quietly. When you watch on TV there is always an announcer giving you the play by play, but in person, I didn’t have a clue what was happening. I just knew that each team was trying to get the ball to the other teams end. Josh tried to explain it to me, but I just didn’t get it, it just wasn’t the same as having it announced. Not only that but my toes were numb, and I don’t care what they say about drinking hot chocolate at the game, it didn’t help and neither did that blanket we brought. It felt like the air went straight through the thing.

Anyway, needless to say, I really don’t ever intend to go to another football game, but it might be nice to get some concert tickets or something, after all my birthday will be here before you know it. Either that or some theater tickets, but I am afraid that Josh may hate that as much as I hated the football game, maybe more. But the one good thing is he may be miserable, but he won’t be freezing.

Posted by Kate on Saturday, August 23, 2008 @ 9:09 PM

As part of our move to take care of our debts, Josh and I are trying to find ways to cut back on our expenses. One suggestion my mother made to me was trying to shop around for my car insurance and compare insurance rates. I called a few places, and went online to view my auto insurance policy and see what coverage I had. Then I went online and checked out rates at Nationwide, Allstate, State Farm and all the other insurance companies that I could think of. I printed the rate quotes from each insurance company and then I did an overview of all the insurance plans to see what was the minimum insurance I would need to cover me no matter what happened. Well, what I found was amazing. There were so many different rates for the same insurance it was crazy. I reviewed the information I had received with my parents, and we found an insurance company that was a good name company and that would charge me about half of the premium I was currently paying. My mother said that if I was really interested in saving some money on insurance, then getting Josh’s credit rating on the right track was a good start. She informed me that insurance companies will look at your credit score when they are assessing you for insurance, and with a low credit score you can pay a lot more for insurance. She also suggested helping Josh shop around for a cheaper rate on car insurance as well. She said that his rates are probably higher, not only because of credit but also because he is a male and males tend to pay more for insurance when they are younger.

When Josh came over that evening I had him bring his insurance policy info over with him and we reviewed it together. Then we went online and tried to find the best insurance company for him. Ironically the insurance company that I switched to was more expensive for Josh than his current policy, but we did find a company where he would pay about $400 less every 6 months and that was about the best we could do because of the other factors involved his insurance stayed higher than mine, but in the long run we put about $800 a year back in his pocket, so it was still worth the effort.

Posted by Kate on Saturday, August 23, 2008 @ 9:08 PM