We Hope You Have a Great 4th of July!

GREAT VACATION TIPS!

Now that school is out for the summer, you will be thinking about vacationing and travel plans. Now is a great time to schedule any car maintenance such as oil changes and tune ups. Don't forget to have all hoses and belts inspected. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE AND TIRE TREADS BEFORE AND AFTER ANY LONG DISTANCE TRIPS . With the warmer weather, air pressure changes, so it's always good to be sure before hitting the highway. Check all fluids, including your coolant levels, ask your mechanic about a coolant flush to keep your ac in top condition.. Also, it's a good idea to check your air filters and steam clean your engine after any long distance traveling. Dust and debris can accumulate forcing your engine to work harder during the warmer weather.

When traveling long distances, be prepared for any major road detours and have an alternate route just in case. A Garmin or other GPS system is always helpful, as well as having a printed copy of directions just in case. Remember to bring plenty of water for all family members including pets when traveling far.

Here are some tips for keeping that vacation feeling when you return home:


Make Destination Plans and Itinerary/Points of Interest One Week before Arriving

Have car serviced one week before trip

Pack Bug Repellent, First Aid Kit and Sunscreen in car

Car Emergency Kit (Flairs, Fix a Flat Can, Portable Battery Starter)

Pack clothes 3 days before trip

Do Laundry 2 days before trip

Clean house and change bedding 1 day before

One Day before buy a few frozen grocery items and non perishable items so that when you return there no mad dashes to the grocery store.

Prior to departing from your vacation destination, the day before you leave, clean your car and do laundry so that you won't come home to do more work.

By being organized, you will come home to a clean home and have an extended vacation feeling a day or two longer.

A BLIND BOY PAID HIS WAY TO A MASTER’S DEGREE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY BY TAKING NOTES ON CLASS LECTURES IN BRAILLE, TYPING THEM, AND SELLING COPIES

One of the great mysteries of life is why some people who seem to have all the advantages-the right connections, education, and experience-never seem to amount to much while others who have had to struggle for everything they have reach incredible heights of success. It hinges on determination. If you have the will to succeed, you will somehow find a way, regardless of the obstacles you encounter. Do you use all of your assets to achieve your goals, or are you handicapped by your lack of ambition? No other person can create in you a desire to succeed. With enough motivation, you will see things all around you that will help you reach your objectives, things that you may have overlooked many times before.

Six Travel Scams to Avoid

All of these deals are too good to be true.
By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

The summer travel season is almost here. If you're looking for deals, make sure you don't become the victim of a scam when trying to score a bargain. I spoke with SmarterTravel.com contributing editor Ed Perkins to find out which scams are most common and what you can do to avoid them. Here's his list:

1. Phony airline tickets

How it works: A Web site or travel agency offers a deal better than anyone else's, won't accept credit cards and instead demands direct transfer of funds. What you get is a plane ticket that's worthless.

How you can avoid this scam: Don't deal with an outfit you've never heard of. See our list of the 28 best travel sites for legitimate companies. Don't purchase airline tickets or any travel accommodations through a group that won't accept a credit card. If you have a dispute with a merchant -- for example, you were sold a phony plane ticket -- you may have an easier time working out a solution if you paid with a credit card.

2. Pay now for future travel

How it works: You're approached to enroll in a club that will enable you to take future vacations for an upfront fee of thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. After enrolling, you try to book a vacation but are told that the location or time period you want is unavailable. Then you might be asked for more money to gain access to more upscale spots that would be available.

How to avoid this scam: Unless you know someone who participates in a particular program and is happy with the service, stay away from these clubs. Even if your friend recommends a club, do some research of your own. See Resources to Help You Check Out a Company.

3. Travel like a travel agent

How it works: You receive a promotion in the mail or e-mail telling you that you can travel like a travel agent or sell travel from your home. The group purports to be a large travel agency that will provide back-office support while you sell travel packages. For a fee (usually $495 or $4,900), you'll receive training and a travel agent ID card that you can use when making reservations to get a special rate.

How to avoid this scam: "There's hardly an airline or hotel that doesn't know about these phony IDs," Perkins says. Even legitimate travel agents have a tough time getting discounts on airfare. Toss the promotion in the trash or hit "delete."

4. No-ticket event packages

How it works: A tour operator offers a package for a big event, such as the Super Bowl, but doesn't actually have tickets to the event.

How to avoid this scam: Ask the tour operator if it has event tickets in hand. Of course, the representative could lie. So it's best to buy through an organization you know.

5. Phony insurance

How it works: A travel agent sells you a "protection plan" that's supposed to reimburse you if you have to cancel your trip. The policy, however, is unlicensed and you won't get your money back.

How to avoid this scam: Make sure the product you're being sold really is a licensed insurance policy. You can see a list of licensed travel insurance companies at the U.S. Travel Insurance Association site. See The Case for Travel Insurance to learn more about what travel insurance covers. You can compare policies at InsureMyTrip.com.

6. "We will sell your timeshare"

How it works: Groups charge an upfront fee to sell your unwanted timeshare. "The bottom line is they don't," Perkins says.

How to avoid this scam: Avoid any group that promises to sell your timeshare for a fee (other than cheap listing fee). If you have a timeshare you just can't unload, consider posting on Craigslist with an offer to give away your timeshare for free to anyone who will take over the commitment.

Reprinted with permission. All Contents © 2010 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. www.kiplinger.com.

IF YOU HAVE SOUND CHARACTER, YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU GENERALLY DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR REPUTATION

Thomas Jefferson once said that a majority is one man with the courage of his convictions. If you have the courage that comes from the sincere conviction that you are a person of sound character, an honest, dependable, kind, and caring person, you will never have to worry about what others think of you. If you know in your own heart that you are a good and decent person, you can meet life’s challenges head-on and without fear of what others think.

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SOUND CHARACTER BEGINS WITH KEEN SELF-RESPECT

No one really knows for sure how we develop self-respect, but the experts believe it begins at a very early age. Parents who show their children that they love them unconditionally-just because they are who they are-build a foundation of healthy self-respect that will sustain the children for the rest of their lives. From this foundation comes the moral and ethical structure known as character. Healthy self-respect should not be confused with egotism. An egotist loves himself for the most superficial of reasons, while a self-respecting person takes pride in qualities of character that he or she has worked hard to develop.