Ask Bonnie

Moving to a new city or town can be a wonderful adventure. People who have made many job transfers and moves recommend researching your destination city before the move.
Visit the city on a workday and a weekend so you can see what kind of place it is in which to live and work. Use the Internet to research the area’s amenities and subscribe to your destination city’s local newspaper.

Find out from your employer what kind of relocation package will be provided. Will the cost of the move be paid for? If you have a home to sell in your current city,will your employer help with the closing costs or guarantee a buy-out if the house doesn’t sell right away? Get such offers of assistance in writing. Will you be able to afford the cost of living in your new city? It is essential to figure out what you will need in order for the move to work for you.

Here are some practical tips to help you with a relocation transition:

* Move quickly. Extended good-byes are painful and upsetting.
* Conserve cash. Have an emergency fund for surprises that may occur before, during,and right after the move.
* Be open to your new environment. The new area may be just as good as or better than the place you are leaving.
* Understand that your children may experience loss and confusion. They may act out if they can’t express their frustration or sadness.

If you find yourself needing help with relocation or if you know someone else who is relocating, I can provide excellent information about your destination city. And I can refer you to an agent who works in that area to help make this transition as smooth as possible. Please call or email me if I can help you or any of your friends and family.

written by:
Amy Givoni
Givoni Realty Corp.
amygivoni@realtor.com
(561)361-8555

Tell Mrs. Givoni that you found her on AskBonnie.com

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Who will you vote for???

Best Picture
Atonement B
Juno A-
Michael Clayton A
No Country for Old Men A-
There Will Be Blood A

Best Actor
George Clooney, Michael Clayton A
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood A
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd B+
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah A
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises B

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age C+
Julie Christie, Away From Her B
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose B+
Laura Linney, The Savages A
Ellen Page, Juno A-

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford A
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men A-
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson’s War B+
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild A-
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton A

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There A
Ruby Dee, American Gangster B
Saiorse Ronan, Atonement B
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone B-
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton A

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood A
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men A-
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton A
Jason Reitman, Juno A-
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

A home filled with reading material is a good way to help kids become enthusiastic (and proficient) readers. What kind of books should you have? Ask your kids about their interests. If they’re too young to have a preference, your local librarian can offer suggestions about age-appropriate books.

Here are some other tips:

Keep a varied selection. Collect board books or books with mirrors and different textures for babies. Older kids will enjoy variety: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry plus dictionaries and other reference books.

Kids can understand stories they might not be able to read on their own. If a more challenging book interests your child, make it something to read together. Younger kids can look at illustrations in books and ask questions as they follow along.

And don’t limit reading material to books. Kids might also enjoy:

magazines (for kids)
audio books
postcards from relatives
photo albums or scrapbooks
newspapers
comic books
the Internet
Keep reading material handy. Keep sturdy books with other toys for easy exploration. Books near the changing table and high chair can be helpful distractions for younger kids at appropriate moments. Plastic books can even go in the bathtub. Keep books next to comfy chairs and sofas where you cuddle up so you can read after feedings and naps.

Create a special reading place. As kids grow, keep age-appropriate books and magazines on shelves they can reach in their favorite hangouts around the house. Make these shelves appealing and keep them organized. Place some of the books with the covers facing out so they’re easy to spot. Put a basket full of books and magazines next to their favorite places to sit. Create a cozy reading corner, and encourage kids to use it by setting up “reading corner time” each day.

Keep it appealing. Make sure reading areas have good lighting. Change the materials often — add seasonal books, rotate different magazines, and include books that relate to what kids are interested in or studying in school. Decorate the corner with your child’s artwork or writing. Place a CD or tape player nearby for audio books.

Encourage kids to create the reading. Set up a writing and art center and encourage kids to make books, posters, or collages that they decorate with their own pictures and writing. Kids love to read things they’ve written themselves or to share their creations with family and friends.

source:Mary L. Gavin, MD