Washington (CNN) — Should members of Congress cut their salaries or raise the age at which they can draw a congressional pension when many Americans are making personal sacrifices during the country’s prolonged economic crisis?
via ‘Shared sacrifice’: Should Congress cut its pay, benefits? – CNN.com.
Wohhh, new templetes….Does this mean updates finally? Yes, I think after two years, it is time to update! Keep watching, I promise not to keep you long! 
We just listed our house in Emmaus, PA (Lehigh Valley) on the market. Great deal for anybody that wants to be in the East Penn school district and is looking to buy while the market is low, interest rates are low, and there are some government incentives. Similar homes in this neighborhood were selling for 325,000 just two years ago and the market is starting to move upwards again, so now is the time to buy! Our list price is $299,900 for aprox. 2300 sqft, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms, living room, family room, dining room, large kitchen and more. Design leads people to feel the home is larger than listed sqfootage. We have made many upgrades to the home in the last ten years, such as refinished kitchen cabinets, new tile floor in the kitchen with new counter tops (corian), Replacement windows, Remodeled master bathroom, new roof, exterior completely painted a year ago, remodeled family room, less than ten year old heating and cooling systems (dual zone). During the upgrades we also had natural gas installed for the heating system and the stove. The neighborhood is great, in fact we will miss living here as the neighbors are great. For those with kids in elementary school, the bus stops right in front of our house. Middle school bus stop is just down the street a short distance. Corner lot makes for a larger yard feeling, with privacy in the backyard made up with live bushes.
Want to see and read more, our realtor Jane Schiff has it listed in the MLS as listing #349447. Visit the listing to see pictures and get all the details. Then schedule an appointment to see the home. Don’t wait until the prices go up and government incentives are gone. (new home incentives are not the only government tax credits available, they now have a “move up” incentive for current home owners.)
Yes, I know fall has barely begun and winter has yet to arrive, but I am looking for warmer weather already. I plan to find it next week as we sail on the new Carnival Dream from NYC to the Bahamas!! Yes warmer weather is literally on the horizon! I have a group of people sailing with me to help me celebrate my graduation from DeSales University last May. We plan to have some serious fun and relaxation! Make sure you watch my web site upon our return as I will post how the new ship was, brag about the warm weather some, and well….maybe some other surprises will be told!
Congratulations go out to Erica and Chris as they just purchased their first home! I helped them reconfigure their kitchen last week and will be helping them with changing out some electrical outlets. It will take them a while to get everything organized, but they are on their way. What is more, they are walking distance from the Leesport Farmers market. That will be nice to get fresh food each Wednesday as well as other activities that may be there on weekends. I am sure it will spoil Isabella and Raymond growing up and having a market that close. They won’t know how to act when they get older and have to buy everything from a grocery store. 
Well, not much else to talk about at the moment. I am too excited about our vacation. I am one that normally packs the night before for a trip….However I am already packed and ready for this trip and I have two days to wait yet!! Remember to check back here in a couple weeks, I promise some updates then!! Oh, by the way, if you have Word 2007 and a blog….Word has a nice blog feature that allows you to create, edit and publish the blog. Nice!
It feels really strange not having a class to attend, no paper to write, no project to work on!! I paced the floor last night wondering what to do. Tonight, Jennifer and I went to the gym. That helped. I have a long list of things to do at home, but for now, I am just adjusting to no school work. I am still waiting for my final Literature grade to be posted, then I will have a completed transcript! (no clue what my grade will be though…Think it is a B)
Next week, I will adjust to no work!
Baby Raymond came home last Friday. It was such a surprise as Erica did not tell us. We walked in to find her holding him in her living room!! He has a heart and lung monitor and is on oxygen and has lots of doctor appointments, but he is home. It was so nice that I finally got to hold him. Isabella seems to like that he is home as well. She really likes when they put Raymond on her bed and she can lay next to him. I think Isabella will be a great big sister to him.