Recycle Today

Everyday is a good day to recycle, but if you are in Pacific Palisades today head over to Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church between 10-2pm and drop off any unwanted electronics FREE. The program is sponsored by California Recycles and Pacific Cares, who have a regular drop off station Monday through Friday in West Los Angeles, but some items require a disposal fee, so take advantage of this opportunity to do some Spring cleaning and start your Saturday off doing something good for the environment.

Got $5-$599?

Got $5? For that fiver, people are willing to design a logo for you, Photoshop you into a location picture of your choice, say your name and play a song on a radio station in NM, or go clubbing with you in Copenhagen. Listings range from the practical, like migrating a blog or designing a business card, to offers for fun, like teaching you how to perform fixed gear bike tricks. If you have a talent, skill, or want to make $5, you can make your offer public at Fiverr, and you could use what you make to pay for someone to sing a song for you, or save your fivers and get some apples.

Got $599? Apple Vacations is having a sale on 7 night all inclusive vacations in Mexico including airfare for that amount, which works out to $85.57 per night, for airfare, accommodations, all meals, drinks, entertainment and tips. Even the top rated 5 golden apple resorts are only $1600 or $228.57 per person per day from Los Angeles, which is less than most 5 star hotels here cost just for a room for a night. It actually would be cheaper to go to Cancun for a week than to stay in town on in a nice hotel, so what are you waiting for?

Meeting in Person

In today's Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace era of "meeting" people, many friends are virtual; you know people from their pictures or posting online, but you've never actually seen them in person. As in most things, this kind of friendship has both advantages and drawbacks; we get to interact with different people we may not have "met" otherwise, but we also miss out on the personal nuances of spending time with someone in person.

Safety is a big concern when meeting anyone in person, and now there is an online way to find out if the person you are meeting is who they say they are, and if it is worth spending any time with that person. Date Check is a service that allows you to use your mobile phone to see if your date has a criminal record; all you need is their name and telephone number (which you should have). They have various variations on what you can check for, from "sleaze" (felonies, sex offenses), to $$$ (property), and living situation (other people at the residence, mom & dad or perhaps a wife). The app works with both Blackberry and iPhone (as well as other types of smart phones), so download it if you are meeting someone new, and USE it if you are meeting someone in person for the first time (even if they are already a virtual "friend".

What if you don't have anyone you want to meet in person even though you have 200 followers on Twitter, and 100 friends on Facebook? Sign up for By/Association which is about introducing you to quality interesting people (this is NOT a dating site, although you might make that kind of connection through this). They just introduce you to ONE person you might want to meet IN PERSON each month based on your interests. To join you must fill in an application and if you are approved, they will charge you monthly for membership ($99 per year right now). If you apply and are accepted in 2009, your fees will be waived for the first month.

Their definition of a network is one in which the connections last and are bound together by more than simply business or superficial liens; think of this as your personal matchmaker for friendships. Their manifesto says that a new definition of wealth "should be based on creativity, innovation, and social benefit". Amen.

Chocolates, Champagne & Concierge Service

Sometimes you just need to indulge your senses with pleasure to remind yourself that life is meant to be fun. Chocolate Box Cafe is a place where your taste buds will delight in decadent and delicate flavors from their unique buttermilk line (less fat, more vitamins), to pralines, truffles, marzipan, and their classic ganache with exotic flavors. If you are in the area you can stop in a for an Italian gelato, and if you're not, you can order online. Besides offering artisanal chocolates, they are also one of the only places I have ever seen who offer customized designs for special occasions, so you can give your favorite chocoholic a personalized gift (also a great idea for weddings & corporate events).

Few things signal fun as much as the popping of a Champagne cork, except perhaps the taste of fine bubbly! What better way to enjoy a "chore" than to have a glass of complimentary champagne while you are getting a mani-pedi? Go to Polish on Thursday between 4-9 pm and if you are over 21, you get your aromatherapy organic based work with a nice happy hour treat. If you want to be practical, and you need waxing (men are welcome here too), you could ease your pain with some liquid comfort after your session; think of the champagne as pain relief "medicine". Prices are very reasonable for the products they use (dead sea salts, organic soaks) ranging from $40-$75 for a mani-pedi combo.

I love all the concierges at the four and five star hotels I have worked with for the past decade; they are capable of amazing feats of service and have connections to get tables or tickets that mere mortals would never be able to procure. All that being said, not everyone is lucky enough to have personal relationships with people like these and may want some services that only a well connected concierge can provide. Blue Fish may be your personal answer if you are looking for something extraordinary and don't know how to get what you want. The how is usually not as important as who you know, and with Blue Fish they know who to call on your behalf to get you that supersonic military jet flight from Russia, white water rafting in Nepal, or that submersible dive in the Atlantic to see the Titanic. As they say on their website, please don't call them to walk your dog or if you want something conventional. Their club members must be referred by another client, but you can take advantage of some of their services by getting a Bluefish Card; which allows you preferred access to events and seating.

What is your pleasure?

Better Transportation

I recently drove 160 miles to San Diego, and after parking at my hotel, I was too exhausted to fight morning rush hour traffic, figure out directions, and try to find parking, so my friend Pel (who used to live in San Diego) told me to use the Trolley , she said, "Try it, you'll like it." She was right. For only $5, I rode all day, stopping directly at both Old Town and the Gaslamp district, not having to think twice about either how to get there or where to park. Parking alone at either tourist destination would have easily cost me more than my ticket, and the beauty of a trolley is that traffic stops for the trolley so it is usually faster than driving.

Everything was pretty self-explanatory from buying the tickets to understanding the transfers; I only got lost once, but other riders showed me where to transfer lines at the 12th street station. Service on non peak hours are every 15 minutes (7 minutes during rush hour) and the trolleys are clean, quiet, and cool. In all the years I have been going to San Diego (about 30 years...yikes!) I never tried the trolley and now I will probably never drive there again, especially after I found that the Orange line stop at the Gaslamp district is directly in front of Nobu! My favorite line is the Blue line which begins and ends at Old Town and the San Ysidro border; you can literally walk across the border, get on the trolley, and be back in Old Town in about 20 minutes!

Since I was down in San Diego, I wasn't worried about any medical care I might need, but if I was traveling further down into Mexico, I would be concerned about wanting to come back to the US for urgent medical care, except for dental which is wonderful at Washington Dental, (see earlier post), so I would consider a medical jet service. Usually medical jet services cost between $10,000 to $75,000 to evacuate you to the hospital of your choice by jet, but if you travel abroad to exotic or rural locations, you can rest assured that you will be taken care of should a medical emergency arrive with Medjet. For an annual fee of only $175 domestically or $225 internationally, Medjet Assist is an insurance program that you can buy just for one trip or for a year depending on your travel plans and your needs.

Better transportation should be easy, comfortable, less expensive, and practical, both the San Diego Trolley and Medjet Assist fulfill all the criteria. Now to find a pair of shoes that fulfill all those same criteria...

Good Mechanic

I never took auto shop in school and know almost nothing about cars, so every time I hear a noise or see a dashboard light, I brace myself (and my wallet) for the inevitable trip to a mechanic. Like hairdressers, babysitters, and doctors, a good mechanic is a rare find. Trusting your transportation to a mechanic is less stressful than trusting your child with a babysitter, but in Los Angeles where cars are (almost) the only way to get around town, being carless is high on the list of stressful situations. Being a woman who knows nearly nothing about cars doesn't help; I am a walking stereotype (like a naive sheep waiting to be fleeced).

I figured men with vintage cars would know the best mechanics, so I asked them where they took their cars for service; they referred me to Prestige Auto in Mar Vista. I needed a 30K service on my import; when I got my car back I thought they had replaced my old car with a new one because it ran so much better. I asked them what they did and they gave me a 15 point list of all the work they had done. The best part was at the bottom of the worksheet; the price was 30-50% less than what two dealers had quoted me for a major service (which did not include as many items as Prestige does for their clients).

One very nice bonus for women here is that this is a small family run business and the woman who answers the phone for service inquiries does her best to earn and keep your business; she explains the details without condescension, she works in as much of a discount as she can, and she lets you know the realistic time it will take to perform the service.

I no longer worry about my car now that I know a good mechanic, now it's time to find a good babysitter for my friends' kids so I can eat a grown up meal with them.

Your Own Website

By now almost everyone is online and has at least one email account, but there are still some of us who don't have our own website or domain name. Sometimes waiting is good; prices and services have never been lower or better than some of the packages offered today. With so much competition these days for hosting services, companies are making their money on your continued business, so even if you pay less per month, they still make money if you stay with them (and you will tend to stay where the monthly rates are low).

The best deal I have found is at 1 and 1 which offers a starter plan with domain name, 10 GB, an FTP account (you may want this later), 600 IMAP & POP3 supported email accounts with 2 GB of space, firewall protection, marketing discounts with the major online ad services, and spam filter for only $3.99 per month. Yes, that is less that $4 per month to have your own website (my first website cost me $50 per month and that was a discounted price!).

Ok, so now with email and a website, what if you want to start a business and accept credit cards? I researched credit card services and found many had a bait and switch sales team who would say anything to get you to sign up, even if the fine print of the contract had nothing to do with their actual fees. I am so glad I chose Advanced Merchant Services. Their rates may be a little higher, but 0.20% is a very small price to pay for sales representatives who return calls within a day. Their monthly minimum fees are also the lowest I found, at $23 versus the $50 at almost every other merchant card service. The most expensive rate is for telephone approvals and even that rate is a reasonable 3.79% versus over 4% at other institutions. If you are only going to be using your merchant account online with secure checkout or with physical card swipes the rate plummets to around 2%. Ask for Dan Robbins if you want your own merchant account and tell him Elaine referred you (Dan apologized once for taking more than 24 hours to respond to an email I sent him-all the more incredible since I live on the West Coast and the company is based on the East Coast).

Now that you have the tools, use them to build whatever business you love!

Avoid LA traffic jams

Los Angeles traffic can be a nightmare, especially if you are stuck in it and have no way of knowing if the traffic continues for another few minutes or an hour. Whenever I am on my way out, I check the traffic on my computer before I drive by going to the sigalert website on ABC7. It shows the flow of traffic; red is SLOW, orange is moving, yellow is almost freeway speed, and green is traffic actually going freeway speed! There are also triangles showing road hazards or accidents along with the time of each occurrence. With maps for all the counties in and around around L.A., you can click on all the areas you plan to travel through, or just keep it on your home or work destinations. It always helps to see if an alternate route would be better before you find out by getting stuck on the road.

What if you are already on the road and are nowhere near a computer? Do you have an internet enabled wireless phone? One of the other local Los Angeles TV stations has a new free download for your internet enabled phone (for almost all phones except the iphone, which will be available this summer) that shows you LIVE traffic on your route from over 270 cameras while you are in your car! Just go to KNBC's website, put in your cell phone number, and they will send you the download. It's easy and it actually works! And if you live in NY or CT, they offer the same service at the Third Dimension website.

If your route is finally clear but now you can't find the address you were heading to, then just use your phone to text GOOGLE and text in the name or subject of your destination. This is free, so it's like using a 411 service only in text (which is actually more convenient when you are on the road because then you don't have to write it down). Remember with the new law effective July 1, 2008 in California, you MUST use a hands free device if you are driving while using your cell phone, so PULL OVER to use this service (or have someone else in your car do it if you are driving).

Traffic is a fact of life in Los Angeles, but with a little bit of planning and some good connections, you can make it easier, just like life.

Got bars? Got junk?

Have you ever been frustrated by a lack of cell phone reception in your home or on the road in the middle of a "dead cell phone zone"? If you are willing to take along a 3x5 inch plastic disk (not small, but not obnoxiously big either) that plugs into your phone, you can end your frustration. Freedom Antenna is a lifesaver when you need to make a call or have your call clear and steady. Not all phones have a port for this antenna, but all networks support it, so if you can't live without a good wireless cell phone connection it may be worth the $31.95 to buy this and keep it with your phone.

OK, now that you have bars on your cell phone, why not call someone to get rid of the clutter in your home or office? What if you didn't have to order a dumpster, or load any of the stuff yourself? Call 1-800-got-junk and they will literally do all the heavy lifting for you. For those of us who have old refrigerators (too heavy to move alone), soil or construction debris (how would you dispose of a wall?), or mattresses, appliances and old stuff no charity will accept, this is an easy way to get it either recycled or dumped legally and easily. They also pick up from commercial addresses, so if your business has just been remodeled or moved, you can pay professionals to remove the leftover junk effectively, instead of paying your employees for labor they were not hired to perform.

Clear reception and a clear home/office space, now to work on achieving a clear desk:)

Jet Taxi

How much is your time worth? With all the hassles and lines at commercial airports these days, and with the price of gas here in CA reaching the $5 per gallon mark, would it be worth your time and money to get to your destination quickly, easily, and almost hassle-free? Have you always wanted to fly in a Cessna, or wanted to take a jet, but don't have the funds or connections to make it happen? What if you could get to your destination in a private jet? It's a choice we all have now with the jet taxi services which allow you to take them on demand, just as you would a taxi; think of it as an air taxi service. Now you can live the life of a jetsetter with a jet taxi service that operates in the Southeast and Northeast for a very reasonable price.

Imagine Air operates primarily around the Southeast area, originating out of Atlanta. Their fleet is expanding so their flight ranges will also extend, but for the moment, you can fly with two of your friends, from Atlanta, GA to Charlotte, NC, then to Hilton Head Island, and back to Atlanta in a day for about $2000! Talk about affordable jet setting! The even offer a frequent flier type membership that gives you 20% off flights.

Are you stuck in New York but want to fly to Nantucket without the hassles of airports or driving? What if you could do it for only $500 per person (not including fees and taxes)? Linear Air has flights all over the Northeast and down to Imagine Air territory, so you can actually connect from one VLJ (Very Light Jet) taxi to another and fly from New York to Atlanta on a jet without any of the hassles of commercial airport security.

To fly on a jet or not to fly on a jet? Seems that is no longer a question if you can hail a jet taxi for your flight.

Outlaw charities

I have been donating to Amnesty International for many years. Even as a teenager I was impressed by their fights for the rights of political prisoners worldwide. It wasn't until recently that I realized how much work they do here in the US; they are one of the outlaw charities which fought for the rights of the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay to have due process in their cases. Laws are for everyone, and the US is no exception. Imagine being arrested without a warrant or trial for SIX years solely based on your name or appearance. Over 200 prisoners at Guantanamo endured that experience in the years after 9/11. What if you, your family, or friends were one of those harassed and arrested? Wouldn't you want to have someone fighting for your rights to know what you were charged with? Wouldn't you want a trial? Amnesty International was the outlaw organization that fought for those basic rights (and does it still). No one wants anything to do with a lawyer until they need one, hopefully you will never need one, but supporting Amnesty International is supporting human rights worldwide, even when that world is right here in the U.S.

The Hole in the Wall Gang was the name of the outlaw gang that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were part of in the wild west, but it is more famous today as the charity started by Paul Newman for kids who have cancer and serious blood diseases. It is a camp like all camps for kids, except this one has facilities and doctors on hand that make it possible for the kids with challenges to come play like kids. The best reason to live is to experience growth and joy; the kids at the Hole in the Wall Gang get to have fun and grow as they play with each other and the counselors. Uncle Paul shows up regularly to play with them, sharing his time and joy. There is no fee for the kids, so the program lives on donations. If you have time and want to share your energy, they need volunteers 19+ years old, so give money, time or both, to this Hole in the Wall Gang; they are joy and healing outlaws.

Talk is Cheap

Sometimes emails and IM's just aren't enough and you want (or need) to communicate the old fashioned way, via telephone. With all the VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) options, my preferred provider is SKYPE. They have great features like IM, webcam, and voicemail (additional cost), and after 2 years they are so reliable and effective that Ebay decided to do business with them. Oprah uses Skype's webcam on her show to talk to guests from around the world.

I like them because even after so many people now know about them, they still have such easy set-up, accessible customer support, and fantastic prices (it used to be free, but now they charge about 2 cents). No matter what time or day you call, an international call is 2.1 cents per minute; yes, you read that correctly, 2.1 cents per minute. You can buy an unlimited monthly package for only $2.95 for calls to the US & Canada or $9.95 for calls anywhere in the world. Or pay as you go and buy 10 Euros worth (about 16 USD) which is good for 180 days; the credit only expires if you don't make at least one call in that time. The connections are steady, clear, and all you need is a good headset with a microphone to use it; if you plan to be on the the phone away from your computer, I would recommend buying a cordless VOIP phone (the jacks are different because it must plug into your computer-or buy an adapter for a regular phone). This is a great way to keep in touch with people who are overseas, like the (other) Elaine who writes the blog Paris for a Year to get her most up to date recommendations for things to do, see, and eat in Paris.

If you are away from a computer and need to make a call, then get a Global Phone calling card and you can use a land line or cell phone to call overseas or long distance 24/7 any day for an average of about 4.4 cents per minute. There are different prices depending on whether you are calling from or to a cell phone; for instance a call to a land line in France is 1 cent but to a cell phone it's .282 cents a minute. For calls to the continental US it's only .038 per minute and the most expensive call I found was to Zaire for .605 per minute. You have your calling card linked to a credit card, so you literally pay as you use it or not at all. It is a nice card to have when you are traveling (it works worldwide, so you can use it to call home). Since the company has been around since 1995, is privately held, provides phone services to over 500,000 customers in 130 countries, and is debt-free, they will probably still be in business when you need to make a call.

Even with talk this cheap, there are still some people you really do NOT want to talk to, and for those people give them your Rejection Hotline telephone number. Better than giving out a wrong number and disturbing someone you don't know. This is an easy and funny way to tell people you never want to talk to them again. They have local numbers for many cities, the message is unisex, and it will leave the caller laughing even through their rejection. They even have specific numbers for a specific topic, like a one night stand that you want to keep a one night stand.

To talk or not to talk, that is the question; now you have some options no matter what you answer.

Lifestraw saving lives

We are lucky to have easy access to drinking water nearly everywhere any time we are thirsty; just turning a faucet will get most of us safe drinking water. Those of us who have gotten diarrhea from water we have drunk, know how it feels to suffer the consequences of drinking unsafe water from unknown sources. One of the things necessary for all humans to thrive is clean drinking water. It is especially crucial in areas of the world where it is difficult, if not impossible to find any water, and people drink whatever water is available. About 6,000 people die from diarrhea daily because they are drinking contaminated water. Finding an inexpensive and easy way to purify water in countries ravaged by disease is literally a lifesaver.

Lifestraw is a remarkable invention to purify water so that people can safely drink water no matter how contaminated it may be. For only $4 each or $15 for a family filtration system, Lifestraw eliminates parasites, contaminates, and bacteria to EPA safe drinking water standards. The mission of this company is to get this product to as many of these to the people that need them as possible, so to that end, Lifestraw accepts donations through the Rotary Club in Florida. They do not sell individual units for profit, they only sell in bulk to organizations who distribute Lifestraws to areas that need clean drinking water. It is rare to find a company who is in business to help others live better lives, rather than helping themselves live wealthier lives.

Sometimes the most effective means to a better life is also the simplest, just share what you already have. If you make a donation to help Lifestraw spread clean drinking water around the world, you are sharing the wealth you already have every time you turn on your faucet.

Being Korean

Spending a day in another culture is a good way to sample the lifestyle without needing a passport or committing to a trip abroad. Los Angeles offers many cultural choices, and one way to spend a day in Korea is to go to the Olympic Spa in Koreatown. They offer spa packages that rival the best of the chain spas at less than half the cost. A word of warning for those who are self-conscious about being nude, do not come here if you are not comfortable being naked or seeing naked bodies within 2 feet of you. If you are only comfortable in the prudish setting of an American spa, then do NOT try this. This is women only spa, so you are naked only with other women (the therapists wear a bikini type combo as they work on you). If you are able to open your mind and relax your body enough to try a taste of an Asian spa, you will reap the benefits of both the unique offerings and prices you will not find elsewhere in Los Angeles. The Olympic Spa offers an oxygen room, a mugwort hot tub, and their famous Pure Bliss package, which offers a scrub, massage, facial and mask, for about the price of just a massage at any other full service spa. For those who doubt the quality of this experience, the spa uses Bumble and Bumble, so they are not skimping on products. It is a very different atmosphere than you would find at an American spa, but that is the point here as you immerse yourself in the hot and cold spas, steam rooms, and spa packages that make this a haven for Koreans and those who are willing to travel to another culture for their spa experience. The people who work here are all very nice to foreigners (non-Koreans), so be nice to them and tip generously because at these prices, they work very hard for very little. There is a resting area where you can take a nap after your treatments, and they even serve food in a small cafeteria on the premises (Korean food of course).

For better Korean food, leave the spa after your service and try Cham Sot Gul for Korean BBQ, just a few blocks away, in a setting that befits the Flintstones, with boulders set into the walls of the restaurant. They have delicious Galbi (marinated short ribs) and Bugolgi (sliced beef) for meat lovers, and squid or shrimp for those who want lighter meals. If you can't decide, pick one of their combos. Everything comes with an umpteen number of side dishes (including spicy kim chee, mild bean sprouts, steamed egg, etc.), along with a nice salad. The idea is to eat the BBQ meat wrapped in the rice wrappers that come as a side, or with the lettuce. Rice is considered by Koreans to be the thing you eat if you have nothing else, so if you want rice, you must order it separately. This is the typical grill it yourself Korean BBQ restaurant, with a surprising touch of kindness (those who have gone to other Korean places will appreciate this even more than the food). They are nice to Caucasians (and non-Korean Asians), they have a menu in English (with pictures), and the waitresses will even help you grill your food and change your grill when it gets too charred.

To be Korean for a day while enjoying all the perks, but without the jetlag and repressive regime, just go to Koreatown.

Tix to shows or distant shores

Ticket brokers are like stock brokers; they are great when they get you what you want, and terrible when they promise the moon just to earn a commission. There are a few companies I've used which not only deliver, but deliver even MORE than what they promise.

My favorite is the travel broker is Flight Centre. I had checked for flights online and over the phone before contacting them for a quote. Not only did they get me a better itinerary, but they beat the price I got directly from the SAME AIRLINE by $50 just to earn my business! The best thing was that I was able to pick up my tickets from a branch office close to my home the next day, without having to wait for mail delivery. Their prices are especially good on all international flights and vacation packages, but try them whenever you don't have the time or inclination to shop around for your travel arrangements.

For discounts on concerts, plays, and live events, sign up for Goldstar. The service is free and they offer last minute discounts ranging from 10-60% off on popular events like Wicked (they have a special right now for 40% off 25 select dates). I got seats at the Los Angeles Opera starring Placido Domingo for 50% off last season, so they offer something for every taste. Their newsletter gives you advance notice of events, sometimes even before public notice.

If you want (or need) the best seats possible for a reasonable price, then go with VIP Tickets. They do offer discounted seats to some venues like sports, but they are great for getting the best seat in the house if you are willing to pay a bit more for them (about double face value for the front center section). Sometimes it is worth the splurge because there is no other way to get those seats unless you know someone who works on the show. VIP will send out the tickets via messenger and they won't charge your card until the seats are confirmed. It's the next best thing to having your personal concierge.

Lessen your Landfill contribution

One of the biggest landfill components these days are water bottles. Yes, it is great to drink water, but many bottled waters come from MUNICIPAL sources (Dasani & Aquafina have both said YES they bottle their water from FAUCETS). Others come from countries like Fiji, so far away that the energy it takes to bottle and ship the water makes it ecologically insane to drink a water that the natives do not drink!

So what can we do? Do what Dasani & Aquafina do, but better. Buy a filter for your faucet or buy a pitcher with a filter so that you can bottle your own water for a fraction of the cost and drink it out of a reusable container. Better yet, a NON-PLASTIC container so it will never taste of plastic or have the chemicals of the plastic leach into your drinking water from the heat of sitting in the heat of your car. I bought SIGG water bottles from Switzerland, which are the sturdiest, most fashionable (yes, you can be green and fashionable) and most well-made drinking containers. They NEVER taste like plastic, they are made to hold even acidic drinks like juices without corroding, and they have styles and colors to reflect your individual style! You can probably find them in your local outdoor gear shop like Adventure 16 or REI, if you can't find them locally, go online and order them. If you like a flavor with your water, buy the PUR water filter with the flavored water attachment (great for kids or people who don't like "plain" water).

Another great "green" thing to do to lessen our landfills and footprints on this planet is to get reusable grocery bags. Europeans have been doing this for decades since plastic is not a way of life there as it is here. Every store markets themselves with canvas or plastic carry bags bearing their logo. Some places here do that like Trader Joe's which has several styles of bags from wine bottle carriers to cold insulated bags. Nubius Organics has several beautiful grocery and carry all bags that will make you wonder why you ever settled for a plain generic plastic bag to carry your groceries.

If you want to read about the possibilities of living from "Cradle to Cradle", then buy the book of the same title and get inspired. The book is even printed on a material that is reusable!

Lessen your landfill contribution with just two simple things, a reusable water bottle and a reusable grocery bag. It's easy to be green!

Do it yourself travel and reservations

My friends referred me to the website inteletravel which allows you to become an independent at home travel agent with all the benefits and commissions. They send you some literature to study and you pay a small fee yearly, but you can start using your travel agent ID as soon as you receive your enrollment package. Travel agents get nice perks like discounts and upgrades that the general public doesn't get, and the prices they can get are comparable or better than the discount travel websites, so if you travel frequently, or know people who will book their travel through you, this might be worthwhile for you.

It's also a nice career to start from home if you have a family or just want to do something part time. All commissions vary based on whether you are booking airfare, hotels or cruises. Inteletravel takes a 30 % cut of your commission unless you meet certain dollar sales amounts (if you meet the performance levels they set, they take only 20%), but there is no minimum you must book, so consider your commission money a bonus just for booking your own travel package.

Another do it yourself website that I love is opentable which is completely free and allows you to book restaurant reservations worldwide while earning points that are redeemable for cash. For people who eat out more than 12 times a year they also give you VIP status and restaurants see that when you make your reservation. I love hearing about new restaurants or seeing menus for the ones I'm considering all in one place. I've gotten over $100 in open table money for eating at the same restaurants I already love, all just because I made the reservation through open table.

The service is helpful when you travel to a new town and want to find a good restaurant because you can search by city, type of cuisine and/or price. The only things to note are that reservations made by telephone or through the restaurant websites don't count towards your points and changes or cancellations should also be made through the website to avoid penalties (like not being allowed to make anymore reservations through opentable). They even have a convenient feature which allows you to invite people or send a map for a party.

Go travel & eat and make some money while you're doing it!

Medical Mexico

I have almost always had bad experiences in Mexico. On my first trip, there was a hurricane. On my second trip, I was bitten from head to toe. On my last trip down there, I had to be flown back after contracting malaria. I figured there are enough places in the world to go that I did not have to return to Mexico.

But my friend Pel has been going to Mexico for dental work for years, taking her mother and grandmother to get dentures and crowns. When she got her husband to try it, he liked it so much that he went and got veneers. I needed a root canal and gold crown. Even though Pel suggested going to Mexico for dental work, I was unconvinced. But then I found out that the work would cost $1600 here in the US and take two weeks of visits.

So figuring I had nothing to lose, but maybe several hundred dollars to gain, I called and I checked into the clinic my friend recommended, the new offices on Ave Revolucion #1673 of Washington Dental in Tijuana (make sure you go to the new office not the old one). They were very professional, spoke perfect English, take some US insurance, and they had THE cleanest dental practice I have ever seen. Their waiting area has free cold drinks, current movies on a big screen TV in English to occupy waiting family/friends, and San Diego newspapers. I got everything done for HALF the US price in two days instead of two weeks. The lab which makes the crowns was down the street so I did not have to wait for shipping time. Even the antibiotics I needed after the root canal were sold for 30% less than in the US at the pharmacy across the street from the clinic. Everything was easy, from my first inquiry call to the moment I stepped inside the clinic. All the people were very personable and kind, but best of all, the work was fantastic. I did not even have to take pain killers after the root canal! They even reimburse you for a taxi from the border and have a special lot on the US side if you want to drive and walk across the border.

I stayed two exits from the border at the Americana Best Western. They offer a special clinic rate and include a free shuttle directly to many doctors and clinics across the border directly from the hotel and back. The only drawback to taking the shuttle is the wait coming back at the border if the shuttle gets behind a big tour bus. The first day we breezed through in 15 minutes, the next day it took 2 hours. The other passengers in the van had all gone to Mexico for alternative treatments for cancer because apparently Tijuana is the new mecca for medical work. Many places operate under new NAFTA regulations that make their standards on par with the ones in the US and many take US insurance.

I guess I'll be returning to Mexico now with a smile.