Spa day

Just had to tell you all about this experience. Please indulge me with this non real estate related item. I was given a gift certificate to Burke Williams spa as a birthday gift.

I finally made my appointment and was transformed into a few hours of sheer bliss. I am thinking of changing one of my favorite hobbies to spaing.

I would like to suggest that you do this at least 4 times a year. Takes only a few hours, but you will feel completely different. I was scheduled for a whirlpool birthday bath in a semi private room – oh fabulous. What can I say, when you have someone else make sure the tub is clean for you, draws the water and adds fabulous things to it. ( and then cleans up after you – oo la la ) Gabriela did a wonderful job with my milk bath with some oils that smelt and made me feel silken. The fruit in a bowl and eye cucumbers just enhanced the bathing experience. My next home will have a whirlpool tub. Glad I did decide to have the bath after all.

This day as it turned out was one of those days when the President comes to town. So of course there was a lot of hub bub going on outside, and you were none the wiser on the inside of the spa facility. I would like to suggest that you do the items you are scheduled for in the order they suggest and have you hair done as the last thing.

Next I was scheduled for eyebrow waxing –sort of an ouch. Cassandra had a great touch and I hardly even noticed. Then she gave me a fabulous facial. Oh it was heavenly. I have to go back for a back facial. The products used, had just a hint of whatever fruits or vegetables they were made form, they all felt great going on and being removed. – I have very sensitive skin; everything felt soothing.

There are several areas for relaxing either before your treatments or afterward, the whirlpool, heat and dry saunas, along with steam sauna, the outdoors area. To just sit back and relax.

Oh yeah one more thing, the areas are segregated so the men have their own area and the women ours so you can wear a suit for the water works if you wish or not. Also you really do not have to bring a thing. They even had robes and towels that were comfortable for me. I would go to the gym first then to the spa to take full advantage. This also makes great gifts for friends and family. Hint hint. So help someone else splurge and feel great.

This was a fabulous few hours. Thanks Suzette.

Cities Feel Impact of Rising Foreclosures

Daily Real Estate News January 28, 2008

The conversation at the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting, which ended Friday, was focused on stemming foreclosures and managing vacant properties.
After all, mayors say dealing with vacant houses hits the municipal budget hard. Chicago estimates that each vacant house costs the city an average of $34,000 for inspections, court actions, extra law enforcement, visits from city utilities, and sometimes demolition.Kilder, treasurer for Genesee County, Mich., whose county seat is in economically devastated Flint, urged mayors to stop selling tax liens and liquidating their interest in abandoned property because it puts the city in the hands of speculators.
"Even if a community doesn't own the property," Kildee says, "local leaders own the problem. The public is going to hold us all accountable for the conditions in our neighborhoods and simply saying this property is owned by some mortgage company or some speculator in some city doesn't get us off the hook.

"Source: The Wall Street Journal, T.W. Farnam (01/28/08)