Renting Vs. Buying a Home

Although owning your own home is comforting because you can call it your own, renting is a much better option for people under 30 who are just starting their careers because the tenant has less to worry about and isn’t tied down to once place for 20 to 30 years. The option of renting is better because utilities are usually cheaper, the landlord covers repairs, and for a small monthly fee snow and garbage removal are included. When a person owns a house, none of these things are included which can take up the homeowner’s time and use a lot of their money.

                Home buying is a strenuous process that is lengthy and requires a lot of thought. First the person looking to purchase a home must find a realtor to help them on their search. A realtor is a paid consultant that assists a buyer in the search for the perfect home. Once a person has found the perfect house they must make an offer. The offer is a short page that the potential home buyer must sign and it is sent to the seller. The seller can accept, reject, or counter-offer, but until the seller returns a document, the buyer must wait, thinking about the unknown. Once an offer is finally accepted a down payment must be paid (this amount varies but it’s usually 5-10% of the final sale price), an extensive amount of paperwork must be signed, dated, and reviewed, and a home inspection must be done. Once these steps are completed in their entirety, the buyer is now a home owner.

                Renting a place to live is much easier and more simple than purchasing a home. When a person decides to rent they have many options to choose from such as homes, townhouses, duplexes, condos, and apartments. Once the renter has settled on a choice they call the landlord and let them know they would like to put in an application to rent their property. After the application is filled out and filed the renter will know within a matter of days if their credit is worthy and their references were good. If this occurs the renter will pay a security deposit (about one month’s rent to cover any damages that may occur while the person is living there), obtain the key and move in. Very simple, definitely not as much paperwork and stress, and there are no realtor fees involved (unless the renter decided to hire an agent to help in the search).

                When a person buys a house a lot of responsibility comes with it. The owner must attend to all maintenance such as landscaping, repairing things that are broken such as shutters, windows, and doors, as well as paying for the utilities like water, sewer, gas, electric, cable, internet, and other bills that involve owning a home.  Garbage and snow removal are the owner’s duty as well as fixing plumbing, electric, and any appliance issues. The owner has the ability to hire the required people to fix these issues but it becomes increasingly costly and time consuming since the owner usually has to be there when the repairs are being done.

                Renters have it much easier when it comes to problems around the property. The easiest way to put it is that they don’t have to do anything. When renting, the agreement usually states that the landlord must take care of all issues of maintenance and repairs that need to be done during the course of the tenants stay in the building. These repairs come at little to no cost to the tenant because the rent and security deposit will cover it. Although it is common for the tenant to have to pay their own utilities such as those listed in the above paragraph, sometimes utilities are all inclusive so the renter has only one monthly payment for a slew of items. This option offers convenience to the renter so they don’t have to write out five or six checks a month and it’s much easier to keep track of because everything is listed on one bill.

                When buying a home a person must take into account the extra expenses that many don’t think about. Taxes on the home and land, personal property tax (only in some states), and interest rates can all increase at any time and cost the homeowner more than what was originally expected. If a buyer based the monthly payments on their annual income, and the payments increase because of interest rates, the owner may not be able to make up the difference. Add on all of those taxes mentioned earlier, and the amount the owner is dishing out could increase by $200 to $300 monthly.

                Renting on the other hand will never have tax increases or interest rate inflation. When a renter signs the rental agreement there is a clause that says their rent will not change over the course of the agreement so their payments will remain the same over the lease period. Renters will never have to worry about not having extra money because they have to pay their personal property tax twice a year. The landlord takes care of all of these things when they write out the agreement and they make sure they are charging enough rent to cover any hikes in taxes or interest rates.

                Home buying can be a good thing for those over the age of 30 who have developed a career and have a bit of money saved up for a down payment on a house. People over the age of 30 are normally more mature and responsible with their finances so they can make wiser choices when buying a home. A person who is over 30 has decided what they want out of life and usually they know where they want to reside. Buying a home is a good option once a person has chosen a local that fits their wants and needs.  They can start a family, make improvements to the home to their liking, and eventually retire in the house they purchased.

                Renting is a much better option for those who are 30 or younger. Now that young adults have the option to go back to college, many are in their upper twenties. During this time, buying a house would not be a good option because a person may want to continue their life in a town other than the one they attended college in. While they are in college, renting in a much more affordable option because the renter wouldn’t be tied down and they wouldn’t have to worry about taxes. Young adults also like variety in their life, so after a year, the person could move to a different rental unit to help satisfy their craving for versatility.

                When a person decides to leave their home for good which can happen anytime after the purchase, they must go through a selling process. The selling process is a very long process that doesn’t always work out for the best. When a person decides to sell their home, they must contact a real estate agent and pay fees to them so the agent can list the home on numerous websites and in real estate papers. After this happens the seller can have an open house so people can view the home and see if they would like to purchase it. The homeowner must make the house presentable and likeable so the public will view the house as their potential new living space. After a seller has a potential buyer the process of buying a home starts over, but with a new person. The seller then has to sign more papers and eventually give up the property they have tended to for a number of years.

                When a person decides to leave a rental unit, it’s much easier. The landlord will inspect the property to locate any damages. If none are found, the renter may get their security deposit back which can assist in the cost of moving their belongings to a new location. The keys are returned to the landlord and the renter is then able to leave. Although renters are usually required to give at least a 30 day notice before vacating their property they can avoid this if need be by paying the landlord an extra month in rent and vacating whenever they have to. No real estate agent is involved in this process and it’s very simple to change locations.

                Home buying is an option that those over 30 should definitely consider because of their financial status and dependability. Renting is a much better option for those under 30 because of their need for versatility and the cheaper price tag for an apartment.  Either option is an exercise in responsibility, financial burden, and ownership; renting just happens to be the better of the two if a person is under the age of 30 and just starting their life.

Sand Between My Toes

As soon as my big toe touches the first grain of white sand, I am at peace. Not the kind of peace one finds after devouring a delicious meal and feeling the perfect full though. No, this kind of peace is associated with Heaven; it’s the type of serenity that you can only achieve under the most perfect conditions, such as when a new life is born. This is the peace that I feel when I am at the beach.

                Virginia Beach has always been a perfect getaway. In childhood, I would take the four hour trip with my grandparents to stay for a week, oceanfront in a nice hotel. We would hunt for imperfect seashells along the shoreline and build sand castles that held dreams of being a fairytale princess. Burying my brother in the sand was always the most fun because he loved it when I dumped the slurry of sand and water over his head. The bits of brown sand would stick to his hair in small clumps and my grandma would always yell, “Quit throwing sand everywhere!” I would pretend not to hear what she said over the roar of the waves and continue my burying frenzy until all but his eyes were completely submerged in grainy goodness. Zach would then proceed to rise up out of the mound slowly and scream at the top of his lungs, acting like a scary monster and I’d run into the ocean flailing my arms wildly as If I were being chased by a man with a chainsaw.

                As if playing at the beach all day weren’t enough, my grandparents would always take us shopping and out to eat every night. It was a great tradition because as kids, seeing the boardwalk and being able to stay up past 9pm was a feat that we both enjoyed very much. The different restaurants at Virginia Beach were always fascinating to me. Seeing a giant fire red crab wearing a captain’s hat and sunglasses always meant an all you can eat seafood buffet. While driving downtown, my brother and I would always try to see who could spot the most crabs before we reached our destination. Sometimes we would get to eat at the places with the giant crabs, but they were never as promising as the signs professed. Usually all you can eat meant “all you can try to grab at the buffet tables before some 400 pound lady in a moo-moo pushes you out of the way so she can get first dibs on the crab legs.” Buffets weren’t (and still aren’t) really my style.

                After restaurant dining, we would always window shop at places with names like “Waves,” “Pacific,” and “Sunsations.” All of these cheesy, brightly painted buildings held the same cheap trinkets and shot glasses saying “I Traveled to Virginia Beach and All I Got Were Crabs.” Even so, the shops were still a fun place for a seven year old looking to get into some mischief. I would try on silly hats, pet the hermit crabs and lizards, and beg my grandparents to buy me a tie-dyed t-shirt eight sizes too big for my small frame. All in all, my childhood trips to Virginia Beach were a blast.

                Now, being older and more mature, I still go to the beach every year, but with my fiancé, not my grandparents. Virginia Beach has changed a lot since I visited as a child, but it’s still a little slice of Heaven in my book. Upon arriving at the beach, the first thing I like to do is step onto the sand and let my body get into a state of relaxation. Building sandcastles is a thing of the past, but I do enjoy digging my toes into the hot sand and burying my feet so they don’t get sunburned. Photography became a passion of mine over the years, so I always take a lot of pictures of the ocean and the waves. The ocean has a serene feel and it knows how to make me feel like I’m the smallest person on the Earth. The ocean is so vast; the color of sparkling jade in the sunlight. I enjoyed standing at the water’s edge and just taking a few deep breaths of salty ocean air to put my mind in a state of tranquility. After this, I feel as though I am free to enjoy my stay, which is usually a mere three days as opposed to an entire week in happiness. Normally, I end up falling asleep on my towel for a few hours after reading a book or watching some kids build a moat for their castles.

                Upon awakening from my slumber, I realize that my fiancé and I are two of just the few people that are still left on the beach. The sun is setting and is casting an orange hazy glow on the surroundings. I pack up our things and we head back to the hotel to shower and scrub the sand from our hair, nails, and from in between our toes. Showering was always optional as a child because I didn’t care what I looked like, I was there to play in the ocean and eat shrimp and that’s it. After showering and putting on clothes that are presentable enough for a night on the town, we head back out to the boardwalk for some fun.

                The boardwalk of Virginia Beach is a very entertaining place, especially during the summer months. There are tons of oceanfront restaurants and bars, a huge pavilion where summer concerts are held for free, and many carnival games and rides. Catch 31 is a very hip oceanfront restaurant/outdoor bar that I love, so we go there frequently when we visit the beach. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with crisp white tablecloths covered with cobalt blue glassware to accessorize. Inside, the architecture seems like it’s from the future with extremely lofty ceilings with stark white beams that accentuate the height. The smell is salty and lemon-y, immediately making me salivate, but even more so when I see the jumbo shrimp cocktail on a table next to the entrance. Although the inside is breath-taking, I enjoy eating outside because of the fresh air and exciting environment. A huge fire pit sits in the middle of a gigantic bar surrounded by palm trees and exotic flowers making the space feel comfortable yet exhilarating. Eating there feels like you are in the Caribbean, not off the coast of Virginia. The food is exquisite to the sight as well as taste.  Fried calamari is extremely hard to cook correctly, but they seem to have it down pat. It’s golden outside is buttery and the texture has just the right amount of crunch. Inside, the calamari is cooked to perfection because it’s not chewy and it literally melts in my mouth. This restaurant is by far the best seafood restaurant I’ve ever eaten at and I don’t think I will find another that can tingle my taste buds the same as Catch 31.

                After eating, I like to walk down the pier and listen to the ocean at night. I believe this is the perfect time to visit the endless horizon because it’s not as crowded; the silence lets me really take in the ocean and how it sounds. The waves are rolling upon the shoreline, and I can make out the white foam when they crash. It sounds exactly like a conch shell when held up to my ear, only better. My ears can hear the people walking around me, but my mind blocks out everything but the comforting sound of the waves. The white foam sprays the sand and creates a frosting on the beach, as if a pastry chef were icing the perfect cake just for me. My fiancé puts his arm around my shoulder, and I feel that if I could capture any moment in time and bottle it up forever, it would be this one.

                After listening to the ocean, I always go down to the boardwalk to get ice cream from the Dairy Queen right beside the pavilion. The line is always long, but when it’s 75 degrees outside at 11pm, it’s worth the wait for an Oreo Blizzard. Usually the area will be filled with live music from the pavilion, normally reggae. I retrieve my Blizzard and sit on the grass to watch the man with dreadlocks and unfashionable orange Hawaiian shirt play the steel drums and sing a version of Bob Marley’s “One Love.” Everyone is swaying back and forth to the music and the palm trees seem to follow the beat as well as if we are all one organism instead of many separate ones. The song ends and everyone claps and cheers for more, but the band starts to pack up because it’s late and they want to end the night on a good note.

                Realizing that most of the crowd has dispersed, I get up and shake the sand off of my shorts and look at my fiancé. We decide that it’s about time to head back to the hotel because we know that early tomorrow, as the sun is rising and showering us with the warm colors of morning, we will be running on the beach to get in a workout before the hotel serves breakfast. We decide to take our ritual walk on the beach, barefoot while carrying our sandals before we retire to the hotel for the night.

                The sand is much cooler at night and feels great on my feet that are worn out from all of the walking done earlier in the evening. As I slip off my sandals and sink my feet into the cool sand, a wave comes up and travels over my feet then retreats, leaving a perfectly formed seashell near my right ankle. I bend over and pick it up, knowing that when I get back to Winchester, I will be making some sort of hemp necklace out of the jewel that the beach provided me. We continue our walk until we reach our hotel. Slipping my sandals back on is bittersweet because my body is tired and I can’t wait to sink into a bed of clouds, but I hate to leave the paradise that I have created for myself. I longingly gaze back at the ocean one last time before stepping onto the sidewalk to make my way into the hotel. I silently say to myself, “Life is good when the sand is between my toes,” before falling asleep that night.

The Condiment Fits the Personality

               Condiments are an important staple in the average American’s dietary needs. Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, ranch, barbeque sauce, and oil and vinegar along with a few others are some of the more popular kinds that are used on a daily basis. Why do Americans need condiments? Is it because they taste good or something more? There is an old saying that goes, “You are what you eat,” and this statement holds true in the discussion of condiments.

                Ketchup is the most popular condiment not only because of its accepting flavor but because it’s readily available nearly everywhere and are cheap in price. Ketchup is made from mostly tomatoes and sugar and is a key ingredient to many main dishes but its true calling is for a dipping sauce. French fries wouldn’t be French fries without a heaping mound of ketchup to dip them in. Without ketchup fries just don’t taste the same. But what about the ketchup people? Those who devour it during every meal like they may never taste it again? Ketchup people are bland just like the condiment they are shoveling in their mouth. They are a stickler for rules and they have strict schedules that must be adhered to or madness will ensue. People who use ketchup like it’s a side dish will never think outside the box nor will they try other condiments because they are content with what they have and will remain dull ketchup eaters.

                Mustard is another condiment that has been around for a long time but because of its acquired taste it comes in second to ketchup in rankings. Mustard can come in all types of forms including grey poupon, Dijon, honey, and spicy. Washington DC and people who live there are a lot like mustard and the people who enjoy it. There are many types of people that reside in Washington DC yet they are all very similar because most of them are workaholics. Whether they are a businessman working for the President (grey poupon) or a woman who works in Macy’s lingerie department (spicy), they have the same goal: work and make money, just like mustard’s goal: work and try to become better than ketchup. The goals are set too high in my opinion. Mustard needs to take it down a notch and try to just be good at what he does best which is adorning hotdogs at a cookout.

                Mayonnaise is another condiment that is well-known but not quite as tasty nor as popular as its counterparts. Mayonnaise or mayo as most like to call it is mostly made of eggs which a type of protein and no other condiment has this special feature. Mayo people are also special in the sense that they like a rather fattening condiment; why choose a non delicious topping to adorn your French fries and hamburgers when there are so many more flavorful choices to select from? Maybe the fat content in mayo coincides with the laziness of the mayo people. It’s also very bland in taste, but when mixed with herbs and spices, it can bring zest to egg salad or be used as a topping for a baked potato. At least the mayo people are getting double protein.

                Ranch…that’s all I have to say. This special flavor enhancer has come a long way since its salad topping days. With a few different types to try such as five cheese and buttermilk it hasn’t quite pulled away from its original self like mustard but improved the natural ranch flavor and made it even better (if that’s even possible). Ranch can be a great dipping sauce for fries, nuggets, bread, and veggies, or it can top salads, pasta, and even macaroni and cheese! It’s slowly moving up to take over ketchups number one spot but hasn’t quite conquered the high feat yet. Ranch lovers are very happy and enthusiastic people. Sometimes they get a little annoying because they try to force their belief in ranch upon others which can cause tension between groups of condiments. All in all, ranch people are easy to get along with, but they will never go back to boring old ketchup again because of their new found love.

                Barbeque sauce is another up and coming condiment that has yet to bring its true potential full force. It is spicy, sweet, and tangy all at once but the texture is something that takes a little getting used to. Barbeque sauce, when made correctly, has a rather thick consistency and many condiment people do not enjoy this because fries can break in half when trying to scoop the brown sauce out of the tiny cup into their mouth. With many different ways to make barbeque sauce it’s very versatile in the types of food that it embellishes. Baby back ribs, chicken wings, and pulled pork are just a few items that barbeque sauce alone can truly complete and make finger-licking good. Barbeque people are spontaneous risk takers that are always looking for adventure. Because barbeque sauce is a lot different taste wise from the previously listed condiments so are the people. They are hard to keep up with yet they are still down to earth. Barbeque is becoming more popular just like the people who go along with it.

                Oil and vinegar is a condiment that is not unheard of but it is a tiny speck on the radar of the condiment world. Being the healthiest out of all condiments is about all it has going on for it. The taste is just ok and the texture is horrendous. It’s runny and oily so fries can’t be dipped into the substance but it will unclog your sinuses because of the kick the vinegar adds to the mixture. As one can imagine oil and vinegar people are just that…ok. They are healthier than most and they like to boast about it when lining up at the salad bar. “Oh aren’t you going to put some dressing on your salad?” “No, I’m going to eat healthy and use the oil and vinegar option.” They are pretentious and look down on the other condiment users because those people are clearly making wrong life choices. Oh, if only everyone could be like the oil and vinegar people the world may be a better place.

                Other condiments that were not listed such as relish and hot sauce also deserve a mention. Relish, although not a sauce can also be considering a condiment because it is great on hotdogs. It’s tangy taste and rough texture makes it different than other condiments, but it’s relish so it’s allowed to be a little odd. Hot sauce is the devil. It’s red, spicy, and causes diarrhea when use in abundance. I hate hot sauce and I believe that it should be banned from normal grocery stores and sold only at specialty stores.

                My personal favorite is sweet and sour sauce. Tangy with a hint of sugariness describes me perfectly. I’m opinionated and I say what’s on my mind, but I can top it off with a sugar coated compliment. Sweet and sour sauce has the perfect consistency with a little thickness, but not enough to break your fry in half like the crazy barbeque sauce. It’s perfect on fries, nuggets, and even a hamburger tastes better when dipped into a cup of McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce. Therefore, my condiment choice is obviously the best because it’s just…perfect.

                Where would humans be without condiments? I’ve only discussed the ones that are popular in America. Think about how many other countries and condiments there are that America wouldn’t even consider a condiment such as chili paste and soy sauce. Every person in the world uses condiments on a daily basis which is why they are so important. Condiments seem to hold a certain stereotype within, and by looking closer at each type, a realization occurs: the condiment fits the personality.

Dreams Are Scary

Not dreams like "Oh, I want a big house with a two car garage and a manicured lawn." Dreams as in the subconscious thoughts that your brain has when you are asleep. Last night I had the scariest dreams I've ever had. And I remember it. Which makes it even scarier since I don't remember many dreams (like most people).
My dream was short, but vivid. I was in a hospital and it was pretty dark. It was storming outside and for some reason, a few people I used to be friends with had come in to take shelter in one of the empty hospital rooms. Of course this was against policy, but I lied to the head nurse saying that the people in room 332 didn't want to be disturbed. She didn't believe me so she went to check. Surely enough person 1 and person 2 were there and I began to get yelled at for lying and taking up patient rooms when there were sick people waiting for them. All of a sudden all of the lights in the hospital went out. People were screaming and person 1 and person 2 came out of their room and said the world was ending now. Lights began to flash and there was panic everywhere. A man started praying aloud and others joined in, hoping this wasn't true. A light flashed so bright it blinded everyone and the side of the building where we were standing flew off and we were sucked up into the air. We kept going higher and higher. Our ears and eyes began to bleed, though we couldn't see anything because of the blinding light. I grabbed onto someone and they held back because we were both scared and didn't know what was happening. We were both saying, "Oh God please help us, save us." Then I died. As soon as I died, I woke up. I heard you can't die in a dream, but that's not true. You can...sort of.
I woke up grabbing onto my sheets, just as I was grabbing onto the person in my dream. I wasn't sweating but I felt as though I were deaf for a few minutes. My senses finally came to and I realized it was a dream. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life. Dreammoods.com says this about dying,

"To dream that you die in your dream symbolizes inner changes, transformation, self-discovery and positive development that is happening within you or your life. You are undergoing a transitional phase and are becoming more enlightened or spiritual. Although such a dream may bring about feelings of fear and anxiety, it is no cause for alarm as it is often considered a positive symbol.  Dreams of experiencing your own death usually means that big changes are ahead for you. You are moving on to new beginnings and leaving the past behind. These changes does not necessarily imply a negative turn of events. Metaphorically, dying can be seen as an end or a termination to your old ways and habits. So, dying does not always mean a physical death, but an ending of something.

On a negative note, to dream that you die may represent involvement in deeply painful relationships or unhealthy, destructive behaviors. You may feeling depressed or feel strangled by a situation or person in your waking life. Perhaps your mind is preoccupied with someone who is terminally ill or dying. Alternatively, you may be trying to get out of some obligation, responsibility or other situation. You are desperately trying to escape from the demands of your daily life."

I did not like this dream at all. I'm rather perturbed by it. Maybe not as perturbed as I should be. I have pretty vivid scary dreams. It just felt so real...I even remembered the room numbers. Anyone out there interpret dreams? Help?

Should You Home School Your Children?

Many of you reading this don't have children, but you might in the future so this could benefit you. Public school systems seemed to be a failure from the start. Lately it has gotten much worse because of lack of funding for programs, overcrowded classrooms, unhealthy food for lunches, and lack of security. Right now, I would much rather pay $10,000 a year that I can't afford to send my son to a private school rather than put him in the public school system.

When I was in school I remember the disgusting food that I was served. Rubber chicken patties, greasy orange pizza, and mushy fruit in a cup were a few choices that I had, much like the lunch that is pictured to the right. Unfortunately not much has changed because most of these items are still being served in cafeterias across the United States today. Thanks to Jamie Oliver and his school lunch renovation program found here, some public schools are starting to change, but changing the food isn't enough.

Overcrowding in classrooms is another big obstacle that must be tackled. With a ratio of 25 to 30 students to one teacher in most classrooms above a fifth grade level, students can't get the individual attention that they need. Many teachers don't even bother to learn students names' anymore because they can't keep up with all of the kids they teach on a daily basis. This is saddening, especially to me since my son will be starting kindergarten next year. Knowing that his classroom is going to be overcrowded and that he won't be getting attention that he deserves (and that my tax dollars are paying for) angers me.

Another thing that worries me is a lack of security on school campuses. Lately there have been school shootings left and right, not only at colleges but at high schools, middle schools, and even elementary schools. When I was in school we didn't need metal detectors and security guards at every entrance, but times have changed. Most schools don't have either, but this needs to change. In order for children to be safe, a security plan needs to be placed in each public school in the United States. Just today a college in Oakland, California had a massive shooting (here). So far seven people have died. I'm not saying this could have been prevented because college campuses are a lot different than a high school building, but this just goes to show that security needs to be upped on school campuses.

As of right now I am not sending my son to a public school. It's unsafe, unhealthy, and not in his best interest. I do believe in the education that a public school can give if an institution has the right educators. I got an excellent education through the public school system. I'm just not risking my son's life or his health to get something that is free. It's not worth it in my opinion unless things change.

Is Being Courteous Out of Date?

Yesterday I had a strange experience and even 24 hours after, I still don't understand what happened. I was pulling out of an unnamed parking lot on the Shenandoah campus. Another car was also pulling out across the lot from mine and since I was turning right, I had the right-of-way. They were turning left, and I waved them on to go, because I am such a nice person. The person across from me didn't go, so I let off the brake to make my turn. Of course, as soon as I did so, the person across from me did the same thing. I stopped, waved again, and motioned for them to go on. They proceeded to respond by giving me the middle finger out of their window and waving their hand frantically in front of their face, telling me to make the turn. I went, but my brain couldn't process what had just happened.

I was trying to be polite. Why was my politeness being rewarded with an obscene gesture and rude waving? I had no idea. Then I started thinking. Is there even a point to being nice or courteous anymore, especially in traffic situations? Probably not. It seems that niceness is always rewarded with nothing...sometimes even worse than nothing in my case. What has changed over time to make people rude?

I believe rudeness is a learned behavior. From the time we are born, we as humans see how our parents, friends, and siblings interact with others. Watching these interactions is how we learn to interact as well. If the behavior we are watching isn't pleasant and it is repeated behavior, we learn that this is perfectly ok. Sure, once we are adults, we know that acting rude isn't ok, but since the behavior is learned, it's hard to change.

This article gives advice for parents trying to tame their child's rude or uncivilized behavior. Unfortunately they don't give many details on how the adults or parents should act, but how they should redirect the children's rudeness and teach them how to act. This is a great start, but where are the guides for how the parents should act? The old saying "Do as I say, not as I do," applies here. Many parents are extremely rude to cashiers, janitors, and people with jobs that are not so high up on the social rank. When their children see this behavior, they think it's fine to belittle or ignore those people since their parents did it.

In today's fast-paced society, sometimes it's hard to be civil, especially when you're juggling a full-time job, two kids, a mortgage payment, and going to school (in no means am I referring to myself...I only have one child). Nonetheless, it absolutely does not give you the right to be rude or uncivilized to others. I made a list of small things that a person can do to be less rude during their day. Some people don't even realize they are being rude to others because their mannerisms are branded into their brain.

1. When being waited on by a cashier or sales associate, whether it's Wal-Mart or Saks Fifth Avenue, be courteous by NOT talking on your cell phone and ignoring the person ringing your purchase. Try to make small talk (weather, talk about what you're buying, etc) or possibly compliment them on something to evoke a smile...a compliment never hurt anyone and it can make someone's day SO much better even if it's just a "Your hair looks great!"

2. If someone waves you on in traffic, lets you slide in front of them, etc...give them the friendly hand wave or acknowledge that they have done a good deed. It's good karma.

3. If you see an older person struggling with bags, a heavy object, etc...HELP THEM. I see so many people go ignored in grocery stores because they can't reach something on a higher shelf or because the cashier has made their bags to heavy for them to lift into their car. I always try to help when I can and I'm always rewarded with a smile and a big Thank you. These acts of kindness make you feel good about yourself as well.

4. If someone is being rude to you, counteract their rudeness with a big smile and be as polite as you can. Don't be rude back because 1) it is teaching that person that being rude is ok because people will put up with it and 2) You look bad when you are rude...being rude is not a pretty trait to have.

I think by doing these four simple things, it not only helps you become a better person, but it helps others feel better about themselves as well. If every person would do one good deed a day or rethink their decision to yell and scream at the customer service associate from Verizon because they feel their bill was too high this month, people in general would be happier. It's that easy.

I'll leave you with a funny yet true link that has 16 steps on How To Be Nice.

JCP...Or Is It JCPenny?

JCPenny has a new look, new prices, and an overall new attitude towards retail. Heck, they aren't even called JCPenny anymore. JCP is the new department store that has lower prices, no hassle returns, and a lot more color than the old, bland JCPenny. Why the change? What makes this "new" store better? I took a trip to the Hagerstown Valley Mall to find out if it is worth all of the buzz that has been going around about it.

Upon first arriving into the store, I immediately noticed the freshly painted signs that graced the entrance. I found this welcoming because before, the JCPenny was decrepit and looked like it had been around since the beginning of time. My eyes were also averted to the colorful boxes and displays of clothing they had placed strategically around entrance to the store. Mannequins were decked out in bright oranges, yellows, aquamarines, and blindnig whites in different patterns. This created a feeling of a sunny day on the beach in my mind which is a good mindset to have, especially when shopping and spending money.

After walking through the bottom half of the store, I found it to be pleasing to the eye as well as to the wallet. Their prices are much lower but they still have the same brands they have always carried. Their new signage is brightly colored, easy to read, and fun to look at. There are poles separating each section such as girls, boys, toddlers, juniors, etc. Each of the poles are painted different colors and are labeled with what the section holds. This makes it extremely easy to find what you are looking for. I remember in the old JCPenny, I spent 20 minutes trying to find the petites section so I could buy a dress for a wedding. The old store was disorganized and hard to navigate. Pricing is also a plus in this new and improved department store.

The signs for pricing are labeled well and on each rack as it should be. Before, JCPenny has single price tags on each separate item, making the shopper have to work to find the price (which may not even be correct because a sticker was wrongly put on an item). Now, the items are clearly labeled and without the .99 after the leading number. This creates a new shopping experience because not only can shoppers add the amount they are spending in their head, sales associates can easily calculate the sale price of an item without a calculator (assuming JCPenny doesn't hire five year olds) when asked. I'd much rather see a sign reading "$7 Socks" than "$6.99 Socks" because it seems easier and to the point.

Upstairs, JCP keeps the housewares. I found this section to be inviting as well with signage hanging from the ceiling in a well kept way, labeling different items throughout the top half of the store. Their displays were better advertised with more color and less sale signs blocking the product. This is a great tactic to attract buyers because the buyers can see where items are and pick out what they are looking for with ease, giving them more time to browse when a certain display happens to catch their eye.

All in all, I think the new JCPenny is a great department store who has updated not only the physical appearance, but the feeling that shoppers get upon entering and browsing the items. It has a Target-esque appeal that I love and although some say it "cheapens" the store, I believe it adds value and creates a customer-store bond.

This is an article written by Jim Edwards about the JCPenny logo, it's history, and his opinion on if it is going to help or hurt the company. JCPenny Adopts New Logo -- It's 3rd In As Many Years. The comments below the article are rather harsh towards the new logo. I find the new logo simple and it's effective. The colors stand for the American flag (red, white, blue) and it still says JCP which is what many valued customers call JCPenny for short. In my opinion, this new design is great and I will continue to shop at this store!