Where is a good place to find information on drugs for my family?

Great question! Even a drug as simple as acetaminophen can have side effects or cautions that you may not think of. Try Epocrates - which recently announced that clinicians and support staff – even the average web user - can now access an online version of its free and trusted mobile drug and formulary guide, used by more than 500,000 healthcare professionals. Epocrates Online (https://online.epocrates.com) provides clinicians with access to critical information about more than 3,300 drugs, including dosing, pricing, potential drug interactions and Medicare Part D formulary coverage from any computer with an Internet connection. Epocrates products are designed by practicing physicians to deliver the most clinically useful and relevant information that healthcare professionals need at the point of care. This enables clinicians to focus on their patients rather than having to reference multiple websites or search through medical texts for information. Many clinicians report that they rely on Epocrates products as their primary source for all clinical reference needs and save up to 30 minutes a day using the solutions. In addition to an extensive drug guide, the product includes formulary information for more than 130 health plans and hundreds of Medicare Part D formularies. Healthcare professionals or patients can easily obtain formulary status, drug coverage and alternative and generic drug options for their health plans with Epocrates Online. For more information about Epocrates the company, please visit www.epocrates.com.

Help – I just found out our whole family has to move to Orlando because of my husband’s job transfer! Any advice??

Well – at least the kids should be excited because of all the theme parks! I am sure you are also wondering what else Orlando has to offer your family too. Well, Orlando’s settled history is not much more than 150 years old, but a lot has happened in that century and a half. Cattle farming was the primary way to make a living and there were Indian wars, cattle rustling, gun fights, gambling and other interesting pursuits. Then came the railroad and Central Florida’s fledgling Citrus Industry would rapidly expand with easy access to Northern markets. Of course we all know of Florida’s oranges – at least you can rest with the thought that everyone will get enough vitamin C! With the Citrus industry, Orlando changed dramatically. It gladly took on its roll of county seat and became the hub for commerce and business in Central Florida. By the mid-1920s Orlando was a bustling city and for the first time tourism became a major industry.

Now that you have the city’s background – what you have to look forward to after you settle in is that currently Orlando welcomes more visitors each year than the population of California - which makes Orlando the number one tourist destination in the world. The current population of Orlando is approximately 185,000 and the Metro-Orlando population is over 1,500,000. Orlando continues to be one of the fastest growing communities in Florida as well as the United States. It’s no surprise that your husband has found a good job there, but beyond the employment opportunities, Orlando is a great environment to enjoy your leisure time and raise a family. The area offers a wide range of life styles for all ages. Take the time to explore the area to find the best environment for your individual family. From real estate in upscale gated neighborhoods; golf course communities; charming, old-fashioned towns, rural communities and areas with excellent schools – plus the urban lifestyle in downtown Orlando, there is something for everyone.

If you need a recommendation for an Orlando real estate agent consider Exclusive Buyer Agency Office - Buyers Broker of Florida as they only represent the best interest of the homebuyer, never the seller. As full time Buyer Agents they understand contracts, house values, options, negotiations, 1031's, creative thinking, and will do their absolute best to negotiate the most favorable terms only for you the buyer. They provide a friendly partner who knows what they are doing that you can always trust all the time.

Good luck on your new family adventure!

What advice do you have for a trip to Disney World?

So you want to take a trip to Disney World with your family – an excellent idea! Before you go, consider making it a complete vacation by enjoying the whole Central Florida area and contemplate a vacation home Orlando style.

Orlando continues to be one of the fastest growing communities in Florida as well as the United States. Beyond the theme park area, Orlando is a great environment to enjoy leisure time with your family. The Central Florida area - all 7 counties - offers a wide range of life styles for all ages. This includes opportunities to find a rental home in upscale gated neighborhoods; golf course communities; charming, old-fashioned towns, and rural communities. If you are looking for an urban lifestyle, downtown Orlando is a mixture of historic homes and luxury condominiums with great views of the city. You can enjoy vintage homes in the historic neighborhoods of Thorton Park, Lake Eola Heights, Lake Lawsona, Lake Cherokee, and Lake Copeland. Downtown is trendy with diversity of restaurants, retailers, discos, and bars all within walking distance. With close access to beautiful Lake Eola, you can enjoy festivals, outdoor concerts, or a gondola ride on the Lake. The sports complex, theater, and opera are all centrally located making your entertainment venues easily accessible. The focus on family living also spurred residential development on the edge of downtown called Baldwin Park, a traditional neighborhood with architecture reminiscent of the pre-1940's era.

Think of Florida and you will probably imagine theme parks and sunshine but there is so much more to this southern state. The Central Florida area truly offers something for everyone in the family - exciting theme parks, glorious white sandy beaches and a warm welcome from the year round sunshine. A 45 minute drive from the theme parks takes you to countryside with rolling hills and oak trees. Here you are in horse breeding country – a great opportunity if you have a daughter who loves horses. Travel south and take an airboat ride across the Everglades or take advantage of some of the best shopping opportunities in the USA. So, include the rest of Florida in your plans to visit Disney World and make a trip of a lifetime for the whole family.

Random Olympic History Fact

Nancy Burpee is an amazing swimmer who will not receive the chance to show her talents in an Olympic format due to a bizarre incident. The United States Paralympics team, that included Ms. Burpee, was selected at the United States Olympic trials. During these trials, Ms. Burpee set world records in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle. However, at the Paralympics trials, Ms. Burpee was disqualified by an Australian referee on a procedural technicality. After her disqualification, Ms. Burpee telephoned Kevin P. Simmons, a partner at Simmons, Jannace & Stagg, and asked the firm to intercede on her behalf to have the disqualification overturned. In addition, Ms. Burpee requested that the firm commence an action against the United States Olympic Committee requiring the committee to name her to the Olympic Team. The law firm of Simmons, Jannace & Stagg represented Nancy Burpee on a pro bono basis in her attempt to participate in the 2004 Paralympics Games. The firm commenced arbitration under the United States Olympic Committee Rules and live testimony was taken from swim referees in Canada and Australia. Simmons, Jannace & Stagg argued that the Australian referee showed bias against Ms. Burpee by making various comments indicating that he did not want Ms. Burpee competing against an Australian Paralympics swimmer. Simmons, Jannace & Stagg also demonstrated that the United States Paralympics swim trials were not held in accordance with the Paralympics rules. Despite these efforts, an independent arbitrator ruled against Ms. Burpee and declined to force the United States Olympic Committee to name her to the Paralympics Team. As a symbol of her commitment, Ms. Burpee has still continued her swim career and will compete in the World Championships in the upcoming year.

Now that is a great story to show your kids that even the best don’t always get all the breaks – but, they also don’t let it get them down!

An Interesting Development in Car Insurance

Overseas in Europe, NORWICH Union has launched a new type of policy known as Short Term Car Insurance. It is a temporary comprehensive cover, allowing users to choose insurance for up to 28 days. It covers users to drive a new car away from the dealer, a family member or friend to borrow someone else's car, or when traveling. It is my guess that US car insurance companies may soon follow suit on this type of service. Everyone has loaned a car out to a friend or family member for a short period of time and wouldn't you want to be covered if something happens, I surely would. If this type of service sounds interesting, you may want to check out CarInsurance.com. They provide auto insurance rate quotes for all 50 states and offer a convenient way to comparison shop for auto insurance. Shopping for car insurance is the only way to save money on car insurance. Their online car insurance quotes take just a few minutes and then they provide rates from companies that suit your needs. You can then finish online or our professional call center is available to help you purchase car insurance. In some states you will be directed to one of their trusted partners for a rate in your area.

My older child has already been told about the secret of Santa, but now he wants to know how the tradition originated… any ideas?

How did the kindly Santa Claus become a roly-poly red-suited American symbol for merry holiday festivity and commercial activity? Well, it all started with the first Europeans to arrive in the New World who brought with them the concept of St. Nicholas. However, St. Nicholas had a difficult time during the 16th century Protestant Reformation which took a dim view of saints. Because the common people so loved St. Nicholas, he survived on the European continent as people continued to place nuts, apples, and sweets in shoes left beside beds, on windowsills, or before the hearth. After the American Revolution, New Yorkers remembered with pride the colony's nearly-forgotten Dutch roots. John Pintard, influential patriot and antiquarian, promoted St. Nicholas as patron saint of both society and city. On St. Nicholas Day in 1809, Washington Irving published the satirical fiction, Knickerbocker's History of New York, with numerous references to a jolly St. Nicholas character. This was not a saintly bishop, but rather an elfin Dutch burgher with a clay pipe. These delightful flights of imagination are the origin of the St. Nicholas legends: like that of St. Nicholas coming down chimneys to bring gifts. The New York Historical Society held its first St. Nicholas anniversary dinner on December 6, 1810 and the first American image of Nicholas was created for the occasion. Nicholas was shown in a gift-giving role with children's treats in stockings hanging at a fireplace. The jolly elf image received a particularly big boost in 1823, from a poem destined to become immensely popular, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," now better known as "The Night before Christmas."

When Christmas does roll around this year, consider honoring this tradition with a Christmas Gifts basket idea. As Santa Claus originated with the ritual of placing fruits and nuts by the hearth, why not send a gift basket as a symbol of this custom. A holiday gift basket set is the perfect gift for clients, colleagues, office parties, housewarmings or for any other occasion! Each and every gourmet Christmas basket is filled with the finest products offered in the gourmet industry. If you have a certain design in mind, they offer custom wrap for holiday gift baskets to fit any holiday or theme.