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How do you put a five-month hike into a trip report of a few pages? Most of my daily journal entries are about a page each. That is the main reason it has taken me so long to get around to writing this – it seemed like an overwhelming task. So I will mostly hit a few highlights and share some thoughts and feelings.

Why would anyone want to spend five months walking from Mexico to Canada? Most thru-hikers get asked that question over and over. It’s like asking a mountain climber, why do you climb mountains. For me it started when I was active in the singles group of my church in Manhattan Beach, a suburb of Los Angeles. Jason, one of the class members, started leading monthly hikes for the group, usually in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains, just north of Los Angeles. I was already mountain biking, roller blading, and rock climbing; and enjoyed the mountains and the other group activities, so became a regular on the hikes as well. This was the start of my love of hiking. Jason also organized a few camping trips and backpacking trips, including to the Grand Canyon. I had been brought up camping but had never done any backpacking before. One trip and I was hooked on that too.

On many of the hikes in the Angeles National Forest, we would see signs for, and hike on part of the Pacific Crest Trail. When I found out that it went from Mexico to Canada I thought that would be something fun to do someday. In the years that followed, I joined an adventure racing club and the outdoor activities progressed to longer, harder and more frequent. In the summer of 2002 I went to Peru on a two-week hiking mission trip. That turned into a three-year stint the following year. In 2005, knowing that my term would be up in January of 2006, I started making plans to thru-hike the PCT. The timing all came together, no job, no mortgage or other expenses, and some money in the bank from selling my house when I went to Peru.

I started my hike on April 28 at the Mexican border. I was trying to finish in four months and I had already purchased my return ticket to Peru based on that schedule. The first week went well, and then I started getting blisters. I was also hiker faster than most of the others so I was passing a lot of people but not spending much time with them, and wasn’t making any friendships with other hikers. After two weeks I had to take a few days off to let the blisters heal. I also realized that I needed to slow down and spend time with other hikers if I wanted to make friendships, which was one of my goals for the hike. After leaving Big Bear, CA, I did slow down and started hiking with four other people. Two of them were section hiking and one had to stop due to injury, but I hiked with go-Big, the other one, most of the way to the Oregon border.

The desert areas of Southern California were hard; I told myself then that I never wanted to hike them again. We had to constantly be aware of where our next water source would be, and many times carried three to four liters of water. And yet they had their own beauty, they didn’t last forever, and they provided bonding experiences. They were also broken up with the snowy mountains and beautiful trees. The town stops were frequent and gave us time to relax with other hikers as well.

Just after we started the High Sierra, we met Swiss Miss and Pang. I hiked together with them the rest of the way to Canada. Along the way, I spend varying amounts of time with other hikers as well. A group of 12 of us left Yosemite together – The Dirty Dozen! Half of us were from the U.S. and half were from other countries, so it became a very international experience. Each of us had strengths and weakness, and we learned to work together as a team, and to help and depend on each other. My greatest fear before starting the hike was crossing the rapid flowing, icy cold rivers. They turned out to not be as terrible as I had expected. We had a few close calls and some struggles, but the teamwork was amazing and we did it together.

We entered the Sierra Nevada on June 11, in a very heavy snow year, so we spent about a month hiking through snow, sometimes only getting down below snow level in the evening to camp. I had very little experience hiking in deep snow, and no experience navigating when the trail was covered with snow most of the day. Mostly we did it with map and compass but we did use a GPS some to pinpoint the trail location, and to confirm which was the right pass a few times. I had crampons at the beginning of the Sierras but soon lost them off the back of my pack before I ever used them. One thing we didn’t have to worry about was water. We got spoiled by only having to carry a liter or two of water. We often drank directly from springs and the snow melt streams, without bothering to treat the water.

We carried ice axes but after the first couple of passes, they were used mostly for digging cat holes. The sun cups were one of the biggest problems, along with post holing in the soft snow in the afternoons. Almost everyone used trail running shoes, except the Europeans who wore mountaineering boots. We had wet feet the whole way through the Sierras from the snow and river crossings, and much of Washington from the rain and new snow, but surprisingly it wasn’t much of a problem. We did get tired of the snow and needing to be constantly on the search for the trail. I would like to go back and hike the John Muir Trail (most of which is the same as the PCT) in the fall, when you can actually walk on the trail.

You realize how long California is when you hike the whole way, it took three months and one week to reach Oregon, but I never got tired of the continually changing and always beautiful scenery. From Mt. Shasta on we had numerous forest fires, causing hazy skies, beautiful sunsets, and closed trails and detours. For the last month we weren’t sure we would be able to finish the trail at Manning Park. We did have to skip a section in Oregon due to fires, but the final section before the Canadian border reopened just before we got there. Unlike some just ahead of us, we were able to finish at the official terminating point, and get our pictures at the border monument. That is the thru-hiker’s “summit” moment, similar to when a mountaineer reaches the top of the mountain.

Oregon was only three weeks and Washington took four weeks, and then it was all over, except for the very emotional goodbyes. Unlike the mountaineer, who still has to get down the mountain after the summit, the hike ended on an emotional high, with nowhere to go, no descend time to unwind. We spent a couple of days there, not wanting to say goodbye and go home. It’s hard to describe the feeling of watching the mountain peak landmarks pass below on the flight back to L.A, five months going by in fast reverse in a couple of hours! And then came trying to go back to a “normal” life, when our main concerns for so long were just walking, eating and sleeping. Now we were home, at least our bodies were, but our minds keep wandering back to the trail.

Many people have commented on it as being “The trip of a lifetime”. I understand what they mean but I have a problem with that. There is a common disease that affects many long distance thru-hikers. I have the disease and there is no cure. It is only alleviated to some degree by going on another long hike. When and where I don’t know, but I’m sure it will happen. It’s been 11 months since I finished the hike and I can still spend hours looking through some of the thousands of photos, or watching someone’s slide show, and every time I do, I wish I could grab my backpack and head back to the trail. Just writing this and thinking about it causes me to get emotional and longing for the “simple” life on the trail. Of course like most difficult, but rewarding experiences, it’s easy to forget the hard times and only remember the good.

From the Mexican border to Manning Park, British Columbia, Canada, took 151 days. It was an experience I will never forget. God showed me His faithfulness and provision every step of the way. The friendships made on the hike are very special, the shared experiences of the joys, hardships and dangers of the trail made for deep and lasting bonds. I could not have completed the hike without the help of many of those I spent a lot of time hiking with. Others added a rich dimension to the experience and made it a delight, even through the difficult times. I give thanks to God first, and then to each one that He provided to make the hike such a wonderful experience.

If you would like to see a photo album of the hike, there is one available at Summit Post, please click on the following link:

http://www.summitpost.org/album/288745/Pacific-Crest-Trail.html

Vic Hanson is the founder of Adventure Cotahuasi Tours, which offers pre-planned and custom adventure travel tours in Cotahuasi Canyon and other areas of Peru. If you are interested in your own adventure in Peru, check us out! [http://www.adventurecotahuasi.com]

Tennis courts are standard in dimension, but vary widely in surface material. Tennis rules dictate the length, width, and placement of the lines on a tennis court. Tennis courts have a variety of surfaces and can be either outdoors or indoors. In this article, we will introduce the basic dimensions and aspects of the tennis courts and discuss the different types of tennis court surfaces.

The rules of tennis dictate that tennis courts be 78 feet long from baseline to baseline. A net, 3 feet high in the middle, divides the court into two equal halves. Tennis courts are 36 feet wide from doubles sideline to doubles sideline, and 27 feet wide from singles sideline to singles sideline.

Unlike the dimensions of a tennis court, the tennis court surface can vary in character. The different surfaces have different characteristics that affect the style of play. Common surfaces for outdoor tennis courts include grass, red clay, green clay, and hard courts. In addition, indoor tennis courts often have hard surfaces or synthetic, carpet-like surfaces.

The very first tennis courts were made of grass. While the number of grass tennis courts has decreased in recent years, some remain, and the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, The Championships at Wimbledon, is still played on grass tennis courts.

Grass tennis courts are considered a fast surface because the ball moves quickly through the court when it bounces. Typically, the ball stays low and close to the ground. Because of the speed of the court and the unreliability of the bounce, historically players playing on grass tennis courts prefer to volley the ball out of the air whenever possible.

Red clay and green clay are the two types of clay, or slow, court surfaces. Red clay tennis courts are made of natural clay or crushed red brick. The French Open is played on red clay courts. Green clay, the more common type of clay court in the U.S., is made of Har-Tru, a mixture of crushed stone, rubber, and plastics. Clay courts are considered slow because the ball bounces more slowly off the court. Typically, players playing on clay tennis courts prefer to hit balls off the bounce from behind the baseline.

Hard courts, the most common court surface in the U.S., are another fast court surface. Hard courts are made of asphalt or concrete coated with a thin sealer and special paint. Some types of hard courts have more extensive, rubberized coatings. The ball bounces high off hard tennis court surfaces and moves through the court quickly. Because the ball has a reliable bounce and the ball moves quickly off the court, players can employ a variety of tactics. Generally, aggressive play is preferred.

Finally, tennis players also play indoors, especially during the winter, on indoor tennis courts. Indoor tennis court surfaces are made of concrete or a synthetic or plastic material that mimics grass. Indoor tennis courts are generally the fastest tennis court surface of all. At the professional level, hard serves, volleys, and powerful ground strokes dominate matches on indoor tennis courts.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis court.

Many average trainers teach “average group classes,” charge you an “average price” and have, well… that “average” knowledge and skill about dogs, dog training, dog behavior and canine psychology. Most owners who don’t know better or who don’t really care about these facts, just settle with such trainers and end up with “average results” or even worse-NO RESULTS-in training their dogs! In contrast, the Master Minds I’ll be describing in this chapter aren’t your average at all and are known to beat the odds.

So who emerges from the pack? There is an amazing energy and spirit about these individuals which you’ll notice right away that goes far beyond dog training. In fact, they know it is much more than dealing with dogs, and this is where I’ll open your eyes to the traits and qualities of the SMARTEST and the most successful dog experts in the business. Because of their knowledge, skill and persona, they are not only making it–but making it big with class and integrity. Again, don’t forget that I’m referring to the SMARTEST, so you don’t think that they just got lucky for being at the “right place,” at the “right time” or by meeting the “right person.” Even if that was the case for a few to some degree, before you know it, they took over and kept on paddling on their own.

I learned a long time ago that if you want to get better in anything, you have to put your ego aside and learn from much better and smarter minds than yourself.

Sometimes this simply came down to hiring the best expert money can buy. (I’ve also learned a lot from the worst-of-the-worst. After all, this is where you learn what NOT to do.) After studying those who were considered to be as the “real deal,” I’ve noticed that they all came from a totally different class and mentality, and it’s no wonder why their success rate was so hard to ignore. When put through the test, they all possessed these ten qualities about them:

1. They Care about You, Your Dog and Their Reputation

You see, it’s not always about how much you know or how great you are, but it is also about how much you “care.” This simply means these trainers are truly nice people. The old saying, “nice guys finish last,” isn’t their motto. Studies have shown that nice people live longer, are happier, get more referrals, are always surrounded by friends and relatives, rarely get sued, and rarely get killed. Some may also have a great sense of humor. Sorry, only some. We all know someone with a sense of humor and know that this shows that they love what they do, don’t let things bother them as much, and care to make others if not laugh, at least smile here and there. Why the majority of dog trainers are so rude, mean, and disrespectful and act like Mr./Mrs. Know-It-All, is beyond me. It’s no secret that most of the time you can tell a lot about someone the minute you talk to them on the phone or in person. That again is, if, you are even able to reach any of them on the phone. Which brings up the fact of caring, once again.

Those who truly CARE not only will get back to you, but often try to reach you immediately. They know that you may need help right away!! You’ll soon find out that most dog trainers leave you hanging and you start to grow gray hair waiting for a call back or an e-mail.

Once you are finally able to get a live person on the phone, make sure you get a good vibe from the very start, if not, why bother? This simply means no matter how good they may be, you will be stuck with a jerk, psycho, weirdo, nut job and the list goes on and on. Women are much better than men with their intuition. They say, “It has to feel right.” Or “I didn’t get a good vibe from him/her.” If it the person makes you feel uncomfortable by being too pushy, rude, condescending, or there is something you don’t like about him/her, then you could be stuck with this person in your home, in private, or for six to eight weeks down the line.

Top trainers usually answer your tough questions with patience and respect and don’t mind or get offended by how much you challenge their knowledge or expertise. These individuals don’t just deliver, but often OVER-deliver. This is because they care about their image and their reputation and truly want to stand out from the pack. They know going that extra mile WILL get them that extra attention. After all, how many times have you hired a painter, a contractor, an attorney, or even a babysitter who disappointed you with their poor work ethics? They did a poor job or didn’t care much. As some say, “They just go with the flow,” and never care about any constructive criticism from ANYONE. You simply don’t see that “wow factor” or that “pizzazz” in their work. Noooooooo, I didn’t say pizza again. So put down the Parmesan cheese.

If you’ve already hired a dog trainer in the past, you probably went out of your way to make sure you were hiring a “pro,” just to find out that they were definitely a “pro” but also a pro in doing a lousy job or a pro in–”ripping you off!” How fast someone gets back to you, or even if, they even bother to get back to you are all the qualities you should look for. For example, a lot of group class trainers if they don’t have a class starting soon, or their class happens to be full, won’t even bother to call you back. They even get lazy to mention this on their answering machine. This would never happen with those who actually care about you and your dog.

Once you get to actually talk to these individuals, you can’t help it but notice how honest, caring, genuine, and professional they come across.

Whether it is in person, on the phone, or by e-mail, the ones who know they are on top of their game never sound pushy or desperate. In fact, they know not everyone recognizes, appreciates, or even deserves the very best. This is just a fact of life. Those who are among the best-of-the-best in the world of dog training, are considered to be as remarkable teachers/counselors and don’t get mad when I add this-even great therapists. The truth is, that the majority of dog owners have no technique, get nervous, act tense, are too harsh with their dog, get too loud, or they can’t get firm enough if and when needed. And what’s even more sad is none of the trainers who they even hired in the past, bothered to point out their GOOD qualities either. Everybody knows it’s not that hard to point out someone’s weaknesses. What makes a good trainer brilliant is his/her ability to praise the owners’ good habits while correcting their mistakes in a courteous manner. Unfortunately the majority of dog trainers lack people skills and are famous for treating the owners like dogs. I had to learn this the hard way. So the ones that DO make a positive impact among dog owners are the ones that know there is a difference between insulting someone and giving a critique.

You see, there are thousands of great “trainers” out there, thousands–but only a few great “instructors!” Training and teaching the owners is where lies the real challenge.

2. Their Training Method Is Backed by Common Sense

As a writer I hate saying this, but please don’t believe everything you read-especially things that just don’t make any sense. If you don’t see any logic or rationality behind it, how do you suppose your poor dog is going to make any sense out of it? Here’s an example. I have a client who owns a Cocker Spaniel that was vicious toward dogs and children. The behaviorists advised her to do lots of parallel walks with bag of treats to use when she ran into other dogs and kids. The dog would stop eating the treats and STILL lunge at any dog they encountered. I guess he saw them as a dessert after those yummy treats. Again, there was no common sense behind the behaviorist’s advice, was there?

When in doubt, always ask yourself: Does this seem rational? Am I getting anywhere with this? Are people going to laugh at me?

Even with what you read in my book or on my website, observe it with an open mind and maybe TRY it first, and then be the judge. Once you try something, then you can be certain whether it did or did not work for you and your dog. Otherwise you are just relying on assumptions instead of facts. The same rule applies if you are instructed by your trainer, see it on television, were instructed by your trainer in a group class, or even if it comes from someone with a Ph.D. you need to stop and ask yourself where’s the logic and practicality behind their advice? Be smart about it and don’t let others brainwash you by trying methods that have no rationality to support them. Smart trainers don’t mind asking you, “Does this make sense to you?” or “Do you see the logic behind what we are trying to accomplish?” Again, if it doesn’t make any sense, please don’t make a fool out of yourself.

Smart Dogs – Dumb Trainers:

Trainers who recommend that you should bark at your dog, growl at your dog, yelp like a dog, or ignore your dog’s bad habits such as jumping up on you, barking at you, don’t make sense and their tactics won’t work. If they do, knock yourself out. Folks, we were taught to use common sense from a very early age in kindergarten. In case you forgot, the teaching was:

“Stop and Think.” It wasn’t “Go for it Chopper! Then we’ll think of the consequence.” (Now for some of us, getting the lesson afterward works much better. I guess as long as we “get it” that’s all it really matters, doesn’t it?)

3. They Have an Uncanny Ability to Pay Attention to Details

Yes, details my dog-loving friend. These experts are like a sponge and absorb everything and hardly miss even the smallest details. ( I’ve been told that I’m like that. Just in case it will come as a shock for those of you who prefer to hire me in person.) Whether people request that I go to them or if they prefer to send their dogs to me to be trained or rehabilitated, like a skilled crime scene investigator, I’ll ask questions and then observe everything for myself, and I do mean EVERYTHING. By now, you should have gotten an idea of what I’m referring to by paying attention to details. If not, please be sure to read the chapter on (Questions you need to ask before hiring ANY expert.) But let me be a bit specific. I observe your technique, your posture, voice tone, attitude and overall perception. Are you firm, easy-going, loud, harsh, stubborn or depending on your mood, a mixture of all? How about too nervous, scared or maybe you think that saying “NO” to your dog might hurt his feelings and we may never see that tail wag again?

The importance of such details is why I cannot emphasize enough how crucial working with an expert in “private” really is. Because of my attention to details, even if I train your dog WITHOUT your involvement, I’ll still manage to accomplish much more compared to a group class full of twenty dogs.

All the topnotch trainers you study, you’ll notice that every single one of them have trained their own dogs WITHOUT any distractions first. So why should it be any different with you?

Top trainers always introduce distractions to their dogs systematically and this is why you truly see a huge difference in their dogs’ performance and command response. They strongly believe that it’s not fair to expect you or your dog to learn properly in an unfamiliar setting with lots of different distractions, and anticipate seeing a real difference in the dog’s learning progress. It’s even worse in group classes where there are lots of other dogs distracting you by constantly pulling on their leashes, barking, whimpering, lunging, or acting hyper around each another. Bottom line, by working in private, you’ll see things from both the owner’s and from the dog’s perspective. Hiring an expert in private is the only way you’ll be able to ask questions that pertain “specifically” to you and your needs. Top dog experts know this approach is THE BEST and fastest way to get maximum results and swear by it.

4. They Will Make Sure You Don’t End Up With a “Half-Trained” Dog

This means you see a “practical” approach behind their training technique. Remember, your method has to work anywhere and anytime, or else you’re wasting your time and setting yourself and your poor dog up for a failure. Allow me to clarify. These trainers will make “sure” that your dog is NOT just another half-trained dog. You know the ones that:

* Mind their owners in a group class, but act like idiots at home.

* Listen perfectly when you have treats, but ignore you otherwise.

* Listens only when the trainer’s around, but hardly at all at other times.

* All training goes out the window when you run into strangers or other dogs.

That’s what I mean by a “half-trained dog.” Elite trainers always prepare you and your dog to become street-smart. Competition training, show confirmation, agility training and making your dog do tricks sure look cute and are even impressive, but are not applicable out in the real world. The majority of dog owners do not seem to really care for them anyway. Always remember this: If your training technique can’t be applied in your home, in your neighborhood, or on your day-to-day routines, sorry, you can’t refer to it as “real-life” dog training. This means you’ve been wasting your time and money with the wrong method, wrong trainer, or with wrong group classes.

You see, if a method is effective, you’ll see it working immediately, and if it’s just nonsense– you’ll see it too. This is how top experts often deliver jaw-dropping results within seconds.

I always tell my clients: “By the second lesson, we could talk about how bad your dog used to behave, and how he has changed for the better already.” If you’ve paid attention to my video clips on my site, you may be surprised to learn that most of those dogs have been trained by me in matter of minutes. I get the dog under control immediately and make them mind me on the spot. The rest is just polishing up, and making sure the dog obeys the owner. After all, it is NOT my dog and the dog should obey the owner.

5. Their Training Method Even Works from a Distance and Off-Leash

Only a few get to this level. You want to eventually have COMPLETE CONTROL of your dog without even being leashed anywhere, anytime and in front of the most tempting distractions the outside world throws at you. This means across the room, across the street, in the backyard, front yard and even from far away with just the tone of your voice. I said your voice, not screaming from the top of your lungs. Top trainers proudly advertise this specialty and can pull it off with their own dogs. Only true professionals can deliver such results. You’ll find that most trainers are considered as part-timers and hobbyists. That sad truth is, amateurs rarely are able to get your dog reliably off-leash trained.

It’s no secret that there is a leash law. Which is why having your dog completely

“off-leash trained” isn’t just cool these days, but a NECESSITY!

You and your pooch need to be prepared for that “what if” moment. What if your dog bolts out the door, manages to slip out of her collar, lunges and breaks her collar, attacks a dog, a cat, or maybe everything was fine and your dog was running free enjoying herself, when all of sudden ________ (you fill in the blank). The fact is, no matter how careful or responsible you may be, your dog will STILL GET LOOSE and will make a fool out of you. Only a very small percentage of trainers have the expertise to teach you the true art of off-leash training; make sure you look in the right places. A huge list of my clientèle includes those who are dying to get their dogs completely off-leash trained. This is because the trainer in which they’ve worked with, didn’t have a clue on how to get his/her own dog off-leash trained–let alone be able to help someone else with it. Or, you see the trainers’ dog was truly the only real “trained dog” in there, but they just can’t get the poor owners to achieve the same results with their dogs. How sad and pathetic!

6. Your Dog’s Age NEVER Matters to Them

Whether be a ten week old pup or ten years adult dog, your dog is smart enough to learn what is right and what is wrong. What is acceptable and what isn’t. Your dog’s annoying bad habits such as: Barking, Jumping, Growling, Snapping, Bolting and Not Being Fully House Trained, along with any other bad habits or even responding to your daily commands aren’t impossible tasks for the real experts to overcome. This means that they are well-educated and experienced in solving your dog’s day-to-day issues and love to take on the challenge. Why let your older dog or your young puppy run your life for you, when you are the one who is paying all the bills and providing everything else? The least your dog can do is to respect and obey your commands and respect the rules of your house. Is that too much to ask?

7. They Gladly Accept Even Hard-to-Train Breeds

Real experts in dogs are skilled, versatile, and welcome the challenge of working with stubborn AND dominant dogs. It doesn’t really matter to them whether your dog is labeled as aggressive, un-trainable, red zone, or hopeless. They are willing to accept the risk and give you and your dog another honest chance. Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Akitas, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Bull Dogs (English or American), Chow Chows, Shar Pei, and those giant breeds that look like Pit Bulls on steroids. I am talking about: Presa Canario, Cane Corso, Argentino Dogo and Kevin Salemo, are just to name a few among the hard-to-train breeds. You may find this hard to believe, but even Labrador Retrievers can be a challenge to train. This is because they are known to be very strong, hyper, over-friendly and easily distracted.

You see, when a dog expert is willing to accept a case of an aggressive, sensitive, overprotective, excessive barker, whiner, or even one that’s a bit unpredictable, that’s when they HAVE TO rely on years of experience, knowledge, skill and even their instinct. This is because they are a true dog lover and don’t discriminate against certain breeds and experienced enough to take on any challenge. Small, big, scary, wussy, mixed, pure breed or not, it doesn’t make not one bit of difference to them. A dog, is simply another dog to them.

8. Their Method Might Be Firm, but It is Also Kind

Let’s face it. No parent can ever raise a child properly without being firm and kind. Firm alone may still get you some results, but that “kind” is what makes it more of a loving and healthy relationship. I met a trainer years ago that had a super dog. This dog was one of the most well-trained German Shepherds I have ever seen. The sad part is, when his trainer would release him and send him off to play, the dog would still stand there and look at him for another command. Yes you guessed it. The dog became a soldier, a robot that just couldn’t have fun anymore. He wouldn’t even want to or even knew how, to play with my dogs. How sad. I told the trainer that you are definitely this dog’s master, but not his best friend. He shrugged and said, “Kevin, you can be his best friend. I don’t really care about stuff like that.”

In order to make sure you don’t end up with such a dog, you need to make sure you are also your dog’s “buddy.” When your dog makes a mistake, you need to correct it at that “exact” moment, and also praise and reward it lavishly on the spot. As long as you don’t confuse firm with harsh or abusive, you should be fine. Just don’t forget. Firm could be a simple as tugging on the leash when you catch your dog misbehave, and follow it with praise and affection when you see him obey or stop an unwanted behavior. It could also be to stop your dog’s lunging, jumping, barking, snapping or even crotch/butt sniffing. Just holding tightly on your dog’s leash for your life isn’t training, that’s called restraining. Do you want to train your dog or restrain it? That’s what I thought. Now you’ll always know when you see a true pro. They make working with all dogs seem so easy, that you swear they can even do it blindfolded. Your dog will listen and obey them without any yelling or the need of excessive force.

You’ll see the smoothness and the flow in their technique, as your dog performs at his best right before your eyes–as if it is “their” dog and NOT yours.

This simply reflects the fact that they’ve worked with thousands of different breeds of dogs, have years of hands-on experience, and possess that amazing ability to accurately read dogs’ temperament and body language with no effort and be able to apply their training technique on your dog. Their uncanny ability to read dogs so well and have the confidence and the skill to back it up, is why they are so well known for delivering such outstanding results.

9. They Let You Experiment with the Use of Different Training Tools

You can gather the best dog experts in the world, don’t provide them any leashes, no collars, no harnesses, no whistles, no ropes, no toys, no treats and no tennis balls–they might as well be in their swimming suits. Then throw in some unruly dogs in there. You’ll see that there won’t be much that anyone can do. Unless one of the possess some kind of mind control like Criss Angel over the dogs and people, which I really would like to see for myself to believe, there isn’t much any of these top experts can do without the right training tools.

Think about it for a moment. Can you do YOUR job without your pen, paper, phone, a desk, your vehicle, your computer or the certain tools and equipments that make your job run easier and smoother? Maybe you can. But you might as well be traveling back in time with your time-machine hundreds years back. Don’t you agree that certain tools DO work better and faster? It’s not much different when it comes to dog training tools. If there is a tool that works best on your dog, these trainers will let you try it. They truly use every weapon they can get their hands on and make sure you are able to control your dog in ANY situation and are happy with your results. This is because they always think outside the box.

Diverse Trainers know from experience that there isn’t that “one magical tool” that works on every dog, every time. They improvise to make sure what works today, also does tomorrow!

After all, why use a tool that stopped working, was never effective in the first place, or doesn’t even seem to faze your dog when you REALLY need it to work? Again, I am referring to see if that tool of your choice is truly as effective around strangers and the dogs in which your pooch is not familiar with. Let’s not forget the cats, kids running around, or the joggers. Every one of these examples are considered as your daily distractions, don’t they? Most trainers these days will have a nonsense tool that might have worked with a smaller, less dominant, less hyper and not as aggressive dog, hoping it will have the same effect with a much larger, stronger and far more aggressive dog. It reminds of “Bringing a knife to a gun fight.” What’s sad is that the majority of these trainers will stubbornly refuse to let the poor clients be diverse by trying a different tool. This especially doesn’t make sense to me when you’ve exhausted the use of many different training tools up to this point and are desperate to try anything that would work.

In conclusion, this all comes down to finding a tool that is a best match according to your physical strengths, limitations, coordination AND your dog’s size, speed, breed, prey drive and how much your dog responds to you with and without challenging distractions.

10. They Rarely Give Up and Follow a “Diverse Method”

Topnotch trainers never believe that your dog cannot be trained. Their way of thinking is completely different. They focus more on HOW they can help you train your dog. This means they are willing to explore different methods if and when needed. In a nutshell, what makes these trainers brilliant is their ability to mix different methods of training to custom fit what works best for you and your pooch. All that really matters to them is making sure that the method works-and it works “every-single-time.” Sometimes this means you need to get firm with your dog, and sometimes you should ease up and cut him some slack.

There you have it. Now do you believe me? Didn’t I say that they truly make only one percent of the dog experts in the industry?

You’ll agree with me that, there are many trainers out there, but only a few masters. These are the true qualities of the legendary dog trainers. Such greatness is extremely hard to come by. As I mentioned earlier, I strongly believe that they make less than one percent of dog experts in the industry. They are surely the most highly paid canine experts money can buy. In meeting these individuals I found them to be amazing. They were excellent trainers and amazing instructors. They were extremely confident, and sometimes even a bit cocky–but always backed it up with their knowledge and skill. This reminds me of my what I always say,

“It’s good to be humble unless you are pressed against the wall and only then should you be able to CRUSH your competition.” Or, “Act strong when you’re weak and weak when you are strong.” ( That last one isn’t mine. I borrowed it from a boxing movie.)

Most of these individuals have dedicated years of their lives in making a difference by helping dogs, dog owners, and even other dog trainers. Remember, there is a big difference between having a well-behaved dog and possessing the technique, the knowledge, the patience, and the proper communication skills to TEACH it to others. These experts have mastered all of ten of these principles! This is why they are incredibly successful and come highly recommended by everyone. If you are a trainer reading this, to become one of the greatest, you need to improve in all of these ten areas. That’s right. Not just good, better, or excellent, but to be among the greatest icons, dog phenomena, and the true legends. Teaching group classes on the side every Wednesday night at seven won’t do it.

Is there a legend in your town? Maybe, maybe not. Most of my clients travel hours to work with me. Some even have me fly to their city and sometimes even COUNTRIES because they weren’t impressed by any other expert locally, or were told that their dog was hopeless.

There are lots of experts, but only a few legends. Isn’t this true in any profession?

Kevin Salem is considered to be one of the brightest minds in the world of dog training and one of the pioneers in his field. It’s hard to paint Kevin’s image with the same brush as others, as his unique way of thinking, writing, and philosophy truly makes him distinct.

If you are a fan of Cesar Millan, it will be difficult not to fall in love with Kevin’s book. You’ll finally be able to put an end to your dog’s: Jumping Up, House-training, Play-biting, Barking, Leash Pulling, Destructiveness, Bolting Out, Over-protectiveness– to complete off-leash response. 10 week old pups to 10 yr old adults, all breeds welcome. Kevin offers Doggie Boot Camp or House Calls Nationwide. Try his book, hire him in person, or see him put his eyebrow raising skills into action by visiting his award-winning web site: http://www.DogSecrets.com

Blogs can be a very marketable and very profitable tool if used correctly. Profiting from blogs is just a matter of grabbing the attention of an audience and not doing any actual salesmen selling. In this article you will learn the 13 most essential steps to successful blogging.

1) Where to start?

You should begin your blog with a free blog hosting service such as Journal Home or Blogger. Starting with a free blog hosting service allows you to begin blogging instantly without having any advance knowledge of scripts, hosting, or programming. It allows you to focus on your content and not the internal maintenance of the blog. The best benefit of starting with a free service is, in the case your blog doesn’t become successful you do not lose any money or are you left holding the bill. The great thing about a blog is that they are organized in chronological order, your latest entry is displayed first. When your blog traffic grows greatly and you are ready to upgrade to your own domain then you can simply make your last blog entry the announcement of your “move”. Simply add a last entry stating that your blog has “moved” and type the new blog URL address. Which directs visitors to your new blog site, keeping your following, without a major inconvenience to anyone. Upgrade as you need to…but only when you need to!

2) Niche

A niche is a targeted product, service, or topic. You should first decide on a product, service, or topic which interest you. Choose an area which you can enthusiastically write about on a daily basis. You can use keyword research services like Google Zeitgeist or Yahoo! Buzz Index to find popular searched topics. It does NOT matter if your topic is popular as long as there is a audience for your topic and the topic is precisely focused then your blog should be successful. Anything can be considered a niche as long as it has a target audience no matter how large or how small the audience is. A blog about your cat can be a niche or a blog about the species of the cat family can be a larger niche market, if there are people who are interested in hearing about your cat or the species of the cat family…you can even choose to build your audience for a market which an audience does not exist, but first you must build your blog.

3) Update Daily (nothing less)

This step is a must and not a suggestion. Updating your blog daily not only keeps your blog more interesting to readers, but it also gives your blog fresh content on a day to day making it more appealing to search engines. Not updating your blog on an occasional holiday or one day here and there is understandable to most, but missing days at a time or weeks is unacceptable and will most likely result in your blog being unsuccessful. To keep your blog traffic and retain your visitors interest it is a must to update your blog daily with multiple entries. You should try to update your blog everyday with at least 3 or more daily entries. The best way to accomplish this is to set aside 1-2 hours a day for tending to your blog and adding new entries. It may even be wise to schedule a set time which you dedicate to your blog each day. Give yourself work hours and treat your blog as a job, what happens if you don’t come to work for days or weeks…you lose money or worse you get fired! Same applies here…if you don’t update your blog for days or weeks you’ll lose visitors.

4) Traffic

It’s no secret. You must have traffic to profit from blogs. There are numerous ways to build traffic. Paid advertising, free advertising, viral marketing, search engine marketing, RSS/XML feeds, and word-of-mouth. You should always use your blog URL address in the signature of your email, forum discussions, message boards, or any other communication media. You should submit your blog URL address to search engines and blog directories. You should submit your RSS/XML URL feed to blog ping services like Technorati, Ping-O-Matic, and Blogdigger. You should confidently share your blog with family, friends, co-workers, associates, and business professionals when it relates. Many blogs can be considered as a collection of articles, for this purpose you should submit your blog entries (those that are valuable and lengthy articles) to content syndicators like GoArticles.com or ArticleCity.com. Once submitted your articles can be picked up and published by others. The trick is to make sure you include your Blog URL address in the “About the Author” passage. What this does is create link popularity and backlinks for your blog, when someone picks up your article from the syndication then publish the article on their website the “About the Author” passage is included with each publication and the link you included is followed, crawled, and indexed by search engines. Imagine if your article is popular enough or controversial enough to produce 10,000 publications across the web. The search engines is bound to find your site in no time with that many publications and credit you a authority on the topic, in return increasing your rank on search engines. The small effort of writing a well written article is rewarding. You should try to write at least 1 full length article every week for syndication and submit your article to at least 10 article syndicators.

5) Track Your Blog

How do you know if your blog has traffic? Just because no one is leaving comments doesn’t mean your blog isn’t growing. Many visitors do not leave comments but they are returning visitors. I know it sounds crazy but with blogs people are more interested in what “you” have to say! Many visitors do not comment their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd time. Some do not comment at all, but are active daily visitors.

Tracking your blog does not have to be overly sophisticated usually a simple free page counter like StatCounter.com or Active Meter will do the trick. Install (copy/paste) the code into the html of your blog template and start tracking your visitors. Its better to use a service which gives you advanced traffic analysis, such as keyword tracking information, referral information, and search engine information. Visitors, returning visitors, and unique visitors should be standard for any page counter service you choose.

6) Listen to Your Audience

When using the proper page counter you should begin to see how others are finding your blog and if through search engines then which keywords are being used to find your blog. If constantly your blog is being found by 1 or more keywords then focus your blog around those keywords to make it even more powerful. When writing entry titles and entries use the keywords as often as possible while keeping the blog legible and interesting.

7) Multiple blogs

Use multiple blogging accounts to attract more people. This means you should have a blog with JournalHome.com, Blogger.com, LiveJournal.com, Blog-City.com, tBlogs.com, etc. The more blog accounts the better. You can copy/paste from 1 blog to all others. Having different blog accounts is like having a publication in different newspapers. This enables you to attract more visitors and this also increases the chance that 1 of your blogs will be in the search engine results for your focused keywords.

Short & Concise

Aside from the lengthy article a week for syndication and publication your blog entries should be short & concise (if you can help it). Sometimes there are exceptions to the rule and you have no choice but to blog lengthy entries, but try to avoid this as much as possible. You do not want your blog entries to become hours of reading. Visitors like to easily find information and skim through your entries. It is good to be detailed and provide useful information, but do not include useless information or run away sentences that veer away from your topic.

9) Digital Art

Try to include non-advertising graphics, pictures, photos, and art in your blog entries. Not too much. Once a week is fine. Graphics can sometimes bring your blog to life. Of course, the content of the blog is the most important aspect and you do not want to overshadow your content with graphics, but displaying graphics can add a bit of spice to the blog. Be choosy about your graphics and make sure they fit your entry topic. You should add content with the graphic, at least a caption. Original graphics, photos, pictures, and art is recommended.

10) Keep it Personal

A blog is most successful when it is kept personal. Try to include personal experiences which relates to the topic of your blog entry. Stay away from the business style of writing. Write with a more personal style and use first-person narratives. Do not write any of your entries as sales letters, instead share product reviews and personal endeavors.

11) Interact With Your Visitors

You now have the traffic you deserve. You should begin interacting with your visitors. Create a regular theme such as: “Monday Money Tip” or “Picture of the Week” which entices your readers to look forward to each week.

Give your readers advance notice about a product, service, or topic which you are going to review and then talk about later. If the President was scheduled to give a speech then in your blog you should state that you “will discuss the speech and give your opinion after the speech airs. Comments will be appreciated”.

Try your best to find exclusive information that not many have. Do not disclose any confidential or secret information which is deemed illegal or can potentially get you into trouble, but try to get the scoop before everyone else does. Such as: If your blog was about Paris Hilton (the socialite) and you had a blog entry about “Paris Hilton Getting Married” then it would be interesting to your readers if you had a actual picture of Paris Hilton engagement ring. Give your best effort to dig and search the internet for exclusive information and you will possibly come up with something useful. Your readers will appreciate this and they show their appreciation through word-of-mouth referrals. Imagine how many readers will tell their friends, family, and others about information they only can find at your blog.

12) Make Money

Once your blog has gained some real momentum and your blog traffic is increasing then it is time to start thinking about turning your traffic into profit. You should use contextual advertising, like Google AdSense or Chitika. Contextual advertising is usually text links which use the content of your blog to publish targeted ads on your blog. The payout is usually based on a pay-per-click model, meaning for ever click an ad receives you are paid a small percentage of the profits. In addition to contextual advertising it is good to also use graphical advertising such as: BlogAds.com, Amazon.com, MammaMedia, or General Sponsored Advertising.

13) You’re a Professional

You’re a professional now! What are you still doing with that free blog hosting service? It is time to upgrade to a domain hosted solution. You need to get a web host and choose a domain name for your blog then check its availability. Select the blogging software you wish to use, such as: Squarespace.com, WordPress.org, MovableType.org, etc. When you have your new blog domain setup and ready for traffic then it is time for you to announce your move on all your previous blog accounts. Your last entry to the blog should be a “move” announcement. The title should be “Moved” and the blog entry should state something like “Old Blog has been moved to New Blog please follow and bookmark this link for future reference. This way all returning visitors and new readers should not have any problem finding your new blog domain.

At the level of a professional blogger you may want to team up with 1 or more other bloggers. This will create a more interesting and more powerful blog. The old saying “two heads is better than one”, more authors mean more advertising and exposure because each author will have a vested interest in the blog. The idea of a team blog is to make it profitable and rewarding for all authors, while continuing to target the blog topic and keeping the blog interesting for visitors.

Following these blogging techniques should make your blogging experience much more rewarding. There is no guarantee that your blog will become popular or a household name, but the effort should at least put you one step closer. Making money online is not an overnight experience like many may think, but making money online is definitely a foreseeable possibility. As well, growing popularity on the web is not an overnight experience, but through time, dedication, and persistence you will be rewarded with all the royalties of blogging.

About The Author

Ant Onaf is an expet SEO consultant. Ant Onaf has years of SEO related experience. His ingenuity, dedication, and passion for technology, internet marketing, & writing has made him an monumental icon on the World Wide Web. To learn more visit Ant Onaf blog here

A lot of people like to exercise and let’s face it, a lot of us probably need to exercise but exercising indoors in a gym can quite simply become a bit boring. This is one of the reasons why there is a very high rate of dropouts. But there is a way to exercise which is stimulating and exciting and that it to go hiking. If you go hiking or would like to take up this exciting activity, then there is one essential piece of equipment that you will need and that is hiking boots. You can go hiking in normal trainers but you will soon discover that this is very uncomfortable to say the least.

Hiking boots are a must for anyone who wishes to take long walks on rocky, hilly or even flat terrain. When you are on long distance walks then you need to take care of your comfort as well as provide good ankle support and traction without being too heavy. Hiking boots are a very personal piece of equipment that needs to suit your feet. Key factors to keep in mind when buying hiking boots are much the same as when buying regular shoes and that is the fit and use should be taken into consideration for the best purchase. You need to take into consideration your type of feet. Do you have soft or tough skin? Are your feet normally sweaty or dry?

Nowadays hiking and climbing shoes come in a variety of men’s and women’s lasts, so your chances of finding a great-fitting boot are much better than they have ever been. Shoes made from animal skins were developed at first and through the centuries, other types of shoes have been made, incorporating a variety of methods and materials. Some hiking boots are made with special technology that lets the shoe change shape along with the foot. Quite a few of these hiking boots have taken advantage of technology to become smaller and sleeker, while at the same time becoming more sturdier.

The features that you need to look for in hiking boots depend on your hiking activities. Are you going to be hiking in all weathers and all terrains? Do you need waterproofing or not? Or do you need extra cushioning for extra comfort? Asking yourself some of these simple questions will help you to decide, which is the correct purchase for your needs.

Once you have got the hiking boots that will suit your needs, it is important to break them in, before you go on your hike. You don’t want to end up with blisters on your feet and a long way away from home. One thing you can do for this is to wear them around your home and make sure they are comfortable and do not hurt your feet after awhile of wearing them. Doing this will ensure that your feet have adapted fully to the new shoes by the time you go for your first hike.

If your outdoor adventures revolve around short duration day hikes across predominately smooth terrain then a light, athletic styled hiking shoe will suffice for your hiking needs better than classic hiking boots. If your hiking interests are for more rugged terrain then you will need something more sturdier. So consider all these factors before you choose your hiking boots and join the thousands of people who enjoy hiking as a form of exercising that is more exciting and stimulating than any gym in the world.

Nim Aulakh is a writer and webmaster. He has already many articles published.Find out how you can avoid blisters on your feet by getting the right hiking shoes [http://www.outdoorsfunandgames.com/hikingboots.html] and enjoy the outdoors more with the correct backpacking tents by visiting http://www.outdoorsfunandgames.com

If you are looking for an additional piece of stunning furniture for your home or office you can not go wrong with a large saltwater fish tank. With the beautiful colors, the soothing sounds of bubbling water and the relaxing pastime of keeping fish, a large saltwater fish tank installed in your office or home will prove to be a great investment. A large fish tank is generally 30 gallons or more, and some custom-designed large fish tanks can hold hundreds of gallons depending on the size of your home.

When you have decided what type of large saltwater fish tank you want to purchase, you first need to ask yourself a few questions. The cost of keeping a large saltwater fish tank is usually more than a freshwater tank but a large fish tank full of beautifully colored saltwater fish is a popular choice for many home aquariums.

You then need to decide what you want your large saltwater fish tank made out of, whether it is glass or acrylic. Acrylic aquariums have become increasingly popular because they allow for custom designs to fit the home. Acrylic is more prone to scratching than glass, and is generally more expensive; however it does not alter the colors of the fish whereas glass, and its reflective properties, will distort when looked at from certain angles.

Once you have decided on what type of large saltwater fish tank you want and what types of fish, you need to decide what size tank you want. Large is considered in the 30-55+ gallon range will vary in price from roughly $100-$500 or more depending on the size and quality of the tank. Most companies offer package deals, which provide you with a large saltwater fish tank and all the necessary filtration devices. The size of your large saltwater fish tank will be a factor in deciding what size and how many fish you will be able to keep

You will, of course, have to get into the habit of feeding the fish and cleaning the tank, but the maintenance and up-keep for a large fish tank is easy. You need to clean the tank every 2-3 weeks, which means replacing roughly 20-25 percent of the water. You also will need to make sure the chemical levels in the tank are balanced using home kits and ensure your fish are fed at regular times.

With proper and easy maintenance, a large saltwater fish tank can be a great addition to a home or office, providing you a soothing escape and a hobby which you can enjoy for years to come.

http://www.fishtankfun.com is an informative site relating to aquariums,fish tank,saltwater fish,freshwater fish,tropical fish,fish tank stands, filters and all advice to ensure keeping your fish healthy.

Women’s clothing sells much faster and more frequently than men’s clothing, so it’s only natural that women’s clothing shops are more predominant than men’s clothing shops. But some women’s clothing shops are too expensive, despite the trendy and popular clothing they might display. Who can afford to pay designer prices just to look good?

Some of the trendiest fashions can be found in smaller shops that boast inexpensive fashions, though many of the labels may not bear recognizable names. These smaller shops are mostly found in strip malls. The women’s clothing shops found in large mall always have very high prices, and it isn’t worth the time and effort to go out to the mall to spend a lot more money. The smaller women’s clothing shops in strip malls carry all the great fashions that trendy women craze, at low prices the designer labels wouldn’t ever charge.

Plus Sized Women’s Clothing Shops

In a world that seems to be all about the slender and the small, full-sized women have trouble finding fashionable, affordable clothing that suits their sense of style. Just because you’re a big girl doesn’t mean you don’t want to look good, a fact that many of the hip stores seem to totally ignore.

However, many of the smaller, fashion-driven women’s clothing shops do have a plus-sized section. Some small stores even devote themselves entirely to plus-sized women’s clothing. Look for these stores not at the large malls, where prices are expensive, but near and around large department stores. These small, out-of-the-way shops often have beautiful fashions for big girls at prices that anyone can afford.

Used Women’s Clothing Shops

Gently used women’s clothing shops are springing up all over the country. More and more, used women’s clothing shops that specialize only in trendy, fashionable clothing are appearing in hip shopping areas. Look for these shops, which will usually be smaller than the average used clothing store, about the size of a boutique. Here you’ll find beautiful, affordable fashions that are in style. And no one will know that they’ve been gently used, so you’ll be able to afford more and fashionable clothing.

Tips for Shopping in Women’s Clothing Shops

If you really want to get more for your dollar, you’ll visit the clearance and sales racks in women’s clothing shops first. True, a lot of these are going to be last year’s fashions in a collection of sizes that are rarely bought, but it’s worth a look for that rare find. Sale and clearance items are wonderful, because you’re able to buy more with less money.

Buying more is the secret of using women’s clothing shops. Women’s clothing, especially fashionable clothing, can be very expensive. But everyone wants to look good despite the size of their wallet, so look for sales and you may just find something wonderful. All women just want to look pretty and fashionable, in comfortable clothes that they can get good use out of. Learn how to shop and what to look for in women’s clothing shops, and you can look great without spending a fortune.

There are so many women’s clothing shops to choose from, don’t settle on just one. Shops around for the best deals and best clothes, and that’s exactly what you’ll find. Women’s clothing shops don’t have to overwhelm you, if you know what you’re doing and you know what you want to spend.

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Overnight summer camp is also known as a sleepaway camp when campers spend their nights at the camp; some camps do allow both daytime and overnight campers. Beyond the traditional sports – baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, football, and more – there are camps for outdoor enthusiasts that can offer horseback riding, hiking, camping, fishing, and even rappelling. There are overnight summer camps that are co-ed camps, boy’s camps, girl’s camps or brother-sister camps where boys and girls may have separate venues and activities.

Each summer, more than 10 million children and counselors attend day camps and overnight summer camps across the country. There are camps with activities as traditional as model rocketry and riflery, to those nontraditional as aviation, computers, language studies, golf, martial arts or community service. Camps often focus on specialties that include: adventure, art, computer, dance, music, religion, horse riding, sports, theatre, and many others.

Special needs camps meet the needs of a wide range of children with disabilities; these camps provide an outdoor summer camp experience along with a therapeutic environment. Basically, if you can think of any subject of interest, there’s probably a camp that specializes in it. An overnight summer camp is a supervised program for children and teens conducted during the summer months in most countries; children and teens, called campers, who attend camp, participate in a variety of activities, many of which are special interest.

Weight loss camps are for children and teens in order to help them learn about how to lose weight and how to keep it off while having a great overnight summer camp experience. Children will get more individual attention and supervision with a lower number of campers per counselor. Is there a special topic (e.g. religion, sports, educational, performing arts, arts and crafts) that you hope your child will gain ability and experience in?

Do you think, if you have more than one child, they would they benefit from attending the same summer camp together? The reputation of an overnight summer camp can also be determined by asking what percentage of counselors returned from the previous year. There are many types of overnight summer camps with a focus on education that cater to students with differing ages and academic interests.

Check the camper-counselor ratio to determine the number of campers for each counselor. The best overnight summer sports camps do much more than just improve a camper’s soccer, tennis, lacrosse, or wrestling skills – they help each child become a more skillful athlete, a more gracious competitor, a more committed team player, and a more confident person. College credit courses are very popular at overnight summer camps that typically offer students the opportunity to explore a pre-college experience; usually, students entering grades 10 through 12 stay in college dormitories and attend summer classes run by the college faculty.

Camps should have at least a 40% to 60% return staff ratio, which shows that the camp is seen as a good place to spend a summer. Specialty overnight camps can range from $500 to $1000 per week depending on the program. Most camp counselors are in their late teens or early twenties and are high school and college students on their summer break.

Typically an overnight summer camp experience will leave a lot of wonderful memories for the child or teen camper. Think about what you and your child hope they’ll get from going to camp. Look over and evaluate the brochures and promotional materials; read the fine print. If you spend the time needed to research your options and include your child in all the decisions, he or she will most likely have a memorable experience that provides opportunities to grow while having a lot of fun and making new friends.

For more information on choosing the best overnight summer camp and finding the best sleepaway or overnight summer camp online and offline go to http://www.OvernightSummerCamp.biz a nurse’s website specializing in overnight summer camp tips, help, facts, free tuition resources, including information on overnight summer camp reviews

I worked at a Profession that was a Family Tradition my entire working career.

I started out working after class got out, every day through High School, while a Teen.

After that, I went to College during the Mid – Seventies.

• Through the years, I was simply too caught up making a living to realize what else I would enjoy doing.
• The money and benefits were good, so I stuck with it until I retired.
• I have always had an interest in Psychology and Writing.
• There was this prevailing Feeling within, constantly reminding me to follow my Heart and choose a different Profession.
• I never knew what that would be, until recently.
• Do any of the above Ring true for You?
• I decided that if I were to do a Midlife Career Change, my Career Choice would have to be one that not only inspired me, but could be worked at directly from home.

I was able to take an early retirement at age 55. I desperately wanted a change in career. I was searching for something I would have a passion for doing. I wanted to do something on the Internet, but did not know what I wanted to do, or how to go about doing it.

I searched and searched, and ended up confused and completely frustrated with the information overload I absorbed from the Web.

I recalled all those Career Assessment Tests I took way back in College. I remember one test told me I had the personality traits of a Bus Driver and College Professor. Interesting… I had forgotten what the other tests told me about me.

I was looking for something I could do on the internet as a business. I went to various Career Test Websites and took some of their practice tests to see what my aptitudes were.

I did not come up with any suggestions I favored. These Tests were free tests I took, but each one told me something different about myself. There did not seem to be any consistencies I could recognize.

So, maybe you want a Second Career too. But, This time around, you want to do something you are Passionate about. Why do it any other way – Especially, if you did not like your previous profession that much? You do not want to choose something to do you will not like doing again, right? You want to Love doing it this time. Now is your chance to do it right.

Maybe you are a bit UNSURE about what it is you would fit into as a brand new career. No problem. There are Career Assessment Tests you can take that can help you. There are also Free Tests, but you have to be careful. If they are not researched and Scientifically validated tests, the test results may not be as reliable as you would like.

You could end up choosing the wrong education and training for a career you really don’t have the interest or aptitude for. The Test may say you are more of an Artist type, when in fact you love Public Speaking and are an Extrovert. This potential Career Mismatch could mean a lot of wasted time, effort, money and one big disappointment and heartache.

Teens looking for their first job, and someone making a Midlife Career Change may have something in common. They may be both unsure about what it is their passion resides in. If you are middle aged, you have an advantage, that you at least have had a career or two under your belt. A teen may not have even been employed once.

If you already know what your passion is, fine. But, if you do not, you will have to search yourself for it. Discovering Mine came late. But, Better late than never. Find your passion and Verify it through the Sounding Board of a Career Test. This will Make Certain you have the Career Aptitude and Working Personality for doing the Career Choice you have in mind. You can always receive training and the schooling to fit your passion and make it into a Career Reality.

You Do Have Options…

• Find out what you Love to do or are Passionate about, be it a Hobby or any Special Interest.
• Then take a couple Career Aptitude and Personality Assessments to reality check the possibility of turning it into a Career.
• Study the list of compatible careers in the printable read out which they will give you after you take the Career Test.
• If the tests you take are Scientifically Validated and Reliable tests, the suggestions and results from the various tests will collectively parallel each other.
• In other words, you will start to hear the same things ringing true about your skills, abilities and interests over and over, as they pertain to certain repeated Career Recommendations.
• Do the research about what the Job Duties are for your Dream Job, and judge for yourself if you are going to like to do them or not.
• Visit and talk to those people within those jobs. Get it first hand from those who know the best.
• Weigh all outward Data received against your inner Personal Core Values.
• Know How much all the training costs, where it is and how long it will take to complete.
• Figure out how you are going to put your plan together. Make a strategy with small doable goal steps to pull the entire plan into one big clear picture.
• Will you work at your old job and train for the another in your spare time? It has been done, and it still can be. You can do it if you make it one of your personal priority career goals.
• You can also create a budget plan, if times will be on the lean side while financing your new career training.

To Change Careers or Not

You don not have to make a Mid Life Career Change at all. You do not have to do anything but what you want to do. You can keep things just the way they are. It’s your life, live it your way. Chances are that if you are here now, you want another career.

But, You do have options. All we need to do is examine them. The most important thing to do is to examine you and question how you feel about you, your life, the world and where it is you think you want to fit.

What things do you want out of life at this point? You could have made a name for yourself in your last career and made your money, raised a family and now you wonder what to do next?

You may not even need to work. Maybe you want to work and find that last career that represents who you are. You want a career change for what it will mean to you. You seek meaningful employment more than the money.

Chances are that you continue to need the extra income, but either want to retire or quit what you’ve been doing for the last 20 or so years because you have had enough of it and it’s time to move on. Maybe you want a part time job. Maybe you don’t even know exactly what you want, but you want to explore and see if there is anything out there for you or not.

So, Why even Change Careers to begin with?

Is it because Your Job is Not YOU anymore?

In other words, has what you value in a job changed?

Did you choose your profession a long time ago, and the job became a career mismatch?

Maybe the job doesn’t do it for you anymore. Maybe it’s a boring, not challenging, tedious, energy draining job, etc.

Maybe there Is there no single reason other than you simply want a change. That’s OK. Maybe you are just tired of doing the same thing for over twenty years. This is OK.

You could be going through a Midlife Crisis where you are beginning to question a few things about your past and present life.

Statistics show that it is not uncommon for people change careers at least three times in their working years.

Why not change careers, what’s the problem?

It’s not like you are Married to it, right? There are similarities though, like familiarity, security and predictability. You know what you have to deal with on a daily basis and there are usually no surprises. On second thought, Maybe in a way, we have become Married to our Jobs. But the question is, is it a happy or unhappy Job Marriage?

There is a lot to making a Midlife Career Transition happen. It’s harder adjusting and doing everything related to changing your career than when you were young. Everything is harder now. Maybe you don’t even feel as good as you did and do not have the energy you had. That’s probably why some don’t do it. The new Career takes researching, job interviews, training, returning to school, or possibly working part time in your newly chosen field to see if you like it or not. You may even be worried about age discrimination, finances for training and living expenses. It takes a lot of effort and energy. Maybe you would rather not. All this is even making me tired.

Nevertheless, How do you take an inventory of YOU if you would like to make a Career Change in Midlife, but are afraid to do so. Start Thinking about those skills or jobs you like doing. Also, think about those jobs or duties that you don’t like to do so you know what to avoid. What Hobbies or special interests draw out the passion in you. Who says you can’t turn a hobby into a full time job? Did you have any part time jobs you liked in the past? You can even go so far as to try to remember what it was you wanted to do when you were a kid – A Doctor, a Lawyer?

If you are over 55, you have to admit that some professions are probably unattainable, because you don’t have enough time left to live. You may not want to go to school again for another ten or so years and then build up your business or practice through time – Which is another story in itself.

Thankfully, There are Careers in between – Some that require technical school training, or certification. These Careers don’t take near as long to master. Again, it depends on what you are willing to do in order to get the new career you want. It is never too late to go to school for ten years if you want to, and it is your life to spend any way you wish.

• Remember – The older you get, the wiser you have to be about where and how you spend your remaining years.

I am sure someone has decided to become a Doctor or a Lawyer when he was 55 and then began his education. Maybe by 65 he had served his internship and residence and got his degree and started his practice in his own home town. It’s possible.

The question to ask yourself is this – If you really want to do something, and it takes four or more years to get there and you do not start to do it now, where will You be in four years? You guessed it, you will be right where you are right now. And, You will be wondering why you did not do it, and may regret not doing it, because you would have been done with the training and starting in the career by now.

But, if you look back and are glad you did not do it because you changed your mind about it in the meantime, then passing it up was a good thing.

If you would love to do a certain occupation, why not start training for it? What else are you doing that is better? Will you Stay in a Soul Killing Job that you are in presently, or making an attempt to get out of it through training for something else? Isn’t it better to train for something new that you’ll love rather than keep the same Status?

As long as you are alive, you have a Future.

Questions to ask Yourself

• Are you a people person, or would you rather work with things?
• Do you like working with Statistics and Data?
• Do like to Lead? Do you like instructing others, or Teaching?
• Are you a natural born Salesman?
• Are you mechanical? Do you like working with your hands? Fixing things?
• Are You Artistic?
• Do you like working outside?

Can You See You in the Job Picture?

Thinking about those things you like to do and the conditions you prefer on the job can determine what Career Choice is best for what you are made of. Only you can know what it is you like. If you do not already know, you can find it out through taking a Career Assessment Test and choose from a list of Career Choices the Test recommends. Matter of fact, taking the test is part of being able to set career goals and plan for your new career.

Be open to new ideas from any source. I personally like to look through Mother Earth News Magazine for business and career ideas. I like reading about the do it yourself stuff on a farm, and articles on going solar. So, Pick up your favorite magazine and page through it and check out the local classifieds for business opportunities, or even employment. These are all potential Career Choices.

Investigate what it is you are interested in and passionate about. Even if you don’t know what that is, investigate anyway. You will eventually find your Dream.

You have been focusing on the Money factor most, if not all your previous career and life. But From Now on, try focusing on the Fun Factor. Look to a new Career for the enjoyment of it, not the money. You may have needed more money before, because you had a family to support. Now, it may be somewhat different financially.

If you do what you love, you will be willing to work harder at it that much longer each day. It will still seem like work, but there will be a distinct difference. It will be work you love to do. You will not have to be dishonest with yourself and cover up your distaste for a job you hate doing anymore. You may already know what working hard at a job you hate brings into your life.

This way, if you are hard working and (most importantly) true to yourself and to your own happiness, the money will come later because of all your loving toil and diligence. Think about the concept of making money at something that is fun to do – Would that not be nice doing just that?

What you love attracts the same positive vibes and material conditions, what you hate brings Negativity. Stop doing what you dislike, it will never bring Success to you nor to anyone who depends upon you. There is no Success without Fulfillment.

Why not start to Be who you want to be, and do what you want to do. If you already have not done this, Try Thinking how you want to think. Not how you think others want you to. And, start doing those duties and activities that bring you the joy and the passion you’ve always wanted. The focus has always been on hard work. Change the focus to enjoyable work. Would it not be great if you focused on who you wanted to be and acted that out instead of focusing on deadlines based on money and people you would rather not be around?

When you find and do what you love, you will come across like minded people…You will have something in common with and be surrounded by Your own kind.

Deadlines are dead. You are alive. Change your scene. Change your life. Change your mindset. Don’t let someone else define YOU. You define YOU from now on. Who do you want to be? You can be that person, you know…Only if it is true to being YOU and to who you are.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook by the US Dept. of Labor is filled with hundreds, if not thousands of Careers. Learn about each one you are interested in. More than that, seek those Career Opportunities that make you feel Passionate. Would it not be great to be so restless at night that you could not wait to get up in the morning to go to work? Well, maybe we don’t want that much excitement, do we? Maybe, maybe not. At least not right away. But, you can grow into it slowly and start liking it.

We sleep a third of our lives, and work a third of our lives. With so much time preparing for work, should not work be a Pleasure instead of a dreaded chore?

After you take a Career Assessment Test and have your Career Choices in hand and have made your choice, then it is time to put a plan together. This means where the education is located, how long it takes to complete the program, how you are going to pay for it, putting together a resume, practicing up with your job interviewing skills, possibly a part time job in your chosen profession, goals and steps to achieve the same, etc.

A way to bypass job interviews and resumes etc., is to become self employed and Work from the comfort of your own home. This is the golden opportunity for those who are Midlife Career Changers. You are older, wiser, mature and solid in those things you want. And you can still find yourself through the right second and possibly last career. You may have the savings to put you through the necessary training for that work at home job.

There are many legitimate work from home businesses to choose from. There are franchises and there is also your own knowledge of a business you have already been in that you could turn into your own. Sometimes, being your own Boss can be the key to the experience of job happiness.

You may have all the responsibility, but you can still call all the shots your way. Well, realistically not everything will be your way, but you will have much greater latitude in making business decisions without having to answer to someone.

Probably one of the most important aspects of Mid life Career Change is having a plan. Equal to that is support from family and friends. They need to be behind you on this one. Without support, you will be hard pressed to make anything happen. Sell everyone on what you are about to do. Put your finances in order. Sell your plan to them. Get the right feedback you need. Make them feel good about what you are about to do. Calm their fears while Dealing with your own.

It takes time to put a Plan of Action together. A Career Guidance Counselor can help. He/She can guide you by suggesting Career Tests and even help you plan for the education, and assist you with your own job placement.

http://www.career-test-info-guide.com

Tennis Twist is undoubtedly the best value when looking to purchase tennis ball machines. This product is priced very reasonably at around $230, making it the most affordable tennis ball machine available by far. Despite being the lowest priced tennis machine, the Tennis Twist is also very light and battery operated, making it very transportable and it will fit in the backseat of any SUV. The Tennis Twist also supplies tennis balls at a constant rate providing great repetition that will make a practice session valuable. Whether you want to practice your backhand or just need someone to play with, this tennis machine will make you better at tennis. And because a tennis machine doesn’t screw up, you don’t have to worry about bad hits while practicing. You get to hit a consistent shot practicing your form for 28 repetitions to help structure your muscles and develop your mental discipline.

Unique Features of the Tennis Twist

Tennis Tutor wanted to design a lightweight machine and they were looking to create a cheap tennis ball machine that would provide basic features that would allow any skill level, basic to intermediate to advanced, to get a excellent and reliable experience. The distinctive spiral design automatically feeds the 28 tennis balls. The ball machine then lobs out a ball every 5 seconds giving you time to take the shot, evaluate it, and recover in time for the next ball. The best way to use the unit is to position it at various spots based on the style of shot you want. Because the tennis system doesn’t have any oscillation features, the only means of changing the shot is to change the position. You’ll also want to place the Tennis Twist on the same side of the net because it only shoots about 10 feet or so. Although if you want to practice the overhead smash you’ll need to put it on the opposite side of the net.

These are just a few examples of what makes this tennis machine different from other tennis machines. To get a better look at how the tennis machine works and some additional benefits (and even some weaknesses) you’ll want to check out a Tennis Twist review.

Comparing the Tennis Twist

The Tennis Twist is the best value for the money when it comes to tennis machines, but how does it compare to other, more expensive machines? One popular brand of tennis ball machine is the Lobster Elite line. Just looking at the cheapest lobster tennis ball machine, you would spend $850 which is nearly 4 times as much as the Tennis Twist. Is it worth four times more? The Lobster Elite Freedom, which is the cheap tennis ball machine, has adjustable speeds, a higher ball capacity, and a nice horizontal oscillation feature that will alternate the shots around the court. The speed adjust feature is helpful because it allows you to hit the ball faster;however, the key to a good practice is solid form and hitting more balls doesn’t necessarily make you better. As far as the hopper capacity goes, the unit provides a 2 minute rally and unless you are in fantastic physical shape, 2 minutes is a good workout. And with the Lobster’s oscillation feature, it can be good practice running to each side of the court, but you can effectively do the same thing with the Tennis Twist with some creativity. For an extra $630 you get some nice features, but not really necessary.

Another popular ball machine is the official Tennis Tutor model. This system costs around $950 and is practically the same as the Lobster Elite Freedom when it comes to features. So when reviewing the Tennis Twist against the Tennis Tutor ball machine, you save close to $700. Don’t get me wrong, these expensive tennis ball machines do have their place. If you are a competitive player or a coach, many of these models will have valuable features, but if you need a cheap tennis ball machine to help you get better at tennis, there is no better value.

Where to Get the Best Price on Tennis Twist Tennis Ball Machine

Whether you live in the US, UK, or anywhere else in the world, in order to get the lowest price on a Tennis Twist you’ll need to look around online. There are many physical stores that have an online website and frequently will advertise specials. A surefire idea would be to check out a Tennis Twist review as many times they’ll give you ideas on how to save money buying a tennis ball machine.

Today, the available selection of furniture for children is innovative and unique and goes far beyond the basic beds and dressers that have filled children’s rooms in the past. When you decorate your child’s room, consider his personality and his interests as you choose the best pieces. If possible, allow your child to help pick out the childrens furniture he will have in his room.

First, decide on a theme or color scheme for decorating. Beds and other furnishings for children can be found to match a number of designs. Some beds are even available as race cars, fire trucks, or princess castles. You may opt for a bed that fits the theme you’ve chosen or you can buy a simple bed and match the room’s design with a children’s bedding set in a similar theme or color.

To ensure a good night’s sleep for both you and your little one, choose a bed and bedding set that your child likes. Also make sure the bed is comfortable, sturdy, and appropriately sized. Small children who have just graduated from a crib or cot may feel safer in a small bed that is low to the floor. Optional bed rails are a good idea until your little one gets used to sleeping in her new room.

A dresser or small chest of drawers is typically a useful piece of children’s furniture for storing clothing and accessories. Look for a dresser that is sturdy and made of a quality material like wood. Drawers that sit low to the ground are best for young children who may try to climb on the furniture and a model that is not easy to tip over will be safer. Many dressers can be found in a matching set of furniture for your child’s bedroom, including the bed and often end tables.

Children usually have a large collection of books. Find a short bookcase in a colorful design to hold his treasured books, as well as other toys and figures. A desk or small table with chairs can provide a good, solid surface for your child to play and work on. Child-sized chairs and surfaces are great for art activities, homework, or playing with puzzles. Many tables and desks are designed around themes that may fit your child’s bedroom decor, like primary colored animals or soft, pastel flowers.

Every child’s bedroom needs plenty of sturdy storage for toys. Todays toy boxes are just as varied and unique as children’s beds. Deep, wooden toy bins are perfect for storing large toys, while toy boxes with multiple bins of various sizes are good for smaller toys. Some toy boxes offer shelved storage as well for toys like puzzles or to display a favorite collection of cars or horses. Find a toy box that will make it simple for your child to clean his room and to find a particular toy after it is put away.

Consider your child and his activity level when you purchase furniture. Children often climb, so kids furniture [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=64] that is low to the ground will minimize injuries. Many children can be rough on furniture as well. Look for quality built furniture designed specifically for children to stand up to a child’s wear and tear. Most importantly, decorate your child’s room with furniture he likes.

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Nursery Furniture [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=60] and owner of stylish kids store MonkeyShine an internet retailer of Childrens Furniture [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=60] in the UK

Are you looking out to learn more about hypertext preprocessor programming which is nothing other than what is known as PHP? Then this article can offer you plenty of knowledgeable information on the same. PHP has literally become the talk of the town nowadays. Technically it is known as a server-side script based language, which means that it is predominantly used for web developing and web hosting purposes. With its widespread application, it is not surprising that programmers in this particular software language are in great demand nowadays.

PHP is basically free software that is widely used for web development purposes. Running generally on a web server, it can create dynamic web page output with ease. Millions of websites and web servers are testimony to the power of this web-scripting language.

With the world becoming more and more dependent on the internet for conducting business, it is no wonder that PHP too is among the most popular web-scripting programs these days. You will find that the roots of the PHP programs are basically in C++, with several similarities existing in the syntax of the two. What this in turn means is that PHP is easy to learn and master for those who are well versed with other programs. MySQL is the backend tool that is used along with PHP. It is again easy software to learn and master and is extremely popular. PHP is also compatible with many other back end applications too.

Webmasters looking to make their sites automated more often than not go in for the combination of PHP programming along with MySQL. In fact, you can that this combination has been used in most of the dynamic sites that you can browse through over the internet. Similarly PHP also works well in combination with HTML. Dynamic elements display on WebPages comes out well when this particular combination is used. PHP this way provides a secure as well fast and reliable option for those looking for hosting applications on the internet.

PHP programming finds applications in various areas of web development. Shopping cars and back end administration panels are two of the most common applications. Similarly, web content management, banner advertisement management, mailing systems, visitor tracking, product catalogs, e-brochures, membership management, message boards and forums are some of the areas where it is used these days. With internet usage predicted to grow exponentially in the near future, the use of PHP programming too is predicted to grow phenomenally in the years to come.

A lot of people like to exercise and let’s face it, a lot of us probably need to exercise but exercising indoors in a gym can quite simply become a bit boring. This is one of the reasons why there is a very high rate of dropouts. But there is a way to exercise which is stimulating and exciting and that it to go hiking. If you go hiking or would like to take up this exciting activity, then there is one essential piece of equipment that you will need and that is hiking boots. You can go hiking in normal trainers but you will soon discover that this is very uncomfortable to say the least.

Hiking boots are a must for anyone who wishes to take long walks on rocky, hilly or even flat terrain. When you are on long distance walks then you need to take care of your comfort as well as provide good ankle support and traction without being too heavy. Hiking boots are a very personal piece of equipment that needs to suit your feet. Key factors to keep in mind when buying hiking boots are much the same as when buying regular shoes and that is the fit and use should be taken into consideration for the best purchase. You need to take into consideration your type of feet. Do you have soft or tough skin? Are your feet normally sweaty or dry?

Nowadays hiking and climbing shoes come in a variety of men’s and women’s lasts, so your chances of finding a great-fitting boot are much better than they have ever been. Shoes made from animal skins were developed at first and through the centuries, other types of shoes have been made, incorporating a variety of methods and materials. Some hiking boots are made with special technology that lets the shoe change shape along with the foot. Quite a few of these hiking boots have taken advantage of technology to become smaller and sleeker, while at the same time becoming more sturdier.

The features that you need to look for in hiking boots depend on your hiking activities. Are you going to be hiking in all weathers and all terrains? Do you need waterproofing or not? Or do you need extra cushioning for extra comfort? Asking yourself some of these simple questions will help you to decide, which is the correct purchase for your needs.

Once you have got the hiking boots that will suit your needs, it is important to break them in, before you go on your hike. You don’t want to end up with blisters on your feet and a long way away from home. One thing you can do for this is to wear them around your home and make sure they are comfortable and do not hurt your feet after awhile of wearing them. Doing this will ensure that your feet have adapted fully to the new shoes by the time you go for your first hike.

If your outdoor adventures revolve around short duration day hikes across predominately smooth terrain then a light, athletic styled hiking shoe will suffice for your hiking needs better than classic hiking boots. If your hiking interests are for more rugged terrain then you will need something more sturdier. So consider all these factors before you choose your hiking boots and join the thousands of people who enjoy hiking as a form of exercising that is more exciting and stimulating than any gym in the world.

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