Married – Living Separately
You know I wanted to touch on this subject, and while doing some research…you know…looking around the internet at forums, tweets, etc, I come to find out that this is a norm, I mean even back when my parents were around, the thing is that back then no body knew your business or they didn’t have Face Book or Tweeter…to share your stuff.
The thing is that marriage is so different, I mean well…since people are more open about their marriage you start finding out things about what couples go through within their marriage, the good and the bad. The thing that drives me crazy is that even though we know these things happen in marriages, it seems that individuals don’t really try and make certain it doesn’t happen to their marriage. What I am talking  about is the whole intimacy and closes couples had before they got married…remember you would talk on the phone for hours, hold hands while walking down the street and well talk. Nowadays after getting married that all goes out the window…maybe not right away, but it eventually does. Couples stop talking because of kids, their busy schedule, etc. and the relationship becomes more of just being Roommates. You say hello on your way out the door or when you go to a birthday party. I remember asking a couple that had been married for 25 years what their secret was, you know what they both said, without missing a beat, they sleep in separate rooms…go figure.
So why has marriage come to this? Why is there a need to sleep in separate rooms? Why would you prefer to use the guest bathroom, what happen to those intimate showers, the laughter, the glass of wine or beer while talking about…who knows what you talked about…you just did. I mean it probably has been like this for as long as anyone would care to talk about, but why do we allow it to get to that point. I mean I think there has to be something that would allow either the Man or Woman to stay attracted to one another. Because beside been finances one of the major issues in a marriage, so is intimacy. So, for finances I will talk about that in a minute, but for the intimacy, as adults, which I hope we are, we should be able to focus on each other and what attracts us to one another, then make sure to point those things out to each other and then make the necessary adjustments. Now, wait, when you point those things out the person that delivers needs to make certain to do so appropriately, and the person receiving the suggestion should take it as exactly that a suggestion that will keep your marriage flaring…both need to work together.

Now, let me give my opinion about finances and marriage, ok, since I was a kid and now in 2011, married couples have had there own separate bank accounts, why, simple, as long as the bills, are paid, the children are taken care and you have money for retirement, then if each one has a separate account to buy other items, maybe due their hair, buy that new power drill whatever the case may be, I think there is nothing wrong with it. The problems start when bills start falling short, there is no savings towards retirement, and when there is no unity in the finances…then of course there begins to be doubt and with doubt…grows anger…which can lead to discontent, divorce or separation.
I think it is healthy to each have a bank account, it allows for independence, a sense of individuality, something that now-a-days makes people feel empowered. So, I still think that intimacy is a HUGE issue in married couples, and no just because I am a guy I am stating this, I have actually heard this from girl-friends, sister-n-laws and well doing a little research on the net, women have wonder why their man find the need for him to go else where. So it’s not my deal, but I believe it is a very important part of marriage, well a healthy marriage.
So I ask, why does that happen…when does that lust go away…you heard of the 7-year itch, well not sure if you have heard but that is not a 5-year itch can you believe that  does marriage have less of a chance to make it during the first 5 years. I know that they said making it through your first year usually is a great sign, but well, yah that first year can be hell, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a happy marriage…and it could become a “Roommate” style marriage.
My Perspective:
Communication as I have always said is importantly in a marriage or even a couple. Yah you can try and talk to your significant other, but that doesn’t mean they will listen or maybe they will listen but they really won’t do anything about it. So you’re right back at where you started. But if you at least give it a try, then you can move on and dissolve the marriage and at least you’ll know you tried and of course eventually you will find one person that wants what you want and you’ll make it work out. Don’t sleep in separate rooms, don’t separate your lives because only discontent will grow in its place and you’ll be miserable, which will show in your life, work and friends. Communicate, or try at least…everyone’s life has enough to deal with…without having to be miserable. Till next time, thanks for reading, listening and hope to see some comments, but for now, take care, talk and if that doesn’t work move on…life is precious and I am sure we all have enough headaches with our everyday lives to have to come home to one more.

Secrets to Winning College Scholarships by Laura Rowley

Thursday, February 17, 2011
provided by Yahoo Finance

Many high school seniors are receiving their college admission letters this month, and by April, schools will notify families of the amount of aid, if any, they'll receive to help pay tuition and other costs.

Students matriculating this fall are in for an unpleasant surprise: They'll likely get less assistance from the federal government. Last week Congressional Republicans proposed cutting the maximum Pell Grant — the main source of help for low-income families — by 15 percent to $4,015. President Obama's proposal would maintain the Pell Grant but slash other student aid programs.

While politicians duke it out on Capitol Hill, students should apply for as many private scholarships as they can, says Mark Kantrowitz, author of the new book, "Secrets to Winning a Scholarship." Kantrowitz is founder of FinAid.org, a financial aid informational web site, and fastweb.com, a free scholarship database site that includes information on 1.5 million scholarships worth more than $3.5 billion.

The book offers straightforward tips on finding and maximizing the chances of winning scholarships and fellowships from sources other than colleges, as well as advice on writing scholarship essays and conducting interviews.

Students attending four-year programs have a one in 10 chance of landing a scholarship, and the average amount is $2,500, Kantrowitz says. Less than 1 percent of students receive scholarships of more than $15,000.

But for every $100,000 Intel Science Talent Search scholarship, there are literally tens of thousands of others in the hundreds of dollars that can help families avoid borrowing for college. And although scholarships are typically based on academics, athletics, the arts and sciences, or community service, there are plenty of unconventional awards as well. To name just a few: $1,000 for being tall or for being short; $2,000 if you're skilled in calling ducks; and $5,000 for designing the best prom outfit out of duct tape. Here are seven of Kantrowitz's top tips:

1. Use search sites, and fill out the whole questionnaire.
Finding scholarships used to mean plowing through phone-book-sized directories. Now students can search online using sites such as fastweb.com, the College Board's Scholarships.com, and Peterson's College Search at Petersons.com. Students register and fill out a lengthy background survey, and the sites match them to scholarships for which they are eligible.

Sign up for all of the sites, Kantrowitz recommends, and take the time to fill out the entire questionnaire, even the numerous optional questions. An analysis of fastweb.com members found those who filled out every question matched twice as many scholarships as students who didn't. "There's a laundry list of questions — everything from 'Do you participate in water polo?' to 'Has a family member had cancer?' as well as a list of parental affiliations with companies and fraternal organizations," Kantrowitz explains. "A lot are nitpicky, but the question triggers inclusion of the corresponding award in your background profile. If you don't answer the question, you won't find out about that award."

Students should also look through those massive directories from the library. "You might want to do random exploration in fields you never heard of, such as scholarships for microbiology or genetics," he says.

2. Apply for every scholarship for which you qualify, no matter how small the award is.
Applying for dozens of scholarships may seem like a part-time job, but after submitting the first few, it gets easier because you can start to reuse your essays. Just make sure you tailor your appeal to the specific sponsor and change the name of the scholarship in your essay. "It's a mistake I've seen occasionally," says Kantrowitz.

Don't snub smaller scholarships. "Students will say a $500 award is not worth their time, but because of that, those scholarships are a lot easier to win," Kantrowitz says. Not to mention, those minor scholarships will add a line to your resume that can help you snag bigger ones. "It's an indication that someone thought highly enough of your background that they were willing to invest money in your future, and other scholarship providers do notice that," he says.

3. Take an obsessive-compulsive approach to following the application rules.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but follow application instructions carefully. Otherwise, you're making it easy for the judges to count you out. "I've sat on selection committees where it's incredibly painful to choose between really talented students," says Kantrowitz. "If the application requires a 300-word essay and you do 301, you're not going to win because they need some method to distinguish between candidates."

4. Mind your online image.
Employers are increasingly checking up on job candidates by mining the web for any bit of information they can find, and awards panels are doing the same when it comes scholarship finalists.

"I've seen more and more Googling and looking at Facebook accounts to see how responsible the individual is and if they will reflect well on the organization," says Kantrowitz. "Also, if you're using an email like 'hotmama at hotmail,' it can make the difference between winning and losing a scholarship. Go be yourself in your diary — but not online where it can affect your future. You want a professional appearance in person and on the web."

5. Mind your interview manners.
That includes proper attire, attitude and etiquette: "I've had face-to-face interviews with students wearing flip flops and cutoffs jeans, and chewing gum throughout the interview," Kantrowitz says. "Also pay attention when an interviewer says their name. A lot of students don't do that and in the middle of the interview they forget." If that happens, ask the person for their business card at the end of the interview, and send a thank you note by snail mail, he adds.

6. Start searching well before the kids get to college — or even high school.
A big mistake is waiting until college application time to begin the scholarship hunt. The free databases allow students to register as early as age 14. The program maintains your profile, so when an award is added to the database that matches your profile, you'll be one of first of your peers to find out about it.

Don't forget about scholarships for elementary school students. The best-known is the Scripps National Spelling Bee, with a top cash prize of $30,000. But even hopeless spellers qualify for The Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest, which awards a $25,000 scholarship to cooks age 6 to 12 for the best sandwich recipe based on creativity, taste, nutritional balance, and ease of preparation. (Parents can find a list of scholarships for kids in grades K-8 at finaid.org/age13.)

7. Never pay for scholarship search help.
Every year, several hundred thousand students and parents are defrauded by scholarship scams, says Kantrowitz, with estimated losses of more than $100 million. "Never invest more than a postage stamp to find out about a scholarship or to apply," he advises. "If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam." Students who register with several search databases should see overlap in the awards for which they are eligible, which helps identify legitimate programs.

Laura is author of the book "Money & Happiness" and blog of the same name. Read more about her here.

My Perspective:
One thing is for sure, it is never to early to begin thinking about your child education. even in todays tough times, any little bit that can be put away to help them with tuition, books, supplies or even housing will be a great help when the time comes. Also, as the article indicated, there are hundreds of grants, scholarship programs out there to apply for, simply where i work they offer a scholarship. As parents we think about the things we want to give our children, the things you never had, the opportunities that are available...you have to take that first step for them...and I promise that a higher education can only bring rewards.

5 Foods That Help You Sleep
Should you let yourself have that midnight snack if you're having trouble sleeping and you think hunger might be part of the problem? Here are five foods that can actually help you drift off:

Can't Get a Good Night's Sleep? 5 Surprising Reasons

1. Cherries. Fresh and dried cherries are one of the only natural food sources of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body's internal clock to regulate sleep. Researchers who tested tart cherries and found high levels of melatonin recommend eating them an hour before bedtime or before a trip when you want to sleep on the plane.

2. Bananas. Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants, and bananas are a good source of both. They also contain the amino acid L-tryptophan, which gets converted to 5-HTP in the brain. The 5-HTP in turn is converted to serotonin (a relaxing neurotransmitter) and melatonin.

3. Toast. Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger insulin production, which induces sleep by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax you and send you to sleep.

4. Oatmeal. Like toast, a bowl of oatmeal triggers a rise in blood sugar, which in turn triggers insulin production and the release of sleep-inducing brain chemicals. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid.

5. Warm milk. Like bananas, milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which turns to 5-HTP and releases relaxing serotonin. It's also high in calcium, which promotes sleep.

My Perspective:
Now, I posted this article, because I have been having issue sleeping, actually i have not sleept in nearly 7 weeks. And I have been trying different remedies to see if anything would work. I have tried of course the wwarm milk at night but that did not work for me. Now, everyone is different so different things work for different people, I just wanted to share this article. I haven't tried anything other than the milk, so i will defirnitely post once I find something that worked for me.

Till next time thanks for visiting my blog and remembe you are not alone and keep the faith up and things will turn out for the better. Till next time Latino Man signing Off.