Having Sex or Making Love

Actually, the difference between the two concepts is bigger than some of us would like it to be. And, as almost every time, women feel it the most. What is the difference? Well, love. Women need to be protected, looked after and loved as much in bed as in every day life.

Keep in mind that this is not just a legend used by women to manipulate men. The difference between having sex and making love, together with it's implications in a couple's sex life is what many men forget when sharing the bed-sheets with a woman.

Clearly, everything written so far will not apply to one-night-stands. In those cases it is all about a sexual intercourse between two people who only share their bodies. After the bottom line has been drawn, most men feel good about themselves after a one-night- stand, without thinking about their sexual performance. Totally pleasing a woman from the very first time is no easy job as the only mystery she had disclosed is her body.

Yet, most men are attracted to one-night-stands or, with other words, to having sex. The lack of commitment needed and the easy attaining of the main goal: feeling good, are just two reasons pleading in favor of having sex.

On the other hand there is so much more between a man and a woman making love. There are feelings and emotions, leading to a totally different connection between the two of them. More than that, for women, one of the most important things during sex is the environment. And this means everything from location to those few candles some like to place around the bed.

Let's take them in turn a little bit. If you want to leave her smiling and begging for a cigarette and some more there are some things you might like to take into consideration.

Trying dad's old car's rear suspension will make the car happier than her. The ideal location would certainly be a bed in a nice and cozy room with nothing interfering with the moment. Someone knocking on the door or even a ringing phone can have very undesirable effects. Some candle-like lights and easy-listening music in the background adds even more to the overall foreplay.

Explore every inch of her body and draw imaginary contours with your fingers and tongue, kiss her neck, breasts, belly and legs, all in a specific order surrounding the most important area and closing in at the same time. All this will increase the tension and when that moment comes both you and her will feel the difference.

Communication is essential for great results. Men must pay attention to the unspoken signs every woman gives them. Ignoring these signs will make women feel used. The old legend that says that when a woman says "no" she actually means "yes" is nothing more than a poor excuse so keep your ears open for her desires.

If all goes well, you might be given the supreme sexual command and that's "don't stop!" When you hear that, whatever you do, DON'T STOP!

Caterina Christakos is a published author and dating coach. To learn what really turns women on go to: http://www.what-women-want.com

Reverse Mortgage Loan Simplified

A Reverse Mortgage, also known as 'equity release' is a financial process that allows seniors to convert the equity in their homes into cash. The main reason to do this would be because monthly retirement income is not sufficient to survive.

To qualify you need to be a homeowner; be over 62 years of age own your home outright - or have a low mortgage; you must live in that home; and the property must meet minimum property standards. The money can be used for whatever you like - home renovations, vacation, pay medical expenses, new vehicle, paying off debts, or simply, to supplement income.

The loan is not taxable as it is considered to be a loan advance, not income, and no repayments are required whilst residing in the home, therefore an income stream is not required. The equity can be paid in three different ways: a lump sum; monthly for a fixed term; or as a line of credit. The loan can be restructured during the course of the loan.

The loan is usually structured so that it is collected, including accrued interest and other charges when the house is sold or after death. It differs from a second mortgage or a home equity line of credit - as no income is required - because no repayments are required. You therefore cannot be foreclosed or forced to leave your home because you missed a payment.

The size of the reverse mortgage is determined by the type of reverse mortgage selected, the person's age, the current interest rate, the home's location and the home's value. The older the borrower - the larger the percentage of the equity that can be borrowed. The owner retains the title to the property.

The property must be the borrower's primary residence - usually a single family, one-unit home. However some programs accept two-to-four-unit buildings that are owner-occupied. Some will grant reverse mortgages on condominiums and manufactured homes - provided they were built after June 1976. Mobile homes and cooperatives are generally not eligible for a reverse mortgage.

The loan will need to be repaid when: the last surviving borrower passes away or sells the property; all borrowers permanently move out of the house; the last surviving borrower does not live in the home for 12 consecutive months - due to physical or mental illness; the borrower fails to pay property taxes or insurance; or the borrower lets the property deteriorate beyond reasonable wear and tear.

The heir, or the last surviving borrower, does not have to sell the property to repay the reverse mortgage - they can refinance the reverse mortgage with a traditional mortgage loan -or through the use of other assets.

Sounds great - but - do be aware of the possible down side.

Interest payments, which are not tax deductable, are added to the loan - with no repayments required - this can eat into the equity - as the interest compounds - diminishing the equity and leaving less asset for the owner or heirs.

The cost - interest rates, originating fee, closing fee and service fee - all apply and can vary.

Good news: you cannot outlive the loan agreement and you cannot be forced to sell your home to pay off the mortgage loan!

Although Reverse Mortgages have been around for some time - they have not been fully understood. However, it is expected that as the baby boomers enter their retirement years they will have greater understanding and therefore less aversion to this way of self funding their retirement.

Gay Redmile is the webmaster of several finance and investment sites. Having recently assisted her father in taking out a Reverse Mortgage - she realises how important it is to undertake research and fully understand this process. For further important information on reverse mortgages visit her site at http://www.bestreversemortgagesite.com Or for general mortgage advice visit http://www.mortgageshomesite.com

Choosing the Right Mountain Bike for Your First Adventure Race

One of you biggest investments when considering taking on an adventure race is your mountain bike. Generally, the boat for the paddle section will either be provided for you by the race organizers or you will rent it. The gear for the trekking and navigating sections is minimal, and many races do not even include a climbing section anymore, so save the bulk of your budget for your bike.

With that said, you still dont want to break the bank. Here in Colorado its not unusual to see a car valued in the hundreds of dollars hauling on its roof a bike worth thousands. Sure you can get a mountain bike with full suspension, the absolute lightest components and all the bells and whistles but remember, little Timmy is going to need braces someday.

By the way, unless you are taking on an urban assault, it is pretty much guaranteed that portions of the bike section will be on dirt roads, trails, rocks and other surfaces which will launch a road bike into a formal protest, so lets look at the two types of mountain bikes you will want to consider, hard tails and full suspension bikes.

Hard Tails

Hard tail is lingo amongst mountain bikers for a bike which only has shocks on the front forks, thus a hard tail. Generally, a hard tail is both lighter and cheaper than a full suspension mountain bike. The shocks on the front end are designed to absorb some of the impact and bumps on the front tire while allowing for some added comfort and control.

Full or Dual Suspension

Full suspension means a mountain bike which has shocks on both the front forks and on the rear of the bike. Further comfort and control, especially downhill, comes for a higher price and added weight. As this is being written, some full suspension bikes are catching up to hard tails weight wise, but youll pay a premium to shed the weight looking at over $2000.00 at a minimum.

Recommendation:

The good news is that most entry level bikes these days come with adequate components and will get you through your first training session and race. If youre a beginner or on a budget, I would recommend going with a hard tail in order to save money, keep the weight of the bike down and ease your maintenance requirements.

When it came time for me to decide on my first bike I bought a 2003 Jamis Durango for $350.00. It got me through my first race with flying colors and, with a couple of component upgrades, I still use the bike today, most recently in my first 24 hour mountain bike race.

Weekend Warrior http://www.wwadventurerace.com

Teenagers- The Moral Dilemma

In a world where values are taken on board and discarded again when they become inconvenient to maintain, it is refreshing to see that our young people are adopting a set of healthy moral standards. When I was a teenager back in the dark ages it was considered that any prospective suitor was open season providing he was not married, gay or ghastly thought poor.

These days it is rarer for a couple to be married, as so few people take the conventional trip down the aisle, and the result is the disappearance of comforting borderlines. It is no longer easy to check whether a man is free or not just by glancing to see if he is wearing a wedding ring. Even asking him point blank if he is married will not do; he may well be in a fifteen year, extremely anchored relationship, with the mother of his nine children.

My nineteen year old daughter and nearly all of her friends, with one or two tarty exceptions (who shall remain anonymous but they know who they are) socialize within the most rigid guidelines of behavior when it comes to the boyfriends of friends and acquaintances.

In a society which is becoming increasingly permissive I am happily surprised to find such moral codes in evidence. I would even go so far as to say that I think moral behavior amongst young people has undergone a weird reversal of ethic in the past fifteen years or so.

With the risk of Aids and a whole collection of other nasty sexual diseases an ever present and increasingly virulent handicap to passion, it is hardly surprising that the most intelligent of our younger generation have swapped free love for freedom of infection.

Jan Gamm writes reflections on life with an emphasis on world travel. She has lived in many countries and traveled extensively in the Far East, the Middle East, America, South America and throughout the South Pacific. She writes for fun and for money whenever she can manage it.