• Take These Steps If Your Car Is Recalled
• New Year's Resolution: Fitness Trends In 2010
• Can Medication Make You Sick?...
• Trivia Challenge: Win Free Movie Tickets For Two
• Real Estate Q&A: The Latest On The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit...

Dear Friend...

This time of year you're probably resolving to get more exercise. To help you accomplish your goal, you can read about the fitness trends for 2010 in today's Service For Life! ^® Free consumer newsletter. You'll also learn what to do if your car is recalled (millions have been) and which medications can make you sick. But first...

Here's what's happening in today's real estate market: December was disappointment, compare to November, but we can only is a season adjustment. Rental vacancies rate remains high and I don’t see much in the way of approve till we start getting the unemployment rate down. 

Please feel free to call me whenever a friend, family member or neighber or needs a caring, competent real estate professional to help with buying or selling.

To health, success and laughter in your life!

• Visit the manufacturer's web site  and the site for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at www.safercar.gov. Search the NHTSA's database for recalls on your vehicle. While you're there, search the database for any "technical service bulletins" for your car. These are memos to dealer service departments on any mechanical issues that you might want to have addressed, especially if your car is still under warranty.
  
  
• Get a CARFAX report on your car (by Vehicle Identification Number).  This is important if you're buying a used car since manufacturers are not required to repair a recalled car at no charge if it is more than 10 years old.
  
  
• Call your dealer to schedule an appointment.  They will probably tell you to be patient.
  
  
• Play a key role in keeping vehicles as safe as possible  by reporting any safety-related problems to the NHTSA. File a complaint online, call their hotline or mail the complaint to their office in Washington, DC. You also can search online for complaints others have made by vehicle model.
  
  

• Educated and experienced fitness professionals.  As the fitness market becomes more competitive, consumers are realizing the importance of working with professionals who have been certified through accredited health/fitness educational programs.
  
  
• Strength training.  This was once the domain of bodybuilders, but it's now an essential part of a complete physical activity program.
  
  
• Children and obesity.  This is the year to reverse an alarming trend of rising obesity rates by getting overweight kids involved in exercise.
  
  
• Personal training.  As more personal trainers are educated and certified, they are becoming more accessible to a greater number of people.
  
  
• Core training.  This training specifically emphasizes strength and conditioning of the stabilizing muscles of the abdomen and back.
  
  
• Special programs for older adults.  Fitness facilities are offering more exercise programs for active older adults. Get your parents involved now!
  
  
• Sport-specific training.  High school athletes are now training during the off-season to prepare themselves for their specific sports.
  
  
• Pilates.  This form of exercise that targets the core of the body has become a mainstay of most fitness facilities. If you haven't already done so, try it this year to increase your flexibility and posture.
  
  

• Mixing over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications.  You may be double dosing. For example, if you take a cold pill that contains acetaminophen (more than 600 OTC and prescription medicines do), don't pop an additional Tylenol for good measure. Too much of the drug can cause liver damage.
  
  
• Not recognizing the "rebound effect."  That's when a drug produces reverse effects when the effect of the drug has passed or the patient no longer responds to it. In other words, a remedy meant to help may make a condition worse. This has been known to happen with pain relievers, OTC eye drops, decongestant sprays, sleeping pills and teeth whiteners. Best advice: If you don't think a drug or product is working, don't just take more of it. Talk to your doctor about alternatives.
  
  

Guess who won last month's Trivia Question? I'm pleased to announce  the lucky winners of last month's quiz. Mitch Koehler correctly answered my quiz question
Who was the first host of Saturday Night Live when it debuted on October 11, 1975?

a) George Carlin  b) Steve Martin  c) Billy Crystal  d) Candice Bergen

The answer is a) George Carlin. So, let's move on to this month's trivia question.

Who is the highest paid athlete in the world?
(including salaries, bonuses, prize money and endorsements)?

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Tiger Woods
4. David Beckham