When people think of laparoscopic surgery, they immediately think of weight loss surgeries like those performed at Woodlands lap-band. While Dr. Richard Collier is a fully trained bariatric surgeon, he can also remove gall-bladders, repair hernias, and perform colon surgery laparoscopically. All important procedures that can save lives while posing the least amount of risk to the patient!

The roads were scary last night! I was at my parents house doing laundry all day, and by the time I was ready to pack up and head home, the afternoon thunderstorms had turned into a blizzard.

At one point, I had no idea where I was! I had turned onto the main road, driven a few blocks, and a gust of wind produced a complete white-out. I couldn’t see the front of my car, let alone what direction I was going in.

Luckily, everyone I passed had their hazards on and was taking it slow, so I made it home in one piece.

Mike and I would like to buy a house before we are 30 years old, but that means a crash course in house-hunting, mortgages, and title insurance. I know that a title proves ownership and that the contractors, lendors, the IRS and others can place liens on that title should you not fulfill contractual obligations, but I did not know that title companies offer insurance to protect against liens and help keep your title clean and protect against:

• False impersonation of the true owner of the property
• Forged deed, releases or wills, Instruments executed under invalid or expired power of attorney;
• Undisclosed or missing heirs; Mistakes in recording legal documents
• Misinterpretations of wills Deeds by persons of unsound mind
• Deeds by minors
• Deeds by persons supposedly single, but in fact married
• Fraud
• Liens for unpaid estate, inheritance, income or gift taxes

Before you buy a piece of real estate, your title insurance company will perform a search of public records to make sure that the title is clear of any claims of liens. If the title search reveals any claims such as unpaid taxes or judgments, they can be accepted, resolved, or extinguished before closing. Hidden claims that are not revealed during the due diligence, including impersonation, errors, and forgery are also covered by title insurance, giving you piece of mind that all claims, current and future, will be handled appropriately.

Title insurance protects your assets by having a giving you a recourses to defend your title in court and maintain possession of your property should a claim surface. All claims are settled before you purchase your property, so you know that you are starting with a clean title, and only one premium payment for the duration of the ownership is required to keep the policy intact and cover court costs and any insured losses.

I thought I’d be frightened by inside out bears by Kent Rogowski, but I think they are kind of cute. If someone sends me to New York City to visit my sister for my birthday I could go see them at The Foley Gallery!

The last brown with with the friendly little wave is my favorite.

My parents are currently on vacation and my dad likes to call and rub it in when the weather is good. It’s not exactly golf weather where they are at, but it is the winter, and you’d have to visit Letoonia Golf Resort in Belek, near Antalya Turkey to have perfect golfing conditions.

The resort offers more than golf, too. It’s a family vacation destination that combines 75 acres of nature near the coastline, historical architecture, a beautiful pool, relaxing spa, and entertainment in a beautiful European setting.

That pool is calling my name!