Florida Agenda

By Michael French Gossip is an unconstrained and most often derogatory conversation about other people. It can involve betraying a confidence, spreading sensitive information or making hurtful judgments. Gossip can be truly injurious to someone’s life and, in this litigious society, the perpetrator could find himself in court! Watch the movie “The Children’s Hour” with [...]

By Michael French There are few emotions more compelling than the feeling of “going home”.  “Home” has a particular meaning to each of us. Home is more than the four walls where you rest, sleep, recharge your spirit and body. It’s where you work, play and where you feel you belong. “Home” immediately conjures up [...]

By MICHAEL FRENCH Hardly a day passes without more doom and gloom about home foreclosures. Florida, as home owners know all too well, is suffering through a devastating and prolonged housing slump. Foreclosures only add fuel to the housing crisis fire, furthering the devaluation of our homes. Some predictions forecast another 5 years of tumbling [...]

By Michael French Are you desperately needing an in-home retreat? Did you ever dream of being able to go to a spa whenever the mood hit you? It sounds like it’s about time to transform your blah bathroom into a serene spa. Luxurious spas abound in Florida. One visit could cost a week’s pay and/or [...]

By Michael French Photo: The Salvador Dali museum in lovely  St. Petersburg, FL Every cloud has a silver lining.  This recession’s silver lining might be the development of the “Staycation.” (The neologism was added in the 2009 Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.) There are benefits to a staycation. A staycation gives you more hands-on control and offers [...]

By MICHAEL FRENCH You’re having a house guest come for a visit. Living in Florida almost guarantees having an overnight house guest at some point. Whether family or friends, you want to be sure they are comfortable and have a good time. The key to being a gracious host is to ensure that your houseguests [...]

By Michael French With our gasping, struggling economy and Florida’s real estate market, still stuck in reverse, most home owners, are realizing they will be in their homes for the foreseeable future. Don’t let it get you down. Look at the up side. Mortgage interest, is still a tax deduction. It’s your house! You can [...]

By Michael French None of us will be spared what can seem an overwhelmingly unbearable emotion – grief. The “Grim Reaper” has always been an equal opportunity heart breaker. He’s practiced diversity since the beginning of time. This hooded harvester of life picks who he wants, when he wants to, often with no warning. No [...]

By Michael French “Grateful,” as defined by Webster’s, is “feeling or showing appreciation of kindness; thankful”. During the twists and turns of the day, some of us are tempted to feel overwhelmed by what’s “wrong” with life instead of taking stock and being grateful for the good we experience each day. The longer we live, [...]

By Michael French Dining out until the recent past was primarily reserved for celebrating life’s events, like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Frantic schedules leave many of us with little spare time or desire to cook a meal. Eating at restaurants has become a lifestyle, especially in Florida. Newspapers and magazines are rife with reviews [...]