Real Estate Talk with Realtor Kory

Happy Pride Cuties!

I’ve got some serious real estate tea to spill! Don’t you dare skip the all-important home inspection, honey! It’s giving you the inside scoop on overlooked issues that could potentially dampen your homeowner fantasy and drain your precious coin. Trust me, you don’t want to be caught off guard with this one, sis! Think of the home inspection as your ultimate power move, giving you the peace of mind, you deserve and the leverage to negotiate like the fierce diva you are. This thorough examination by a licensed and insured home inspector will uncover flaws, from leaky faucets and faulty electrical to roof and structural issues. Remember, investing in a home inspection is a small cost that can save you major drama and money in the long run. You deserve a home that not only dazzles on the outside but is structurally sound and fabulous on the inside. So, snatch that inspection like a true queen and secure your dream home with confidence.

Also, if you are a first-time home buyer, always remember, homeownership can be the first step to financial freedom and is more accessible than you think. I am more than happy to help get you started on buying your first home! Check out my TikTok for more Real Estate tips, @realtorkory or contact me today for all your real estate needs! Email, DM, Text, or Call because I do it all!

-Kory Lambarth

The thing that has made Club Vortex stand out for the past 7 years in Kalamazoo is that they totally, 100% treat each and every one of their patrons, whether first time or repeated customer, like family. They recognize everyone for their birthday, wedding, loss of a loved one and so much more.

Owner, Danny Frigo, started in the business in 2008 managing The Zoo Bar. During that time, he saw how the LGBTQ+ community came together as one. After seeing bars and clubs closing in recent years, Danny got to thinking that this community needs a safe space, free of judgement.

Club Vortex has a different theme every Saturday and this gets the patrons involved and they truly make the theme come together; something that everyone loves! Vortex also has their own drag show the last Saturday of every month. The queens are definitely the backbone of Kalamazoo Club Vortex. “However,” said Frigo “at the end of the day our dedicated patrons and new comers make Kalamazoo Club Vortex what it is today.”

How often do you take a moment to reset, relax, listen to the breaths you take, savor the quiet, sit in the here and now?

Mindfulness allows you to be intensely aware of what you are sensing and feeling at that exact moment, without judgment, blame or guilt. It’s about relaxing the body and mind, so calmness can enter, and stress can escape.

We spend far too much time worrying about tomorrow, stressing over an incident at work or home, or agonizing about the past. These random negative thoughts that often consume us can cause anxiety and lead to depression.

Practicing mindfulness helps direct your attention away from negative thinking and toward positivity.

The benefits are many: focusing on the present moment helps relieve stress, anxiety, pain and depression, to name a few. It also can improve attention, decrease job burnout and help you sleep better. How many times have you laid in bed at night as your mind fills with thoughts of tomorrow and all of its demands?

To sleep well, your mind must be in what I call “a good mind space” where calmness and peacefulness can flow. And, how often do your thoughts consume you at work when you feel you have been wronged or a problem did not resolve the way you hoped it would?

So, how do we get to that good mind space?

Begin by sitting down and taking a few deep breaths. Focus on each breath and what you are feeling at that exact moment. Next, try to shift your attention to the thoughts and emotions you are experiencing and allow these to be with you without judgment. Try not to push without anger, fear or negativity. This is the healthy place we all are searching for.

To help you be more mindful, start practicing in the morning when you first wake up. Focus on your breathing and how your body slowly is getting energized for the day. Practice again at lunchtime; take five minutes to reset and find your good mind space. Every day, give yourself at least five minutes to reset. Keep practicing until mindfulness becomes effortless. Here are a few more simple ways to incorporate mindfulness into your life:

• Pay attention. We live in a fast-paced world and often are looking at what is next instead of experiencing the moment we are in – what we see, hear, smell and taste. Do you remember what you had for breakfast and how it tasted? Do you remember the conversation you had with your partner before you left for work?

• Live in the moment. Intentionally try to focus on everything you are doing at that exact moment. Enjoy the simple pleasures.

• Accept yourself and treat yourself the way you would treat a trusted friend.

• Focus on your breathing. When negative thoughts start creeping in, take a deep breath, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Doing this simple exercise even for one minute can return your mind to a sense of calmness.

• Meditate. Mindfulness is a form of meditation, which uses different practices to quiet the mind. Practice mindfulness and see the results!

Joe Kort, Ph.D., LMSW

SATURDAY'S: BOYZ NIGHT OUT

UNDERWEAR CONTEST

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment. (bik-TAR-vee)

Most Important Information About Biktarvy

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

About Biktarvy

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.

 Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

 Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

You are encouraged to report negative side e ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

Continued on next page.

Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, continued on the next page and at BIKTARVY.com

Real Biktarvy Patients

Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY. Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® (cont’d)

Before Taking Biktarvy

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

 Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

How To Take Biktarvy

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

Get More Information

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, above and at BIKTARVY.com.