New Braunfels News

Want to know what’s going on around our neighborhood? Find out here on the Community News page! Visit throughout the day to get your updated local news headlines. In addition, you can also find out about local happenings.

If you know of an event, such as a city picnic, local high school graduation or a wedding, post it here to let all of us know! Be sure to keep yourself informed by checking this page frequently!
  • Re Poison.....................Vivian
    Posted on: 2010-08-10
    Poison is a very painful way to die. It's much more humane to use traps.

    When rats throw up not only pets but we and our children walk through it, also, and then take it into into our homes.

    Perhaps we should be like the Japanese and remove our shoes at the door. It's not just poison, it's dirt, animal and bird poop, tobacco spit, and cold spit and who knows what else we track into our homes.
  • Poison in the neighbor from Mary
    Posted on: 2010-08-10
    Vivian, I just wanted to let you know that someone has put out some poison. I am at 2235 Stonehaven and I have found one dead mouse today, a sick one the other day and one sick rat last week. I tried to let some of my neighbors know so they could watch out for their pets. I figured maybe you could put it in the newsletter again.
  • T H E I T A L I A N E L B O W ..............from Don
    Posted on: 2010-08-04
    An Italian grandmother is giving directions to her grown grandson who is coming to visit with his wife.
    'You comma to de front door of the apartmenta. I am inna apartmenta 301
    There issa bigga panel at the front door. With you elbow , pusha button 301.
    I will buzza you in. Come inside, the elevator is on the right. Get in, and with you elbow , pusha 3.
    When you get out, I'mma on the left. With you elbow , hit my doorbell.'
    'Grandma, that sounds easy, but, why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow?

    'What . . . .. .. You comin empty handed?'
  • Quitting: An Essential Ingredient for Success
    Posted on: 2010-08-02
    Aug 02, 2010 09:01 am{Advanced Riskology}

    Quitting: An Essential Ingredient for Successþ


    Let’s face it. There are a lot of successes in the world and they all have their own story, their own advice, to give about achieving what they did.

    One common piece that gets tossed around a bit is the importance of never quitting.

    “Set your mind to it and never give up,” they say.

    It’s good advice.

    If you want something, how will you ever get it if you keep quitting before you have it? Keeping that “can do, fight till the death” attitude is essential, but what a lot of successful folks fail to mention is that quitting the right things is actually an essential ingredient for success.

    Better said, quitting the things that are wrong for you is completely necessary to achieve what you’re really after.

    So what should you quit doing?

    Figuring out what needs to stay and what needs to go when you’re trying to accomplish something is vital but it’s often easier said than done.

    Identifying the things you need to quit is really simple. Actually quitting them, though, can be incredibly difficult. It’s easy to become attached to something you know isn’t helping when you’ve been doing it forever:

    If you want a meaningful career that brings you joy and pays you to do interesting things, you need to quit your dead end job that stresses you out every day, even though it feels like a step backwards.
    If you want true love and a purposeful relationship, you have to give up on the abusive and degrading one that you’re in even though you’ve poured so much of yourself into it.
    Becoming financially independent means being able to evaluate your poor investments and dumping them like last weeks leftovers so that you can improve your position in good ones. You have to do this despite the fact that losing money is scary.
    For any big goal you go after in life, you’re going to run into plenty of “you can’t get there from here” scenarios. Being able to not only identify that you’re in one but also build the courage to give up on it is critical to your overall success.

    That’s why it’s important to know the difference between goals, strategies and tactics.

    Identifying and quitting the wrong things is critical to the success of any big plan. Getting it just right is hard, though. In order to do a better job, its worth looking at how a big plan breaks down and how quitting certain parts of it can be more effective than others.

    A very big plan can be broken down into three major components: the goal, the strategy, and the tactics.

    Your goal is the “big plan.” It’s the overarching thing that you really want to achieve. The strategy is your conceptual idea of what it will take to get there. And the tactics are the actual actions you take.

    Can you see the hierarchy there? Lets pretend I want to take a trip to New York. That’s my goal. The most important thing to me is that I get there and have a good time. This doesn’t ever change – it’s the foundation.

    Now that I’m set on what I want, I need a strategy to get me there.

    In this case, I decide I want to drive using some kind of guidance system, and I’ll sleep at different places along the way. This strategy is subject to change, of course, because getting to New York and having a good time is the most important part of all this, but I won’t alter it until I’ve exhausted all the possible tactics without luck.

    I’m planning to drive so I need to decide if I’ll use my old pickup or rent a car.
    I’ll need to sleep along the way. Should I do it at hostels, campgrounds, hotels, or Walmart parking lots?
    Will I use a street map or a GPS system to make sure I’m headed the right way?
    These tactics can and should change all the time as you test and discover what does and doesn’t work for you.

    The pitfall that most people end up in when things don’t work is that they quit their strategy before exhausting all their tactics. Or even worse, they abandon the whole goal altogether.

    Warning: It’s unlikely you’ll ever reach your goal if you quit your strategy before giving it a chance to succeed.

    Quitting takes practice.

    You probably don’t have a hard time realizing the things that aren’t working out – it’s not so difficult to see the things you need to give up on.

    Like I mentioned earlier, though, lots of things that are simple aren’t exactly easy. Even though you know something isn’t working and you need to quit doing it, it can be psychological warfare trying to get yourself to actually quit. We motivated types are bred to “never surrender.”

    That’s okay. You just need some practice to get the ball rolling.

    It’s helpful to try this out on smaller, less threatening goals.

    A really smart businessman, Paul Meyers , likes to talk about getting started online by building a “sandbox” to play in. Basically, it’s a website you set up specifically as a playground to test out new and crazy ideas. You keep it completely separate from the rest of your life or business and just experiment to see where it takes you and what happens.

    I’d like to borrow that analogy here. While I wholeheartedly recommend diving right into your biggest goals and plans with these ideas, if that seems too overwhelming right now, try setting up a sandbox to play in.

    Pick something mildly amusing to you but you don’t know how to accomplish and set to work. Spend a few hours laying out your goal, strategy and tactics and then just go crazy changing, tweaking, and quitting the things that don’t work.

    Doing this with something less meaningful takes away a lot of the pressure of getting it right or worrying that you’re doing it wrong, but it’s practice nonetheless, and it can go a long way in helping you apply it to the parts of life that are really important.

    Basketball players don’t just practice their jump shots during important games. They do it every day so that when they’re in that important game, it comes naturally.

    Learning how to quit takes practice. Do it often enough and it will become second nature, too.

    Remember, quitting does not mean giving up and it’s not a dirty word. You might not realize it, but you make decisions every day to start doing new things and stop doing old ones. Quitting is a part of every day life. As long as you’re doing it anyway, you might as well be good at it, right?

    Becoming a great quitter is essential to succeeding at the things you find most important in life. Give up on the wrong things and start excelling at the right ones.

    If that all made sense to you, here’s what to do now:

    1) Leave a comment letting me know which wrong things you can quit right now in order to pursue the right ones.

    2), If you enjoyed this article, share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere else. That’s how AR grows.

    http://tylertervooren.com/advancedriskology/?utm_source=Advanced+Riskology+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2461d11465-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email




  • Structural Defects
    Posted on: 2010-07-28
    STRUCTURAL DEFECTS - WHAT REALLY MATTERS?
    Are those cracks significant? That is a question often asked by
    our clients as they point to something in their home or prospective
    home. Here are a few guidelines to help you distinguish between
    significant cracking and normal cracking.
    First, keep in mind that there are no hard and fast guidelines.
    The older the building the more likely some cracks will develop.
    Cracks that would be considered unusual in a new home are often quite
    normal in an older building. By older, we are referring to a
    building thirty or more years old. Buildings less than thirty years
    old that develop significant cracking deserve further investigation.
    Such cracking often indicates other structural problems, not normal
    aging.
    Concrete Foundations and Slabs
    Concrete will almost always develop some cracks. Cracks in
    concrete floors that are narrow (less than 1/16 inch) and follow a
    random pattern throughout the floor are common and usually indicate
    normal shrinkage and/or marginal curing and placement of the
    concrete. These cracks typically do not indicate any structural
    problem. As long as the floor is flush from one side of the crack to
    the other, the crack is probably of little or no structural
    significance. If differential movement of the foundation causes the
    slab on one side of the crack to be significantly higher (more than
    1/8 inch) than the other side, then the foundation movement deserves
    further investigation. This is only a general guideline as we have
    observed serious situations where there were few noticeable cracks.
    More and more builders are installing what are known as control
    joints in concrete slabs, especially garage floors, to help control
    cracking. When control joints are installed properly, random
    cracking is less likely to occur and cracks follow the lines of the
    control joints, hence the name.
    Masonry walls often develop vertical cracks that are wider at
    the top than the bottom. This usually indicates a settlement
    condition and is very common. Often this type of cracking is due to
    thermal expansion and contraction and the lack of expansion joints -
    not foundation movement. Use of expansion joints in this area was
    not common prior to about 1980 and they are still frequently done
    wrong.
    Diagonal cracks emanating from the corner of window or door
    openings are also typically an indication of settlement. The size of
    the cracks here will indicate whether structural concern is
    warranted. Typically, cracks more than 1/8 inch wide are noteworthy.
    Another indicator is a separation at the side of a window or door
    frame, particularly one that widens from bottom to top or vice versa.
    In summary, cracks that continue to grow and/or follow a
    diagonal line are often red flags indicating a more significant
    structural problem. Hairline cracks, cracks in corners, and cracks
    in random patterns are common in residential construction and
    typically do not indicate serious structural problems.
    Unfortunately, we have seen homes that are basically level with
    little to no foundation damage and cracks everywhere. Conversely we
    occasionally inspect homes that are severely out of level that have
    somehow managed to shift and move while suffering little to no
    cosmetic damage. There are no hard and fast guidelines.
    Whenever interior or exterior cracking is questionable or causes
    concern, an engineer should be consulted to diagnose the problem.
    Evaluating the structural condition of any building is a
    sophisticated process requiring both experience and technical
    training. A Registered Professional Engineer is the right choice for
    such an investigation.
    Copyright 1993 by Criterium Engineers. Updated July 2010. Reprinting is permissible if Criterium-Flynn
    Engineers is cited as the source. For more information, please contact us at PO Box 762581, San Antonio, TX,
  • How to Instantly Add 8.2 Years and $133,369 to Your Life
    Posted on: 2010-07-28

    Jul 26, 2010 09:13 am
    It’s pretty amazing how much difference one little change can make in your life when you commit and stick to it. Just like tucking a little money away each month when you’re young can leave you with a small fortune at retirement that you hardly had to work for, the compound interest from other little life changes can reap similar benefits.
    This is something I learned from JD Roth, who I consider a personal finance hero, when he pointed out in his book that “the small things matter, too.”
    Of course, this philosophy comes with it’s share of naysayers, often smart folks themselves. Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich is practically famous for telling people to quit worrying about saving on the small stuff and focus on the big things that matter.
    I can respect that, but have you ever heard the story about American Airlines saving $40,000 a year just by putting one less olive on their first class salads? And that was back in 1987.
    That’s a huge difference for what amounts to a very small change. Those are the kinds of changes that really excite me.
    That’s the kind of little thing I’m going to tell you about right now.
    It’s not the easiest change you’ll ever make, in fact, for some people it’s as hard as quitting smoking, drinking, or even heroin, but nonetheless, it’s a decision that takes literally seconds to make and can add 8 active years to your life and over $130,000 to your bank account.
    No joke. That’s something I’m willing to take a risk on. Are you ready to hear what it is?
    Cancel your cable and kill your TV.
    Yep. That’s all there is to it. No complicated 12 step plan or other mess. Just give your TV to Goodwill (or better yet, smash it to bits), then call your cable company and say you’re done with their extortion. You should actually use that phrasing, but make sure you clarify that you want to cancel your service because the operator is probably too brainwashed to know what you mean.
    At this point, you’re probably pretty skeptical about that claim I just made. I admit, it sounds pretty outrageous and I was skeptical too when I first started working out the numbers. But it’s actually true.
    In fact, I hate outlandish claims so much that I was ultraconservative when I did my calculations. I’ll quickly explain them right now, so if you’re not a numbers person, just skip down to the next section where I explain why you should cancel your cable even though your initial reaction is probably, “Yeah, no thanks.”
    Still with me?
    Okay, here’s my super conservative breakdown of how I got to 8.2 years and $133,369:

    The average American watches 5 hours of TV every day. I’ve assumed 4 because AR readers are too busy kicking ass to watch 5 hours a day. That works out to 28 hours a week, 120 hours a month, and 1,460 hours every year. That’s over 60 days – 2 months – of your life, every year, watching a box of colored light.
    Ok, got that? Let’s move on.
    The average American lives to be 78 years old. I’ve assumed a conservative 75 just in case a few of us step on a land mine, fall off a cliff, or eat too many Happy Meals. If you’re 25 like me (and like most readers here), then that gives you 50 years without TV if you turn it off today.
    At 60 days a year, that’s more than 8 years of your life that you can spend doing something more productive than watching sit coms. You can add 8 active years to your life just by making one tiny decision today.
    I think it’s worth it just for that, but lets move on to the money:
    The average monthly cable bill in the U.S. is $75. I’ve assumed $70 because, well, $75 just seems too expensive. If you’re 25 and cancel your cable today, that’s $42,000 over your life for 2 minutes of your time.
    Now, take that $70/month and put it in an investment account that averages 7% each year in interest (reasonable estimation), subtract 3% for pesky inflation for a real return of 4%, and that’s $133,369 fifty years later. Amazing, huh?
    But I like TV! <–Math haters start reading again here–>

    Of course you like TV. I like it, too. It’s a distraction that creates a fantasy world you can live in, even if for just a little bit. It takes you to a place where dreams can seem real and all our problems go away.
    Unfortunately, though, just like cigarettes and heroin – things I’m sure I’d enjoy if I used them – the escape they provide is temporary and when you’re finally forced to turn off the TV, real life is right there waiting to confront you again.
    It’s not that TV isn’t fun, it’s that life itself can be a lot more fun. I don’t mean to sound like one of those new age hippies that’s all “high on life” or some BS, but it’s true.
    Life can be so much more enjoyable when you kill your TV. I’ve been without one for almost a year and can say it’s made a huge difference in my life. I’ve quit my old career and started a popular new website. I’ve turned my health around and gotten back in great shape. I’ve even gotten out of the house and met all kinds of new, amazing people that I’d have never met otherwise.
    Let’s cut to the chase, though. TV is fun because it lets us imagine what the perfect life could be like, but you can’t actually achieve that life as long as you’re watching it.
    Just think of the things you could accomplish in your life if you had 8 extra years and $42,000 or even $133,000 or more to make it happen. You could:

    Start and even self fund the next Google or Netflix. How many chances could you give yourself to succeed if you knew you had time and money on your side?
    Climb Mt. Everest. Very few people will ever stand, quite literally, on the top of the world because that’s about how much time and money it takes to do it these days. If you gave up TV, you could be one of the few.
    See more than half of the world. My friend, Chris Guillebeau, did the math and realized if he gave up the idea of a $30,000 SUV, he could afford to visit 65 countries. Then he decided to visit every one in the world. He’s given himself 5 years to do it. You’ve got 8.
    Give an entire village clean drinking water. Charity: Water drills wells in Africa & beyond to provide the impoverished with clean water that fuels better health, longer life, and even helps build healthy economies. Kill your TV and you could donate enough to provide 1,400 people with clean water for their entire lives.
    And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, too. Here’s a list of things I’m working on.
    So here’s what I want you to do:
    First, I want you to call your cable company right now, cancel your account, and tell me in the comments what you could do with an extra 8 years and $133,000 tacked onto your life.
    Then, if you enjoyed reading this, share it on Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere else you might hang out.
    Finally, if you want more info like this, go sign up to get free updates and my 5 Risks That Made History email series.
    ~~~~~
    Bonus Lesson: This is a persuasive article. If you read it, you probably got the feeling that I really wanted you to take action by killing your TV and doing something more productive. There are a lot of ways I could go about this, but I used two tactics that make this piece more compelling:
    1) I used a positive argument instead of a negative one by telling you what you could gain from giving up TV instead of what you’re already losing. When you want someone to listen to you and change the way they act, you’ll be far more effective by appealing to hope than fear. Empowerment beats guilt every single time.
    2) I used specific figures and showed proof. I showed you the exact math I used to build my argument and explained how I went about it. It would have been easier to just say, “You can add 8 years and $100,000 to your life. Just trust me.” but that wouldn’t have been very believable. Also, I gave the people who did want to just believe me a way to skip over the details.
    3) I made a strong call to action. Once I was done explaining my point, I said, “Okay, here’s what I want you to do now.” It might seem obvious to you what you want them to do, but when you end an argument by actually asking for a specific action, you’re far more likely to get it.
  • Mortgage rates
    Posted on: 2010-07-06
    Mortgage rates are super low. 4.25

    If you need to buy....get your loan now.
  • Zen
    Posted on: 2010-07-06



    Zen For Those Who Take Life Too Seriously


    1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set.


    2. A day without sunshine is like, night.


    3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.


    4. I just got lost in thought. It wasn't familiar territory.


    5. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.


    6. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.


    7. I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.


    8. Honk if you love peace and quiet.


    9. Remember, half the people you know are below average.


    10. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.


    12. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.


    13. I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.


    14. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.


    15. Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your week.
  • Weather....................from Bill
    Posted on: 2010-06-27
    All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
  • Morgage Rates June 14, 2010
    Posted on: 2010-06-14


    Conv 30 year Fxd – 4.75%
    Conv 15 year Fxd – 4.25%
    VA 30 year Fixed – 4.75%
    FHA 30 year Fxd – 4.75%

  • Flag Day
    Posted on: 2010-06-14
    I overdid it today. Went to put city flags up today at 7 am, then a closing that was by the blood bank so I gave blood, then previewed houses before going to office to work.
    I did stop at home to eat meatloaf. I had about a pound of mushrooms and some heavy cream to put on top and it came out great! Anyway, if I'm going to give blood in the future I need to do it on a slow day.
  • Tick Removal
    Posted on: 2010-06-11



    Tick removal
    Spring will be here soon and the ticks will soon be showing their heads. Here is a good way to get them off you, your children, or your pets. Give it a try.


    Please forward to anyone with children... or hunters or dogs, or anyone who even steps outside in summer!!


    A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it really works!!


    I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.


    Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.
    Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, 'It worked!'


    Please pass on. Everyone needs this helpful hint.
  • Zen.....................................from David
    Posted on: 2010-06-02
    1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow.. In fact, just piss off and leave me alone.

    2. Sex is like air. It's not that important unless you aren't getting any.

    3. No one is listening until you fart.

    4. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.

    5. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

    6. If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.

    7. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

    8.. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

    9. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

    10. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.

    11. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

    12. Some days you are the dog, some days you are the tree.

    13. Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.

    14. Good judgment comes from bad experience ... and most of that comes from bad judgment.

    15. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

    16. There are two excellent theories for arguing with women. Neither one works.

    17. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

    18. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

    19. We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our arse ... then things just keep getting worse.

    20. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
  • Getting advice when you don't think you need it.............Vivian
    Posted on: 2010-06-02
    One of our very young homeowers, said she was going to put up gutters by herself on her house. She's 22 and very bright and hard working.

    Still, she had never put up gutters but thought there was nothing to it.......'just put nails in the brackets and put the gutters in.'

    I suggested she go to Home Depot or Lowe's or the internet and get advice. When I was her age I knew 'everything' and just charged ahead. Now that I'm older I don't know as much as I thought I did.
  • Ft. Worth Museums..................Vivian
    Posted on: 2010-05-24
    I had to go to Ft. Worth last week and took two young people to the Kimball and Amon-Carter Museums. (They are free admission).

    They saw Picassos, Rembrant's, Matisses, Remingtons (the gun maker), Georgia O'Keefe and more. One asked if they were real or reproductions. Then I heard 'They actually did these. They touched these.'

    If you go to Ft. Worth, these two museums are really worth seeing.
  • Advice from a Farmer sent by Dawn
    Posted on: 2010-05-24
    Old Farmer's Advice:

    Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

    Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

    Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

    A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

    Words that soak into your ears are whispered....not yelled.

    Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

    Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

    Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

    It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

    You cannot unsay a cruel word.

    Every path has a few puddles.

    When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

    The best sermons are lived, not preached.

    Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

    Don 't judge folks by their relatives.

    Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

    Live a good, honorable life.. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

    Don 't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

    Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.

    If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

    Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

    The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

    Always drink upstream from the herd.

    Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

    Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in..

    If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around..

    Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
    Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
    --
    Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight,
    he'll just kill you.
  • So true....................from Loraine
    Posted on: 2010-05-23
    I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
  • AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES
    Posted on: 2010-04-21



    >
    >> 1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of
    >> boiling water down your throat and presto, the blockage will be almost
    >> instantly removed.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting
    >> someone else to hold them while you chop away.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 3. You can avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat
    > just
    >> by using the sink.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 4. For high blood pressure sufferers: Simply cut yourself and bleed for a
    >> few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use an
    >> egg timer.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 5. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from
    >> rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you will
    > be
    >> afraid to cough.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will
    > forget
    >> all about the tooth ache.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 8. Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 9. In life, you only need two tools - WD-40 and Duct Tape.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 10. If it doesn't move but should, use the WD-40.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 11. If it should not move and does, use the duct tape.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 9. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 10. Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Thought for the day:
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES .. . . THEY ARE NOT REALLY GOOD FOR
    > ANYTHING,
    >> BUT THEY STILL BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN YOU PUSH THEM DOWN A
    >> FLIGHT
    >> OF STAIRS.
  • Coldwell Banker's Market share.
    Posted on: 2010-04-13
    Look at our Market Share of NB !!! 18.39% by $ and 17.01% by Count ! This is residential properties here in town!
  • WD-40......from Neighbor Ron
    Posted on: 2010-04-12
    Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you. When you read the ' shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stove top ... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

    Here are some other uses:

    1. Protects silver from tarnishing..

    2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

    3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

    4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.

    5. Keeps flies off cows.

    6. Restores and cleans chalkboards...

    7. Removes lipstick stains.

    8. Loosens stubborn zippers.

    9. Untangles jewelry chains.

    10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

    11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

    12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.

    13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

    14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

    15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

    16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.

    17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.

    18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff Marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as Hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.

    19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!

    20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

    21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.

    22. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.

    23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.

    24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

    25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

    26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

    27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans

    28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

    29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

    30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

    31. Removes splattered grease on stove.

    32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

    33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.

    34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

    35. Removes all traces of duct tape.

    36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

    37. Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'

    38. The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

    39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some locations.

    40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

    41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

    42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!

    43. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

    P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.
  • Kale
    Posted on: 2010-04-12
    I've read for years that kale is one of the most perfect foods you can eat so I finally decided to try it. I'm not fond of cooked greens so I took a bite raw.

    It's not too bad. Actually, I like it. I put it in my salads and sandwiches. You have to chew it a lot! This is good as you slow down eating. I'm soooo fat!!! Slow is good.
  • Funny from Lorraine
    Posted on: 2010-04-05
    An old nun

    who was living in a convent next to a construction site

    noticed the coarse language of the workers

    and decided to spend some time with them to correct their ways.



    She decided she would take her lunch,

    sit with the workers

    and talk with them.



    She put her sandwich in a brown bag

    and

    walked over to the spot where the men were eating.



    She walked up to the group and with a big smile said:

    'and do you men know Jesus Christ?'





    they shook their heads and looked at each other very confused.



    One of the workers looked up into the steelworks and yelled out,





    'Anybody up there know Jesus Christ?'



    One of the steelworkers yelled down





    'why'?



    The worker yelled back,





    'Cos his wife's here with his lunch'
  • WALK NAKED IN AMERICA DAY
    Posted on: 2010-03-27


    Don't forget to mark your calendars.
    As you may already know, it is a sin for a Muslim male to see any woman other than his wife naked and if he does, he must commit suicide. So next Saturday at 1 PM Eastern Time, all American women are asked to walk out of their house completely naked to help weed out any neighborhood terrorists.
    Circling your block for one hour is recommended for this anti-terrorist effort.

    All patriotic men are to position themselves in lawn chairs in front of their houses to demonstrate their support for the women and to prove that they are not Muslim terrorist sympathizers. Since Islam also does not approve of alcohol, a cold 6-pack at your side is further proof of your patriotism.

    The American government appreciates your efforts to root out terrorists and applauds your participation in this anti-terrorist activity.

    God bless America !


    P.S.. It is your patriotic duty to inform others. If you don't send this to at least 1 person, you're a terrorist-sympathizing, lily-livered coward and are possibly aiding and abetting terrorists.

  • Computer Problem
    Posted on: 2010-03-24
    Computer trouble!
    I was having trouble with my computer. So I called Richard, the 11 year
    old next door whose bedroom looks like Mission Control, and asked him to
    come over.

    Richard clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem.

    As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was wrong?
    He replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.'

    I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired, 'An, ID
    ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it again.'

    Richard grinned. 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error
    before?''

    No,' I replied.

    'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll figure it
    out.'

    So I wrote down: I D 1 0 T

    I used to like him.
  • Dripping faucet
    Posted on: 2010-03-23
    Tie a strip of cloth, panty hose, string/dental floss on faucet where drip will hit coming down. Drips will go silently down the drain until you can fix it.
  • CD's and DVD's
    Posted on: 2010-03-23
    Recently I started checking out a CD or two at the library. If I want to hear an old song I find it's a really easy and inexpensive way to hear music you get nostalgic for. I grab some I never heard of, also.

    Do you have some CDs / DVDs you no longer want? Donate to the library.
  • Things I learned at funerals
    Posted on: 2010-03-19
    Today I went to a funeral and learned the little old lady had in the 30's, given up her seat on a bus to an elderly black woman.

    Last year I found out the frail old man use to go dancing every chance he got and entered sailing competions.

    When my oldest Uncle got injured at work in the late 1930's, before workman's comp., my 18 year old uncle went to work in the mills from dawn till dark, 6 days a week, to support the injured uncle's wife and children.

    Going to funerals can be inspiring.

    Jean Clark
  • The best dishes
    Posted on: 2010-03-19
    People told me to use the best china for everyday and enjoy it while you can. Then Thanksgiving and Christmas came along and the 'Good' china had become everyday china so I had nothing special to use. Now I've put it away and save it for 'special.'

    They told me to eat off a small plate and I would eat less, so I did. Then I felt as though I'd only had a snack and was waiting for a real meal..


    Nancy
  • Worth Reading
    Posted on: 2010-03-16

    The Mayonnaise Jar

    When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
    when 24 hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar

    And the 2 cups of coffee.

    A professor stood before his philosophy class
    and had some items in front of him.

    When the class began, wordlessly,
    he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
    and start to fill it with golf balls.

    He then asked the students if the jar was full.
    They agreed that it was.

    The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured

    them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
    The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
    He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

    The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

    Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
    He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
    with a unanimous 'yes.'

    The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
    and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space

    between the sand. The students laughed.

    “Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
    “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
    The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
    children, health, friends, and favorite passions.
    Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained,

    your life would still be full.
    The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.
    The sand is everything else --The small stuff.”

    “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued,
    “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
    The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy

    on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are
    important to you. So...Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
    Play with your children.
    Take time to get medical checkups.
    Take your partner out to dinner.
    There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.”

    “Take care of the golf balls first --The things that really matter.
    Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

    One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

    The professor smiled. “I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no

    matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups

    of coffee with a friend.”
  • Red Bridge Lawn Care A County Line Neighborhood Business
    Posted on: 2010-03-10
    Our goal is to provide quality service at a low cost. We not only provide lawn care we also provide landscaping for residential and commercial businesses.
    Lawn Maintenance: We offer a complete lawn care service that includes mowing, weed eating, edging and blowing. As always, we want you to be completely satisfied so we welcome any questions or comments.

    Landscape: We are here to help you bring your backyard (or front yard) dreams to reality. We will help you put your ideas or ours on paper and then see them through to reality as your yard becomes the envy of your neighborhood. Call830-515-3631
  • Mortgage Rates 3/10/2010
    Posted on: 2010-03-10
    Conv 30 year Fxd – 4.875%

    Conv 15 year Fxd – 4.25%

    VA 30 year Fixed – 5.0%

    FHA 30 year Fxd – 5.0%
  • Home Sales
    Posted on: 2010-02-02
    Worst months for home sales:

    1. January
    2. February
    3. December
    4. November

    If your home is on the market, hold on. March is not far away.
  • Rat poison report from a neighbor
    Posted on: 2010-01-28


    Vivian -
    I was hoping you could put out the word to our neighbors that when they put rat poison out to get rid of the pests that are finding their way to our homes from the fields around us, those rats die and our pets and children find them in our yards! The poison doesn't stop with just the rat. When a dog or cat get hold of one, the poison is passed to the pet , who then gets sick and very likely dies. I know they are a pain to get rid of. I had to fill holes, use traps and tape and sonic devices as well - but I did not put out poison for fear of harming a child or my own or someone elses pet. I now am dealing with extensive vet bills myself to save a beloved pet who may been accidentally poisoned. Please ask our neighbors to find another way to get rid of the rats....Thanks -

    (I have 2 rats I see on my back porch. I thought I was the only one with this problem. I going to get a trap I guess. I'd thought about poison and decided against it but this letter tells why it's best not to use it.)
  • Three Men on a Hike
    Posted on: 2010-01-24
    Three men were hiking through a forest when they came upon a large
    raging, Violent river. Needing to get to the other side, the first man
    prayed: ' God, please give me the strength to cross the river. '
    Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs and he was able to swim
    across in about 2 hours, having almost drowned twice.

    After witnessing that, the second man prayed: ' God, please give me
    strength and the tools to cross the river '
    Poof! God gave him a rowboat and strong arms and strong legs and he
    was able to row across in about an hour after almost capsizing once.
    Seeing what happened to the first two men, the third man prayed: ' God,
    please give me the strength, the tools and the intelligence to cross the
    river '


    Poof! He was turned into a woman. She checked the map, hiked one
    hundred yards up stream and walked across the bridge.



    GO AHEAD, SEND THIS TO A WOMAN WHO NEEDS A GOOD LAUGH AND TO ANY MAN WHO
    CAN HANDLE IT!


    If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your wife told you!*

  • How Homestead and Senior Exemptions affect you
    Posted on: 2010-01-20
    School taxes.......................$15,000 off home's appraisal
    65 or disabled....................$10,000 more off school taxes
    Lateral roads....................1% plus $3000 off appraisal
    65+ disabled/lateral roads.........another $7000 off appraisal
  • Right turn on Stop Signs
    Posted on: 2010-01-20
    My friend was on Union and turning right on San Antonio Street. No one was around so instead of coming to a full stop she just rolled around the corner where she got a $400 ticket.
  • Ole and Sven
    Posted on: 2010-01-20





    Full view

    Fwd: Ole and Svenþ
    From: Russell Tufvander (russellt@guam.net)
    Sent: Sun 1/17/10 9:11 PM
    To:

    Ole and Sven die in a snowmobiling accident, drunker than skunks,
    and go to Hell.


    The Devil observes that they are really enjoying themselves.
    He says to them 'Doesn't the heat and smoke bother you?
    Ole replies, 'Vell, ya know, ve're from nordern Minnesooota, da
    land of snow an ice, an ve're yust happy fer a chance ta varm up a little bit,
    ya know.'


    The devil decides that these two aren't miserable enough and turns
    up the heat even more.


    When he returns to the room of the two guys from Minnesota, the devil
    finds them in light jackets and hats, grilling Walleye and drinking beer.


    The devil is astonished and exclaims, 'Everyone down here is in
    abject misery, and you two seem to be enjoying yourselves?'


    Sven replies, 'Vell, ya know, ve don't git too much varm veather
    up dere at da Falls, so ve've yust got ta haff a fish fry vhen da veather's
    dis nice.'


    The devil is absolutely furious. He can hardly see straight..
    Finally he comes up with the answer.
    The two guys love the heat because they have been cold all their lives. The devil
    decides to turn all the heat off in Hell. The next morning, the temperature is
    60 below zero, icicles are hanging everywhere, and people are shivering so bad
    that they are unable to wail, moan or gnash their teeth.


    The devil smiles and heads for the room with Ole and Sven. He gets there and
    finds them back in their parkas, bomber hats, and mittens. They are jumping
    up and down, cheering, yelling and screaming like mad men.




    The devil is dumbfounded, 'I don't understand, when I turn up the
    heat you're happy. Now its freezing cold and you're still happy. What
    is wrong with you two?'




    They both look at the devil in surprise and say, 'Vell, don't ya
    know, if hell iss froze over, dat must mean da Vikings von da Super Bowl'
  • Making a living
    Posted on: 2010-01-16
    I have some young boys in the neighborhood helping me deliver the flyers I send around. They are good workers and like to make money.

    One of them says he spends some money he makes and has save $4000 (not from me). Another said he spends his on vidio games. The next said he gives his to his parents becase they need it to buy food and gas. I try to hire that boy next....he always says he need to work.
  • This came off the internet
    Posted on: 2010-01-16
    Good idea .. . one light bulb at a time . . . .

    Check this out . I can verify this because I was in Lowes the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments . They were all made in China . The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA . Start looking ..
    In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job . So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track . Let's get behind her!
    My grandson likes Hershey's candy . I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now.. I do not buy it any more.
    My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico ... now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything ..
    This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets .. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labeled, 'Everyday Value . ' I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price .. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland , Ohio .
    So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here ..
    So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets . .. . yep, you guessed it, bounce cost more money and is made in Canada . The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA ! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!
    My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!
    If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!
    (We should have awakened a decade ago .. . .. . . . )
    Let's get with the program . . . .. help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U . S . A ..
    I Passed this on ........ will you ???????
  • Haiti
    Posted on: 2010-01-14
    I was going to send a donation to the Red Cross but decided to send to the Savation Army instead.

    It bothers me a lot to learn that before the earthquake only 1/3 of the island was getting clean drinking water. In this day and age?! That's what should be addressed as soon as possible.
  • Curry and Mac and Cheese
    Posted on: 2010-01-14
    Last night I made Mac/Cheese and added mushrooms and tuna. Tried some curry powder on a little bit and it was really good. Curry is supposed to be good for you.
  • A Good Story
    Posted on: 2010-01-07
    A six year old goes to the hospital with her grandmother to visit her Grandpa.

    When they get to the hospital, she runs ahead of her Grandma and bursts into her Grandpa's room...

    'Grandpa, Grandpa,' she says excitedly, 'As soon as Grandma comes into the room, make a noise like a frog!'

    'What?' said her Grandpa.

    'Make a noise like a frog…… because Grandma said that as soon as you croak, we're all going to Disneyland '

    Kinda brings a tear to your eye, don't it?
  • Veteran's Day
    Posted on: 2009-11-11
    Got up early to help the American Legion put up flags. I was one of the first ones there so went around with my screwdriver opening up the pole holes. I know people were thinking, 'What's that old lady running around the streets with a screwdriver up to?' It was fun.

    I went to give blood yesterday thinking they wouldn't need it because after Ft. Hood so many donors came. Well, the San Antonio blood bank had sent their platelets up to Ft. Hood and there was a shortage of platelets. I'd never done this because it takes 2 hours. They put you on a heating pad and wrap you in blankets and give you a movie to watch. I did it but I was so worn out afterwards.
  • Sales this year in our neighborhood.
    Posted on: 2009-11-07
    Last year from jan. 1 to Nov. 1 there were 103 sales.
    This year we had a 110 for the same time period.
  • Garage Sale
    Posted on: 2009-10-19
    Patti and I went garage sale-ing. I got an antique mirror ($10), rocking chair ($15), large framed print for office ($2), small table cloth ($.25). The weather was so great and we had a great time. My rule is $5.00 but I was wanting these things so I went over budget.

    Vivian
  • Maybe I shouldn't rant but this really upset me
    Posted on: 2009-10-16
    I got so upset yesterday and I'm not quite over it. I was showing property and these 3 Hispanic young men walked down the street. They were obviously coming from swimming in the river. My buyers went into panic mode and jumped in the car and drove off. Of course, there was no danger. Later I thought, if there had been danger, they'd run off and left me alone! Racism and stupidity go hand and hand!
  • Bananas
    Posted on: 2009-09-10
    After Reading this, you will NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!

    Bananas Contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructoseand glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

    Depression:
    According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas containtryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel better.

    PMS:
    Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

    Anemia:
    High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

    Blood Pressure:
    This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

    Brain Power:
    200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex England ) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

    Constipation:
    High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

    Hangovers:
    One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

    Heartburn:
    Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

    Morning Sickness:
    Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

    Mosquito bites:
    Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

    Nerves:
    Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

    Overweight and at work?
    Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

    Ulcers:
    The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

    Temperature control:
    Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
    Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

    Smoking:
    Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B-6 and B-12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

    Stress:
    Potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

    Strokes:
    According to research in 'The New England Journal of Medicine,' eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death from strokes by as much as 40%!

    So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!
    Footnote:
    If your roses are covered with Aphids, drape banana skins over the branches, it's amazing, but in a day or less, they are GONE! I've tried it, and I couldn't believe it, no more aphids, as long as I save my banana skins for the rose bushes!
    Impressed? Well then, PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS!
    Unzip a BANANA today!



  • Lithium Batteries
    Posted on: 2009-09-08
    How to treat your batteries
    Most digital cameras, cell phones, laptops, and other portable devices run on lithium-ion batteries. These popular, lightweight batteries hold a charge very well. Here are some tips for their use.

    Charge them whenever you want. Lithium-ion batteries don't suffer from 'memory effect,' which describes other types of batteries' tendency to hold less charge if not fully discharged regularly.

    Don't let them run too low. There is a point at which a lithium-ion battery suffers damage from discharging too much power. Most devices have built-in safeguards to shut down before the damage occurs, but it's good practice to recharge your battery before your phone stops working..

    Don't let them get hot. Heat is a lithium-ion battery's worst enemy. The batteries degrade over time regardless of their use, but their performance will quickly deteriorate when exposed to high temperatures.

    Store them with a partial charge. You're better served to alternate between two batteries rather than storing one. A lithium-ion battery degrades over time whether it's used or not, so consider getting some use out of it. However, if you decide to store a lithium-ion battery for a few months, give it at least a half-charge.


  • New Court House............Vivian
    Posted on: 2009-08-25
    Just came from Lions' meeting where the speakers talked about new courthouse being built. I was overwhelmed to hear they sometimes do 85 prisoners and hold court almost every day. I had no idea we had that much crime in the county.
  • Stuffed animals............................Vivian
    Posted on: 2009-08-25
    I went garage selling Saturday. When I would see stacks of stuffed animals I'd say: 'We collect these for the shelters, police and fire department and if you don't sell, I will pick up donations.' Every place said, 'Take them now!'
  • Tuna Sandwiches from BOB
    Posted on: 2009-08-24
    Did you ever try putting jalepenos on your tuna sandwich? Vivian got me to try this and it is so good. Oh the bliss of moving to Texas!
  • Ben Franklin from Trey
    Posted on: 2009-07-27
    As Ben Franklin said: 'In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. '
  • You Won the Race......................from David
    Posted on: 2009-07-26
    This is suppposed to be a joke but when you think about it, it really means a lot. It means you are a winner.

    When you were just a sperm, you beat out hundreds of others to the egg.
  • The Music Man
    Posted on: 2009-07-19
    I went to see The Music Man last night at Barton Springs in Austin. It’s free. You take a picnic and something to sit on. It was a great show. There is a free show there every summer.

    We went to Sun Harvest in San Antonio and bought tons of fruit and vegetables cheap. Large, sweet white cherries $1.97 a pound. They are almost gone now.
  • Home sales
    Posted on: 2009-07-19
    We are overloaded with homes. Coldwell Banker sales are averaging about 100 days on market...............60 days faster than our nearest competitor.
  • Price it right
    Posted on: 2009-07-12
    Talked to a lady who hadn't been able to rent out her house for 2 years. She said it was a nice home but she thought the rental agent had priced it way too high.

    Well................duh!
  • Abe Lincoln
    Posted on: 2009-07-08
    Things may come to those who wait…but only the things left by those who hustle.”



    -Abraham Lincoln
  • Negative Reactions submitted by Ed
    Posted on: 2009-07-06
    Negative Reactions
    Zig Ziglar
    Whether you respond or react is the biggest indicator of your attitude toward life. If you can learn to respond to situations, you are going to have a much happier life. When people chew you out, it's not always because of something you have done. In many cases, it is because they are hurting. The question is, do you respond or react?

    Have you ever been driving when suddenly someone pulls in front of you? You hit your brakes and your horn as well. Then, you give the irresponsible driver a piece of your mind. 'You dummy, I could have run into you! Just you wait -- you'll get yours!'

    You get to the office and tell the first person you see about that idiot who almost ran you off the road. Then, you tell the second, third and fourth person about your near miss. Meanwhile, the driver of the other car rides merrily along, unaware that you even exist -- and yet he is in complete control of your attitude. Telling you how to think, how to feel, affecting your relationship with the people under you, over you, above you and around you. In short, he or she is in complete control of your future. It is the ultimate put-down.

    Do you respond or react to life? When you respond, that means you are in control. When you react, that means that you have surrendered control to someone else. Let me give you an embarrassing example of not just reacting -- but overreacting.

    I went out to eat with a large group of people, and we had a very long delay in getting our orders taken. I got upset because I could only see one waiter for our group of 36 people. I had asked in advance of being seated if we were going to have two waitpeople, and they said, 'Absolutely.' Ten minutes later, when nothing had happened, I asked them if they were sure we were going to have two waitpeople, and once again they said, 'Absolutely.' I asked a third time, and they said yes. When the young man started to take the orders, I asked him about the second waitperson. He said no, we were just going to have one. And besides, it wouldn't save any time at all if we had two.

    I've eaten in restaurants a few times and clearly understand that two people can serve 36 guests faster than one person can, so I lost my cool right there. I said, 'You have got to be kidding.' He said, 'Absolutely not.' I said, 'Man, I just flat don't understand that. We need two people.' I was really upset.

    Now, that was a serious mistake on my part. As a matter a fact, my administrative assistant got a telephone call the next day. The caller reported that Mr. Ziglar was rude, inconsiderate and not thoughtful. He said the young man was doing the very best he could under the circumstances, and that Mr. Ziglar was at fault.

    The caller was right. I lost control and, in all probability, I lost any opportunity to ever have a positive influence on the person who called, the young man who was serving our group and anyone who happened to see me lose my cool. You need to understand that when you lose control, you impact a lot more people than just the individual who is directly involved. Because people look to teachers for direction and leadership, they hold them to higher standards. Which is why I have to confess that I am terribly embarrassed as I reflect on the whole incident. I still have plenty to learn and more than enough opportunities to practice what I love to teach. Respond instead of react: You -- and everyone around you -- will have something to smile about if you do.
  • Things to know...................submitted by Loraine
    Posted on: 2009-07-04

    I Sure Didn't Learn That in School!
    Zig Ziglar

    The name of Bill Gates is known throughout the world. Most people look at what he's accomplished and the fortune he's accumulated with fascination and, in many cases, jealousy, wondering how on earth one man could amass so much money. Well, in his book, Bill Gates shares a list of the 11 things not generally taught in school -- I think he is right on:

    Rule 1: Life is not fair; get used to it.

    Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

    Rule 3: You will NOT make a large sum of money the year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone until you earn both.

    Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He or she doesn't have tenure.

    Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it 'opportunity.'

    Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

    Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try 'delousing' the closet in your own room.

    Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

    Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off, and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

    Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

    Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

    Good stuff! Here are a few other things that you don't learn in school:


  • Butter / margerine
    Posted on: 2009-06-30

    Pass The Butter, Please

    This is interesting . . .
    Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings..

    DO YOU KNOW.. the difference between margarine and butter?
    Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

    Both have the same amount of calories.
    Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.
    Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.
    Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.
    Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few
    only because they are added!
    Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.
    Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years .

    And now, for Margarine..

    Very high in Trans fatty acids..
    Triple risk of coronary heart disease ..
    Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)
    Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold..
    Lowers quality of breast milk.
    Decreases immune response.
    Decreases insulin response.

    And here's the most disturbing fact..... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

    Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC..

    This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

    You can try this yourself:

    Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:

    * no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)
    * it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

    Share This With Your Friends.....(If you want to 'butter them up')!

    Chinese Proverb:
    'When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.
  • Another internet threat from Vivian
    Posted on: 2009-06-25
    You may know this already but it was news to me.

    Yesterday I attended a class on social net working, (Face Book, Twitter and blogs, etc.) I've been contacted recently from friends and joined up in Face Book so I was very interested in this. Some of my friends wanted to put me on their 'Birthday' lists and I'd given them my birthday. In the class they emphasized not putting details like that, spouse's name, where you were born, as this made it easier for people to steal your information.

    I have 3 basic passwords that I use all the time. This is a no-no. Even though they may vary a bit, if a hacker gets one he may go to banks, credit card companies, and other financial places and in just seconds generate hundreds of variables around your name and password and get into accounts. Apparently, many people like me simplify their lives by using the same password over and over.

    Now I'm trying to get set up in Face book. I've already seen some information on my distant family and news from around the world........some boring stuff also. If you want to join me, or coach me through this, let me know. It looks to be fun and informative..........just have to be careful.
  • Block telemarketers on cell phone from Ron
    Posted on: 2009-06-23
    Dear Family & Friends:

    In the event you have not heard, the telephone number (both hard-line & cell) you registered with the National Do-Not-Call Registry - to stop telemarketers from bothering you - is permanently registered, effective with legislation (Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007) that became law in February, 2008; previously, the registration expired after five (5) years.

    If you have not done so, or would like to pass-on the procedure to your friends, here's the 'skinny'. You may register your telephone number(s) two ways:

    1- On-line by going to the Website www.donotcall.gov
    a- You may, also, verify your registration at this Website.
    b- You may, also, file a complaint at this Website.
    2- By telephone - dial 888.382.1222.
    a- In this option, you must use the telephone instrument having the assigned number you wish to be blocked, either hand-line or cell.

    PLEASE NOTE: Placing your telephone number in the Do-Not-Call Registery does not prohibit businesses with which you have an account-relationship from calling you and, therefore, their call is not a violation of the Act. In order to prevent these types of calls, you must opt-out by contacting each individual business/entity, i.e., Banks, Department Stores/Retail Outlets, Cable TV, Credit Card, etc.

    Here's wishing you some peace in life; my phone has gone silent since I registered in November, 2007.

    My Best,

    Ron
  • Scam alert on Paypal from a County Line Neighbor
    Posted on: 2009-06-17
    Hi Family & Friends:

    I just discovered a new twist to the continuing problem of someone trying to steal an individuals personal identity for their gain; Here's the scam, so be alert and careful about who you provide your personal identity information, even if the 'Company/Indivdual' is familiar to you and 'appears' legitimate.

    Most people I know will, from time-to-time, make purchases over the Internet and use their credit card as the payment instrument; many websites offer the option of making a secure purchase through PayPal - I, for one, have done this several times, without problem.

    I opened an e-Mail yesterday, dated Saturday, June 13, 2009 @ 6:07PM, from paypal@10558.com (with the recognized Company Logo - PayPal). This e-Mail began with the words, Security Center Advisory, and went on to state 'PayPal is constantly working to ensure security by screening accounts daily in our system .... we need you to verify information to help us provide you with secure service. Your access to sensitive account features will be limited or terminated ... for the following reason(s):'

    'June 09, 2009: We have reason to believe that your account was accessed by a third party ...' etc,etc,etc. Great (I thought), PayPal is on top of the situation! Then, there was the click-on line (you know, the one underscored and printed in blue):

    Click here to Remove Account Limitations

    It went on to inform me, 'Completing all of the checklist items will automatically restore your account to normal access ...'

    When I clicked-on and began filling-in requested information, i.e., Name, Address, Telephone Number, etc., the red flag went up when I came to a request for (1) Credit Card Account Nbr, and (2) Social Security Number: PayPal already had my account nbr, and nobody needs my SSN. Obviously, I deleted all information (Name, etc) and shutdown the page.

    I notified the Security Dept of PayPal (that's their e-Mail Address in the Cc Line) and was informed that paypal@10558.com is not a good e-Mail Address for them and, furthermore, they never ask for a SSN.

    Here's the key Red Flag's: 1- Social Security Number, and 2- Credit Card Account Number. If you are ever asked for your SSN, TERMINATE THE E-MAIL AND/OR TELEPHONE CALL IMMEDIATELY!

    My Best, and, Good Luck,

    Ron
  • In Flanders Fields
    Posted on: 2009-05-22
    In Flanders Fields
    By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
    Canadian Army
    In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
    Between the crosses row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
    Scarce heard amid the guns below.

    We are the Dead. Short days ago
    We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie
    In Flanders fields.

    Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
    We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
    In Flanders fields.
  • 3 THINGS YOU MIGHT TRY
    Posted on: 2009-04-24


    My son has complained of back pain since early childhood and I’ve spent a lot of money on Doctors and Chiropractors……to no avail. They weren’t doing any good. Finally I said “no more.” He tried an acupuncturist here in town over a month ago and has not mentioned his back since. So if you can’t get relief, it’s worth a try. Only $65 and seniors (65 or older) only

    In other (REALLY IMPORTANT NEWS!), just joking. I bought Naegelin’s Bakery tortillas. The best I’ve ever had and from a German bakery.

    And I’ve been going to the German restaurant, Frienhaus on Comal St. and buying their 4 grain bread. It’s $4.90 a loaf but so heavy and thick I seldom eat more than 1 slice at a time.
  • Something to think about
    Posted on: 2009-04-03




    If you want happiness for an hour - take a nap.



    If you want happiness for a day – go fishing.



    If you want happiness for a month – get married.



    If you want happiness for a year – inherit a fortune.



    If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else.



    ----- Chinese Proverb

  • Computer tips
    Posted on: 2009-03-27
    To Clean Out Your Tracks, Addresses and History: You can erase most of your tracks

    from one place. Click Tools>>Options. To delete cookies, select the General tab. Click the

    Delete Cookies button. When you're prompted to confirm, click OK. To clear your trail of

    visited Web addresses, click the Clear History button. Then click Yes when you're prompted

    to confirm. If you want to delete specific pages from the history instead, click the History

    button in Internet Explorer's main window. You'll see a sidebar listing the sites that you've

    visited. To erase an entry, right-click it and select Delete.To clean out the cache, click the

    Delete Files button. Mark the 'Delete all offline content' checkbox and then click OK. When

    you're prompted to confirm, click OK.To erase form information, select the Content tab.

    Click the AutoComplete button. Then click the Clear Forms button. When you're prompted

    to confirm, click OK.
  • Got a Cough? ..............................Lorraine
    Posted on: 2009-03-27
    A friend gave me a Brach's cinnamon candy when I was coughing. It works better than any cough drop.

    After I spread the word, another person said mix honey and cinnamon.
  • Military uniforms and Kilts
    Posted on: 2009-03-22
    I was reading an interesting book and it said how much easier it was for solldiers wearing kilts to urinate. The Civil War uniforms had 10 buttons to undo and left the soldier vulnerable. Modern soldiers use zippers, (noisy), to strike matches on. In the Korean war, nylon uniforms made a contant swishing noise that allowed easy detection by the enemy.

    Just thought I'd share that with you. After traveling through jungles and 3rd world countries with no modern conveniences, I thought a heavy cotton skirt with no underwear would be the best attire for women.
  • Helpful sites
    Posted on: 2009-03-12




    Great Weather Information Site: This National Weather Service site really offers some

    useful tools for weather information. You can find different temperature scales, wind chill,

    heat index, and that is just for starters! http://www.srh.noaa.gov/epz/wxcalc/wxcalc.shtml



    A College Education Is Expensive: Cost of the textbooks can be a real challenge. It isn't

    uncommon to spend upwards of $100 on a textbook. You may find used textbooks at the

    school bookstore. But this isn't always the case. For example, a textbook may be new to

    the school. That means you probably won't find a used copy. Check out the internet and

    don't miss Chegg. A great place to buy and sell used textbooks. You can even rent your

    textbooks! Chegg claims you'll save at least 65 percent by renting. That's great news for

    parents and students. Also, Chegg will plant a tree for each book you buy, rent or sell. http://www.chegg.com/



    Getting The News On Line: There are many advantages to news sites as they are constantly

    updated. Because we can also read stories from around the world means we have a

    broader understanding of what's happening in the world. But if you miss the printed

    newspapers and scanning the front page, check out Newseum. At Newseum, you can

    browse front pages from almost 700 newspapers! And it covers 72 countries.

    Newseum presents you with a map. Roll your mouse over the map, and you'll see the front

    pages appear. Just click to see a larger picture of the front page. Once you peruse the front

    page of a newspaper, you'll want to read more. In that case, you can click through to the

    newspaper's site. http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/



    Improving Our Financial Status: Fortunately, we can all take steps to improve our financial

    situations. And the Internet is the best place to find help. At the Simple Dollar, you'll find

    great tips for reducing expenses. You'll also find ways to make better investments. It also

    can help you break bad spending habits. So, you'll be better prepared to weather future

    financial difficulties. Many people feel a sense of hopelessness when it comes to their finances.

    Check out: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/
  • The dead cat Feb. 16. 2009
    Posted on: 2009-02-16
    A little boy in kindergarten told his teacher he saw a dead cat on the way to school.

    How did you know it was dead? she asked.

    I pissed in his ear and he didn't move.

    You what???

    You, know. I leaned over and said ' piss,' right in his ear.
  • Choosing Your Realtor.....Be Careful!
    Posted on: 2009-01-04
    Almost a year ago I talked to a neighbor wanting to sell her home. She told me up front that she had a friend who was a Realtor she would probably go with. I advised her to be sure her friend was a member of our local Multiple Listing Service.

    Well, she listed her home and it was not put in our MLS. Then she listed with a discount Broker; it was not put in our MLS.

    She talked to me last week and said she is going into foreclosure. She told me both Realtors had said it was not important to be in our MLS as everyone searches on the internet these days.

    It's true people search on the internet. Then they go to a Realtor, usually here in New Braunfels if they are looking for a home here. The Realtor looks up homes on our MLS. The home on the San Antonio or Austin MLS doesn't come up. The buyer says, 'Don't worry about finding it. There are plenty of homes to see.'

    Many of you who have homes on the market believe you are listed locally. Many of you are not. If you are not sure, call me, I'll check for you. You want to sell your home, make sure you're listed locally.
  • Tomato Recipes
    Posted on: 2009-01-04
    Tomato Flowers
    Corn Salsa Stuffed Tomatoes - Serves 8
    Submitted by Sherri Crews of Vilano Beach, FL

    8 medium sized tomatoes ½ tsp salt
    Salt and pepper to taste 1 to 2 tbsp finely chopped jalapeno pepper
    2 tbsp fresh lime juice
    3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro + 8 whole cilantro leaves
    1/3 cup chopped purple onion 2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed or fresh corn off the cob
    1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper

    Combine all ingredients except tomatoes in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours. Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes before assembling tomatoes.

    Core tomatoes. Slice each tomato from top to bottom leaving about ¼ -½ inch uncut at the bottom. Turn tomato and make another cut to make a cross. Cut tomato two more times to create 8 even slices but leave slices attached at bottom. Sprinkle tomatoes lightly with salt and/or pepper as desired — I like both.

    Place each tomato in a decorative colorful bowl and fan out the tomato for stuffing. Put one large spoonful of corn salsa inside each tomato. Add a leaf of cilantro for decoration.

    Also good with grilled shrimp on top for a light lunch.

  • Over pricing your home
    Posted on: 2008-12-21
    I get upset when I see homes put on the market at a price not a little too high but way too high. We all want the best price but we need to be realistic.

    Don't base the price you set on the tax records. The government wants the most money it can get from you. It has nothing to do with a lender's appraisal who is going to look at what the homes around you have sold for.

    Look at the information I send out about sold homes. If you have a very nice inground pool add $5000-10,000. Do not add the price of the pool.

    Almost all our homes have some upgrades such as extra tile, ceiling fans, covered porch, wood floors, crown molding, and granite counter tops. If you have a lot of high quality upgrades you can increase the price some but don't try to recover your cost. Remember, you got to enjoy these.

    When you know you will be selling in the near future, start going to open houses. Look at their price, upgrades, and how well they show. Then keep an eye out for what price they did sell and how long it took.

    Houses increase in our neighborhood about 3-5% a year. Call me if you want a market analysis. It's free and you'll have a better idea of a selling price.

  • It's a Wonderful Time
    Posted on: 2008-12-16
    Abe Lincoln said, “People are as happy as they make up their mind be”. Mr. Lincoln said that during the Civil War. Half the nation hated him. Southern Confederate soldiers wanted to do him harm. His wife was bipolar. He had a child die.

    This is a wonderful time to count your blessings. Albert Einstein said, “Things that count, can’t be counted. And, things that can be counted, don’t count”. There is a reason for every season.
  • Sales since July 2008 Vivian
    Posted on: 2008-12-12
    From July1 to Dec 12 there were 44 homes sold through the multiple listing service in our neighborhood. Only 17 were re-sale. In 2007 in this same time frame, 66 homes were sold and 38 of them re-sales. So summer/fall sales were down 50% this year. Last year re-sales were 0.575 and this year .38. This may also be a partial “community growing old” phenomenon.
  • Yes, sales are down even in New Braunfels
    Posted on: 2008-11-10
    I searched the mls for sold homes in the County Line Neighborhood for last year from 1/01/07 to 11/07/07 and there were 121 homes sold.

    For the same period this year there were 89.

    Homes are still selling; 89 is good considering the economic situation. If you price your house competively and keep it very clean, it will sell.
  • Got a complaint ?
    Posted on: 2008-11-07
    One of our neighbors is in dispute with another. Here is where i was told you could go to file a complaint.

    http://www.nbtexas.org/forms.asp?FID=79
  • Do you have children from a former marriage
    Posted on: 2008-10-23
    Another reason you need a will. You are in a second marriage, your children may even be adults and on their on, and Texas is a community property state.

    You buy a house together and one of you dies. The house does not go just to the surviving spouse but also to the children. If you don't have a will, you need to have signed a 'joint tenancy with right of survival'.
  • Why you should raise your credit score
    Posted on: 2008-10-21
    My credit score is fairly high so I haven't had any need to raise it. This morning I was looking at how a credit score can greatly change the amount of your monthly payment.

    I was told that there is often 20-30% errors on credit reports; you should get any cleaned up when getting a loan.

    If you have basically good credit, my understanding is you can raise your score just by increasing the limit on your credit cards.

    When you can get a loan that saves you $50 t0 $150 a month on your mortgage, it's worth looking into.
  • Don't tick off the nurse
    Posted on: 2008-10-21
    NEVER TICK OFF A NURSE

    A big shot attorney had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. He was a royal pain to the nurses because he bossed them around just like he did his staff. None of the hospital staff wanted to have anything to do with him.

    The head nurse was the only one who could stand up to him. She came into his room and announced, 'I have to take your temperature.' After complaining for several minutes, he finally settled down, crossed his arms and opened his mouth.




    'No, I'm sorry,' the nurse stated, 'but for this reading, I can't use an oral thermometer.' This started another round of complaining but eventually he rolled over and bared his behind.

    After feeling the nurse insert the thermometer, he heard her announce, 'I have to get something. Now you stay JUST LIKE THAT until I get back!'

    She left the door to his room open on her way out. He cursed under his breath as he heard people walking past his door, laughing.

    After a half hour, the man's doctor came into the room.


    'What's going on here?' asked the doctor.

    Angrily, the man answered, 'What's the matter, Doc? Haven't you ever seen someone having their temperature taken?'

    After a pause, the doctor confessed.....

    'Not with a carnation.'

  • Recent Home sales
    Posted on: 2008-10-17
    Home sales are still going on but I've had 4 cash closings lately.........3 of them very expensive homes. I had one sale fall through because of higher lender requirements.

    I did close one in Dove Crossing recently. It was only on the market a few weeks before it went under contract. As there were several homes of the same plam availale at similar prices, it was a relief to sell it. The deciding factor was a whirlpool tub. Other houses had other upgrades but they wanted the tub. The house was super clean and that was a big factor, also.

    If you're selling, remember, super clean and competitive prices.

    The lender/mortgage problem is hitting us, the middle class homeowner the hardest, I believe. I'm hoping with the bail-out and election things will pick up soon.
  • Quote of the Day
    Posted on: 2008-09-23

    Napoleon Hill, Author
    'The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results.'
  • Did you know? from Marsha
    Posted on: 2008-09-14
    On the little packets of 'Splenda' there are sayings. They're cute. I've been using them forever and just found out!
  • Tip about car keys from Ron Neil
    Posted on: 2008-08-24
    Makes sense to me.............I never thought of using them for help.


    Tip About Your Car Keys...


    Great Idea!!!

    YOU NEED TO PASS THIS ONE ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT

    Tell your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, your parents,
    your neighbors, your Dr
    Office, the check out Girl at the market, everyone you run across.

    Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside
    your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic
    button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will
    continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

    This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come
    home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:

    It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires
    no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside
    your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until
    you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you pa r k
    in your driveway or garage If your car alarm goes off when someone is
    trying to break in your house, odds are the burgl ar rapist won't stick
    around... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out
    their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't
    want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in
    a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.....

    This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it
    could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

    P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is
    fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart
    attack, where you can't reach a phone.

    My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car k eys with him in
    case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car
    alarm from anywhere in the yard and then she'll know there's a problem.



    ****GREAT IDEA****



    GOD BLESS AMERICA

  • Jokes from Florence
    Posted on: 2008-07-30


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    Jokes
    For You
    Wednesday July 30, 2008



    Airline Fixes
    I have a friend who is a very nervous flyer. During a recent trip he took from California to Indiana, it didn't help that his connecting flight from Denver was delayed twice because of mechanical problems.

    Then, after he was aloft, he noticed the cabin lights were flickering. Losing his peace of mind, he decided to mention this to a flight attendant.

    'I'll take care of it,' she said. Moments later the lights went out. Clearly she had solved the problem by turning off all the lights.

    A passenger across the aisle who had been watching my friend leaned over and said, 'Whatever you do, please don't ask about the engines.'


    What Really Matters
    At one point during a game, the coach said to one of his young players, 'Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?' The little boy nodded in the affirmative.

    'Do you understand that what matters is whether we win together as a team?'

    The little boy nodded yes.

    'So,' the coach continued, 'when a strike is called, or you're out at first, you don't argue or curse or attack the umpire. Do you understand all that?'

    Again the little boy nodded.

    'Good,' said the coach.

    'Now go over there and explain it to your mother.'
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    Driving Instruction
    A few years ago the battery in my beat-up VW Beetle had died because I left the lights on overnight. I was in a hurry to get to work on time so I ran into the house to get my wife to give me a hand to start the car. I told her to get into our second car, a prehistoric oversized gas guzzler, and use it to push my car fast enough to start it.

    I pointed out to her that because the VW had an automatic transmission, it needed to be pushed at least 20 mph for it to start.

    She said fine, hopped into her car and drove off. I sat there fuming wondering what she could be doing.

    A minute passed by and when I saw her in the rear-view mirror coming at me at about 30 mph, I realized that I should have been a bit clearer with my directions.

  • Lyme Disease and mice
    Posted on: 2008-07-21
    My friend's dog is very ill with lyme disease. He lives on the hill where they have deer, perhaps this is a factor.

    I bought some ant poison but now I'm thinking I may not want to kill the ants as they kill ticks which carry the lyme disease.

    There's a mouse in my garage, very fat so maybe pregnant. My son told me to get the little traps that catch them and then you can let them go free. Well, it closes with any jiggle so no mouse yet. I'm going to read the directions very carefully and then it's back to the old mouse trap. I don't want mice.
  • Memorial Day and 4th of July Flags
    Posted on: 2008-07-16
    Thanks to all those who put out flags. Shiree Kirby and girls covered almost all of Cornerstone subdivision.

    Others, Henry hahn, Valerie Baker, Verlea Potter, Stephanie Sonnier,Sue Andrews, Marshe Caballero, Elsa Cranford, Monique Lassiter, Dawn Lanum, Jennifer Norene, and Robert put out flags on their streets. They really looked good and honored all the people who serve and have served our country.
  • Would you like to be on my e-mail list?
    Posted on: 2008-06-16
    I send out 2-4 e-mails a month when I get a really interesting article, pictures or joke.

    I just received an e-mail on what families around the world eat in a week and what it costs. It's pretty interesting.

    E-mail me at vfurlow@cbharper.com and I'll add you to my list. I keep my list private and don't spam.

    Vivian
  • Snake in Tree
    Posted on: 2008-05-25
    I thought the grackles were attacking a monkingbird's nest in my lemon tree as there was a lot of activity there.

    I yelled at the grackles to go away and they did. A few minutes later I went to check on the nest and a huge snake was there. It was so fat I don't think my thumb and forefinger could have encircled it at its fattest part.

    We looked at each other. I went inside and when I came back out, it was gone. Having lived on Guam for 23 years, I've killed countless snakes but not in a tree. Actually, I don't like killing them but it sort of looked like a rattlesnake.....(do they climb trees?).....I don't want them in the yard.
  • Bumped off the Herald Zeitung
    Posted on: 2008-05-23
    I've had an ad in the Herald Zeitung running off and on for years. Wednesday they called and said since we, 'CountyLineNeighbors.com' have a classified section they can no longer advertize our web site. We are competition. Good grief!
  • The Old Days 1500's
    Posted on: 2008-04-29


    LIFE IN THE 1500'S *** The next time you are
    washing your hands and complain
    because the water temperature isn't just how you like
    it, think about how things
    used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s: Most
    people got married in June
    because they took their yearly bath in May, and still
    smelled pretty good by
    June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides
    carried a bouquet of
    flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of
    carrying a bouquet when
    getting married. Baths consisted of a big
    tub filled with hot water. The man
    of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water,
    then all the other sons
    and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of
    all the babies. By
    then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone
    in it. Hence the
    saying, don't throw the baby out with the bath water..
    Houses had thatched
    roofs-thick
    straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the
    only place for animals to
    get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice,
    bugs) lived in the
    roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the
    animals would slip and
    fall off the roof. Hence the saying: It's raining cats
    and dogs. There was
    nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This
    posed a real problem in
    the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up
    your nice clean bed.
    Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top
    afforded some
    protection. That's how canopy beds
    came into existence. The floor was dirt.
    Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the
    saying, Dirt poor. The
    wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the
    winter when wet, so they
    spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing.
    As the winter wore on,
    they added more thresh until when you opened the door, it
    would all start
    slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in
    the entranceway. Hence the saying a thresh hold. In
    those old days, they
    cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung
    over the fire. Every
    day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate
    mostly vegetables and
    did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner,
    leaving leftovers in
    the pot to get cold overnight and then
    start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it
    that had been there for
    quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas
    porridge cold, peas
    porridge in the pot
    nine days old.. Sometimes they could obtain pork, which
    made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they
    would hang up their
    bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man
    could, bring home the
    bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests
    and would all
    sit around and chew the fat. Those with money had plates
    made of pewter. Food
    with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach
    onto the food, causing
    lead poisoning death. This happened most often with
    tomatoes, so for the next 400
    years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous. Bread
    was divided according to
    status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the
    family got the middle, and
    guests got the top, or the upper crust. Lead cups were
    used to drink ale or
    whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers
    out for a couple of
    days. Someone walking along the road would take them for
    dead and prepare them
    for burial. They were
    laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the
    family would
    gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they
    would wake up. Hence
    the custom of holding a wake. England is old and small and
    the local folks
    started running out of places to bury people. So they would
    dig up coffins and
    would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave.
    When reopening these
    coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch
    marks on the inside and
    they realized they
    had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string
    on the wrist of the
    corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the
    ground and tie it to a
    bell. Someone would have to sit out in
    the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen
    for the bell; thus,
    someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a
    dead ringer. And
    that's the truth. Now, whoever said
    History was boring ! ! ! Educate someone. Share these
    facts with a
    friend.
  • Topping Off Gas
    Posted on: 2008-04-29
    As gas prices rise, we're probably all guilty of topping off to get that extra dollar. It may seem like we're saving, but we're hurting our wallets and the environment. When you top off, you're paying for the gasoline that is fed back into the station's tanks because yours is full. Topping off also increases your chance of spilling gas, which releases harmful vapors into the air. These gasoline vapors are had to breathe and a source of toxic air pollutants.
  • 10 Most Useless Body Parts
    Posted on: 2008-04-02


    Lists
    Top 10 Useless Body Parts
    By The Science Channel

    When you're sick you may feel that certain body parts are more trouble than they're worth. And in some cases, you'd be right. While the human body has evolved and adapted significantly since the caveman days, a few biological traces of our prehistoric ancestors still remain with us in the form of freeloading body parts we lug around with us, but have no use for. Take a gander at the top offenders!


    10. Plica semilunaris
    You may not know it, but you have a third eyelid. Pull open the two more noticeable eyelids and take a look -- it's located right in the corner by the tear duct. This small third eyelid is left over from what's known as a 'nictitating membrane,' which is still present in full form in some animals including chickens, lizards and sharks.


    9. Body hair
    No doubt we were once hairier. Up until about 3 million years ago, we were covered with body hair. But by the time Homo erectus arrived, the ability to sweat meant we could shed our woolly ways.


    8. Sinuses
    Doctors don't really know much about sinuses -- only that we have a lot of them. Possibilities for their function range from insulating our eyes to changing the pitch and tone of our voice.


    7. Adenoids
    Adenoids trap bacteria, but they're also prone to swelling and infection. Just ask any 7-year-old. Luckily, our adenoids shrink with age and are often removed, along with ...


    6. Tonsils
    Also prone to swelling and infection. If you still have them when you reach your 30s, it's almost an accomplishment.


    5. Coccyx
    More useful as a game-winning Scrabble word than as part of the anatomy, the coccyx or tailbone, is made up of several fused vertebrae left over from the olden days when we had tails.


    4. Arrector pili
    When we were hairier (see No. 9), the arrector pili made the hairs stand on end when we needed to appear bigger and scarier. Now, it just gives us goose bumps.


    3. Wisdom teeth
    Back in the day, when we ate mammoth meat off the bone and didn't floss afterward, our teeth tended to fall out. Therefore, when those reserve molars, aka 'wisdom teeth,' came in, they were welcomed. Nowadays, fluoride and dental plans have made them just a huge pain.


    2. Appendix
    Darwin claimed the appendix was useful for digestion during our early plant-eating years; it's dwindled down to little since we started eating more digestible foods.

    1. Male nipples
    Because, why?

  • It's Time to Buy
    Posted on: 2008-03-15


    Buying Opportunities: Three Ways to Play the Market

    Ø Trading up. If you're hankering after a larger home or a house in a better neighborhood, this could be your chance to trade up on the cheap. Like any thrifty shopper, you want to buy when there's a sale -- and that is what today's market offers.



    Ø Doubling down. Instead of trading up, you might be eyeing a vacation home. The bottom line: If you think you'll get a lot of use from a second home, go ahead and buy.



    Ø Helping hand. You might give your kids an advance on their eventual inheritance, so they have enough money to make a down payment. Yes, that means they will start to incur the housing costs, including property taxes and maintenance expenses. But your children will also replace their monthly rent check with a monthly mortgage check, and that will allow them to start building home equity.
    -- 'Playing the Housing Slump: Is It Time to Make Your Move?,' by Jonathon Clements, RealEstateJournal.com, March 11, 2008
  • Attempted home invasion
    Posted on: 2008-03-08
    One of our neighbors in the Sungate subdivision was awoken at about 5 a.m. when someone kicked in their door.

    As there were several cars at the address it wasn't a likely place to rob. As soon as they kicked in the door, they left.

    The family who live there think someone might have had a grudge against someone but had the wrong address.

    Please call or e-mail me if there is any problem in the neighborhood so I can put it on the website.

    Vivian
    830-608-5437
    vfurlow@cbharper.com
  • Bit of Excitment
    Posted on: 2008-02-26
    I was heading to a meeting at one of our local nursing homes last night when I saw an elderly woman coming down the street in a wheel chair. I felt sure this was not what she should be doing so I stopped and asked her where she was going and could I help her.

    She said she was going to her parents house because she wanted to see them.

    I talked her into getting in my car and put her wheel chair in the trunk and took her to the nursing home.

    It's just sad.
  • Handbags
    Posted on: 2008-02-25
    disease/purse.asp





    HANDBAGS ...


    Have you ever noticed gals who sit their handbags on public toilet
    floors, then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table?
    Happens a lot!

    It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress.
    Sometimes 'what you don't know will hurt you'!

    Read on...

    Mom got so upset when guests came in the door and plopped their handbags
    down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up food. She always
    said that handbags are really dirty, because of where they have been.

    It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know
    what's inside our handbags, do you have any idea what's on the outside?
    Women carry handbags everywhere; from the office to public toilets to the
    floor of the car. Most women won't be caught

    without their handbags, but did you ever stop to think about where your
    handbag goes during the day.

    'I drive a school bus, so my handbag has been on the floor of the bus a
    lot,' says one woman. 'On the floor of my car, and in toilets.'

    'I put my handbag in grocery shopping carts and on the floor of the
    toilet,' says another woman 'and of course in my home which should be
    clean.'

    We decided to find out if handbags harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned
    how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake, and then we set out
    to test the average woman's handbag.

    Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom
    of their handbag. Most said at home they usually set their handbags on
    top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared.

    Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if
    their handbags were at least a little bit dirty.

    It turns out handbags are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist
    who tested them was shocked.

    Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Labs says nearly all

    of the handbags tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful
    kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus
    aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found
    on the handbags could make people very sick.

    In one sampling, four of five handbags tested positive for salmonella, and
    that's not the worst of it. 'There is fecal contamination on the handbags'
    says Amy. Leather or vinyl handbags tended to be cleaner than cloth
    handbags, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to
    have dirtier handbags than those without, with one exception.

    The handbag of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the
    worst contaminations of all. 'Some type of feces, or possibly vomit' says Amy.



    So the moral of this story is that your handbag won't kill you, but it
    does have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places
    where you eat.

    Use hooks to hang your handbag at home and in toilets, and don't put it on
    your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop.

    Experts say you should think of your handbag the same way you would a pair
    of shoes.

    'If you think about putting a pair of shoes onto

    your countertops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your
    handbag on the countertops ' - Your handbag has gone where

    individuals before you have sneezed, coughed, spat, urinated, emptied
    bowels, etc!

    Do you really want to bring that home with you?

    The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a handbag will help. Wash
    cloth handbags and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather
    handbags.
  • Weight Loss Tips
    Posted on: 2008-02-25
    25 Little Tips for Big Weight Loss
    Article By: Karen Hammonds

    Feel like you need a boost? Perhaps you've hit a plateau? Now is the perfect time to take stock of your life and to make some long-overdue changes. But adjusting eating and exercise habits can seem so daunting, it's no wonder that some of us never make it beyond the first day! So what's the best way to get started?

    Read the article below



    ADVERTISEMENT


    The surest way to succeed is making small changes. Think in terms of manageable baby steps, like swapping the half-and-half in your morning coffee for fat-free or low-fat milk. There are lots of little changes you can make—in your food plan and daily routine—that will add up to a lot of weight loss over the long haul.

    Take a look at our 25 tips below for eating healthfully, fitting exercise into your busy day and revamping your daily routine. Start by picking five changes that you're sure you can tackle and practice them this week. Then try another five next week (click the 'print' link above to print this out for easy reference).

    Not every idea is right for everyone, so experiment and see what works for you. Lots of little changes can yield big weight-loss results—and a healthier new you!

    1. Good things come in small packages.
    Here's a trick for staying satisfied without consuming large portions: Chop high-calorie foods like cheese and chocolate into smaller pieces. It will seem like you're getting more than you actually are.



    2. Get 'water-wise.'
    Make a habit of reaching for a glass of water instead of a high-fat snack. It will help your overall health as well as your waistline. So drink up! Add some zest to your six to eight glasses a day with a twist of lemon or lime.



    3. Herb it up.
    Stock up your spice rack, and start growing a small herb garden in your kitchen window. Spices and herbs add fantastic flavor to foods without adding fat or calories.



    4. Slim down your soup.
    Make a big batch of soup and refrigerate it before you eat it. As it cools, the fat will rise to the top and can be skimmed off the surface.



    5. Doggie-bag that dinner.
    At restaurants that you know serve large portions, ask the waiter to put half of your main course in a take-home box before bringing it to your table. Putting the food away before you start your meal will help you practice portion control.



    6. Listen to your cravings.
    If you're craving something sweet, eat something sweet—just opt for a healthier nosh (like fruit) instead of a high-calorie one like ice cream. The same goes for crunchy cravings—for example, try air-popped popcorn instead of high-fat chips. It's just smart substitution!



    7. Ease your way into produce.
    If you're new to eating lots of fruits and vegetables, start slowly. Just add them to the foods you already enjoy. Pile salad veggies into your sandwiches, or add fruit to your cereal.



    8. Look for high-fat hints.
    Want an easy way to identify high-calorie meals? Keep an eye out for these words: au gratin, parmigiana, tempura, alfredo, creamy and carbonara, and enjoy them in moderation.



    9. Don't multi-task while you eat.
    If you're working, reading or watching TV while you eat, you won't be paying attention to what's going into your mouth—and you won't be enjoying every bite. Today, every time you have a meal, sit down. Chew slowly and pay attention to flavors and textures. You'll enjoy your food more and eat less.



    10. Taste something new.
    Broaden your food repertoire—you may find you like more healthy foods than you knew. Try a new fruit or vegetable (ever had plantain, pak choi, starfruit or papaya?).



    11. Leave something on your plate at every meal.
    One bite of bagel, half your sandwich, the bun from your burger. See if you still feel satisfied eating just a bit less.



    12. Get to know your portion sizes.
    It's easy to underestimate how much you're eating. Today, don't just estimate things—make sure. Ask how much is in a serving, read the fine print on labels, measure your food. And learn portion equivalents: One serving of pasta, for instance, should be around the size of a tennis ball.



    13. Don't give up dips.
    If you love creamy dips and sauces, don't cut them out of your food plan completely. Just use low-fat soft cheese and mayo instead of the full fat stuff.



    14. Make a healthy substitution.
    Learn to swap healthier foods for their less-healthy counterparts. Today, find a substitution that works for you: Use skim or low-fat milk instead of whole milk; try whole-wheat bread instead of white.



    15. Bring lunch to work tomorrow.
    Packing lunch will help you control your portion sizes. It also provides a good alternative to restaurants and takeaways, where making healthy choices every day can be challenging (not to mention expensive).



    16. Have some dessert.
    You don't have to deny yourself all the time. Have a treat that brings you pleasure, but this time enjoy it guilt-free be—sure you're practicing portion control, and compensate for your indulgence by exercising a little more or by skipping your afternoon snack.



    17. Ask for what you need.
    Tell your mother-in-law you don't want seconds. Ask your other half to stop bringing you chocolates. Speak up for the place with great salads when your co-workers are picking a restaurant for lunch. Whatever you need to do to succeed at weight loss, ask for it—make yourself a priority and assert yourself.

    18. Improve your treadmill technique.
    When walking on a treadmill, don't grip the rails. It's fine to touch them for balance, but you shouldn't have to hold on. If you do, that might be a signal you should lower the intensity level.



    19. Simon says... get fit.
    Here's an easy way to fit in exercise with your kids: Buy a set of 1 lb weights and play a round of Simon Says—you do it with the weights, they do it without. They'll love it!



    20. Make the most of your walks.
    If your walking routine has become too easy, increase your effort by finding hills. Just be sure to tackle them at the beginning of your walk, when you have energy to spare.



    21. Shop 'til you drop...pounds!
    Add a workout to your shopping sessions by walking around the mall before your start spending. And try walking up the escalator—getting to your destination faster will be an added bonus.



    22. Walk an extra 100 steps at work.
    Adding even a little extra exercise to your daily routine can boost your weight loss. Today, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or stroll down the hall to talk to a co-worker instead of sending an email or calling.

    23. Brush your teeth after every meal and snack.
    This will be a signal to your mouth—and your mind—that it's time to stop eating. Brushing will also give your mouth a nice fresh taste that you'll be disinclined to ruin with a random chip. At work, keep a toothbrush with a cover and toothpaste in your desk drawer.



    24. Clean your closet.
    First, it's great exercise. Second, it's an important step in changing your attitude. Get rid of all the clothes that make you look or feel bad. Throw out anything that's too big—don't give yourself the option of ever fitting into those clothes again. Move the smaller clothes up to the front to help motivate you. Soon, you'll be fitting into those too-tight jeans you couldn't bear to part with.



    25. Take your measurements.
    You might not like your stats now, but you'll be glad you wrote them down when you see how many inches you've lost. It's also another way to measure your success, instead of just looking at the scale. Sometimes even when the numbers on the scale aren't going down, the measurements on your body are.

    Next Steps
    Discuss for weight-loss tips on the Message Boards.
    Subscriber Highlight: Want to cook up a healthy new meal for dinner tonight? Check out our Recipe Search.
    Ready to start losing weight?


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  • Giving Blood-Cholestrol-HEB gift card
    Posted on: 2008-02-15
    In December I gave blood at the Market Place on a Monday. If you give on a Monday, they give you a cholestrol break down, instead of just a score. That was nice.

    I don't know if they do it all the time;it was a surprise to me. I got a $10 gift certificate to HEB.

    So...give blood on Monday at Market Place.

  • Book Review 'How I Got Published'
    Posted on: 2008-02-14
    I picked this book up while browsing at the library and it is so interesting. 1 to 4 pages by different authors on how they managed to get their books published. I'd heard that there were many rejections and re-writes but I simply had no idea of how many.

    What makes this book good for anyone, especially all salesmen and Realtors, is the lesson that persistance and refining your skills is necessary for success.
  • From My Friends in Minnisota
    Posted on: 2008-02-09

    Thought for today...

    When it's winter in Minnesota
    And the gentle breezes blow
    About 70 miles an hour
    And it's 52 below,
    You can tell you're in Minnesota
    'Cause the snow's up to your butt,
    And you take a breath of winter air
    And your nose holes both freeze shut.
    The weather here is wonderful,
    So I guess I'll hang around.
    I could never leave Minnesota
    'Cause I'm frozen to the ground.
  • Cough remedy
    Posted on: 2007-12-26
    My friends from Minnisota says this really works. When your child gets a bad cough, put Vicks Vap-o-rub on the soles of the feet, cover with socks, and in a little bit, the coughing stops.

    Please try this and let me know how it works......608-5437.
  • Safety tip on selling your house yourself
    Posted on: 2007-06-30
    Try to have a second person at home with you.

    Keep the people together. If one wants to use the restroom, make sure it's the guest bathroom. Have everyone wait. Just say 'I want to keep the group together.' This lets them know up front you don't want them scattering.
  • Green Bags work
    Posted on: 2002-01-30
    I tried those green bags they advertise on T.V.

    They work. Put your veggies in dry and you can re-use them.
  • Happy New Year
    Posted on: 2002-01-28
    We are getting more calls at the office in December it seems than we had in November. I get the feeling things are picking up.

    These past two years of a poor economy and recession have really made it clear to me how we all need to make a living. It's not good enough that a few of us are doing okay or well; we all need to succeed.

    God Bless Us, Everyone.
County Line Neighbors is compliments of:
Vivian Furlow
e-pro

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper
493 South Seguin Ave.
New Braunfels, TX 78130

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