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- Investment LoansPosted on: 2012-01-31Announced yesterday that the government is expanding HAMP ( Home Affordable Modification Program) to investors. Now you can renegotiate your loan if you have investment property, whether it is occupied or not. Now is the time to purchase investment property...
- Starting a new businessPosted on: 2012-01-31I'm not starting a business but I've thought of a few.
I live in the country, so I have room for a windmill to generate electricity. So, two possibilities. I could start a windmill installation company.
2nd idea: I could go to the windmill companies that are here but not getting out and advertising. I could find the one I thought best and ask to be a commissioned salesman.....because I can sell.
Another thing I wanted when I lived in the city was a flag pole. I bet if I advertised other people would want one. I could put together a flag pole isntallation and flag package and sell them.
Next idea: Goes with the flag pole. I want a martin bird house put up. If someone came to me, I'd consider buying one set up in my yard.
You can see these are things I want so I thought of how I could make money with it.
If I were younger, knowing what I do now, I'd probably start a solar panal manufacturing plant. Risking your time and money when you're young is okay and you would learn things and possibly make good money. - Sending your child to collegePosted on: 2012-01-27I bought my son a house in San Marcos last summer. I really think buying an investment house is a good idea. If you can put your student in and get a roommate or two, it really saves on renting.
- Demographics of New Braunfels and San Marcos from year 2000Posted on: 2012-01-24My son sent me the information on San Marcos and I was very surprised at some of the information.
The median age is 23.3, owner occupied homes just 30.2%, average income for males is $25,400. and for females $22,953.
In New Braunfels the median age is 36.2, owner occupied houses ar 64.4 (almost twice San Marcos,)
The average male income is $31,140and the average female is $23,235. (The females average is almost the same as in San Marcos).
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Swimming PoolPosted on: 2012-01-20Since I've decided to finally spend the money I've been saving for my old age......they started digging the hole for the swimming pool.
I don't know if I'll lose weight but at least I'll get some exersize. - Putting in a PoolPosted on: 2012-01-19I haven't written anything in 3 weeks; I was not in a writing mood.
Here is my new life decision: I've worked and saved since I was 12 years old. I'm 67. I'm going to start spending my money on myself. Something I've been bad about doing.
The first thing I'm going to do is put in a swimming pool. A big one so I can swim laps. I'm meeting with the engineer today. - Pueblo.GSA.gov and USA.gov have merged.Posted on: 2011-12-27This could be useful.
What should you do?
•If you’re looking for our free and low cost publications, you’ll find them in our new publications store, Publications.USA.gov.
•Browse through our topics for the information you want.
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•If you need help finding government information, please contact us.
•Use our search engine to find the information you want.
- DON'T CLOSE CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS from Mary Ann De La RosaPosted on: 2011-12-22
If you close a credit card account it will appear to the FICO that your debt
ratio has gone up. Also, closing a card will affect other factors in the score
such as length of credit history. If you have to close a credit card account,
do it after closing on your new home, and make sure it is a more recent
account. - Entertainment Coupon Book!Posted on: 2011-12-21I heard that many local people from the surrounding area's had been looking and wanting to buy the 'Entertainment Coupon Book'. Packed with over $17,300 worth of local coupons. The coupon book save's consumers money on hotels, restaurants, local attractions, travel, groceries and more! It's a great buy. Go purchase book at: www.tazoodle4nonprofits.comWebsite:www.tazoodle4nonprofits.com
- Give a ham for ChristmasPosted on: 2011-12-20Since I can sew I'm making the kids throw pillows for Christmas, along with some things they need that I bought. As is custom, my friends and I exchange gifts we neither want or need. I think I'm going to give consumables, wine or cheese or homemade cookies or candy......maybe a dish towel, thats a consumable.
I've often given hams...people like ham. - I think sales are picking upPosted on: 2011-12-20I even sold a 2 story. We are getting...well through mid December....., a lot of calls. It will be slow now through most of January and then will pick up...........but if you can afford to do so, buy an investment house now. I just sold a couple.
- Cowboy Caviar is at our house for the holidays (from Sue)Posted on: 2011-12-10Ingredients
1 (15 oz) can of black-eyed peas
1 (15 oz) can of corn
1 (15 oz) can of fire-roasted tomatoes, diced
2 avocados, diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro or parsley
1/2 jalapeño, finely chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup raw apple cider vinegar
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
Salt to taste
Directions
Pour all ingredients into a medium size bowl, and stir until ingredients are completely mixed. Add salt to taste.
Place bowl in refrigerator, and keep ingredients cold for 1 hour before serving. Enjoy!
- Ways to use your camera phone (These are really useful!)Posted on: 2011-12-061. Periscope..Hold up high to see what's on a high shelf or take a picture behind something like the washing machine.
2. Want to check how you look? Take a picture of yourself.
3. Take pictures when your're going through an unfamiliar place, then you can follow them back if you get lost.
4. Copy information from whiteboards, charts, papers you want a copy of but don't have a scanner.
5. Take a picture of a recipe so when you go to the store you have a lite of the ingredients.
6. When you're moving a TV or DVD player, take a picture so you know which cords go where. - I mean this! (from Dennis)Posted on: 2011-12-06Remember: Don't make old people mad.
We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to piss
us off - Credit Score tips from MaryAnn De RosaPosted on: 2011-11-29The TYPES OF CREDIT have a 10% impact on credit scores.
Hard inquiries for credit will negatively impact the score. Auto and mortgage inquiries receive special treatment and 20 inquiries can be made in a 14 day period for auto or mortgage and will be treated as only 1 inquiry.
The maximum number of inquiries that will reduce the score is 10. Any beyond that in a six month period will have no further impact on the borrower. Each hard inquiries can cost 2 - 50 points on a credit score.
Mary Ann De Rosa
YourTexasCredit.com
a division of B2B Commercial Capital LLC
www.yourtexascredit.com
p - (830) 438 5956
f - (830) 438 5978
c - (210) 797 9854 - Rose Ann's Family ThanksgivingPosted on: 2011-11-28We changed our menu and still had a great time. We eliminated not all but half of the fat foods.
Everyone in the family is either overweight or very thin. We voted and had only one kind of pie, pumpkin. No green bean cassorole, had broccolli instead, no creamed corn. had roasted vegetable;. no egg nog, just ice tea or beer.
For Christmas we're going to add fruit salad, black olives and do apple pie instead of pumpkin. Nobody will bring or give candy.
A lot less calories and we still had fun. The only thing I really missed were the sweets. We usually have a lot and I eat some of all of them. - Holiday Savings........VivianPosted on: 2011-11-23I go to msn.com a lot and read an article on saving....one example was topping a pie with that oatmeal/brown sugar crumble instead of pecans.
Well, I bought fresh cranberries for sauce. Last night I thought I'd prefer cranberry relish. I'd have to drive into town (I live in the country now) and buy a couple of oranges and celery and nuts. Those ingredients plus gas would be another 8 or 9 dollars. So we're having sauce.
Decided to save on calories, also. I'm not giving candy for Christmas; in my family the thin ones don't eat it and the rest of us are overweight. Making one pumpkin pie and one pumpkin custard (same thing, just no crust).
We've decided to cut down on extra dishes, keeping the favorites but thinking too much variety just leads to overeating. We'll probably overeat anyway, just not as much. - Wild birds eat the chicken foodPosted on: 2011-11-23I saw 6 Cardinal pairs at one time in my chicken coop last week.All the local birds have figured out my coop is the place to be. I go through a lot of chicken feed.
- Cracked....from WadePosted on: 2011-11-23THIS ABOUT SUMS IT UP FOR ME, I THINK….THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH YOU.
I woke up,
I lifted my arms,
I moved my knees,
I turned my neck....
Everything made the same noise :
'CrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaccccK!'
....Icame to a conclusion:
I am not old,
I am crispy !!! - Should we share offer amounts?Posted on: 2011-11-22This is something I've often wondered about. If we have a listing and receive multiple offers, we are not allowed to say what the offers are. Is this in the best interests of our clients?
It seems to me that we could get a better price if buyers competed. We're to be working in the best interests of our sellers if we are their agents.
I've heard that other states are changing their rule on this and I think it's time we did,also. - My Easy Holiday Recipes.....always requestedPosted on: 2011-11-18Creamed Corn
2 pounds frozen corn
1 stick butter
1 stick cream cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Let ingredients sit at room temperature a bit, then microwave until heated through, stirring occassionally.
White Fudge
3 pkgs Bakers White Chocolate
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup coarsely chopped almonds (I toast mine)
1 cup dried cranberries
2 TBLS grated orange peel
Line a 9x13 pan with wax paper.
Microwave chocolate and milk, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes
When melted stir in other ingredients, spread into pan and refrigerate until hard.
Cut into small pieces as extremely rich.
Roasted vegetables (When I make these, they get all eaten and I make a huge amount)
Sweet potatoes
other potatoes
quartered onions
mushrooms
carrots
bell peppers
beets (these get eaten too.by beet haters)
Toss veggies in olive oil, roast at 350 until tender, sprinkle with balsamic vinegar (I use raspberry balsamic), roast another 5 minutes and done!
You will be surprised how good these are.
Cranberry Sauce with Red Wine (Serve over acorn squash quarters for a beautiful dish)
1 cup sugar
1 cup red wine
1 12 ounce pkg cranberries
orange zest and toasted pecans optional
Cook first 3 ingredients until cranberries pop. Add other ingredients. Serve hot or cold.
Pie hints:
Add almond flavoring to cherry pie
Add cardamon to apple pie
- I sold a 2 story last monthPosted on: 2011-11-182 story homes sell but they take longer. This one was in super condition and priced to sell.
The seller said he'd take the offer as presented but I told him we had to counter. Got a couple of things off and raised price by $3000. When I get you more money by negotiating I earn my pay. - Fixing Congress from CarolynPosted on: 2011-11-08
I usually don't forward these requests but this one has some interesting' food for thought' points' and it is the Warren Buffetplan that has been circulating on Facebook
“ The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrainthe people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain thegovernment - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests”.- Patrick Henry -
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) tookonly 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail,before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year orless to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure. I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to dolikewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will havethe message.
This is one idea that really should be passed around. Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives nopay when they are out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the SocialSecurity system immediately. All future funds flow into the SocialSecurity system, and Congress participates with the American people.It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressionalpay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates inthe same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving inCongress is an honor, not a career.
The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go homeand back to work. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will onlytake three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive themessage. Maybe it is time. THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!
- Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition from RussPosted on: 2011-11-08As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high
gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods
merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.
This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of
genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift
giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.
Yes there is!
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in
a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates
from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some
health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned
detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a
book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down
the Benjamin's on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift
receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or
driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about
a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this
isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town
Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? would LOVE the services of a
local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is
struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin
their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery
and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave
your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at
your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese
lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about
fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to
burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. Don't forget
your minister/pastor/priest or anyone else who gives to you in ways too many to list.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that
China can build their economy. Christmas is now about caring about
US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow
their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our
communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion
groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in
your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations,
and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other,
and isn't that what Christmas is about?
(note from Vivian....I like to give ham...I think everyone could use one. Gift cards for gas is always good.)
- Why Men Shouldn't Argue With Women from RussellPosted on: 2011-10-31
The newly married couple was on the topic of children.
The bride wanted three, while the husband said two was enough.
They discussed it for a long time until the husband decided to put an end to things.
'It's simple,' he said with finality. 'After our second child, I'll have a vasectomy.'
Without hesitation, his bride replied, 'Then I hope you'll love our third child as if it were your own!'
- Doc Severinsen with San Miguel 5 at the Brauntex TheaterPosted on: 2011-10-29Saw Doc Severinsen with San Miguel 5 tonight at the Brauntex.........I didn't want to see the old geezer..he's 84 for Pete's sake! (That's almost as old as me!)
.but my friend did.. Anyway, one of the best shows I've ever seen.maybe the best. The guitarist and violinist were incredible and so was Doc. - Getting rid of Weeds in NovemberPosted on: 2011-10-28I was asked what was best to get rid of weeds. Here's what Neil Sperry said:
On the Lookout: Use a broadleafed weedkiller spray (containing 2,4-d) to control existing henbit, chickweed, dandelions and clover, among others. Make this treatment late in month, so all weeds will have germinated and be growing. Apply tender houseplant insecticide to eliminate any invaders on plants before bringing them inside.
- from RussellPosted on: 2011-10-27This is a great answer to those who insist on quoting the Bible in short chunks:
In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, which was posted on the Internet. It's HILARIOUS, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for... doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination .... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them. 1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness -Lev15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord -Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexual ity. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/po lyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
- County Line active and under contract 10/23/2011Posted on: 2011-10-2367 active listing and 18 under contract
85 houses - Your Credit score Mary Ann De RosaPosted on: 2011-10-18PAYMENT HISTORY has a 35% impact on your credit score.
Paying debt on time and in full has a positive impact. Late payments, judgments and charge-offs have a negative impact.
YourTexasCredit.com - Teachersa and the Wealthy from RussellPosted on: 2011-10-17
What kind of people think it's okay to ask the folks who teach our children to take a 20% paycut but think it's wrong to ask the super wealthy to take a 3% increase in taxes?
- Taxes from RussellPosted on: 2011-10-17'I think Congressmen should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could identify their
corporate sponsors.'
- Giant cockroaches, scorpians and a mouse swimming in the toiletPosted on: 2011-10-17I love living in the country but there are a few things I could do without.
- A really, really good recipe White Chocolate FudgePosted on: 2011-10-14White Chocolate Fudge
3 Pkgs Bakers white Chocolate
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup coarsely chopped almonds
1 cup dried cranberries
2 TBLS orange zest
Line a 9x13 pan with wax paper. Microwave chocolate and milk 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently (and you might need to lower power), add other ingredients and spread into pan. Refrigerate until hard. Very rich so cut into small pieces.
- Peter WilsonPosted on: 2011-10-14A family friend died of a heart condition this week. Peter was only 23 years old, a very nice young man who will be greatly missed.
A month or so ago he told me he wasn't taking his medication and I scolded him for not doing so. Looking back I wonder if it was because he couldn't afford it. It might have been too expensive.
- Sometimes people get the wrong idea from TV showsPosted on: 2011-10-10I had a call this weekend from a man looking at houses in our neighborhood. He wanted to get a foreclosure, fix it up and sell it. He could spend $60-70, 000.
I told him foreclosures in our nighborhood did not go for $60-70,000.
I think some people don't know much about buying inveswtment property.
1. You have to put 20% down.
2. You have to have money to pay for repairs.
3. You have to put in a lot of sweat equity if you want to make much of a profit.
4. You should know something about doing repairs.
5. You will need to pay the mortgage while repairs are being done.
In New Braunfels a $60-70,000 house will probably need most of these:
1. A/C system (it probably never had one)
2. Foundation repair
3. New kitchen and bathrooms
4. Floors refinished
5. Everything painted
I do work with investors. They are very careful about what they buy and figure their costs out and resale value when finished.
Some investors have regular jobs and do this on the side. For some it is their major source of income. You can do this successfully but it is not as simple as the home shows make it seem.
- Tyler TeevoreenPosted on: 2011-10-10TRUE FREEDOM: NOT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE
October 10, 2011
Free·dom – Absence of subjection to foreign domination
If I asked what your favorite thing to do is, and you told me it was to go fishing, I’d believe you. If you told me that nothing ever gets in the way of you and a fishing trip, I’d believe that, too. But if you told me that this combination in some way makes you free, I’d have to disagree.
Why? Well, it all hinges on one question: Why do you go fishing? The answer is more telling than you think.
If it’s “because you love it,” then I’d say you’re not really free at all. If the definition of freedom is “the absence of subjection to foreign domination,” then going fishing simply because you like it is not real freedom at all.
Where did that desire to go fishing come from? Did you wake up one morning and say, “Today, I’m going to start enjoying fishing because it will make me a better person”? Or, did you fall into it over years of practice and habit building—things that, perhaps, were impressed upon you by someone else?
If you can’t say that the things you do are a result of conscious decision making—acts done from a self-imposed duty—then you also can’t say that you’re truly free.
Acting on impulse is not freedom, it’s more akin to slavery.
Here’s another example:
People who follow their dreams and carry out big things are the freest of the free, we like to say. They saw a path defined in front of them and, instead of following, chose their own way. They acted on their own impulses and not the rules set for them. We all want to be more like them.
But what of the serial killer or pedophile who has impulses of his own that he obeys. Do we call him free or do we call him an unfortunate slave to a disease of the mind?
Pedophilia and philanthropy—two impulses that come from the same place, formed in the same way, in order to achieve the same goal. The only difference is how they’re expressed.
Where do impulses come from? Are they chosen? No; we’re born with them. They’re given to us from somewhere else. So how can acting on them—acting on something that is not truly our own—be considered freedom?
I climb mountains. Why do I do it? Honestly, I don’t know. The more I try to reason it, the further I get from reason. I climb mountains because I like to; simple as that. This probably has something to do with the fact that my dad, my uncle, and my grandfather liked climbing mountains.
The urge to climb is not my own, but I do it anyway because it makes me happy. When I’m on a mountain I feel happy, but I don’t feel free.
Ask almost anyone who loves the outdoors why they spend so much time in it and the most common answer is “because I feel more free there than anywhere else.” It sounds nice, but I think it’s more likely delusion than actual freedom.
Does that mean you should stop fishing or climbing mountains or doing anything else you love because it’s not true freedom? No, please don’t—that would not make the world a better place.
But understand that true freedom is not how we like to think of it today. True freedom is a conscious choice, not an impulse. It’s the decision to do something you don’t necessarily want to—to forgo something that makes you happy in exchange for something that might not. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do.
That’s true freedom.
So what do you think? Are you truly free?
- From TylerPosted on: 2011-10-07Stand up for something you believe in: Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.” When someone does something wrong in front of you, you have two actions to pick from: say something or do nothing. Both have consequences. In the end, which is worse?
- This was actually goodPosted on: 2011-10-07I had left over whole grain pasta....made from wheat, barley, rye, spelt, etc. I cooked some sliced sweet potato with evoo in the microwave, in the skillet wilted spinach with cardamon, mixed together, topped with feta cheese, toasted sunflower seeds and some pumpkin seeds.
That was dinner.........maybe again tonight! - I got my sale from San AntonioPosted on: 2011-10-032 story homes are the hardest to sell but I have one under contract from a San Antonio Realtor. I belong to both the local and the San Antonio multiple listing service and it paid off with the sale of a home competing with a builder. It was very well priced and pristine with landscaping and houseplants, looking as though it was staged.
It's good to get a Realtor with a membership in both MLS's. - Know which mls your Realtor lists onPosted on: 2011-09-24The multiple listing service that does New Braunfels and surrounding towns is the Central Texas MLS.
I recently lost 2 listings to San Antonio agents. (Where do our local sellers get their names?). One of them told me the agent had an office here but their home is not on our mls...it's on the San Antonio mls. Also, that office is not here.
Another is listed in San Antonio but not here.
Most buyers go to a New Braunfels Realtor when they are ready to look. They may have that address but they also have others. The Realtor searches by what their looking for in bedrooms, size, price, etc. There are many houses to choose from and they forget about the house they saw on Zillow or Realtor.com, etc.
I don't think it's ethical for me to call the sellers and tell them, but if your neighbor has their home on the market, tell them to check what mls it's on.
It costs money to belong to mls's. I belong to two. most Realtors belong to one. - the Ccentral Texas multiple listing servicePosted on: 2011-09-23Most Realtors in New Braunfels belong to the local mls where your houses are advertized. Some of us belong to the San Antonio mls because we want to better position our listings with the SA Realtors.
If you are listing your house, make sure your agent uses the Central Texas mls. There are two recent listings in our neighborhood, and probably more, who are only listed in the San Antonio mls. The owners probably believe they are listed here.
When people are ready to buy, 97% of the time they go to a Real Estate office, often with a list of homes they found on a real estate web site. The Realtor there looks for the house on the mls she belongs to. If the house doesn't show up, she says it's probably under contract. She doesn't look in the San Antonio mls because she's not a member, but usually doesn't even if she is, because there are many, many houses on the market. The buyer has many to see and has forgotten about the original list.
Other reasons to go local are the ease that a Realtor can show your home, tell local Realtors about your home, and in todays glutted market, attract showings just because we are friends. I think we subconciously pay more attention to and are more likely to remember, homes our friends have listed. - Short sales from HUD site phone 888-270-7129Posted on: 2011-09-22A short sale is where the house is sold for less than the owner owes. The owner gets no money, only avoids foreclosure.
OFFICIAL INFORMATION:
For troubled homeowners, short sales may be a positive alternative to foreclosure. It provides the homeowner a way out of responsibility for a property they can no longer afford and rescues them from the damaging effects of foreclosure. However, in the rush to process a pre-foreclosure or short sale, the consequences and possible tax implications associated are often overlooked. If you are considering a real estate short sale of your home, please read the following information on possible tax implications related to that sale.
SHORT SALE LAW and TAX IMPLICATIONS
When a creditor settles a debt for less than the original amount owed, the remaining amount or “forgiven debt” is then recorded as a loss by the creditor on an IRS form 1099-C and forwarded to their borrower as well as the IRS. With the exception of certain situations (noted below), borrowers may be required to report the forgiven debt as regular income and may end up responsible to pay taxes on that amount.
During a short sale, when a lender agrees to a short pay, a pay off amount less than you currently owe, that remaining amount can be considered forgiven debt. If the forgiven amount is $600 or more of the debt’s principal, the lender is required to report that on an IRS Form 1099-C and forward copies to the IRS and their borrower. Whether a copy is received from the creditor or not, the IRS requires that the amount is reported as income on their tax return. If the borrower fails to report that income, and the IRS has file of that transaction, a tax bill or audit notice will be issued and may become more costly than the original amount due.
There are several exceptions stated in the Internal Revenue Code. If you were insolvent before the creditor agreed to settle or write off the debt, if the debt was intended as a gift, or if you discharge the debt in bankruptcy, you may not be required to report the income on your tax return. For more information or to see if these circumstances apply to your unique situation, consult a qualified tax professional and or legal counsel.
The information provided is believed to be accurate as of November 24, 2009 and is intended to provide general answers to common questions and should not be a substitute for true legal advice. As a HUD approved nonprofit housing counseling agency, we are not qualified to provide legal and/or tax advice and highly recommend you to seek the advice of an attorney concerning these IRS consequences and not rely on this information to make final decisions. While NPHS strives to keep the information on the web site accurate, complete, and up-to-date, NPHS cannot guarantee, and will not be responsible for any damage or loss related to, the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of the contributors or authors and do not represent an endorsement or corporate position of NPHS unless otherwise noted.
- LifePosted on: 2011-09-20'Life is not the way it's supposed to be..
It's the way it is..
The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference.. - Outstanding Credit Balances Have A 30% Impact On Credit ScoresPosted on: 2011-09-20
Debt ratio of outstanding balance to available credit is important. Keeping that below 50% is wise and below 30% even wiser. It is never a good idea to close an account; the debt ratio will go up and the number of seasoned lines will decrease. Pay outstanding debt down as close to zero as possible and evenly redistribute the remaining balance among the open lines. The increased interest incurred by moving a balance from a 0% card to a 23% card will be minimal relative to what the increased mortgage debt might be with a low credit score. Hitting the maximum s of available credit can be very negative. It may be worth calling and asking the credit company to increase your available credit to lower the debt ratio, PROVIDED THEY CAN DO SO WITHOUT A HARD CREDIT INQUIRY. - Realtor FeesPosted on: 2011-09-19Just paid my fees and it costs me $257 a month for my mls and board fees and desk fees.
I also have a $49 web fee a month and of course I advertise probably another $100 1 month.
So that is $406 a month in fees. It does ot include the cost of other advertising like the recipe calenders, flyer costs, etc. Also the cost of continuing education. And extra car expenses.
So if you're thinking of being a Realtor, take basic costs into consideration. 80% of new Realtors don't make it past the first year. - CoyotesPosted on: 2011-09-19This morning I stepped out a 5 a.m. and heard the coyotes howling and yipping. I hadn't heard them here before. Now my dogs will have to start sleeping inside.
I hope they'll be safe during the day. - a good cookPosted on: 2011-09-18I'm known to be a good cook but a couple of months ago I made chili that was not as good as usual.My friends said it's so easy to just buy the seasoning packet, good every time.
I bought two packets and it was the same goodness each time. Then I thought of spaghetti sauce, dependable, every time.
Do i want this sameness? This lack of individuality?
I'm not using packets and bottles of sauce anymore.
Maybe for hollandaise sauce. - Feng Shui to Sell your house faster by Belinda MendozaPosted on: 2011-09-16
It only takes ONE family or person to fall in love with your home. However, is your home flowing with potential buyers eager to make it their home? If not, let us show you how to create that flow.
Home buyers look at many houses until they find the one that feels like home. To make your home simply irresistible, utilize the following Feng Shui tips to add perceived value to your home in the buyer's mind. If you’re an agent selling your client’s home, using these techniques will help you sell it faster and for more money.
10 Powerful Feng Shui Home-Staging Tips
1) Engage the senses of potential homebuyers in as many ways as possible. For visual appeal make sure your home has a lot of open space. Get rid of clutter and keep the tops of counters, dressers and shelves as clear as possible. To engage the sense of smell, use cinnamon or pine scents, which have been proven to be more effective than vanilla or floral scents. To engage the sense of sound, place a pleasantly sounding water fountain near the front entrance or have gentle music playing. According to feng shui this creates flow and movement. Empty houses tend to feel stagnant, so keep ceiling fans on to move the air.
2) First impressions are important. Keep the front door of your home clean, turn on front porch lights if the viewing will be after dark, place a nice doormat in the entry, and have flowers or lush plants on either side of the entryway. Utilize the color red, if possible. It is the color of high-energy and prosperity.
3) To bring moving energy into the house, start moving your own belongings out of the house to make room for the new owner's items. This not only sets in motion a powerful energy, but it also gives you a head start on your own packing.
4) The kitchen is the most important room in the house to most buyers. So, spend extra time making sure yours exudes a feeling of health and prosperity. Keep counters immaculately clean, organize your pantry, and get all wastebaskets out of sight. Have a bowl of fresh fruit or lemons on the counter for color and energy when showing your house.
5) Pay particular attention to two important Feng Shui principles regarding bathrooms. Keep bathroom doors shut until the buyer actually inspects the room, and keep toilet lids down at all times. They are considered to be a major energy drain. It’s particularly important to observe these rules if your home has a bathroom in or near the entrance. You don’t want the bathroom, and particularly the toilet, to be one of the first things a buyer sees. Finally, display colorful towels and use a room atomizer or set out a green plant.
6) If your house is being shown while you’re still living in it, pack away personal things such as family pictures, hobby items and books. Although you want to make your home look warm, you want it to be as neutral as possible so potential buyers can imagine their own things in it.
7) Make your home free of any unpleasant odors, especially those from pets. Should your home be vacant, make sure you or your agent airs it out before bringing potential buyers inside. If they smell an unpleasant odor upon entering, they won’t forget it. As we mentioned in Tip #1, engage the buyer’s sense of smell by utilizing cinnamon or pine scented candles or air fresheners. Scented diffusers work well.
8) Make sure you have truly let your house go. If you are holding on to it emotionally, it will be difficult to allow someone else to purchase it. There is a lot of energy in thought. If you are the agent, make sure you discuss this with your home seller.
9) If your house is on the market due to a negative event such as divorce, bankruptcy or death, have it energetically cleared, if necessary by a professional. Stuck energy will keep a house from selling.
10) Place fresh flowers in the entryway or foyer as they bring good luck. As already mentioned in Tip 5, place small plants in your bathrooms. Two good choices are Lucky Bamboo and Jade because they are considered money plants. Add extra energy to your home with hanging baskets of colorful plants and ferns. Set up your home to look like it’s a gift to be given to someone. Make it look as beautiful and as enticing as possible.
Even if you’re never used Feng Shui before, this is a good time to begin because following these tips will add perceived value to the home you’re selling, which can mean a shorter selling time and a higher sales price!
- What is Feng Shui? Belinda Mendoza .. Feng Shui ConsulantPosted on: 2011-09-16
Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) is an ancient art and science that developed in China over 3,000 years ago. It grew into a complex body of knowledge setting forth ways to balance the energies of any given space so the inhabitants would enjoy better health and fortune.
'Feng' means 'wind' and 'shui' means 'water'. In Chinese culture gentle wind and clear water have always been associated with good harvest and good health, thus 'good feng shui' came to mean good livelihood and fortune, while 'bad feng shui' came to mean hardship and misfortune.
Feng Shui is based on the ancient Taoist understanding of nature, particularly on the idea that the land is alive and filled with energy, which is called 'ch'i' (pronounced 'chee') in Chinese. The ancient Chinese believed that the land's energy could either make or break the kingdom, so to speak. Thus they made a detailed study of it.
- Sad... confused........from AnonymousPosted on: 2011-09-13..
Today, September 11th, I didn't see any more American flags being displayed than the usual, with the exception of one house on County Line. It was sad to see the gigantic car dealership on our side of IH35 did not lower the huge flag to half-staff. If you fly a flag- please follow the protocol and rules of flying one.
To top it off, a house in the neighborhood is flying the Mexican flag. No US flag in site, not even on this day. I don't get it.
Note from Vivian.....I agree with these sentiments.
.The American Legion and Breakfast Lions put up flgs in the square downtown. These are volunteers. If you would like to participate in volunteer activities around town, let me know. vivianfurlow@gmail.com - What is the cloud ?Posted on: 2011-09-09I wondered that the cloud meant all your data floating around in space.
(Wouldn't it all get tangled up and distorted? Would it create a 'cloud' that blocks the sun?)
My friend explained that my saved information is not wondering around but is saved on a server. In my case it's google.
He also has a google account where he's created folders and saved all his e-mails and documents on each transaction.
He's saved a lot of stuff (many videos he's made) and in his 3 years as a Realtor has used 17% of the storage space that comes with your google account. When he uses it up, he can buy more space.
You may be storing things just on your computer. If you store it 'in the cloud,' you can retrieve it from any computer.It's not lost if your computer breaks or is stolen.
- Do you have something to say?Posted on: 2011-09-09If you would like to say something publicly, please feel freeto use this column.
I really enjoy your statements. - Giving Up from Tyler teevoreenPosted on: 2011-09-09Never feel bad about giving something up to pursue something even better. Foolish consistency is nothing to be proud of.
- The 1% Club from Tyler TeevoreenPosted on: 2011-09-09Quest for the Top 1% of the World
I believe that life is better lived with a challenge. Putting yourself in the driver’s seat with a purpose can transform the world from a guided tour to a self-directed adventure.
When it’s well thought out, a good challenge helps to answer the age old question, “What do I want to get out of life?”
The 1% club is my answer to that question. It is the list of things that I deeply want to accomplish in my life that less than 1% of the world will ever do.
Here’s how it works:
Each item is specific and meaningful to me and comes with a self-imposed time limit because I want them to be memories for longer than they are dreams.
I’m not a fan of multitasking, but I do love synergy so I’ll pursue one item at a time except where something greater can be created by doubling up.
Each item on the list will come with an explanation and regular updates to the blog as I make progress so that you can follow along. That’s another important part of a difficult challenge – public accountability. The more people you have pushing and rooting for you, the harder it is to give up when things get too hard.
Follow along by signing up for free updates or even join in if you feel compelled by sending me a note to let me know what you’re up to.
Also, you can leave a comment at the end of this page to let everyone else know what epic, inspiring challenges you’re pursuing.
Here’s the list:
Skydive – Completed 10/11/2010
Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef
Fly an airplane – Completed 2/10/2011
Steer a ship
Sell a business for $1,000,000
Raise $250,000 for charity – In progress (Current total: $1,800)
Found a non-profit organization
Summit the highest peak of each continent – In progress:
Africa – Kilamanjaro – 19,340 ft. – Completed 7/5/2011
Antarctica – Vinson Massif – 16,050 ft.
Asia – Everest – 29,029 ft.
Australasia/Oceana – Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya) - 16,024 ft.
Europe – Elbrus – 18,510 ft. – Completed 7/17/2011
N. America – McKinley (Denali) – 20,320 ft.
S. America – Aconcagua – 22,841 ft.
Play 100 live concerts
Write a book
Change someone’s life with a piece of art
Play a concert to a crowd of 1,000
Bike across the United States
Get married
Have a child
Run a marathon on every continent – In progress:
Africa – South Africa – Completed 6/25/2011
Antarctica
Asia
Australia
Europe
N. America - Eugene, OR – Completed 5/2/2010
S. America
Interview the President of the United States
Appear in a movie
Live homeless for 1 month
Visit every state and province in the US & Canada
Get arrested for a cause I believe in
- from Tyler TervoreenPosted on: 2011-09-08If you want a problem to go away, you have to look at it from the perspective the person causing it, not yours.
(From Vivian...........Is this do-able, Tyler? Maybe sometimes.........worth a try.) - Where does your listing go?Posted on: 2011-09-08I put my listings in the South Central Texas mls and the san Antonio mls. You have to pay to do this so most Realtors just use one.
One listing I didn't get I found was only in the San Antonio mls (multiple listing service).
You do not want this. If your agent has only one mls, it should be the local one: South Central Texas.
I'm not allowed to call the home owner and tell them so everyone needs to be aware of this. - My cousin the firemanPosted on: 2011-09-08My cousin Ron Barrett was a Ranger or in Special Forces or something in Vietnam. After that was over he became a firefighter. He's been retired now for sometime and living in Arizona.
So what's he doing in Bastrop? Apparently they called on retired firemen to help and he answered the call.
It's good we have men and women who can't stay away from the action when duty calls.
i'm proud of him. - plant eating chickens, cats/dogs, raccoonsPosted on: 2011-09-08I decided I wanted free range chickens and other chicken owners told me their cats and dogs leave the chickens alone.
Well not my cat. So if i'm not outside, the cat stays inside.
Did you know that when it gets dark, the chickens return to their coop. You don't have to round them up.
I told my son the bugs were eaing the tomato and pepper plants when he told me it was the chickens. So later I watch those chickens; boy, can they take down those tomato and pepper plants.
I had a very strong and tight lidded garbage can that I put chicken feed in. One morning I found a raccoon had ripped a hole in the top when he could not remove the lid. All around the edges of the lid were claw scratches.
Yesterday, I took that garbage can and drilled holes in the bottom and sides, put some newspaper, dirt, grass and pulled up old plants and vegetable/fruit scrapes and started using it to make compost. A little water to moisten, of course. - Fires in Bastrop and S. AustinPosted on: 2011-09-06This is so close and so awful. I'm going to donate some money but also my size 10 and size 12 clothes I've been saving for when I lose weight..
Also my collection of shoes and purses. Many not used at all.This will be painful as I love my purses and shoes and smaller size clothes I'm going to use 'someday.'
God grant me strenght to act propertly. - I won an Ipad 2Posted on: 2011-09-02I'm actually fairly tech savy compared to many Realtors. The young ones know a lot. I need and want to learn a lot more.
I've been looking at more sites and search engines and ways to promote the homes I have listed.
Now my goal is too learn one new thing on the internet a week. Actually, I'll probably learn more but I'll spread them out.
I'll let you know. - It's time to start doing the things I want to doPosted on: 2011-09-02Like many of you...who are older...not younger, I grew up with parents who lived through the great depression.
I worked at baby stting, throwing newspapers, and working the soda fountains, anything I could do to earn money. I never turned down a job...and I always saved.
Last year, I showed homes to a couple who wanted to have chickens. Well, I wanted chickens, too.........and a garden and a small orchard. This has been a dream all my life. I was 66 years old.
So I bought a home on a couple of acres, rented out my North Ranch Estates house and built a chicken coop.
I have 5 hens and a rooster, 3 fruit trees and a struggling garden......and I've never been happier.
I put shallow pans of water in the chicken pen, cover the top with cloth I bought cheap at a garage sale, and put a fan in the chicken coop to help keep them cool. They seem to be doing well and have continued to lay eggs.
I hope next year will not be so hot so that I can grow a better garden and plant more trees,
Other things I want:
be internet smart.
learn to surf (ocean).
learn to snow ski.
You know, I'll have to lose weight to do the 2nd two.
- I Just bought another rental...closed Aug. 31Posted on: 2011-09-02I really believe in the rental market and now is the time to buy. i now have 4 rentals and I wish I'd beeen buying more.
I always charge less than market, I quickly repair things that have gone wrong, I'm good to my renters and they are good to me.
So my renters stay for years. That builds equity and a little monthly income.
I really recommend that you buy one , too. - A few facts on home salesPosted on: 2011-09-02▪ 83 percent of buyers purchased a home through a real estate agent.
▪ The typical sellers lived in their homes for 8 years.
▪ 88 percent of sellers were assisted by an agent with their transaction.
▪ Homes sold through a real estate agent sold for 96 percent of the list price.
▪ 57 percent of sellers reduced the asking price at least once while their home was listed.
- Happiness from Tyler TervoreenPosted on: 2011-08-29
The gist: Happiness can’t be bought, but it can be sold. Selling happiness is something we do every day, often without realizing it.
***
Whoever said you can’t put a price on happiness probably never actually tried. The truth, I believe, is actually the opposite. Not only can you put a price on happiness, you can value it to the exact dollar for each and every person. Give me ten minutes to ask you any question I want, and I’ll tell you how much your happiness is worth to you.
And though it’s true you probably can’t actually buy it, at least not with dollars, euros, or any other currency I know of, you can most certainly sell it. Selling our happiness is something we do every day, and if we don’t take a second to recognize it, we run the risk of losing it.
This is part one of a two part series on happiness Watch your inbox of you don't want to miss the conclusion later this week.
Take your neighbor, for instance, that comes home each day and tells you how terrible his day at the office was over the backyard fence. What about your cousin who just bought a new car because she didn’t want her friends to think she couldn’t afford it. Or how about your friend that has a new toy every week but complains that he’ll never be able to afford to travel.
Every decision you make in life comes with an opportunity cost. If you buy that pair of jeans now, you can’t use that money to buy anything else. If you go to that networking event, you can’t go anywhere else as long as you’re there.
Each decision comes with a price, be it money, time, or something else. This is not a revolutionary concept; we all know this. But what we rarely think about is the fact that each of these decisions adds to the bottom line of the value that we put on our own happiness.
The price for your peace of mind is the sum of all the decisions you make in a day, week, month, or year that don’t align with what you know will actually make you happy. Add them all up and there you have it—the price of your happiness—a simple equation.
The Usual Suspects
Where are a few common places we trade our happiness for money? Everyone has their own set of circumstances, but I think a few things come up regularly for many people:
Work – By working at a job you hate because it pays the bills or because it’s easy, you trade your happiness for time and money.
Cars – If you a buy a car that provides temporary excitement that eventually fades, you’re trading your happiness for money. If that car breaks down all the time, you’re probably trading your time as well.
Houses – The same rule that applies to cars applies to houses.
Cable TV – If watching TV every night is a distraction from things you’d rather be doing but don’t know how yet, then you’re trading your time for happiness. And, at $50 or more a month, your money as well.
Meaningless junk – If you buy lots of stuff but can’t afford the big things you really want, then you have a habit of buying meaningless junk and you trade your happiness for money.
Friends you don’t care about – If you hang out with people you don’t like because it’s too much work to make new or different friends, you trade your happiness for time.
Debt – If you do any of these things and they cause you to go into debt, you haven’t just traded your happiness for time and money, you’ve traded your future happiness for it also.
These are just a few common examples. Your mileage, of course, may vary. But to give you an example of just how easy it is to calculate the actual value of happiness, let me give you an example from my own life.
A few years ago I accepted a job I knew I didn’t really want because the pay was good—about $56,000/year. That job, including the commute and time spent working at home took up about 65 hours of my time every week.
Since I felt like I was making enough money, I bought some nice furniture—about $2,000 worth. I didn’t need it and some of it I don’t even like anymore, but hey, I had the money. Since I enjoyed music, I also decided to spend around $1,000 on stereo equipment.
I liked the idea of being handy, so I bought about $1,000 worth of tools as well. Add in the fact that I spent at least an hour a week fiddling with all these things I had that I didn’t care about, and there’s another 52 hours of time gone each year.
Of course, I didn’t have much time during this period, so I liked to go out for expensive meals to make myself feel like it was all worth it. Those probably added up to around $2,000 that first year.
When it’s all said and done, you could safely say I traded my happiness for about $62,000 and 3,432 hours every year.
At least I set the price high, right?
The Meaning Behind the Madness
Why did I make these decisions? Why does anybody decide to trade their time or money for happiness? I say that it’s because reality makes the situation more complex and less easy to see. When looking at it objectively, the calculation is really simple. But when you add in real life and the complexities that come with it, the situation gets cloudy.
Decisions you’ve made in the past affect the obligations you have today. Maybe you’re making choices now to sacrifice for other choices you’ve made in the past.
And it’s fair to say that not every decision you make will result in 100% satisfaction or dissatisfaction. There were times during my 65-hour workweek when I did have fun and I did enjoy myself. And buying some those things did give me some happiness, even if it was fleeting.
And there are times now when, even though I’m pursuing things I care about, I get frustrated and don’t always feel happy. Life never seems to provide us with an obvious solution to our problems.
What I can say, though, is that when I was headed the wrong direction, most of my decisions felt like sacrifices and compromises and happiness cannot be achieved through those kinds of choices.
Most importantly, why did I stay on that path so long even though I knew it was the wrong direction? Because I didn’t know what else I’d do with myself. I suspect this is a sticking point for a lot of people.
The Laws of Physics do not Apply
James Joule was the first to popularize the law of conservation of energy. The idea is that energy within the universe cannot be created or destroyed—only converted into another type of energy. Happiness does not follow this law. Perhaps the most tragic part of this whole mess is that when we sell our happiness, it’s usually not converted into happiness for anyone else.
Why? Because what’s actually being purchased from you isn’t your happiness at all. Instead, it’s the time that you’d spend doing something that made you happy. Your happiness is only a casualty of the transaction, destroyed when you make the decision to ignore it.
But regardless how you look at it, the important thing to remember is that happiness is, in fact, a commodity, and even though no one can buy it from you, you’re more than capable of selling it, and the price that you choose to let it go for ought to be carefully considered.
This is part one of a two part series on happiness. Later this week we’ll look at how to avoid selling your happiness and how to get it back if you already are. Hint: it involves taking some risks.
- Happiness from VivianPosted on: 2011-08-29I feel very happy except I worry about my family and my weight (I just keep eating). But everyday I look around and happiness fills my heart...well, except for the heat but this shall pass.
Tyler Teevoreen writes a lot and I post with his permission. he's a young man having adventures and writing.
I want to be young again and know what I know now! - Things I learned 8/23/11Posted on: 2011-08-24In 5 years New Braunfels is expected to grow 13.5%
By 2040, 25% of us will be diabetic if we continue present course
4% of the population is red headed - I've moved to my little dream homePosted on: 2011-08-24Last year I was showing property to a couple who wanted to have room for chickens.
Well, since early childhood I imagined that one day I would have not a farm but a large lot where I would have flowers around my house, a vegetable garden, a small orchard and CHICKENS!
I thought about the fact I was 66 years old. It's now or never.
So I bought a small home on a couple of acres going toward Seguin. I have flowers (but a lot died in the heat), lemon, pear and tangerine trees, a struggling vegetable garden and 6 chickens.
And I am so happy.
I know the time will come when i will have to move back, I rented out my house here, but for right now it fills me with so much pleasure.
I hope all of you find your dreams, also.
- Peanut Butter with cilantro.....from BobPosted on: 2011-08-22I made a peanut butter on toast sandwich the other day and there was a bunch of cilantro on the counter. I put a lot on my sandwich. It was good.
Comment from Vivian......I'm going to try this.
Did you see President Clinton on TV? He's become a vegan and looks terrific. I don't want to be a vegan but do want to eat healthier. PB plus cilantro sounds healthy. - Summer cold.....Nitequil/Dayquil (from George)Posted on: 2011-08-20I found out the hard way, if nightquil leaves you feeling drugged out the next day, don't use dayquil instead. I've been up all night.
- Books on the internet..this is so great!Posted on: 2011-08-18The new Braunfels library has e-books. You just download the adobe e-reader (it's free) and then download books.
I also downloaded a Kindle (free at Amazon.com) and then downloaded a couple of their free books.
I have to read them on my laptop but this is no problem. - Buying investment propertyPosted on: 2011-08-18Now's the time to buy. You have to put 20% down for a loan but prices are low now.
Yes, I'm buying a home to rent. It's cheaper for me in a way because I put my commission into the the buying price but I still think buying now is good because prices are so low. - Business start ups under a $100 dollarsPosted on: 2011-08-18I just read an article on this. Of course, people might think of business as a store or manufacturing plant that would take more than $100.
This man talked of starting a landscaping business with the tools he had at hand. Later in college, he started scalping tickets to music shows.
A few weeks ago some ladies came by the office trundling an ice chest and offered us a free bar with their business cards. I later thought that if they'd been selling it, many of us would have bought. Is that a good part time business? Would it make more than $10 dollars an hour in the summer? I bet it would in a bigger city.
How about chidcare in your home? If you only take a few children I don't believe you have to have all the special permits. This is real work but you would make perhaps 200 -300 a week per child..
What other ideas are out there? - From DonPosted on: 2011-08-12Apologies for a little spice. B
IT CAN BE HARD KEEPING A STRAIGHT FACE AS A COURT REPORTER
These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken
down and published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while the exchanges were taking place.
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, 'Where am I, Cathy?'
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
_______________________________
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?
WITNESS: July 18th.
ATTORNEY: What year?
WITNESS: Every year.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: How old is your son, the one living with you?
WITNESS : Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
ATTORNEY: How long has he lived with you?
WITNESS: Forty-five years.
_________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget..
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the 20-year -old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's 20, much like your IQ.
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children , right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death..
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor , how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
______________________________ ___________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral...
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 PM
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
And last:
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No..
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law. - I just bought an investment propertyPosted on: 2011-08-09I really think this is the time to buy if you have spare money. I just locked in my interest rate of 4.5% on an investment property. A very nice new house, about 1200 sq feet. I already have renters ready and back up renters.
If you can buy, I think now is the time. - Rochelle************This weather and the Washington Clowns make me sadPosted on: 2011-08-05Two bad things at once. I want to cry. I hope you don't mind me putting this on your blog, Vivian. I just want to say it.
Reply from Vivian: I feel the same way! - Things to think aboutPosted on: 2011-08-03Worry is only a misuse of your imagination.
From Daddy Warbucks: You don't have to be nice to people on the way up if you don't plan on coming back down.
From Tyler Tervooran: Things tend to work out if you show up and try. - My Plans for Saturday appear to be shot downPosted on: 2011-07-29I was planning to stay home, sit on my porch, and watch the rain come down. Now it looks like I'll have to change my plans.
Maybe a movie. The river are too low and too crowded.
Phooy! - I think I'm going to buy another housePosted on: 2011-07-26I always say......gently I hope.......that now's a good time to buy, even a home or duplex for a rental.
I have 3 rentals and I think I'm going to buy a 4th.
I'm not rich but I've always saved my money and and as a Realtor I've seen some good buys.
I'll have to take a little out of retirement but there are just too many opportunities to keep letting them go by.
I've had rentals for years with no bad problems. I keep the rent low and the renters stay. I don't make a lot of money but my equity grows.
So I think I'll but another one. - the best sandwich everPosted on: 2011-07-26My friend offered me a sandwich yesterday. ome kind of salome with cheese and tomatoes........spread thick with chunky liverwurst from Granzins.
The only thing that would have made it better would have been thinly sliced onions and pickles.
I haven't had liverwurst in years but it was sooooo good. - Friedens United Church of ChristPosted on: 2011-07-26I lost a good friend last week and went to her funeral yesterday at the Church of Christ on Barbarosa Rd. I often pass these small country churches and when I've attended them, (weddings and funerals), have found them simple buildings serving the people of small communities.
This church is gorgeous, lined with stained glass windows. Sort of like being in a rainbow.
It's out by the New Braunfels airport, not far.If you're looking for a little something to do diffferent, I think you'd enjoy going to a service there. - Hoax..........tax on home salesPosted on: 2011-07-22Last year I received an e-mail saying home sales were going to be taxed after 2012. This was supposedly hidden in the Obama Health Care plan. I got another such e-mail last week.
This is not true.
I have a few friends who forward every rumor they receive from the internet.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't.
If it sounds too outrageous to be true, it probably isn't.
I go to Snopes.com to check out these things. - Extreme heat killing plantsPosted on: 2011-07-19I thought my new garden had poor soil because my plants weren't thriving but Neil Sperry said the high heat so early in the season kept plants from getting established.
This morning on the radio the announcer reported that the heat was killing marijuana plants so lowering the amount of that on the market. Not that I'm growing marijuana. - Have everything you want from Tyler TavooronPosted on: 2011-07-18Everyone says you can’t get everything you want from life, and they’re probably right.
Solution: Stop trying to “get” and focus on a few other worthy pursuits, and you may end up with everything you want anyway.
***
Every once in awhile, I’ll tell someone about the many things I’d like to do in my life. For instance, I’ve really enjoyed sharing my mountain climbing and marathon running plans with other travelers as I work my way up Africa and through Europe. I admit it can come off a bit outrageous at times, but I’m still excited to be doing these things.
Though I rarely encounter it on the road, one of the usual responses in conversation to something like this is, “Well, you can’t have everything you want in life.” It’s not meant maliciously; it’s only a figure of speech to make you feel better about not getting around to everything you might want.
Danger: time to start ignoring.
Well, I don’t really like being told I can’t have everything I want. I also don’t like feeling like I can’t have anything I want. Reading that might make it sound like I have some sense of entitlement, but I don’t think that’s the case. I’d wager that you don’t enjoy the thought of not being able to have something you really want, either. I don’t think it’s a pleasant feeling for anyone.
So, I’ve just decided that I’m going to go ahead and have everything I want from life. Notice I didn’t say “get.” No, I already have it. I already have everything I need to enjoy the perfect life, all I need to do now is realize it.
There are an infinite number of experiences to be had in life; all I have to do is pick the ones I want the most, and go after them. Of course, the same is true for you, as well. The trick is in realizing that all the things you want are really just objects that you tie to an experience, or a way that you want to feel. There are a lot of ways that you can feel successful without buying a mansion, having seven TVs, or driving a sports car. There are a lot of ways to feel loved without buying expensive gifts for people, having a trophy wife (or husband), or trying to make friends you don’t actually care about.
The trick isn’t to learn to stop wanting more, but to learn to start wanting more of the right things.
It’s okay to want more out of life, but if you’re always looking for more things, you might have a hard time getting them all. Once you do, you’re going to want even more.
What if, instead, you realized what you really wanted was more experiences instead of things? What if you were able to disconnect how you want to feel from the TVs, cars, houses, and toys that are supposed to help you feel that way?
Then the options are limitless, aren’t they? If you decide how you’re supposed to feel and you allow yourself to decide what things will make you feel that way, then the whole entire world can be yours.
Not everyone’s answer can or will be the same, but that’s where the beauty lies. If you want to get started for yourself, here are some of the things that have helped me start wanting more of my own “right things.”
Focus less on material things and more on experiences. My life has changed dramatically since I stopped trying to have more things and started trying to do more things. If you really want, you can get creative and acquire just about anything you set your mind on, but I’ve found it’s a lot easier and more enjoyable to get all the experiences I want out of life instead of all the miscellaneous things that I used to think I wanted.
Record everything you own. How many things do you have? How many of them do you actually use? How did you feel years ago when you only had half of those things? How do you feel now? For me, the answer to that last question was “about the same.” A complete eye opener. The fewer things I have, the more important each thing is to me. I don’t have the energy in my life to care for 500 different objects. Only 100 of them are actually important to me, but the other 400 create a lot of noise. By getting rid of those 400 things, I have far more attention to give to what I actually care about. That’s simple math. Keep in mind, though, that I’m not a minimalist, and you don’t have to be one either.
Focus on a passion and throw away everything that doesn’t fit it. There’s a lot of talk about how important a balanced life is, but I’ve decided that a balanced life doesn’t work very well for me. Rather than trying to keep every part of my life “fine” I prefer to pick one part and make it amazing, knowing that I can do that while still maintaining enough balance elsewhere in life. These focuses shift over time, but the point is that, whatever part of my life I’m working on, I’m incredibly happy about it.
Find gratitude in what you already have. Do you have a home that keeps rain, snow, and the sun off of your back? When you go to the sink, does clean, drinkable water come out of it? Are you reading this article from your own computer with an Internet connection you can afford to pay for? Maybe you even own a car that takes you places you want or need to go? I can answer yes to all of those, so congratulations to me; I’m in about the top 5% of the entire world. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in worrying about what I have and how to get more of it, and realizing just how much I already have is the fastest way I know to get those feelings in check.
I don’t want to stop dreaming about the future and what it could hold for me, but I also don’t ever want to forget how good I already have it. That’s a balance I don’t mind keeping, and the longer I hold it, the more I feel like I have everything I want.
So what about you? Do you have everything you want?
- Street Signs and Fire HydrantsPosted on: 2011-07-15Green street signs are public streets, red are private.
Blue Fire hydrants have the best water pressure, then green, yellow, orange and really low pressure are the red hydrants. - QuestionsPosted on: 2011-07-13I thought I'd start putting the questions I get and their answers on this page. The one below is from one of our neighbors.
- QUESTIOn.........Commission question from BrendaPosted on: 2011-07-13How come you charge so much commission? If you sell my house for $150,000 you get $9000. That's a lot of money.
Hi Brenda,
Some people don't know that a Realtor only gets paid when they make a sale.
The commission is split between the listing Broker and the selling Broker. So my Broker would get $4500 and the selling agent's Broker would get $4500.
Each side pays $75 for errors and omissions insurance. We pay that on each and every property........a $2000 lot or a million dollar house.
We pay the national company and the local company.
We are loaded with other expenses, also. We pay to belong to the multiple listing service, many like me, belong to two services so we advertize your home to the greater San Antonio area Realtors as well as local Realtors.
We pay monthly fees for our web sites, a yearly fee for our Board membership, a monthly desk fee for our office space, a lot for advertizing. We also pay for required continuing education.
If you look at your Realtor neighbors, few of them are getting rich. Many have a working spouse or retirement to fall back on. Without these commissions, Realtors wouldn't be able to stay in business.
- Migrains, acne, underarm odorPosted on: 2011-07-11In the Medical page this morning it said:
Eat ice cream to take away your migrain.
Milk of magnesia cures acne and helps control underarm odor. I guess you applly it to the skin.
Might be worth a try...........inexpensive and I guess. harmless. - Minnesota......from LorainePosted on: 2011-07-08
Just in case you didn't know...
Minnesota became the 32nd state on May 11, 1858 and was originally settled by a lost tribe of Norwegians seeking refuge from the searing heat of Wisconsin 's winters.
Minnesota gets it's name from the Sioux Indian word 'mah-nee-soo-tah,' meaning, 'No, really... They eat fish soaked in lye.'
The state song of Minnesota is 'Someday the Vikings will... Aw, never mind.'
The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota covers 9.5 million square feet and has enough space to hold 185,000 idiot teenagers yapping away on cell phones.
Madison, Minnesota is known as 'the lutefisk capital of the world.' Avoid this city at all costs.
'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' was set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was Mary's first real acting job since leaving the 'Dick van Dyke Show. The show about a single woman's struggle to find happiness in the big city was originally titled 'Life Without Dick,' but that was changed for some reason.
Downtown Minneapolis has an enclosed skyway system covering 52 blocks, allowing people to live, work, eat, and sleep without ever going outside. The only downside to this is that a Norwegian occasionally turns up missing.
Cartoonist Charles M. Shultz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in St. Paul. He was the only artist to accurately depict the perfectly circular heads of Minnesota natives.
The Hormel Company of Austin, Minnesota produces 6 million cans of Spam a year, even though no one actually eats it. Spam is a prized food in Japan & Hawaii--Spam sushi!!
Minnesota license plates are blue & white and contain the phrase 'Blizzards on the 4th of July - you get used to it.'
Frank C. Mars, founder of the Mars Candy Co. Was born in Newport, Minnesota. His 3 Musketeers candy bar originally contained three bars in one wrapper, each filled with a different flavor of nougat - chocolate, Spam and lutefisk.
Tonka trucks continue to be manufactured in Minnetonka, Minnesota, despite the thousands of GI Joe dolls killed by them annually in rollover accidents. No airbags, no seat belts. These things are deathtraps, I tell ya!
Author Laura Ingalls Wilder was raised at Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and was famous for writing the 'Little House' series of books, as well as inventing the 'Spam diet' which consists of looking at a plate of Spam until you lose your appetite. Much like the 'lutefisk diet.'
The snowmobile was invented in Roseau, Minnesota so as to allow families a means of attending 4th of July picnics.
- Women & Lying.....from LorainePosted on: 2011-07-06
One day, when a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river, her thimble fell into the river. When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, 'My dear child, why are you crying?'
The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family.
The Lord dipped His hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with pearls. 'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.
The seamstress replied, 'No.'
The Lord again dipped into the river. He held out a silver thimble ringed with sapphires 'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.
Again, the seamstress replied, 'No.'
The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble. 'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.
The seamstress replied, 'Yes.'
The Lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.
Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water. When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, 'Why are you crying?'
'Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!'
The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney.
'Is this your husband?' the Lord asked.
'Yes,' cried the seamstress.
The Lord was furious. 'You lied! That is an untruth!'
The seamstress replied, 'Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding. You see, if I had said 'no' to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt. Then if I said 'no' to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three.
'Lord, I'm not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT'S why I said 'yes' to George Clooney.'
And so the Lord let her keep him.
The moral of this story is: Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honorable reason, and in the best interest of others.
That's our story, and we're sticking to it.
Signed,
All of us Women
- If you want to help with flags, let me knowPosted on: 2011-07-06Some years back the Breakfast Lions started helping the American Legion (or was it the VFW) with putting up the large down town flags as their members were older and needed help.
Now the Breakfast Lions have taken it over but its a big job and often, we need help. If you would like to volunteer even occassionally, let me know. I'll put you on a call list.
e-mail me at vivianfurlow@gmail.com. - Homes for salePosted on: 2011-07-06My listings are getting a good number of showings but no offers so far. The reason:there are so many houses on the market.
They are good homes and well priced so I'm confident their day will come.It's just not as soon as it would have been a few years ago. - FuneralsPosted on: 2011-07-05Some people really hate to go to funerals but they are rites that bind families and friends together. I'm always leaving with new information about people, impressed by some deed, learning about the history of my family, and usually having a laugh about some humorus act.
Found out today my other cousin grabbed an armadillo by the tail and it scratched another cousin's car. Then a few of them let loose 5 armadillos in a college dorm.
- 4th of July Flags and John FariasPosted on: 2011-07-04The Lions put out the flags this morning downtown. Taking them down at 4:00 in the heat is hard.
We'll be putting them out again Wednesday for Lance Cpl. John Felix Farias. It is my understanding that he will be carried down Seguin Ave and around the Plaza at 10:30. I'll write again once I know for sure.
It really upsets me that our young men and women are dying or being injured in the midddle east. I don't believe in sending in ground troops.
- Interest rates are going up tomorrow......7/01/2011Posted on: 2011-06-30I've one buyer and called him to lock in. But if you read this today, lock in.
- Now's the time to buy a home to rentPosted on: 2011-06-29Last year I sold some investments and cleaned out my savings account to buy a new house.
I didn't consider selling the one I was in: it's a buyer's market.
Because people are afraid to buy right now, afraid of lay-offs and changes in the economy, home sales are sluggish but rentals are not. The rental market is very tight right.
If you can afford to buy an investment proberty, you might should consider doing so. The time is now. - rabbits and dogsPosted on: 2011-06-28I had a sweet potato too long and it sprouted. I planted it and a few days later it had a nice bunch of leaves.
Then the leaves were gone.........eaten.
They grew back and were eaten again.
Last week I was out in the yard and my two little dogs were playing with a really chewed up rabbit.
My sweeet potato is growing well. I didn't know my dogs would do that but I guess they did.
And they act like they are nothing but sweet. - Bad Teacher ............LorainePosted on: 2011-06-27I went to see 'Bad Teacher' and it was a little slow in part but funny and somewhat raunchy.
It was only $3.50 at the Saturday matinee. - Jesus walked on water........LorainePosted on: 2011-06-27My friend goes to church all the time but I only sometimes but she didn't know that Jesus walked on water or Elijah went to heaven in a chariot. Maybe she should listen when she goes.
- At Any Cost..............TylerPosted on: 2011-06-27Problem: Life challenges you to do great things, but tempts you with the mediocre.
Solution: You must fight like hell to prioritize what you want to matter the most.
***
I closed the computer, turned off the phone, grabbed my pad of paper, and headed off for the Starbucks down the street. It was going to be one of “those days.”
Sometimes I sit down to write and find I have nothing to say. That’s not always a big deal; I don’t have to impress myself every day. But, when it starts to happen for too many days in a row, I have to take a step back and ask myself, “What’s really holding me back here?”
The answer is usually something silly. Often, it’s because I have too many ideas competing for my attention, and not enough focus to pick one and run with it.
Not creating is a coping mechanism for a head full of mediocre ideas. If I just read one more blog post, one more news brief, send one more witty tweet, then I’ll sit down and do the hard work.
Of course, by the time I do, the day has slipped away, and now it’s time for bed. Oops; guess I’ll try again tomorrow.
By the way, I’ve never been a fan of that saying: “The day got away from me.” The day never goes anywhere. It shows up faithfully—and stays put—every single day. We get away from it. We’re the unfaithful ones.
Life is a game, you see. It challenges us to do something great, but then tempts us with the mundane and average.
Since we’re creatures of habit, it doesn’t take more than a few distractions to create a whole new person.
If you’ve ever tried to create something yourself, you know very well how much easier it is to create a habit of doing nothing than it is to create one of doing something, anything. The resistance, as Steven Pressfield puts it, is strong. Back breaking, actually. When you’re trying to come back from a slump, it feels like all of your momentum is gone—like everything you’ve done before no longer counts, and now you have to start over again. All of the sudden, the fear of creating something mediocre is overwhelming.
This is why I reject the idea of creating only when I’m inspired, and instead create on a rigid schedule. Because I cherish my momentum above all else. Even if nothing goes my way all week long, I can count on myself to publish two essays here. No matter how bad they are! That’s a rule I’ll never break. I know the consequences.
The truth is that creation of any kind is spectacular. It’s the frustrated idle who are mediocre.
So it is with this understanding that I sit down and battle myself to create even such a simple piece as this. It took me all day just to convince myself to write it, yet here I am, on schedule again. Over the deafening pleas screamed by the rest of life, I sit quietly and write.
Why? Because I know that those pleas will scream again tomorrow. I know that giving in to them will be just as easy. But creating? Creating will only get harder with each passing day that I don’t indulge it.
So, against all odds, I sit and write. At any cost.
How about you? What do you prioritize at any cost?
- Should you sell your home now?Posted on: 2011-06-23I've regularly been saying to potential sellers that they might wait until next year to sell if they don't have to move. I was hoping and expecting the economy to improve.
I'm getting concerned that the economic recovery period might be longer than expected. In that case, perhaps they should go ahead and sell.
Sellers have to price their house to the market. One of our neighborhood homes has expired for the third time, still greatly over priced.
Buyers are going to expect a deal for them, not the seller. Sellers hopefully will make some money on their home investment but might have to settle for 'break even.'
Pricing too high is a waste of time. The smart seller is going to be realistic. - Mistakes and Tips on Selling your home from Rick de LucaPosted on: 2011-06-10
Mistake #1. Over-Pricing Your Home
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of selling a home is listing it at the correct price.
Over pricing is the SINGLE BIGGEST mistake a seller can do.
It’s one of several areas where the assistance of a skilled real estate consultant can pay for itself versus trying to sell your
home yourself.
If the listing price is too high, you’ll miss out on a percentage of buyers looking in the range
where your home should be priced. Some people think that if they leave some “wiggle room”
in the price, they'll always have the opportunity to negotiate and accept a lower offer.
* However, chances are the offers won't even come in, because the buyers who would be
most interested in your home have been scared off by the price, and won’t even take the
time to consider it. By the time you correct the price, you’ve already missed exposure to a
group of potential buyers AND the longer your home sits on the market,,,,,,,,the less
interested buyers (and their realtors) are in seeing it. Over pricing your home to leave room
to negotiate almost ALWAYS backfires. (homes in OKC are selling for around 97.5 %
of asking price *But only 70 % of the homes that go on the market actually SELL) The
others are overpriced. Always has been - always will be the # 1 reason a home doesn't sell.
An experienced, well-trained real estate consultant is always in touch with market trends –
often even to a greater extent than appraisers, who typically focus on what a property is
worth if sold as is, right now.
Mistake #2. Curb Appeal
When you’re preparing your house for sale, remember the importance of first impressions.
A buyer’s first impression can determine whether they’ll choose to look inside. It’s estimated
that more than 50 percent of shoppers decide to purchase a home even before they get
out of their car. With that in mind, be sure to stand outside your home and take a realistic
“fresh look.” Then ask yourself (and your Realtor) what you can do to enhance the “curb
appeal.” It could make a significant difference in your final sales price as well as the speed of
your sale. It's been said that you can recoup as much as 150% of the money you spend on
enhancing curb appeal. Why knock out 50 % of potential buyers with poor curb appeal ?
Mistake # 3. Not Deep Cleaning Your Home:
Buyers today have a plethora of homes to
choose from, and a clean home makes an impression. Buyers might assume that a dirty
bathroom means the property has not been taken care of properly. This leads to low-ball
offers, if any offers. Hire a cleaning crew to come in and do a really deep initial cleaning to
make your home shine. On top of that, keep in mind that your home should not only be clean
but also smell clean. Investing in lots of air fresheners (we use Glade’s Plugins), especially in
key areas like the entrance of your home and the kitchen, is well worth the money. Who
doesn't just feel home right away when a warm scent of vanilla or cinnamon greets them at the
door? Buyers are definitely influenced by their senses. Buyers will snoop and yes they look in
showers, open closets and even study the garage. DEEP cleaning will pay off BIG time.
Mistake #4. Dated or worn hardware and fixtures:
If floors and walls are the bones of
the house, then hardware and fixtures are the 'jewelry'. Outdated or tarnished door handles
on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and outdated lighting fixtures and faucets are a turn-off to
prospective buyers. Replacing these can update the look of a bathroom or kitchen very
inexpensively. And don't forget to replace scratched doorknobs on doors and broken or non-
matching light switch plates. It's one the LEAST expensive ways to jazz up your interior.
- Little Things can stop a salePosted on: 2011-06-08I was reading an article about home buyers dismissing a house because of something minor. In my experience, this happens quite a lot.
If you have a leaky faucet or a bit of trim that needs painting, a buyer will often wonder what else is wrong.
If you neglect your home but fix it in pristine condition when you're ready to sell, buyers will remark with 'You can tell these people have always taken good care of their home.'
Pretend you're a buyer and walk through your home starting at the curb and going to the back fence. Does your landscape need a little fixing up? Any place need a bit of paint? Is your doormat old or grungy?
Look through a buyer's eyes. It's very competitive now.. - Inspector tipsPosted on: 2011-05-18Drain your hot water heater twice a year to prolong its life.
Water your foundation regularly.
Gutters protect your home by diverting water away from foundation. (You don't want a lot in one area and little in another.) - Flags on Memorial Day DowntownPosted on: 2011-05-10The New Braunfels Breakfast Lions will be putting up and taking down the flags on Memorial Day and the 4th of July. I try to volunteer for the morning shift as it's cooler but sometimes take the afternoon.
Would you like to be a Lion? We are always doing something for the city, state, nation and world. We get things done. Volunteering is a great way to feel good about yourself.
OUR MOTTO...............WE SERVE! - Liions Mega Event.........May 21Posted on: 2011-05-10At the Fair Grounds............. a city wide garage sale.
You can participate if you have something to sell......if you have a business or just your stuff!
If you want to clean out your closets and garage, you can bring it down and make some money or donate items to the Lions.
Call 708-7082 or e-mail vivianfurlow@gmail.com - This is fun from PattiePosted on: 2011-05-09
Universal Laws
1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
3. Law of Probability -The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.
5. Law of the Alibi - If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.
6. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
7. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
8. Law of Close Encounters -The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
10. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
11.. Law of the Theater and Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies, and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.
12. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
13. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
14. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
15... Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
16. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
17. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.
18. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
19. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick. - Neighborhood ApperancePosted on: 2011-05-08When I drive through our area I look for planting ideas. Some of our neighbors are doing a fantastic job with trees, shrubs, flowers and grass.
Last year I listed and sold a home with the beautiful grass. The owner said he dethatched it ever year, fertilized and cross cut every other time.
Beautiful lawns and landscaping are not only great to enjoy, it helps you (and your neighbors) sell faster. People will buy a house more quickly if the neighbors yards look good. - Country LifePosted on: 2011-04-27I bought a couple of acres out of town so I could live the country life. Have a few chickens and a garden.
Two scorpians a day lately. I'm going to have to spray......too many of them and too many spiders. I have to shake shoes and clothes before I put anything on and turn on the lights when I get up up a night. Life in the country.
- Shrimp EtoufeePosted on: 2011-04-26Recipe: Shrimp Etouffee My friend made crawfish etouffee and it was about the best thing I’d ever eaten, so I tried shrimp etouffee. It was so easy and so good.
1 jar Ragin' Cajun etouffee sauce (I found in HEB by fresh fish)
1 large handful each chopped onion, celery, bell pepper.
1.5 pounds shrimp, shelled and deveined
Sauté veggies in olive oil till tender, add sauceand one jar of water or a little more.. When hot add shrimp and optional spices like Cajun seasoning, basil or Tabasco sauce. Cook 7-10 minutes or till shrimp is done. Serve with rice.
- A lot happening in New BraunfelsPosted on: 2011-04-26A few weeks back I stopped at the County Fair Grounds to see the Chicken competition. It was very interesting and noisy and free!
There are many things going on in town. Many don't require money. They're interesting and you might learn something.
We should take advantage of all the things New Braunfels has to offer. - Williams Wedding CakePosted on: 2011-04-26OK, you have to understand that when I say “biscuit,” I am referring to “cookies,” not those big muffin-looking things you eat at breakfast to keep the bacon grease off your hands! In Britain, biscuits are cookies . . . and cookies . . . well those are things that keep popping up on your computer screen. That explained, this is an amazing no-bake cake best served straight from the refrigerator. I can’t say how long it keeps because I have never had one last longer than five minutes before I was staring at a plate of crumbs.
Without a doubt, it is the Queen’s favorite tea cake. We had request after request from palace visitors to divulge the recipe. Well, I’ve held out until now. Enjoy! — Darren
½ teaspoon butter, for greasing pan
8 ounces McVities rich tea biscuits
½ stick (4 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
4 ounces dark chocolate
1 egg, beaten
8 ounces dark chocolate, for icing
1 ounce white chocolate, for decoration
1.Lightly grease a small (such as a 6 x 2 ½ -inch) cake ring with ½ teaspoon butter, and place on a parchment-lined tray. Break each of the biscuits into almond-size pieces by hand and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until the mixture is a light lemon color.
2.Melt the 4 ounces of dark chocolate in a double boiler. Add the butter and sugar mixture to the chocolate, stirring constantly. Add the egg and continue stirring. Fold in the biscuit pieces until they are all coated with the chocolate mixture.
3.Spoon the chocolate biscuit mixture into the prepared cake ring. Try to fill all of the gaps on the bottom of the ring, because this will be the top when it is unmolded. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for at least three hours.
4.Remove the cake from the refrigerator, and let it stand while you melt the 8 ounces of dark chocolate for icing. Slide the ring off the cake and turn the cake upside down onto a cooling rack. Pour the 8 ounces of melted dark chocolate over the cake and smooth the top and sides using a butter knife or offset spatula. Allow the chocolate icing to set at room temperature. Carefully run a knife around the bottom of the cake where it has stuck to the cooling rack, and transfer the cake to a cake dish. Melt the white chocolate and drizzle on top of the cake in a decorative pattern.
- An interesting quote from Stephen Colbert:Posted on: 2011-04-07
'If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.'
- ALL EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ ...from DoloresPosted on: 2011-03-28
The following is a copy of an article written by Spanish writer Sebastian Vilar Rodriguez and published in a Spanish newspaper on Jan. 15, 2008. It doesn't take much imagination to extrapolate the message to the rest of Europe - and possibly to the rest of the world.
REMEMBER AS YOU READ -- IT WAS IN A SPANISH PAPER
Date: Tue. 15 January 2008 14:30
ALL EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ By Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez
I walked down the street in Barcelona and suddenly discovered a terrible truth - Europe died in Auschwitz .. We killed six million Jews and replaced them with 20 million Muslims. In Auschwitz we burned a culture, thought, creativity, talent. We destroyed the chosen people, truly chosen, because they produced great and wonderful people who changed the world.
The contribution of this people is felt in all areas of life: science, art, international trade, and above all, as the conscience of the world. These are the people we burned.
And under the pretense of tolerance, and because we wanted to prove to ourselves that we were cured of the disease of racism, we opened our gates to 20 million Muslims, who brought us stupidity and ignorance, religious extremism and lack of tolerance, crime and poverty, due to an unwillingness to work and support their families with pride.
They have blown up our trains and turned our beautiful Spanish cities into the third world, drowning in filth and crime.
Shut up in the apartments they receive free from the government, they plan the murder and destruction of their naive hosts.
And thus, in our misery, we have exchanged culture for fanatical hatred, creative skill for destructive skill, intelligence for backwardness and superstition.
We have exchanged the pursuit of peace of the Jews of Europe and their talent for a better future for their children, their determined clinging to life because life is holy, for those who pursue death, for people consumed by the desire for death for themselves and others, for our children and theirs.
What a terrible mistake was made by miserable Europe ....
*****************************************************
The Global Islamic population is approximately 1,200,000,000; that is ONE BILLION TWO HUNDRED MILLION or 20% of the world's population. They have received the following Nobel Prizes:
Literature:
1988 - Najib Mahfooz
Peace:
1978 - Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat
1990 - Elias James Corey
1994 - Yaser Arafat:
1999 - Ahmed Zewai
Economics:
(zero)
Physics:
(zero)
Medicine:
1960 - Peter Brian Medawar
1998 - Ferid Mourad
TOTAL: 7 SEVEN
The Global Jewish population is approximately 14,000,000; that is FOURTEEN MILLION or about 0.02% of the world's population. They have received the following Nobel Prizes:
Literature:
1910 - Paul Heyse
1927 - Henri Bergson
1958 - Boris Pasternak
1966 - Shmuel Yosef Agnon
1966 - Nelly Sachs
1976 - Saul Bellow
1978 - Isaac Bashevis Singer
1981 - Elias Canetti
1987 - Joseph Brodsky
1991 - Nadine Gordimer World
Peace:
1911 - Alfred Fried
1911 - Tobias Michael Carel Asser
1968 - Rene Cassin
1973 - Henry Kissinger
1978 - Menachem Begin
1986 - Elie Wiesel
1994 - Shimon Peres
1994 - Yitzhak Rabin
Physics:
1905 - Adolph Von Baeyer
1906 - Henri Moissan
1907 - Albert Abraham Michelson
1908 - Gabriel Lippmann
1910 - Otto Wallach
1915 - Richard Willstaetter
1918 - Fritz Haber
1921 - Albert Einstein
1922 - Niels Bohr
1925 - James Franck
1925 - Gustav Hertz
1943 - Gustav Stern
1943 - George Charles de Hevesy
1944 - Isidor Issac Rabi
1952 - Felix Bloch
1954 - Max Born
1958 - Igor Tamm
1959 - Emilio Segre
1960 - Donald A. Glaser
1961 - Robert Hofstadter
1961 - Melvin Calvin
1962 - Lev Davidovich Landau
1962 - Max Ferdinand Perutz
1965 - Richard Phillips Feynman
1965 - Julian Schwinger
1969 - Murray Gell-Mann
1971 - Dennis Gabor
1972 - William Howard Stein
1973 - Brian David Josephson
1975 - Benjamin Mottleson
1976 - Burton Richter
1977 - Ilya Prigogine
1978 - Arno Allan Penzias
1978 - Peter L Kapitza
1979 - Stephen Weinberg
1979 - Sheldon Glashow
1979 - Herbert Charles Brown
1980 - Paul Berg
1980 - Walter Gilbert
1981 - Roald Hoffmann
1982 - Aaron Klug
1985 - Albert A. Hauptman
1985 - Jerome Karle
1986 - Dudley R. Herschbach
1988 - Robert Huber
1988 - Leon Lederman
1988 - Melvin Schwartz
1988 - Jack Steinberger
1989 - Sidney Altman
1990 - Jerome Friedman
1992 - Rudolph Marcus
1995 - Martin Perl
2000 - Alan J. Heeger
Economics:
1970 - Paul Anthony Samuelson
1971 - Simon Kuznets
1972 - Kenneth Joseph Arrow
1975 - Leonid Kantorovich
1976 - Milton Friedman
1978 - Herbert A. Simon
1980 - Lawrence Robert Klein
1985 - Franco Modigliani
1987 - Robert M. Solow
1990 - Harry Markowitz
1990 - Merton Miller
1992 - Gary Becker
1993 - Robert Fogel
Medicine:
1908 - Elie Metchnikoff
1908 - Paul Erlich
1914 - Robert Barany
1922 - Otto Meyerhof
1930 - Karl Landsteiner
1931 - Otto Warburg
1936 - Otto Loewi
1944 - Joseph Erlanger
1944 - Herbert Spencer Gasser
1945 - Ernst Boris Chain
1946 - Hermann Joseph Muller
1950 - Tadeus Reichstein
1952 - Selman Abraham Waksman
1953 - Hans Krebs
1953 - Fritz Albert Lipmann
1958 - Joshua Lederberg
1959 - Arthur Kornberg
1964 - Konrad Bloch
1965 - Francois Jacob
1965 - Andre Lwoff
1967 - George Wald
1968 - Marshall W. Nirenberg
1969 - Salvador Luria
1970 - Julius Axelrod
1970 - Sir Bernard Katz
1972 - Gerald Maurice Edelman
1975 - Howard Martin Temin
1976 - Baruch S. Blumberg
1977 - Roselyn Sussman Yalow
1978 - Daniel Nathans
1980 - Baruj Benacerraf
1984 - Cesar Milstein
1985 - Michael Stuart Brown
1985 - Joseph L. Goldstein
1986 - Stanley Cohen [& Rita Levi-Montalcini]
1988 - Gertrude Elion
1989 - Harold Varmus
1991 - Erwin Neher
1991 - Bert Sakmann
1993 - Richard J. Roberts
1993 - Phillip Sharp
1994 - Alfred Gilman
1995 - Edward B. Lewis
1996- Lu RoseIacovino
TOTAL: 129!
The Jews are NOT promoting brain washing children in military training camps, teaching them how to blow themselves up and cause maximum deaths of Jews and other non Muslims.. The Jews don't hijack planes, nor kill athletes at the Olympics, or blow themselves up in German restaurants. There is NOT one single Jew who has destroyed a church. There is NOT a single Jew who protests by killing people.
The Jews don't traffic slaves, nor have leaders calling for Jihad and death to all the Infidels.
Perhaps the world's Muslims should consider investing more in standard education and less in blaming the Jews for all their problems.
Muslims must ask 'what can they do for humankind' before they demand that humankind respects them.
Regardless of your feelings about the crisis between Israel and the Palestinians and Arab neighbors, even if you believe there is more culpability on Israel's part, the following two sentences really say it all:
'If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel .' Benjamin Netanyahu
General Eisenhower Warned Us It is a matter of history that when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead.
He did this because he said in words to this effect:
'Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened'
Recently, the UK debated whether to remove The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it 'offends' the Muslim population which claims it never occurred.. It is not removed as yet. However, this is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it.
It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the, 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1,900 Catholic priests who were 'murdered, raped, burned, starved, beaten, experimented on and humiliated' while the German people looked the other way.
Now, more than ever, with Iran among others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets. - The Mega EventPosted on: 2011-03-22The New Braunfels Breakfast Lions are sponsoring a sales event at the Comal Fair Grounds May 21, a Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and you're invited to participate.
If you want to bring a truck or car with personal garage sale items, if your organization or church group needs a fundraiser, an artist or crafter with items to sell, you're invited to come. It's $10.00 a vehicle.
The Breakfast Lions Club is dedicated to preventing blindness and correcting vision but also support many projects in this area, Texas and around the world.
Among these:
Mobile Health Screening……………Early Childhood Vision Testing……Texas Lions Camp……..Lone Star Eye Bank………..Exams and glasses for those in need……..Kids Christmas (for local needy children)………Campaign Sight First (preventing blindness world-wide)……..Leader Dog Program …….Wounded Warriors at BAMC
Please join us. E-mail me to participate. VivianFurlow@gmail.com - New Chief of Police Tom WibertPosted on: 2011-03-22Tom Wibert spoke to the Breakfast Lions this morning and was a great speaker as he compared his former home in Michigan with New Braunfels.
We have Texas flags flying all over; Michigan flags are mostly seen at the post office and court house.
Michigan has very high unemployment and many foreclosures. We have very little in comparison.
Sheriff Bob Holder is exactly as he imagined a Texas Sheriff to look, and..he let him wear his white cowboy hat.
Comal and New Braunfels Highschools have football stadiums the size of small college stadiums in Michigan. We're much more football oriented.
It was great hearing his impressions of our city and a few police stories.
If you'd like to join or visit the Lions Club, let me know. - I Guess I Spent Too Much......(keep this anonymous)Posted on: 2011-03-21I look at my shoe collection, my knick-knacks, my 2 closets full of clothes, 4 TVs for 2 people, computer games and oh so much more. Every kitchen gadget and household appliance. The garage is full.
Thousands of dollars wasted! I hope I can quit this silly spending. - Selling Your HomePosted on: 2011-03-12I went on a listing appointment to a lovely home where the owners were willing to set a reasonable price. They asked if I thought it would sell and I said yes.
We looked at their competition.One house was as good or better but this house beat the rest in location, upgrades, cleanliness and was equivalent in price.
One of the competion had been on the market for its third time. The house was okay, poor location, did not show the care and upgrades as this one.
When it went on the market I wondered why the Realtor had listed it so high. She said the comps showed it was worth it.
Well, it's been on the market a very long time. No, it's not worth that much.
Houses will sell if priced correctly. - Local Links...........Avery Park, the Alamo and LovePosted on: 2011-03-09I just put 3 links ...Go to Favorite Links, then Local Links.
The Love is especially nice.........and the Alamo. - City Wide garage Sale at the FairgroundsPosted on: 2011-03-07The Breakfast Lions are hosting a garage sale, May 28 at the fairgrounds at $10 a vehicle. If you or your church group would like to participate, let me know.
The Lions are 'Knights of the Blind' but we work with many charities and many people with disabilities. Some of you may have heard of The Texas Lions Camp. This fundraiser is particularly for it.
We would like to start an annual garage sale, hoping to attract individuals, vendors and charity and church organizations.
Please contact me if you or your group would like to participate.
We Serve,
Vivian Furlow 830-708-7082 - Is the economy improving?Posted on: 2011-03-04The newspaper says things are looking up. I know our local large businesses, like Lowe's, Scooter Store, Home Depot and HEB are hiring. These places offer living wages and benefits.
It's still a buyers market and probably will be for another year at least until we sell the back log of homes built up during the down time.
If you can buy, now's the time. Interest rates are still low. You might want to buy and rent out your current home. - Why we should back up our contact listsPosted on: 2011-02-21A friend just sent out an e-mail saying she was in Spain with her money and passport stolen, please send money. Of course, this is a scam. The problem, her contacts had been deleted so she couldn't send out a notice saying it wasn't true. I'm going to back up my contact list.
- Getting rid of ratsPosted on: 2011-02-20If you are having rat problems, please try nonpoisonous means of getting rid of them. They will crawl off and die in your neighbor's yard where their propertly fenced in dog or cat may ingest their vomit or the rat and die.
An article I looked up said to use small bags of fox urine chrsytals that you could get a farm and ranch stores.
Here are other suggestions.
1.
•If it is at all possible where you live, get the right pet to get rid of your pests. Rat Terrier dogs are known to be the best rat exterminators on planet earth.
•2
Dachshund dogs, aka weeny dogs, can even kill opossums and rats 3 times their size.
•3
Of course cats are notorious rat and mice killers. They probably outperform most dogs killing mice and small rats. With the proper number of cats around, rats won't grow up to be big rats.
•4
If you live in an area where pets are not allowed, use traps indoors, so wandering pets won't get mistreated. Outside traps should be be the have a heart kind.
Keep bird feeders and pet food away from area where rats come.
If you have other suggestions on getting rid of rats, please let us know. - On Being a RealtorPosted on: 2011-02-17Realtors come and go and some survive. It requires hard and consistant work, prospecting and keeping up with your friends and neighbors.
Few of us are rich. If you look around your neighborhood you'll probably find a few Realtors........maybe earning more or less the same as you. In these times with slow sales, probably less if you have a salaried job.
Realtors spend hundreds of dollars every month paying mls fees, board dues, advertising and prospecting fees and taking required education courses.
This week a potential seller was upset with me because I wouldn't list her house at a way too high price. When I list a house I'm investing my time and money; I don't want to waste either.
Last year, 2010, I listed several very nice homes at reasonable prices that didn't sell and the owners said they could simply not drop the price further.. There are simply too many houses on the market. When they expired I suggested another Realtor, another company, or stay or rent. Hopefully no hard feelings.
Houses are selling but there is a lot of competition.Everyone wants to make a profit on their home but if you bought in the last 2 or 3 years, your home may sell for less than you paid for it.
If you're a Realtor, happiness is having a win-win sale, where buyer and seller believel they've gotten a fair deal and you know your hard work made everyone feel good. - Charities and Fund raisersPosted on: 2011-02-17We have a new section on our home page. One of our neighbors wanted a place where he could put fund raiser annoucements. If you use this, copy your script and put in classified section also.
I'm a Lion so I will use this, too. We are always trying to raise money. Our primary mission is to end blindness but we give support to many organisations, here in new Braunfels and around the world.
If you would like to consider joining the Lions, let me know. We always need new members. - The answer is HAM!Posted on: 2011-02-11When i was a teenager fixing a food basket for the needy, my father said 'No turkey. Many people don't know how to cook it and may not have an oven. Get a ham instead.'
About 10 years later I was at a friend's house and he had a stack of canned hams on the table. He was giving them to his friends for Christmas (including me). He said times are tight and people don't need things, but they can always use a ham.
In the following years, I've kept that in mind. I've been wanting to get a thank you gift for a friend who really helped me with some repair work around the house. I called and said I'd gotten him a present and I could tell he really didn't want one, (who wants more stuff?). When I told him it was a ham he laughed and yes, that was something he would like and use.
No one has ever been disappointed in a ham. - Active in our Neighborhood......Should you rent your home?Posted on: 2011-02-08I found 66 active listings in our neighborhood. There are really more. Builders don't keep all their inventory on the mls, some homes are only listed on the San Antonio mls, and there are a bunch of 'for sale by owner.'
52 homes were owner re-sale, 13 new homes and one foreclosure.
The market is still down and yet there were many homes priced very high.. If you are selling a home for over $100 a square foot it should be fairly new, custom built, with lots of upgrades. An over priced home is really not 'on the market' as it is not going to sell. We all want to make a profit on our homes but this doesn't always happen.
The problem is: many owners must sell high enough to pay off their mortgage. If you must sell and can't make your payoff, you should probably consider renting until the housing market improves.
People tell me horrror stories about renters but I've been renting homes for years and never have any problems. I rent out homes at very reasonable prices. Renters get a good deal and so they they stay longer and take better care of your home. If a repair is needed, I take care of it quickly. - Chili Recipe used at La Villita in 1986Posted on: 2011-02-02
It is cold enough today to start cooking.
Worlds Largest Pot of Chili
1. Skin and dice nine (9) plump steers.
2. In a VERY large pot brown meat over high heat.
3. Add 1,600 onions (one level pick up full) and 1,700 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped.
4. Add 100 gallons of beef broth and 60 cases of Budweiser Beer.
5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for one hour.
6. Add 60 gallons tomato sauce and 200 pounds of chili powder and other good things.
7. Simmer for one hour, add salt to taste, and serve with crackers.
Serves 20,000 of your best friends. (Recipe my be doubled for large party)
This recipe was used March 1,1986, at La Villita,San Antonio, TX to celebrate the 150th birthday of Texas.
- Convicted FelonsPosted on: 2011-02-01I'm putting a link here and in favorite links where you can check your street.
http://www.trec.state.tx.us/pdf/contracts/OP-K.pdf
- Convicted FelonsPosted on: 2011-02-01I just put a link in 'Favorite Links.' When you put in a street, a map comes up so you can travel through town or down the road.
http://www.felonspy.com/search.html
- Monthly report of Real Estate Activity in our NeighborhoodPosted on: 2011-01-26If you would like to get a regular report of Real Estate activity, I'll be e-mailing one out at the end of every month. Just send me your e-mail address and I'll put you on the list.
Put 'REPORT' in the subject line.
VivianFurlow@gmail.com - Things Are Looking UpPosted on: 2011-01-21The TV news said people were more optimistic. In the office, activity has been picking up.
In 2009 we sold in the County Line area 139 homes. In 2010, we sold 129. That may not seem to be 'up' but as a lot of sales happened in the last 6 months, I think it does.
Interest rates are still low but slowly rising. People who have been sitting on the fence are probably ready to make a commitment.
Call me at 830-708-7082 if you are ready to buy or sell. - How RidiculousPosted on: 2011-01-20My friend had her home listed for over $200,000. A custom home in a great neighborhood.
A buyer came directly to the listing agent and made an offer of $95,000.
If I had been the listing agent, I whould have sent him to another Realtor and also said don't waste your time.
While I will present low ball offers, if the buyer wants to be absolutely stupid, I simply let the buyer go. It's a waste of everyone's time. - Pecan PickingPosted on: 2010-11-26The early picker gets the pecans!
Picking must be in my blood...I'm just addicted to it. It must be what golfers feel when they have to do it.
After the windstorm last night I got up early, lacking sleep and took off to a favorite tree where I was the first one.
Got a bunch.
It's strange, I get more than I can eat and give them to elderly friends who can't pick anymore. - Burglaries are upPosted on: 2010-11-25Be careful.....don't leave your garage doors open even for a minute when you are not there. Don't leave scooters, bikes, tools out....even on your porch. Kids set their bikes down for a minute and then see someone driving off with them. This is happening in our neighborhood. Even a pet dog from the lawn while the owner went in just to get something.
- Cowboy CoffeePosted on: 2010-11-22I found a little house on a couple of acres going toward Seguin so I could fullfill my childhood dream of a garden, a small orchard and chickens. Both my coffee pot and instant coffee are packed. ...somewhere!
Fortunately I remembered Grandpa George taught me to make Cowboy coffee. Put some coffee in boiling water for a few seconds, turn off heat and sit for a few minutes. Then it's done. Strain of course. It's good.
I heard that you need to add a bit of eggshell but I didn't. I drank it black, no sugar.
- Life is EasyPosted on: 2010-11-14I've always been called 'Pollyanna' but it suits me. I came home hungry and just put a little oil in the skillet, had an onion chopped before the pan was hot, put in the ground beef and then the chilie, beans, tomatoes in their turn.So much easier than our grandparents who had to get the fire going.and maybe grind their own beef.
Sue - hot water heaterPosted on: 2010-11-10When the hot water stopped, i thought the heater had died. A friend said push the re-set button. I didn't know they had them. I did and no need to buy a new heater.
The button was under that screwed on cover plate. - I want to try the 33 for 3 monthsPosted on: 2010-11-09social change through simple living
How to Fix Your Broken Relationship with Stuff
by Tammy on November 8, 2010
Editor¡¯s note: This is a guest post by Melissa Gorzelanczyk. Melissa writes about simplicity and finding beauty in everyday life at Peace & Projects.
¡°Instead of trying to improve our relationship with our stuff, we settle for simply cohabiting the same space.¡± -Laura Crawford, The Path Less Pedaled
Question for you: Who decided it made sense to store unused stuff in plastic bins?
Somehow many years ago, I caught the plastic bin epidemic that swept our nation. I had a basement full of stuff ¨C photo frames, books, fabric remnants, 4-H plaques, candles, random kitsch. To wrangle my cluttered landscape, I made a simple plan. First, build several rows of wood shelves. Second, fill plastic bins with excess stuff. Third, place bins on shelves. Applause! I did what any sick bin-aholic would do and bought close to 30 plastic bins for my mission.
Bin-aholic goes to rehab
It wasn¡¯t until I started reading about minimalism that my forgotten stuff began to haunt me. The problem was that my relationship with stuff was broken. Until I fixed it, no amount of plastic bins would solve the chaotic clutter that always took over my basement storage room.
I knew it was time to take action. Bin by bin, I started to revisit my intentions for all that stuff. I decided to break up with the unwanted and unneeded things in my life. It was officially over. I was done with stuff.
And that¡¯s the key.
If you want to have a healthy love affair with your stuff, you need to change the way you keep it, treat it and spend money on it.
Here are some ways to fix your relationship with stuff and create a calmer environment at home.
Try life on the minimalist side
One way to do this is by focusing on a specific area of stuff, like many did by joining Project 333. This minimalist fashion project encouraged others to wear only 33 items for 3 months. Impossible, you say? Not so fast. I was able to put some of my newly emptied plastic bins to work by loading most of my wardrobe into storage. Give yourself permission to let minimalism be a learning process. Find out what feels right for you. After all, becoming minimalist isn¡¯t a contest, but a collaboration of inspired people.
You can be bold without throwing away all your clothes. Drastically minimize a category of your stuff for 3 months. Move the rest of your things into a holding area. How does it feel? What do you miss? Will you take the rest of your stuff back ¡ or break up with it?
Love the item now or never
If an overstuffed closet makes you cringe, can you admit that this is not a healthy relationship? Sometimes we hold onto stuff for reasons we don¡¯t fully understand. For me, the emotions surfaced while whittling my wardrobe for Project 333. It was surprising to realize I was emotionally attached to items I rarely wore.
To help get past emotional attachments that don¡¯t make sense, take items out, one by one, and ask yourself these questions:
¡öWhy do I keep this?
¡öIs this beautiful?
¡öIs this useful to me right now?
If you struggle with the answers, kick the item to the curb, literally. Acknowledge your emotions, but stay strong. Detach and see how you feel in a week.
Get rid of extra baggage
Our culture has become obsessed with disposable. Even items that aren¡¯t disposable ¨C like hair dryers and tank tops ¨C are kept around in bulk ¡°just in case.¡± This is a wasteful mindset that will end up costing you money, not saving it. Get rid of the duplicates ¨C donate them to those in need. If your hair dryer breaks, use the time you would have spent digging through bins of stuff to buy a new, quality dryer you¡¯ll totally love.
Ignite your passion to shop local
Put your money to work in your community. Support local artists, woodworkers, knitters and purse makers. Don¡¯t make the cheap, made in China items your first pick. If there is something you want or need, plan ahead and make it a pleasure instead of pointless consumerism.
It¡¯s really like putting your relationship with stuff in reverse. Shift gears and go in a new direction. By experimenting with minimalism, appreciating quality workmanship and focusing on community, you can invite stuff to have a place in your life. You can start defining who you are by the things you do, and not the stuff that clutters the path.
- Interest rates....Marksmen.......Salvation ArmyPosted on: 2010-11-09Looks like interest rates are going up by tiny steps.
The Christmas season is here and the Marksmen are going to be at the Brauntex this monday. A wholesome bluegrass/country group raising money for the Lions to aid the Blind.
The Salvation Army is getting ready to start their Red Kettle Drive. Be sure to volunteer with your favorite church or service group.
- Too much TV? (Don )Posted on: 2010-11-07George W Bush said he nevers watches TV. I'm watching it less and less.
Some people told me recently they limit their children to an hour or less of TV or vidio games a week.
I wish I hadn't let my son have a TV in his bedroom.....he isolated himself from the family. - Composting by AnnaPosted on: 2010-11-07I put a small chicken wire circle near my lemon tree and also one near my fig tree. I've been doing this for years..and putting in fruit and vegetable scraps.
A few days ago I cut up a pineapple and the scraps smell so good I haven't taken them out yet. - keeping Squirrels out of bird feeders by AnnaPosted on: 2010-11-07Put cayenne pepper in bird seed. Birds can't taste it but rodents can and it will keep them away.
- I've been keeping quietPosted on: 2010-11-04I've not put out a newsletter lately as the market is so slow. When I take a listing, I make the owners promise they won't get mad when it doesn't sell or they get no showings. They've been very good about that.
At the moment, I'm taking no more listings until spring. I really expect the market to pick up a bit.
In the meantime, I've just finished my 3 sessions at Wurstfest. For the first time I went to the opening ceremony....ate the ceremonial sausage, drank the ceremonial beer and did the ceremonial chicken dance. It was so much fun. A friend went early and grabbed us a table.
Then the German choir sang and our new director let us sing fun songs. The audience participated and we all had fun....better than art songs for Wurstfest.
Finally I volunteered for the Evening Lions booth. I'm a Breakfast Lion but we always help out the other clubs when they're short handed. - 9/9/10 Working at home and sprouted bread makingPosted on: 2010-09-09Since business has been slow, I've been spending more time at home. Today I worked in the yard, changed the shower head, put beans to soak and also started soaking whole grians ans seeds to make sprouted bread.
When you make sprouted bread you sprout seeds until they're about 1/4 inch long. Then grind them in a food processor and use to make bread. It is supposed to be extremely healthful.
There are directions and videos on google. I buy my grains at Sun harvest in San Antonio but you can get a lot here.
This afternoon on the way to work I plan to drop things off at Goodwill. Getting things out that you're not using anymore is lots of fun and good feeling. - Lazy Setember 5, 2010Posted on: 2010-09-05I decided I would spend the whole day doing chores around the house. Wash the dogs, mow the lawn, trim shrubs, change the air filter, sweep the floors, weed eat. I've spent a cozy 2 hours in bed thinking about all the work I.m going to do.Well. that was fun! Nothing like day dreaming to give me a happy feeling.
I had the last of the apple pie for breakfast. I forgot to put flour in and I think I didn't cook it quite long enough, but I ate it anyway.
Home sales have been very slow and what makes them appear to be almost nonexistant is the back up of listings that we have. There are buyers out there...perhaps not many...but there are many houses to choose from...almost all reasonably priced. With interest rates under 4%, now is a good time to buy.
Last year we had a lot of people try to buy houses at super low prices. Well, people weren't giving their homed away and the offers were well below the mortgage payoff. Sellers were not going to take $39=40.000 to the closing table. I don't know what these people were thinking to make such rediculous offers. One buyer i worked with tried to get me to write an offer for $110,000 on a house worth about $150,000. I refused to do it so she got another Realtor. - Re Poison.....................VivianPosted on: 2010-08-10Poison 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 MaryPosted on: 2010-08-10Vivian, 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 DonPosted on: 2010-08-04An 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 SuccessPosted on: 2010-08-02Aug 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 DefectsPosted on: 2010-07-28STRUCTURAL 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 LifePosted 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. - ZenPosted 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 BillPosted on: 2010-06-27All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
- Morgage Rates June 14, 2010Posted 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 DayPosted on: 2010-06-14I 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 RemovalPosted 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 DavidPosted on: 2010-06-021. 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.............VivianPosted on: 2010-06-02One 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..................VivianPosted on: 2010-05-24I 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 DawnPosted on: 2010-05-24Old 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 LorainePosted on: 2010-05-23I 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 REMEDIESPosted 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.
- WD-40......from Neighbor RonPosted on: 2010-04-12Ken 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.
- KalePosted on: 2010-04-12I'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 LorrainePosted on: 2010-04-05An 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 DAYPosted 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 ProblemPosted on: 2010-03-24Computer 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 faucetPosted on: 2010-03-23Tie 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'sPosted on: 2010-03-23Recently 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 funeralsPosted on: 2010-03-19Today 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 dishesPosted on: 2010-03-19People 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 ReadingPosted 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 BusinessPosted on: 2010-03-10Our 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 3/10/2010Posted on: 2010-03-10Conv 30 year Fxd – 4.875%
Conv 15 year Fxd – 4.25%
VA 30 year Fixed – 5.0%
FHA 30 year Fxd – 5.0%
- Home SalesPosted on: 2010-02-02Worst 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 neighborPosted 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 HikePosted on: 2010-01-24Three 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 youPosted on: 2010-01-20School 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 SignsPosted on: 2010-01-20My 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 SvenPosted 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 livingPosted on: 2010-01-16I 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 internetPosted on: 2010-01-16Good 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 ??????? - HaitiPosted on: 2010-01-14I 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 CheesePosted on: 2010-01-14Last 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 StoryPosted on: 2010-01-07A 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 DayPosted on: 2009-11-11Got 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: 2009-11-07Last year from jan. 1 to Nov. 1 there were 103 sales.
This year we had a 110 for the same time period. - Garage SalePosted on: 2009-10-19Patti 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 mePosted on: 2009-10-16I 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!
- BananasPosted on: 2009-09-10After 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 BatteriesPosted on: 2009-09-08How 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............VivianPosted on: 2009-08-25Just 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............................VivianPosted on: 2009-08-25I 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 BOBPosted on: 2009-08-24Did 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 TreyPosted on: 2009-07-27As Ben Franklin said: 'In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. '
- You Won the Race......................from DavidPosted on: 2009-07-26This 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 ManPosted on: 2009-07-19I 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 salesPosted on: 2009-07-19We are overloaded with homes. Coldwell Banker sales are averaging about 100 days on market...............60 days faster than our nearest competitor.
- Price it rightPosted on: 2009-07-12Talked 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 LincolnPosted on: 2009-07-08Things may come to those who wait…but only the things left by those who hustle.”
-Abraham Lincoln
- Negative Reactions submitted by EdPosted on: 2009-07-06Negative 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 LorainePosted 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 / margerinePosted 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 VivianPosted on: 2009-06-25You 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 RonPosted on: 2009-06-23Dear 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 NeighborPosted on: 2009-06-17Hi 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 FieldsPosted on: 2009-05-22In 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.
- Something to think aboutPosted 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 tipsPosted on: 2009-03-27To 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? ..............................LorrainePosted on: 2009-03-27A 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 KiltsPosted on: 2009-03-22I 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 sitesPosted 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. 2009Posted on: 2009-02-16A 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: 2009-01-04Almost 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 RecipesPosted on: 2009-01-04Tomato 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 homePosted on: 2008-12-21I 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 TimePosted on: 2008-12-16Abe 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 VivianPosted on: 2008-12-12From 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.
- Got a complaint ?Posted on: 2008-11-07One 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 marriagePosted on: 2008-10-23Another 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 scorePosted on: 2008-10-21My 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. - Snake in TreePosted on: 2008-05-25I 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 ZeitungPosted on: 2008-05-23I'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'sPosted 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.
- It's Time to BuyPosted 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 - Safety tip on selling your house yourselfPosted on: 2007-06-30Try 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 workPosted on: 2002-01-30I tried those green bags they advertise on T.V.
They work. Put your veggies in dry and you can re-use them. - Happy New YearPosted on: 2002-01-28We 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.
