Notice to Realtors

Now, I'm not saying we're moving and we're certainly not building. I just like to look at house plans. That's one reason I subscribe to Southern Living.

Sometimes I'll see a neighborhood that looks interesting so I'll check out houses for sale there. Sometimes I think about where we might live when we retire so I'll check houses there.

Realtor web sites are giving a lot more information than they used to. There's more detail about the houses and usually a lot of pictures, although the quality of those pictures is iffy.

So here are a couple of suggestions for realtors from someone who looks at your web site the way some customers do, particularly those who are visually oriented and like to see how everything fits together.

1. One empty bedroom tends to look like all the other empty bedrooms. Get some variety in those photos. Pictures of the exterior (front and back), inside the garage, decks, patios, storage sheds, view out the front door, closets, floors, kitchen appliances (especially the range and frig), basement or attic storage, etc.

2. Something I'd really like to see: floor plans. They don't have to be fancy architectural drawings or even drawn precisely to scale. Just the general layout that customers can compare to the photos to get a better of idea of what is there.

Inconsistent Immigration Policies

On the one hand you have thousands of people who enter the US illegally who use our schools, hospitals, police, and fire services, but pay no taxes to support those services. Certain individuals in the government want to reward these illegals with amnesty to stay here indefinitely.

On the other hand you have the ones who come legally. They work hard, they pay taxes, they marry, raise families, and live The American Dream. But if tragedy strikes, the government wants to deport them.

Case in point, http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/22267536/detail.html tells the story of Jesus Camacho.

Jesus immigrated legally and eventually married and American girl, the daughter of friends of ours. Then his wife was killed by a drunk driver. Our government wants to deport him because Stacy died 2 months before their 2nd anniversary which is the government marker for a "real" marriage.

Jesus and Stacy had a son, now 6 years old. If Jesus is deported, either he is separated from his son or his son is separated from grandparents who love him dearly. They also love Jesus and are helping him raise the boy.

It might be the law, but it isn't right. Fortunately, Congress passed a bill changing the law and President Obama signed it. Jesus's case has been reopened and, hopefully, the officials will do the right thing.

The economy is so bad...

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

CEOs are now playing miniature golf.

If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.

Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

McDonald's is selling the 1/4-ouncer.

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

The Mafia is laying off judges.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh great!! The guy who made $50 billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 trillion disappear!

And, finally...

I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Lifeline. I got a call center in Pakistan , and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

(borrowed from Boortz)

Random Thoughts - Indulge Me

Father LeSance wrote a bit about Indulgence that interested me. He quoted quite a bit from "The Art of Being Happy" by Russell. The book is too old for it to be Russell Crowe and the tone doesn't quite fit Nipsey Russell, so I have no clue who Russell is but I like what he says.

Be indulgent...it is necessary for others, and it is necessary for your own sake. Forget the little troubles that others may cause you.

Good advice. Much like "don't argue over biscuits" (Mary Oliver). If you are going to argue, argue about something that matters.

The mysterious Russell continues.

Let us take heed of the habits, tastes, and even the little hobbies of those around us, in order not to cross them in anythings, especially our superiors and our kinsfolk. There are a thousand minute details of manner and conduct, insignificant in themselves no doubt, but to which some, especially old people and nervous people, attach so much importance that a slight negligence with regard to one of these little points puts them in bad humor for a whole day.

That can be taken a couple of ways. He's talking about trying to get along with people by not doing things that bother them, but it can also be taken as advice to thicken your skin and don't get upset over little things that people don't even realize are annoying you.

So, be indulgent of others and toward yourself.

Change of gears for 2010

I'm bored with Marvelous Monday; I never did get it focused so I'm going back to Just My Random Thoughts.

I've started reading "My Prayer Book" by Father LeFrance. I got it from my parents who got it from Mr. Dinsmore who was a minister, Methodist I believe. Why a Methodist minister had a prayer book sanctioned by the pope is beyond me.

Anyway, I've been reading it. According to the Introduction it is "a book of counsels and reflections on the pursuit of happiness, not only with a view to the eternal life, but also with regard to our present existence." Yeah, that's how he writes. It was printed in 1938 and writing styles were more formal then.

I've also started reading "Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis. Our Sunday school class is studying it this year. (Last year we worked our way through "How We Got the Bible" by Neil Lightfoot and the year before that we did Revelation. We're not afraid to dig in.)

That's what I've been thinking about.

Resolutions for 2010

I normally decide on my resolutions during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. I was a bit preoccupied with other matters this week, so I didn't get to it until today. I find that I have more success if I stop with two or three and keep them simple. Here they are.

First: the perennial favorite, lose weight.

Second: keep the house cleaner.

Third: spend more time reading spiritual material.

Evil Incarnate

Hello. My name is Christoph Wilhelm Schroeder. I am a Miniature Dachshund. I have faithfully protected my people for almost seven years.

Four years ago a Wicked Woman came into my house. I knew she was bad news the minute I laid eyes on her. That's why I bit her arm off, but it grew back.

Now I can prove she is evil. My daddy got sick. He's not very steady on his feet. This Evil Diva pretended to care. She brought this contraption into my house on the pretext that it would help Daddy keep his balance. It is really designed to torture me to get even for my biting her arm off. It has two brand spanking new tennis balls stuck on it's feet AND I CAN'T PLAY WITH THEM!



OMPM!!!