random stuff: Keep the Earth Happy-Think Creatively About Recycling - 04/22/09 09:16 AM
Our family has always been good about recycling. In fact we have shared trash service with neighbors, as we couldn’t fill one of those large bins that all of the local trash services want you to have. Big, bulky and ugly are the only way to describe them but they do make good rain barrels (but that is another blog.)
So as we continue to read more and more about the impact that trash is having on the environment it reminded me of some of the ways that we have been creative when it came to dealing with recyclables. My daughter … (8 comments)
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random stuff: The Bombs Bursting In Air-Indepence Day is Almost Here - 06/30/08 03:34 PM
Having had the good fortune to grow up up in the DC area I've had the opportunity to watch the Nation's Capital fireworks from a number of different perspectives.
As a child my father used to park the car on the side of the road just outside of town with a great view of the Washington Monument. In my late 20's and early 30's I joined the masses on the Mall to listen to the Beach Boys and enjoy a picnic. When my children were small we found a special perch at the inside the gates of Fort Meyers in Arlington. Last year … (5 comments)
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random stuff: The Top Five-Things You Most do While Visiting the DC Area - 06/29/08 08:26 PM
Trying to pick the top five things to do in the DC area is like a Smothers Brothers comedy routine. Mom always liked you best; no she always liked you best, how are you supposed to choose? But choose I must. As a native of the area I've had the good fortune to run up the stairs of the Washington Monument as a child with my out of town cousins and dip my feet in the Reflecting Pool on a hot summer day. Since the stairs of the monument are now off limits and the Park Police frown on cooling your feet you will have to settle … (31 comments)
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random stuff: You Can Smell the Bacon Sizzling on Active Rain - 06/27/08 09:37 PM
While reading posts this week by my fellow local bloggers Ken Montville and Patricia Kennedy about discovering a connection to Lenn Harley in the middle of transaction, I began to wonder how many connections could be made on Active Rain. With 90,000 plus members you have to suspect that there are more connections than we could imagine and possibly some lost relatives to be found.
As I was pondering my phone rang and it was my brother calling from Florida. A few weeks ago I had the good fortunate to attend my nieces wedding in St Petersburg. After I came back … (27 comments)
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random stuff: Please Can't You Just Make It Stop? - 06/27/08 07:22 AM
Admitting that you have a problem is the first step towards a new beginning. At first it seemed that this post should possibly be marked as members only. Letting the public in on an issue that your family has been tortured with for years might be a cathartic experience or it could possibly ruin your real estate career. I'm going to take the chance that the public will understand and perhaps even be able to help.
Being tormented by a song in your head is a terrible thing. Even worse is the fact that no one can pin down the reason … (21 comments)
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random stuff: It’s New, It’s Huge and It’s Extraordinary - 06/17/08 02:36 PM
Our stomachs were rumbling and when we opened the refrigerator door all we found was a bottle of ketchup and a can of tuna fish. We were desperate and knew that the time had come; we had to make a trip to the grocery store. Our mailbox had been filling with coupons and store specials from some new comer to the area and we decided oh what the heck lets check them out.
So off we went for what we thought would be a simple run to the grocery store. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot I was … (8 comments)
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random stuff: Some Mothers are “Fathers” Too - 06/15/08 05:38 PM
Today is Fathers Day. The grills are being fired up and the hardware stores are full of guys doing their best Tim Taylor imitations. It is a bittersweet day for me.As a single mom I handled both the role of mother and father as my children were growing up. Obviously they watched other children celebrate Fathers Day and realized that they were missing something. One year out of the blue on Fathers Day I realized my kids were up to something. There was some giggling and running around outside my bedroom door.
A few minutes later the door opened and they … (8 comments)
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random stuff: A New Game- Realtor® Myth Busting - 06/12/08 09:50 PM
Chances are most children don't pretend to be Realtors® when they are little unless their families were in the business. As kids we thought about being fireman, policemen or teachers. A few of you might have had more lofty ambitions and considered a run for the presidency or flying the space shuttle but the closest most of us got to a real estate career was a game of Monopoly.
Recently I was asked to speak to a group of high school students about careers (I've had a few) and how I ended up as a Realtor®. The crazy character side of … (18 comments)
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random stuff: Spring Inspiration and Positive Views from the Tidal Basin to the Washington Monument - 04/05/08 07:58 AM
There just aren't enough words that can ever tell the wonder of wandering around the Tidal Basin in Washington DC when the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom. It feels like walking under huge mounds of cotton candy. The air is sweet with the smell of the blossoms and the waves of pink seem to go on for ever.
Top off the beautiful trees with the views of the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument and you have the best of both nature and history in front of your eyes. It doesn't matter where you are from or where you may be going; … (23 comments)
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random stuff: Confessions of a Non-GPS Using Agent - 04/04/08 07:07 PM
It finally happened. I got lost. Yep, me the native of Northern Virginia, the one who proudly gloats that they "don't need no stinkin' GPS" to find their way around.
My instincts told me when I left the house that something wasn't right. I checked and double checked to make sure I had my supra key, my phone, my digital camera and even my car keys. They were all there so that wasn't the problem.
So off I went. I followed the directions. I took every left turn, I took every right turn. How could I be wrong? It was all … (27 comments)
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random stuff: Anticipation-Two Events Worth the Wait - 03/12/08 09:56 AM
Trust me waiting for these events is better than waiting for the ketchup on your nice hot French fries!
It is the time of year where both the natives to the Washington DC area and the tourist start to anticipate the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin. This year the timing of the Cherry Blossom Festival coincides with another great local event the Smithsonian Kite Festival. Two great events at one time.
The Cherry Blossom Festival itself runs from Marc 29th to April 13th and the peak time for the blossoms is forecast to be from March 27th to April … (7 comments)
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random stuff: HOT Lanes in Northern Virginia-Lets Get Real - 02/25/08 06:51 PM
Northern Virginia doesn't have the worst traffic in the US but sometimes local and federal politics get in the way of making smart decisions about future road and railway expansions.
For months now there has been a debate in the area about whether to allow private enterprise the option to build HOT (high occupancy toll) lanes. One set of the lanes will start in Stafford County Virginia and come north to Washington DC. Having just watched the extension of the metro rail system flounder, flop and die leaving the congestion in the Tysons Corner area to grow worse by the day, the idea … (2 comments)
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random stuff: Patience Grasshopper-The Pebble is Within Your Reach - 02/21/08 08:12 AM
Patience among bloggers seems to be hard to find. By the number of posts we see asking how to get a blog to Page One on Google in 30 seconds or less, it seems that most people who are blogging think that it should bring instant recognition and readership.As Master Po would say to young Caine, "patience grasshopper." Finding the instant solution to bringing an audience to your blog is not the way to build readership or credibility. As you look around, especially outside of AR, you see blogs that have evolved over time to become the heavy hitters in the industry. … (18 comments)
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random stuff: Pushy Salesman-Rethink Your Approach - 02/19/08 01:47 PM
One of the ways I view my job as a Realtor® is a customer relationship manager. It means that I work hard to build win/win situations between all of the people that it needs to take to get a deal to the closing table. So when my phone rings and on the other end is a pushy salesman I'm floored that they think their approach is going to work.
Today it happened again. John from XYZ Company called to try and sell me the latest and greatest real estate widget (name changed to protect the not so innocent). Now I don't … (16 comments)
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random stuff: No Cold Calls Please-Our Lives and Our Identities are at Stake - 02/13/08 09:21 AM
This past week I had three phone calls from Wells Fargo Mortgage Company. The first woman who called identified herself by a first name and said she was calling from Wells Fargo. Fine I say what is this regarding? Her response was "first I need you to verify your address." WHOA! I'm not going to give you my address until you tell me who you are. Again she says she is calling from Wells Fargo. Trust me we went back and forth for a couple of minutes before she finally go the hint that I was not going answer any questions … (43 comments)
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random stuff: Looking at Real Estate From a Global Perspective - 12/23/07 06:54 AM
We all know that real estate is local. What is happening in Northern Virginia is not the same as Detroit Michigan or Phoenix Arizona. How we work with our buyers and sellers in our market areas reflects what is happening in those areas.
However it is also interesting to step outside of our normal business to take a look at real estate in other parts of the world. This week I've been in the UK and have been doing some research on the market, how homes are bought and sold and the differences or similarities to the Northern Virginia market. In … (4 comments)
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random stuff: Even MONEY Magazine Can't Keep it Straight - 11/24/07 04:32 PM
Reading the latest editions of Money Magazine had me shaking my head. Consumers eveywhere are having a tough time knowing which set of data to believe when it comes to the market in their area and what was written in a leading magazine is just another example of why.
The first article titled "The Last of the Red Hot Markets" mentioned a few cities where the appreciation was still high for homeowners and sellers were in the drivers seat. One of the cities they mentioned was Grand Junction CO with a 14.3% appreciation rate. WOW the folks in Grand Junction must … (8 comments)
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random stuff: Welcome Back Mr. Kotter - 09/04/07 06:40 AM
It is the first day of school for most students in Northern Virginia today. I want to send a thank you to all of the teachers who are headed back to the classrooms to take on the task of making sure our children are ready for the future. I remember the teachers who saw potential in me when others didn't and the teachers who motivated my children to do more than they ever imagined. So thanks Mr. Kotter and Welcome Back!
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random stuff: Thoughts and prayers for Virginia Tech - 04/16/07 01:11 PM
Just a brief post to say that my thoughts and prayers are with the students and their families at Virginia Tech. Both my son and his father were Tech grads and we have spent plenty of time on the campus. This is a terrible tragedy which will affect thousands of students for a very long time.
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random stuff: A Perfect Day In Washington DC - 04/04/07 10:12 AM
No political statements here. Yesterday was just about as perfect of a day as you can ever find in the Nations Capital. I decided there was no reason not to join in the celebration of spring with the thousands of other residents and visitors to the area. As a native of the area I often forget how fantastic the city can be. It was a great people watching day. There were families with small children, active retirees, multi-generational groups and of course the bus loads of tourists and students.
Just outside the FDR Memorial was a group of students from Georgia answering … (10 comments)
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