The Real Estate Market is Always Good... for somebody. - 08/30/08 04:51 PM
8-28 always good for somebody Reprinted from: Well, it’s time for our mid-year by-the-numbers update, a chance to take a deep breath and see how the real estate market is shaping up for our little corner of the universe here in Southwest California. As a regular reader you know that I have been cautiously optimistic this year in spite of ongoing bad news on the national economic front. I tend to take anything I read in the mainstream media with at least a grain of salt, preferably followed by a shot of Cuervo and a squeeze of lime, and that philosophy … (2 comments)

Credentials for V.P. Palin / Updated - 08/29/08 11:32 AM
In case you all were wondering about the new Republican VP's credentials for the job, they are slim but strong. We'll have to see how this plays out on a national stage. Kudo's to McCain for a maverick pick who seems to be pretty strongly conservative, not afraid to rile the old guard and has a strong sense of ethics - that alone should stand strong against the Democrats.
Alaska's newest bumper sticker: Coldest State / Hottest Governor.
Alaska Governor Moves to Center Stage
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is McCain's VP Pick
Alaska State Website & Statement
Sarah Palin YouTube … (65 comments)

Photosynth - A great (& simple) photo program - 08/23/08 02:31 PM
8-22 photsynth I was looking for a program to knit togeher some of the photos I recently took in Hawaii - particularly photos of areas like Waimoku Falls on Maui. The falls are over 400' tall and cover a wall area over 300' wide - way too much for a single photo to encompass, especially if you want to catch some of the little touches and details of the area like the shot of my wife at the base of that falls on the left or the small flowers growing along the rock face. Of course you can do that through … (6 comments)

The Road to Hana - 08/22/08 09:21 PM
8-21- the road to hana On of the many highlights of our recent trip to Kauai & Maui (in addition to getting married) was our trek to Hana, on the island of Maui. The Road to Hana has long been immortalized in song and in legend. While the road has seen some significant improvements since the last time I was there over 20 years ago, it remains a scenic, treacherous and breathtaking adventure. Nearly 80 miles from where we were staying in Kaanapali just north of Lahaina, Hana Town lies some 52 miles south of the old plantation town of Pa'ia … (2 comments)

Obama at the Blowhole. Too funny. - 08/15/08 10:13 PM
Just had to pass this along for those of you who might need a chuckle. You probably noticed I haven't done any political posts the past couple weeks. That's because I've been on Kauai and Maui and so I've made a few posts to Traveling Rainers. For those of you unlucky enough to actually have real estate business to attend to - you can experience a virtual vacation through me. In fact if you want to take up a collection and send it over, I'll gladly stay another week or two and let you know how it is. Thanks.
Anyway, as you're … (25 comments)

Maui - O'o & Pineapple Wine - 08/14/08 04:38 AM
8/13 Maui - O'o & Pineapple Wine Aloha from the 2nd stop of my wedding/honeymoon adventure - the Magical Isles: Maui, Moloka‘i and Lana‘i. If you've been enjoying the travel log, last week we were on the Garden Isle of Kauai in a great beach house. Lisa and I were married 8/8/08 with our children  and granddaughter around us. It was a great time in a beautiful corner of the world. The island of Kauai boasts a population of only about 57,000 people which makes it a laid back, uncrowded place that abounds in natural beauty and grace. Aloha from the … (7 comments)

Hangin' Loose on Kauai (WARNING: some nudity) - 08/10/08 02:46 PM
8-9 Kauai Aloha. If you folks have never been to Kauai I suggest you drop whatever you're doing and high tail it over here. Of course in my case it's somewhat easier because I've got no real estate business going right now so I figure I can just as easily sell nothing over here as I can over there, and have a lot better time not doing it.  This is my second travel log from The Garden Isle. As previous readers are aware, I came over here to get married - which we did yesterday 8/8/08, right in our backyard on … (3 comments)

Aloha from the Garden Island Kauai - 08/07/08 01:37 PM
8-3 Kauai Aloha from the Garden Isle - Kauai. As some of you know, I'm here to get married - tomorrow, as a matter of fact. What an awesome spot. I've not been to Kauai before but we will definitely be back again. So We've rented this great beach house in Anahola, which is about halfway between the airport at Lihue and Hanalei/Princevill. I'm sitting here on the balcony off the master suite - which takes up the 2nd floor of this house, and the view is stunning. The green lawn rolls down to a flowered break and right to the … (6 comments)

I Can't Believe I'm Doing This Again. - 08/03/08 11:41 PM
I can't believe I'm leaving tonight with 49,774 points. If I could just write one more post about anything, or nothing, I could add another 200 points. Then if I just comment on 2 other posts I'd be over the magic 50,000 threshhold so I could check in and sign up for my Localism sponsorships at noon tomorrow instead of waiting until 12:15.
But I promised myself I'd never do that again. I did that once before back in February with a post called 'I'm so ashamed' when I was trying to leapfrog into 5th position in my community. It was a … (15 comments)

Million Dollar Repo's - La Cresta offers value. - 08/02/08 06:16 PM
8/2 La Cresta REO's The number of bank-owned homes continues to impact our market in many ways. While it has made it difficult for a 'normal' seller to compete with the banks deep pockets, it has increased our local housing affordability by more than 20% in the past 14 months. That means first-time  buyers and move-up buyers are having a picnic right now. Aggressively priced homes are generating multiple offers within hours or days of hitting the market - I'm talking 15+ offers, not just 2 or 3. Our sales for the second quarter posted a noticeable uptick over 1st quarter … (3 comments)

Demagogue Apologist Hacks - SEND MY CHECK NOW! - 08/01/08 03:39 PM
7-31 Apologists and other spineless hacks OK I'm in a rant mood today - I'm going on vacation (again) next week so I need to get this off my chest NOW. Because next week I'll be relaxing on Kauai with my kids and my Honey and getting married next Friday and this won't seem like such a big deal then. But today I'm in a tizzy, or maybe a snit, or maybe just plain honked off at the continuing excesses of our government. Just this week I got all exorcised about LA banning fast food restaurants and then about Congress shutting … (26 comments)

Obama Blows Smoke Up Your... Tires - 08/01/08 02:05 PM
8-1 Obama Blows Smoke Up Your...Tires Well, Nancy Pelosi and her henchmen (& women) pulled up stakes in our nation's capitol and headed of for parties unknown (whoops, that should read - parts unknown). Having them out of town for awhile is always a good thing as our remaining freedoms will remain untrammeled until their return and our incomes will not be taxed any more. Of course they hit the road without a vote on the minor issue of re-instituting off-shore drilling or other ways to increase our independence on foreign oil. Pelosi couldn't risk having that come to a floor … (56 comments)