Missing That Kinky Stuff - 06/30/08 07:19 PM
My wife & I used to live in Beaverton, OR, 10 years for me, just over a year for the love of my life. About 6 months after we got married we decided to go on a journey of discovery. That is we decided to go someplace where we could spend most of our time together, build the relationship. Go someplace we could use as a base for travel, to garden, to grow and to grow older with. So, in 2004, we packed our bags, our dogs and 9000 pounds of stuff and moved to where we could make our money … (17 comments)

Security Tips for FSBO's - 06/30/08 02:13 PM
Security Tips, Forewarned is Fore-armed!
One of the things a seller doesn't often think about, when deciding to sell their own home, is security; the security of themselves, their family and their property. This prompted me to write a set of security tips that I posted on my outside blog. Don Rogers posted a two part blog on agent security. Don asked me to post the tips I had written, so here they are. Feel free to add to them and also provide to you FSBO's.
The following is a list of precautions to take before allowing strangers into your home:
… (17 comments)

When do you answer the phone? - 06/28/08 09:10 AM
We all live with our cell phones (well, most of us, anyway). Many of us have the blue tooth adapter, like an ugly growth, clamped to our ear at all times.
I admit, I carry my cell with me everywhere. However, I don't answer it everywhere.
I don't answer it
when I am with clients, I say they are my priority and answering a phone in the middle of working with them tells them they are not
when I am in a class
when I am in the bathroom
when I am in an area that is too noisy for me … (46 comments)

Golf and the Art of Real Estate - 06/26/08 12:12 PM
I have been playing golf for much longer than I have been doing Real Estate. I have found that many of the same principles of golf also apply to real estate, or any other profession or life activity for that matter.
What is the first lesson anyone should know about golf? No, not how to grip a club, not how to putt or drive or chip. The first lesson in golf is this. Golf is all about what you do when nobody is looking.
In the movie Bagger Vance, Junnah Ranulph has a chance to win the golf match but as … (66 comments)

High Tech and Three Women in a Sauna - 06/26/08 07:01 AM
 Three women, two younger and one more mature were sitting naked in a sauna. Suddenly, a beeping sound was heard. One of the younger women pressed here forearm and the beeping stopped. The older woman looked ar here questioningly and the young womand said "That was my pager. I have a micro chip implanted under the skin.
A short while later a phone rang. The second young woman raised the palm of her hand to her ear and had a short conversation. When the conversation was over she explained "That was my cell phone. I have a microchip implanted in my … (6 comments)

There is Never Time To Do "It" Right the First Time..... - 06/23/08 01:52 PM
but there is always the time to do it right the second time.
Or is there?
My sister-in-law is having a new home built as the result of her other home burning down just before Christmas. She is using a friend of a friend to build the house. He has been constructing spec homes for years, at very low cost per square foot.
I spent a few years in construction management. Gone through many a bid process, material review, schedule review, change approval, all that good stuff that happens. I did offer my services (at no cost) to help with her … (8 comments)

Page 1, #6 - Thanks A R - 06/21/08 07:41 AM
I was reading a post by Patricia Kennedy this morning in regard to her google juice. I reminded me that I haven't check my ranking in a couple of weeks.
Wow, what a shock and a thrill to see that I am now on the first page. #6 , but still on the first page when you search on my name. And the link goes directly to my Active Rain profile page.
Of course, I am still behind "Metal Mike Saunders" member of the punk band The Angry Samoans.
I am also behind Mike "FAT SLUG" Saunders, another musician with a … (23 comments)

Offer shopping - do you do it? - 06/20/08 01:42 PM
I attended the quadrennial mandatory ethics class a couple of weeks ago. One of the hot topics that came up is that we are now allowed to "shop" offers. Needless to say this caused quite a stir. Out of a session of about 40 people, only the instructor and 2 others were aware of this.
At the last company I worked for I was involved in the review of dozens of bids for various services each year. Bid shopping was explicitly prohibited and against the corporate code of conduct. I knew several who lost their jobs, even though they may have … (10 comments)

The latest casualty of high gas prices - credit cards at the pump - 06/19/08 04:35 PM
Anybody remember ARCO, Atlantic Richfield Comapany? I guess they are still around somewhere. I know that they were bought out by BP. Anyway, ARCO was the first major U.S. oil company to stop accepting credit cards, of any type. This reduced the cost to consumers. Shell Oil was soon to follow, only accepting Shell cards.
Well, I was reading an article to day about gas stations, mostly independants, no longer accepting credit cards for gasoline purchases. As the gasoline price continues to rise, so does the amount the gas station owners have to pay to credit card companies. Most gas station … (31 comments)

Fresh Ingredient Spicy Guacamole - 06/19/08 02:29 PM
My wife and I love Mexican food. Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the Athens area is Agua Linda. I did a blog post about it for localism. One of our favorite appectizers is their chunky guacamole. I have tried to duplicate the recipe at home and have come very close. I do mash the avocado and blend it rather than leave everything in chunks. But we both beleive it is very tasty. So, if you are ever in Athens and crave good Mexican food, go to Agua Linda. If you like good guacamole at home, try this recipe.
1 Avocado - … (43 comments)

Getting into that rare air up there on Active Rain - 06/18/08 10:26 AM
In just a few short months I have moved from the last person in the rankings to #2 in both my town & county and #58 (page 3) in Georgia. Now comes the hard part. I posted about the drive to be #1. Well, I want to be #1 from Active Rain, not only in my town but in the state.
To accomplish that I will first have to catch up to and pass Michelle DeRepentigny to become #1 in Athens-Clarke County. I hope before then I learn how to pronounce her name. That will certainly get me to page 1 … (17 comments)

The Drive to be First - 06/17/08 04:54 PM
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
I sometimes wish I had been the person to write that. Unfortunately, for me, but fortunately for the world old Charlie D wrote that 150 years ago.
I read a post by Richard Weisser and it got me thinking about originality, and about being first. First to do, first to say, just being first. How I often want to post something on a particular subject, a current interest, but, then I see that someone already did.
I used to run track, I often made it to the finish line … (11 comments)

Greenbrier - A Quiet and Affordable Gem - 06/16/08 07:34 PM
 

Greenbrier - A Quiet and Affordable Gem of a Neighborhood
Located on the eastside of Athens, just 7 minutes away from downtown and the University of Georgia is a small subdivision named Greenbrier. Mature trees and landscaping provide the setting for homes located on lots approximately 2/3 acre in size.
The few streets within this subdivision are all cul de sacs, no through traffic. The homes are all about 1500 to 2000 sq. feet and the price range is from the $140,000's to the $170,000's with the recent average selling price of $159,000.00.
Only a few hundred yards from … (2 comments)

New Honda Fuel Cell Vehicle -FCX Clarity - set for July delivery - 06/16/08 06:36 AM
Honda America has announced that the first 5 of it's latest fuel cell vehicle will be delivered in July. These will be the first time that the fuel cell vehicles are available through a dealer. Jamie Lee Curtis and her husband, Christopher Guest are scheduled to take delivery of one of them.
It is expected to have a range of about 270 miles, emit no carbon emissions and have the equivalent mileage efficiency equivalent to 74mpg. MSRP is unavailable at this time but it is rumored to lease at about $600/month. Honda expects to have a limited production of 200 of … (16 comments)

Music and Art in Downtown Athens - AthFest 2008 - 06/13/08 01:24 PM
If you like REM & the B-52’s, stop by Athens, GA between June 18 and June 22 for this years AthFest – the annual Music and Art Festival in downtown Athens featuring local artists and musicians.
No, REM & the B-52’s aren’t listed on this year’s schedule. However, they did get their starts here in Athens.
AthFest was founded in 1997 as a non-profit festival to promote the locally grown music and art of Athens and the surrounding areas. Much of the festival is free. There are wristbands that can be purchased that provide admission or cover charge discounts for certain … (2 comments)

Questions on how site:www.site.com and www.site.com/cache.php work - 06/12/08 07:01 PM
I have been trying to use  site:www.mysitename.com in the search block of google and yahoo.
I am also trying to get  www.mysitename.com/cache.php to work.
 
Both of them come up with document not found.
I have been under the impression that these were kind of a brute force type search command. That google looked for those sites without regard to page ranking or seo.
My web provider says that they are because my SEO isn't high enough or, that the have not been registered with Google. (Apparantly, he is not sure).
Can anyone provide me some insight into how those two … (15 comments)

Please Welcome Janice MacMillan to the Active Rain Family - 06/12/08 07:11 AM
Please welcome Janice MacMillan (Jan Marie) to Active Rain. She is a new agent at Century 21 Winnersville Realty in Valdosta, Ga, and new to blogging.
 
Jan Marie's profile can be found at Janice MacMillan
 
… (14 comments)

How do they do that? Post in more than 5 groups. - 06/12/08 05:59 AM
I keep seeing recommendations to post to additional groups. I see some of the great bloggers on this site with lists of groups that a topic is posted to scroll of the bottom of the page.
However, whenever I want to inflict my soulful introspections, my biting commentary, my subtle but poignant wit on as many people as possible, I find I am still limited to only 5 groups.
Do I need to join a secret club? Pay 50% more for a premium account? Enter a secret f-key sequence? By Brad Andersohn a beer?
How can I get all my good … (25 comments)

A Family Movie - with Billy Bob Thornton ? - The Astronaut Farmer - 06/08/08 07:32 AM
My wife & I watched the Astronaut Farmer last night. We were pleasantly surprised at it.
The story is about a rancher who retired from the astronaut program when his father died. Although his career as an astronaut was over, his dreams of space were not. He builds, from scrap and salvage, his own space capsule and launch vehicle. Ok, a little far fetched, maybe. He faces foreclosure, his friends think he is crazy, the government thinks he might be a terrorist, or worse, someone who can do the job (go to space) on his own, with no government support and … (16 comments)

Fall, Football and Searching for a Home in Athens Georgia - 06/06/08 02:57 PM
Fall is a wonderful time in Athens. Leaves are changing colors, summer temperatures are moderating, and we can open the windows and enjoy the fresh air, between the air-conditining and heating seasons. And, their is University of Georgia football. The normal game day madness is only going to grow this year after Sports Illustrated picked the Dawgs ad the pre-season #1. Hotels are filled with UGA alumni and visiting team fans. The traffic downtown and near the stadium is like L.A. during rush hour. Noisy game fanatics fill the restaurants and watering holes.
But, if you are relocating to the Athens … (0 comments)

Country Living - City Convenience - Shoal Creek Farms in Athens - 06/06/08 11:54 AM
Shoal Creek Farms – Country Living – Close to the City
                         
Deer, squirrels, rabbits, cardinals, and other wildlife are what you will share this community of 2500 to 4500 square foot homes with. Most of the homes are situated on 1 to 2 acre lots, some with lake-frontage. There are several larger lots ranging in size from 2 to15 acres spread throughout the slightly more than one square mile of development. Home prices range from about $275,000 to about $425,000 except for the significantly larger lots.
It is a quiet country … (2 comments)

64 years and 1 day ago - 06/06/08 09:33 AM
The opening 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan are some of the most violent and graphic images of war ever filmed. They are only surpassed by the real footage of the invasion of Normandy.
On Jun 6, 1944, allied forces staged the invasion of Western Europe landing at Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword & Omaha Beaches. Almost 10,000 men lost their lives in this landing.
Remember them. Many Europeans don't. If you know one who was there, take the time to thank him.
… (11 comments)

Just want to say thanks..... - 06/04/08 08:24 PM
To Duane for inviting me and for everyone else for giving me an island of positive attitude and freshness on days like today. Wasn't a bad day, just a busy day (I actually won $100 at an neighborhood agent open house (4 homes), mandatory Code of Ethics training, working out, try to get some business done, generate new business, take care of some things at home, tell my wife about my day, listen to her about hers, a full day, a draining day.
It is sometimes nice just to sit back and read the posts here, to build up energy from … (8 comments)

Localism - How do I get my town & county on the localism map? - 06/04/08 07:02 AM
Not sure where to ask this. Actually, I am not sure where to ask any question. All my questions keep getting deleted from the groups I post in because they don't fit the criteria (but not all questions get deleted).
When I got directly to localism.com and then do Georgia, I find two thing missing from the selection of towns and counties on the left hand side.
Oglethorpe County is not on the list. I am pretty sure it exists. I can leave my driveway, take 3 rights and travel about 4 miles down Lexington Road and there is this big … (18 comments)

Shoal Creek Farms – Country Living – Close to the City - 06/03/08 08:22 PM
Shoal Creek Farms – Country Living – Close to the City
                        
Deer, squirrels, rabbits, cardinals, and other wildlife are what you will share this community of 2500 to 4500 square foot homes with. Most of the homes are situated on 1 to 2 acre lots, some with lake-frontage. There are several larger lots ranging in size from 2 to15 acres spread throughout the slightly more than one square mile of development. Home prices range from about $275,000 to about $425,000 except for the significantly larger lots.
It is a quiet country setting but only 5 minutes to shopping, 12 … (0 comments)

Where do your AR Points come from? - 06/03/08 02:53 PM
I was just looking at my point summary today and was surprised to notice that my blogging points and commenting points are almost equal, about a 49% - 51% split. Is that of any significance?
Am I spending too much time commenting on other members blogs? I admit, sometimes I feel guilty for getting points for welcoming people to the site, but, I am now a featured agent in my county. Guilt get thee behind me!
Should I be posting more blogs that ask questions about getting points? Ok, at least I am not trolling for points, casting out questions like … (11 comments)

 

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