Mike's 52 Weeks of Thanksgiving - Week 9 - A Source of Information and a Place to Work - 01/30/09 09:41 AM
First, I apologize for being a day late, posting my Thankful Thursday on a Friday. However, this week, I am grateful for the Oconee County Library. Now, I don't live in Oconee County, but, it is part of the Clarke County library system and is more convenient to my office.
But, what I am thankful for this week is that my wife got a job at the Oconee County library. She has been looking for a year and even with a masters degree she has had a hard time finding one. She has interviewed for many positions, mostly at UGA, but, … (16 comments)

Athens GA Unemployment Edges Up but Still Well Below State & National Averages - 01/29/09 02:20 PM
Then unemployment rate in Athens rose slightly in December from 5.8% to 6.1%. However, that rise still places Athens well below both the U.S. national unemployment rate of 7.2% and the Georgia state unemployment rate of 8.1%. The Univerisity of Georgia is contributing to the Athens employment stability because it has been able to attain spending reduction targets in other ways than layoffs.
The real estate market in Athens is also a bit more stable than in many parts of the country. Yes, sales volume has decreased by about 1/3, both the average and median prices of homes has risen.
For … (0 comments)

How Many Dogs Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb? - - 01/29/09 11:02 AM
How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb? It depends upon the breed. 1. Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb? 2. Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code. 3. Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp! 4. Rottweiler: Make me. 5. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark. 6. Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light … (17 comments)

Wordless Wednesdays - Outback Sunset - 01/28/09 07:23 AM

 
 
 
 
 
Photograph Copyright Mike Saunders, 2009.
… (30 comments)

University of Georgia Named #4 in Kiplinger's 100 Best Values in Colleges and Universities - 01/25/09 04:01 PM
Kiplinger.com has released it's 2009 rankings of the 100 best values in public colleges and universities in the U.S. The University of Georgia has been rated #4 for in state students and #14 for out of state students. The schools are ranked first on academic quality and then on a combination of cost and financial aid. The full list of all 100 schools, as well as the criteria for selection, can be found here.
The University of Georgia is located in Athens, GA.  Only about 60 miles from Atlanta, Athens, the Classic City, is home to the UGA Bulldogs( the DAWGS), … (4 comments)

Gary Sinise Kimo Williams and the Lt. Dan Band - Playing for a Cause - 01/25/09 03:23 PM
Most of you know who Gary Sinise is, the lead actor on CSI NY and the acadamy award winning actor for portraying Lt. Dan Taylor in the movie Forest Gump.  One thing you might not know about him is that he is an accomplished bassist and along with his friend, Kimo Williams ( a Viet Nam vet) have formed a music group called the Lt. Dan Band.
The band started out doing small jam sessions and local gigs in and around Chicago but it soon branched out into something more. Kimo, like many Viet Nam veterans, suffered insults, diatribes, etc, from … (8 comments)

Thankful Thursdays - Mike's 52 Weeks of Thanksgiving - Week 8 - Religious Choice - 01/22/09 02:00 PM
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.... This weeks item to be thankful is the forethought of the framers of the U.S. constitution in writing the first amendment providing all the citizens of the United States to exercise (or not) the religion of their choice. While it might appear to some that this right has been under attack in recent decades, it is still here and protected.
We are still free to attend (or not) the church of our choice on the day of our choice. We are still free to declare our denomination and to not have … (8 comments)

Some Wednesday Humor - Be Specific in Your Living Will - 01/21/09 07:36 AM
 
A Living Will Is Important To Relationships
My wife and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, "Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."
My wife got up, unplugged the TV then went to the refrigerator and threw out all of my beer.
… (32 comments)

Athens, GA Named As One of 2009's Dozen Distinctive Destinations - 01/19/09 02:54 PM
As if being home to the University of Georgia as well as the center of a strong music scene which included the genesis of the the bands R.E.M., The B-52's and Widespread Panic, Athens, GA now has another reason to brag. It has just been named as one of the Dozen Distinctive Detinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Each year, since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (National Trust) has selected 12 communities that exhibit "dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes and a strong commitment to historic preservation and revitalization". (See the organizations website for distinct … (10 comments)

Thankful Thursdays - Mike's 52 Weeks of Thanksgiving - Week 7 - Better Living Through Chemistry - 01/16/09 08:02 AM
My wife and I have both ahd the worst cold we have had in years this week. Well, hers started last week and then I caught it this week. We were both pretty well flattenned by these colds.
This week, I am thankful for better living through chemistry. Let me explain, though, both my wife and I try to stay away from synthetic drugs as much as possible. We try to use food and drink for our health and are usually pretty successful at staying healthy and shortening ailments. However, sometimes, that big cold comes along and it's time to find … (22 comments)

Get Ready for Your Credit Score to Decline - New FICO Formula Kicks in This Month - 01/14/09 12:52 PM
FAIR ISAAC is changing the playing field again, implementing it's latest version of credit scoring FICO 2008. And it doesn't appear that the change will be leveling it. The three major credit reporting agencies will be rolling out the new scoring system this year, with Transunion deploying it in January, Equifax in late spring and Experian at some later date.
The new FICO is touted to better predict the likelihood of a default on the part of the borrower. However, many of the changes appear to be designed to lower credit scores. FICO 2008 will place more emphasis on available credit, … (53 comments)

You Know You Are Living in the 21st Century When - 01/09/09 11:04 AM
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when...
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave..
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years..
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. … (32 comments)

Keep Your GE Active Key Charged With Your Phone Charger - 01/09/09 09:53 AM
The new GE Active Keys are convenient and small and you don't have to use a cradle and connect to your computer to synch, they update via radio. However, the radio's aren't very efficient and will drag down the charge on the Active Key in a couple of days.
There are several solutions: 1) carry the Active Key in and place it on a home charger every day, 2) get a special car charger for your Active Key at a cost of over $20.00. 3) Use your existing cell phone automobile charger.
Yep, if you have a cell phone that charges … (11 comments)

Who Let The Dogs Out - And Why Aren't You Controlling Them? - 01/08/09 09:02 AM
I was on my way to show a home yesterday in a very nice neighborhood of homes in the high $200's to the low $300's. I do admit, it was my first time in the neighborhood, and, on first entry was very pleased with it, as were the clients.
About 100 yards into the neighborhood, 2 large dogs came out of a drive and chased the vehicle we were in. About half way past the next yard, they gave up and went back to their own yard.
A couple hundred yards further in, but still some way from the home we … (18 comments)

Mike's 52 Weeks of Thanksgiving - Week 6 -All Grown Up - 01/08/09 08:40 AM
Not the least of what I am thankful for this week, and every week are my two kids. They are all grown up and out on their own. Seana (pronounced Shawna) is the older of the two and single, but engaged to be married in the summer. Aaron is married and the father of my grandson, Daniel, who is featured in another one of my thankful posts. They both played on a co-ed youth soccor team that I coached when they were in high school. I taught them snorkeling in Hawaii and hiking in the Sierra's.
They have both grown up … (9 comments)

Madison County, GA Home Sales Volume Down in 2008 - 01/05/09 06:42 AM
 The previous 12 month volume of home sales in Madison County, GA was down 32% for the year with annual sales falling from 244 on Jan. 1, 2008 to 166 on Jan. 1, 2009. However, the average Days on Market has remainded virtually unchanged, down 1 day in 12 months, but, showing a steady decrease since September, 2008.
Unlike neighboring Athens-Clarke County, the average sales price of a home fell 6% and the median sales price dropped by 5.2% during that same time frame.

… (2 comments)

What Does Your Grandpa Like? - A Bit of Humor - 01/04/09 03:24 PM
A little boy and his grandfather went to the mall for the afternoon. After a bit of time of walking around they became separated and the boy became worried.
He approached a mall security person and said, "I've lost my grandpa!"
The security cop asked, "What's he like?"
The little boy hesitated and thought for a moment and then replied,
"Crown Royal whiskey and women with big boobs."
… (21 comments)

Jackson County, GA Shows 2% Gain in Home Sales in December 2008 - 01/04/09 03:04 PM
Jackson County, GA 12 month home sales rose in December 2008 by just over 2%, however, that is still 28.4% down from the Dec 2007 12 month home sales volume. Jackson County, while one of the fastest growing counties, not only in the state of Georgia, but, in the whole country has not been immune to the slow down in home sales, however, the average Days on Market has been showing a positive trend, down 4.5% for the month and 10.8% for the year.
The average selling price of homes in Jackson County is still declining slightly but is down 15.2% from … (0 comments)

Watkinsville Ga Average Home Sales Price Same As 12 Months Ago - 01/03/09 07:29 PM
 The previous 12 month average sales price of a home in Watkinsville, GA, finished 2008 virtually unchanged from 2007. However, the median price did fall over 3.6% during that period. The bright note is that both average and median sales prices went up from the end of November to the end of December.
Total 12 month sales volume dropped 32.7% from 285 at the end of 2007 to 192 at the end of 2008. During that same the average Days on Market of a home went up 15.5%. The positive news is that,for the 6 months from the end of July 2008 to the … (6 comments)

Oconee County Home Sales Volume Flat - 01/03/09 07:17 PM
 Oconee County Ga previous 12 month home sales figures for Dec. 2008 were virtually flat but overall down 22.6% from the Dec. 2008 previous 12 month volume. Average sales price, up almost 1% from November was down about 9.5% from the previous year. Likewise, the median sales price was up from November almost 1.5% but down from the previous year about 1.3%.
The Days on Market average was up over 21-2/3% during that same time period.

… (0 comments)

Athens Average Home Sale Price Up 5.5% In 2008 Over 2009 - 01/03/09 06:59 PM
 The average selling price of home sold in the previous 12 months in Athens-Clarke County was up 5.5% in 2008 from $164,445.00 to $173,985.00. The median sale price was also up about 6.5% from $139,900.00 to $149,000.00 during that same time frame.
That is good news for those that sold homes during that time period. However, the number of homes sold during the previous 12 months dropped 35.5% from 1664 units annually to 1073 units. The average number of days on the market increased 10.2% to 167 to 184.
Days on Market, average sales price and median sales price figures from November to … (0 comments)

Mike's 52 Weeks of Thanksgiving - Week 6 - Things Working Again? - 01/03/09 08:12 AM
Here it is, week 6 in my 52 weeks of Thanksgiving postings. I had a whole list of topics that I was having a hard time chosing from, my kids, the new year, some terrific days off away from everything.....
However, as I logged in to active rain, after four days away, I found out that posts to Localism are working again. So, while this is fresh in my mind, and, before I start taking it for granted, I just wanted to express my thanks for having this feature available once again and for those that spent their holiday time and … (4 comments)

How to Recover From the Stress of the Holidays - Humor - 01/03/09 08:04 AM
I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me, and we all could probably use more calm in our lives, especially during the stress that comes with the holidays!
Some doctor on TV this morning said that the way to achieve "inner peace" is to finish all the things you have started. So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished and, before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of B aileys, abutle of vocka, a pockage of Pringlies, tha … (14 comments)

 

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