Please help me welcome my 98th Invitee to the ActiveRain Community: Eldon Hendrix.
Eldon owns Hendrix and Sons Home Inspections out of Holiday, Florida, just 2,392.79 miles east of me.
That means that he:
is not a competitor of mine
is no threat to my livelihood
will cost him a lot of money to come see me if I say bad things about him
is another one of my long-distance friends here at ActiveRain
Eldon is a fellow member of the world's largest -- and best -- association for home inspectors -- THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED HOME INSPECTORS -- with over 9,000 members.
I'm quite confident that not only does he do a great job providing his Clients with a thorough home inspection, but he'll make a great addition to our ActiveRain community.
Eldon has entered a few short blog posts, so go check him out, tell him hello, and tell him Russel Ray sent you his way.
Eldon also has chosen initially not to be a RAINMAKER, so the great information he will be entering in his blog will be lost to his prospective Clients. Encourage him to become one of us and take advantage of the Google juice that ActiveRain provides.
Our ActiveRain community will be better for all if we can make newbies feel welcome and get them significantly involved in our community.
I was just 13, and still very much a juvenile delinquent.
It was the Summer of 1968.
Not as good as 1967, the Summer of Love, but what could be?
Hemisfair in San Antonio.
A 2,000-mile drive from Kingsville, Texas, to Huntington Beach, California, to visit my oldest uncle and his family. I was with my wise old grandmother and one of her lady friends, who did the driving.
When we got home to Kingsville four weeks later, there was a letter on the kitchen bar from my youngest uncle who had been living with us. The letter said very simply, "I have joined the Army. Doug."
That was it. No date. Nothing else. Just "I have joined the Army. Doug."
My wise old grandmother was upset because 1968 was the height of the Vietnam War. She couldn't sleep at night since she didn't know where her youngest son was. Had he already been sent to Vietnam? Would she never see him again? After several sleepless nights, she got a call from Doug. He was at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, but visitors weren't allowed until basic training graduation in late August.
Not the news she was hoping for, but better than hearing that he had already left the country, and she could at least call him weekly.
In late August, we got the official invitation to go to the basic training graduation review at Fort Hood. Oh, boy, was I excited. I was going to get to go to a real Army base. I knew I'd see lots of soldiers, lots of guns, tanks, the whole works.
That was back in 1968. Doug did ship out to Vietnam that September and spent two years there. He left as a Spec. 1 and came back two years later as a Spec. 5 with several medals, including a Purple Heart. I was awarded the honor of creating a wooden wall display case to display his medals.
Doug was fortunate that he came back from Vietnam -- so many didn't. Yesterday's tragic events at Fort Hood brought back many memories of Fort Hood -- touring the base, getting to see the barracks, climbing up into a tank on display, and so much more.
I haven't thought of Ford Hood for many years, but never would I have thought that years later 13 of our military heroes would not even get a chance to fight for our freedom, being killed in a cowardly way that only cowards can think of.
For those of you who pray, pray for not only the deceased and the wounded, and their families and friends, but pray for peace and tolerance in the World. We can do better than this.
As with everything in life, it's always best to shop around. That includes shopping for a home inspector to do your home inspection.
There are many trade associations for home inspectors, some national and some state. While all of the trade associations have similar Standards of Practice, not all trade associations have similar entrance requirements.
Most require only that you send them a check for the membership dues, and then you can fulfill their requirements for knowledge, experience, and number of fee-based inspections during the first 12 or 18 months of "membership."
Because of that, it's vitally important that you know exactly what a home inspection will cover in your state. I recently read a Realtor's post stating that "All kitchen appliances will be run through their cycle to make sure that they function properly. The refrigerator will be tested for temperature and seals. The range, microwave, disposer will all be run to make sure they know what to do."
While her post hopefully is specific to her area, in most states, "all kitchen appliances" WILL NOT be run through they cycles. In some states, all kitchen appliances are even specifically excluded.
To the best of my knowledge, personal property is always specifically excluded by the many Standards of Practice for the various home inspector trade associations, which means the refrigerator WILL NOT be tested for temperature and seals, nor will washers and dryers and countertop microwaves be operated, inspected, or tested.
Although I exclude refrigerators in my home inspections, I will specifically include them if they are built in, as many Sub-Zero refrigerators are, and as are many refrigerators in high-rise condominium towers.
If the washer and dryer convey, I will inspect, test, and operate them IF AND ONLY IF my Clients request it because they are still considered personal property, and rarely do they convey prior to the home inspection; rather, they become involved in negotiations after the home inspection.
Readers should ask the home inspectors they are considering using, in advance of the home inspection, what is included and what is excluded. Many home inspectors will include something that would otherwise be excluded for an additional fee to pay for the insurance they need to operate, test, and inspect those appliances.
Although I often do more than the minimum required by the Standards of Practice of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, to which I belong, I'm still limited by what my various insurance policies will cover, and I follow the advice of my attorneys (usually -- LOL).
Following are links to the Standards of Practice for the various State home inspector trade assocations. If the SOP is not available, it typically means that it is available to members only or through another entity, such as the State.
For over forty years, I've been creating my own little oasis with my life and businesses, places where I feel safe and secure.
I do it by creating a five-year business plan, breaking that plan into years, months, weeks, days, and hours.
Then I work those hours and days persistently and consistently, which has always created an oasis that shelters me from any doom and gloom that surrounds me and over which I have no control.
Recently, I got to see first-hand what a real oasis is, and what I've been basing my life on.
Here is a picture of where I was, somewhat desolate looking, surely full of doom and gloom if one ventured off the beaten path:
Deep down in that forbidden-looking landscape, though, was a real oasis.
Enjoy the slide show, but if it doesn't work on your computer, simply click on "View All Images" to watch it at slide.com.
There is a Seattle based animal rescue site that is in need of our help. It doesn't involve a donation, just the one thing that I know you Active Rainers are very good at - snooping the internet.
The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals.
It takes about 30 seconds to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals for free'. This doesn't cost you a thing.
Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.
I did this myself, and thoroughly examined the site and background information of the organization prior to posting this blog.
A couple of months ago I set out to browse all 5,737 Groups on ActiveRain.
My purpose was to create a list of 100 Groups that would be good for anyone and everyone to join, specifically new ActiveRain members to help them get started Playing in the Rain.
I wanted to get this list done soon enough so that I could make it my one thousandth blog post here at ActiveRain.
Well, actually I finished going through 5,737 groups a week ago, but while I was going through those groups, the number had grown from 5,737 to 6,035 -- ☺☺☺
Late last night I finished, and as I was putting this blog together, I thought how much ActiveRain Groups are like television stations. Each station has its special programming, and if you don't like the programming, switch stations!
Following are my Top 101 stations for anyone's ActiveRain TV.
Although many cactus species have thorns, they really aren't any more thorny or dangerous than the mighty rose, and many cactus (and succulents) have flowers to match the rose while requiring far less maintenance and care.
There are two cactus species that I, and many others, do consider flat-out dangerous. One of them is the Jumping Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida).
I used to have one of these in my garden, a little one about a foot tall, but after accidentally stepping into it one day and not being able to walk for two years, I decided that it was even too dangerous for me, Mr. Cactus Lover. I figured I would leave it to the professional gardeners, also known as Mother and Father Nature.
The Jumping Cholla gets its name because branches break off very easily when touched, literally seeming to jump at you. When they attach to your clothing, you might as well throw the clothing away, and when they attach to your skin, well, don't let them. That's all I have to say. They are beautiful, especially when they bloom, but they are flat-out dangerous.
The Jumping Cholla is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and I've found many of them growing in the wild here in the San Diego boondocks. However, I had never seen a "Cholla Garden" until I visited Joshua Tree National Park last weekend to celebrate my first anniversary. The plant does get top heavy, and any branches that fall to the ground will grow into new plants.
In the Cholla Gardens, you can see Jumping Chollas growing to about ten feet tall, hundreds and hundreds of them. There is even a narrow, quarter-mile, dirt path through the Cholla Gardens. Did I take it? Yes I did. Was I extremely careful? Yes I was. I never thought I could make a quarter mile walk last for just over an hour -- ☺☺☺.
Chollas are not endangered because they only grow in environments that are generally inhospitable and inaccessible to developers -- ☺☺☺.
Following are some pictures from the Cholla Garden. If the slide show here doesn't work on your computer, simply click on "View All Images" to watch it at slide.com.
Feel free to leave a comment, and for other programs from The ActiveRain Nature Channel, click here.
Last Thursday I got a call inquiring about whether I could do a home inspection on Friday.
Since Friday was my first anniversary, and I told the caller so, I suggested doing it on Saturday, but he really wanted it done on Friday, so I passed.
Monday I got a call from him asking me to do a TECH inspection for him, since he wasn't happy with the inspection that he had received on Friday.
On the size home he was buying, my TECH inspection would be $1,999. Since home inspectors are not licensed in the State of California, what I do on a TECH inspection is take various licensed professionals with me as part of my team:
licensed plumber
licensed electrician
licensed roofing contractor
licensed heating and cooling technician
licensed chimney sweep
Additionally, if I detect any problems with the foundation or structure, I will take the lead on getting a structural engineer or foundation professional to inspect the building.
Unfortunately, to get all those professionals together at the same time requires a little coordination, so I require seven days advance notice, which often doesn't fit into the home inspection contingency period.
The caller told me what he was unhappy with, and I endeavo(u)red to explain to him why that inspector did what he did, said what he said, and wrote what he wrote. When I was a home inspector by name, I did the exact same thing, and I wasn't totally happy with what I had to do.
The problem here in California, in addition to there being no licensing for home inspectors, is that our attorneys keep us informed about what's going on in the courts, and our insurance advisors tell us what we can and cannot say if we want to carry errors and omissions insurance through their companies.
As a property consultant, I can take a little more risk in saying and doing things, risk that I am willing to take, so many of the things that the caller was complaining about would be things that I now take the risk for doing, saying, not doing, or not saying, as the case may be.
I suggested that I sit down with him as a $100/hour consultant and go over the other home inspector's report line by line so I could explain what the other inspector was or was not doing, answer any questions he might have, and look at anything in the house that was still of a concern to him. Then I could provide him with my own recommendations of how to proceed.
We had a tentative date set for this morning at 10:00 a.m., but since I haven't heard from him, I hope that I helped him gain confidence in the other inspector. Of course, he could just be really upset with me because I couldn't meet his timeline for doing a TECH inspection. Nonetheless, I did what I could, and I hope I helped.
I've been wanting to go back to Joshua Tree National Monument (now a National Park) ever since U2 came out with their top-selling album "The Joshua Tree" in 1987.
I had been there during the Summer of 1973 and thoroughly enjoyed it although the two friends that I was traveling with didn't appreciate it as much as I did since we already lived in the South Texas desert.
The Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) is native to Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah, mainly in the vast Mojave Desert. A group of Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-1850s gave the plant its name. The tree's shape reminded them of a biblical story in which Joshua spreads his hand to the sky in prayer.
Joshua trees are relatively fast growers for a desert plant, growing up to three inches per year. Since it is a tree in shape only, its trunk is comprised of thousands of small fibers without annual growth rings. Plants are know to live for hundreds of years, and it's estimated that they can live a thousand years.
The Joshua tree gets top heavy, with branches regularly breaking off and falling to the ground, and has a very deep and extensive root system to more efficiently gather water from the desert environment. They usually bloom from February to April, but blooms are highly dependent on rainfall; little rainfall will mean fewer blossoms, if any. They also need at least one winter freeze in order to bloom. The flowers are pollinated by the yucca moth, and branching occurs at blooms or if the tip of the branch has been damaged by the yucca worm.
Native Americans used the leaves to weave sandals and baskets, and made meals from the seeds and flower buds. Joshua tree trunks were also used by early ranches and miners as fence posts, and for fuel in steam engines.
The Joshua tree is an indicator species for the Mojave Desert. As the Joshua tree goes, so goes the Desert and other wildlife that depend on the Joshua tree for food and shelter.
Current research indicates that the Joshua tree could become extinct in the Desert due to global warming and the extinction of the Shasta ground sloth which apparently was a key to the tree's dispersal.
Following is a short slide show of the park, with more to come this week. If the slide show here doesn't work on your computer, simply click on "View All Images" to watch it at slide.com.
For other programs from The ActiveRain Nature Channel, click here.
__________ Sources:
"A Tree Named Joshua," by Sandra Keith (American Forests magazine)
"The Joshua Tree, a Controversial, Contradictory Desert Centurion," by G. Gossard
"Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses: Gardening With California Monocots," by Nora Harlow and Kristin Jakob
Here it is, Folks! The official ActiveRain blog from ActiveBrad detailing the current ActiveRain points system. I suspect that Brad only did this because the points system is changing this coming weekend -- LOL. After all, why would they possibly want us to know all the ins and outs of the ActiveRain points system? Okay, I'm laughing too much, so I'll quit while I'm ahead. Thanks, Brad!
ActiveRain awards members points based on participation and their individual involvement within the network and community. While there is a much more complicated and technical explanation of how the point system works, this post is to provide you a general overview of how points are earned and distributed that to ALL ActiveRain members.
ActiveRain points are earned based on a members individual activities and efforts. Points are accumulated over the duration of the Calendar week which "Starts Monday morning at 12:00am Central Time, and Ends Sunday night at 11:59pm Central Time."
The following are some ways you can earn points and move up the "Featured Member" ladder in your Local Area.
200 Points for each Blog Post (Max 10 per Week) (50 Word Minimum Required)
25 Additional Points when Post is added to Channels with a Topic
400 Points for Featured Post on ActiveRain.com (Excludes Posts Featured in ActiveRain Groups)
25 Points For Each Comment (Max 10 Per Day) (Comments on Your Own Posts Excluded)
25 Points for Each Reblogged Post (Max 10 Per Week - These do not Include Your Own Posts)
ActiveRain Profile Points (Building Your AR Profile will Build points)
Received Comments on Blog Posts (No Blog Post to exceed 450 pts.)
100 Points - Logging In To ActiveRain Each Day (This applies 7 days a week)
250 Points When Someone Accepts Your AR Invitation (Must Sign Up under Members Invite Code)
10% of Total Points Earned By New Members Invited By You (IE: Invited Member Earns 1000 pts. - You Earn 100 Pts.)
ActiveRain and Member Approved Contests - Points Will Vary (These show up as Bonus Points in your Point Summary)
Staff Awarded Bonus Points - These are issued by the AR staff (Member Humanitarian, Paying It Forward, Helping Others etc.)
Weekly Point Scenario: The potential of points available per week, per member would be as follows: 1750 for max comments, 2000 for max Blog posts, 700 for logging in daily, 250 for adding to Channels/Topics, and 250 for max ReBlogged posts. The Weekly potential of points would be 4950 (this does not include featured posts, comments received, invitation and percentage points, contests, and staff awarded bonus points.)
Point Disclaimer:The Points System created by the ActiveRain Network was developed and implemented to motivate, inspire, and reward members for their participation and involvement within the community. These points are subject to change at the discretion of the ActiveRain Mgmt. Team, with or without cause, warning, or notice.
"RainMaker" Special - Signup Here and Get New Member Discount
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Eldon is a fellow member of the world's largest -- and best -- association for home inspectors -- THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED HOME INSPECTORS -- with over 9,000 members.
Posted by 
Hemisfair in San Antonio.
In late August, we got the official invitation to go to the basic training graduation review at Fort Hood. Oh, boy, was I excited. I was going to get to go to a real Army base. I knew I'd see lots of soldiers, lots of guns, tanks, the whole works.
Most require only that you send them a check for the membership dues, and then you can fulfill their requirements for knowledge, experience, and number of fee-based inspections during the first 12 or 18 months of "membership."
While her post hopefully is specific to her area, in most states, "
Although I exclude refrigerators in my home inspections, I will specifically include them if they are built in, as many Sub-Zero refrigerators are, and as are many refrigerators in high-rise condominium towers.
Readers should ask the home inspectors they are considering using, in advance of the home inspection, what is included and what is excluded. Many home inspectors will include something that would otherwise be excluded for an additional fee to pay for the insurance they need to operate, test, and inspect those appliances.
There is a Seattle based animal rescue site that is in need of our help. It doesn't involve a donation, just the one thing that I know you Active Rainers are very good at - snooping the internet.
Late last night I finished, and as I was putting this blog together, I thought how much ActiveRain Groups are like television stations. Each station has its special programming, and if you don't like the programming, switch stations!
ActiveRain Fit Club
AR Blog Party
Clouds at ActiveRain (clouds attached)
Fraiche Aire
Inspired By Song!
Out Of The Box! 
Recipes
Things to Do/Places to Visit
The Jumping Cholla is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and I've found many of them growing in the wild here in the San Diego boondocks. However, I had never seen a "Cholla Garden" until I visited Joshua Tree National Park last weekend to celebrate my first anniversary. The plant does get top heavy, and any branches that fall to the ground will grow into new plants.
On the size home he was buying, my TECH inspection would be $1,999. Since home inspectors are not licensed in the State of California, what I do on a TECH inspection is take various licensed professionals with me as part of my team:
Additionally, if I detect any problems with the foundation or structure, I will take the lead on getting a structural engineer or foundation professional to inspect the building.
The caller told me what he was unhappy with, and I endeavo(u)red to explain to him why that inspector did what he did, said what he said, and wrote what he wrote. When I was a home inspector by name, I did the exact same thing, and I wasn't totally happy with what I had to do.
As a property consultant, I can take a little more risk in saying and doing things, risk that I am willing to take, so many of the things that the caller was complaining about would be things that I now take the risk for doing, saying, not doing, or not saying, as the case may be.
Joshua trees are relatively fast growers for a desert plant, growing up to three inches per year. Since it is a tree in shape only, its trunk is comprised of thousands of small fibers without annual growth rings. Plants are know to live for hundreds of years, and it's estimated that they can live a thousand years.
ActiveRain awards members points based on participation and their individual involvement within the network and community. While there is a much more complicated and technical explanation of how the point system works, this post is to provide you a general overview of how points are earned and distributed that to ALL ActiveRain members.
;)
;)
