Memories Of My Childhood Home: Nothing To Be Fond Of - 07/27/09 10:10 PM
The memories of my childhood home do not bring back any fond memories. I grew up in a 1-bedroom apartment in a 6-story walk up in a pretty rough neighborhood in NYC. The building wasn't properly maintained and the rats and roaches were everywhere. I remember lack of heat in the winter and hot water for bathing and broken windows.
The apartment was barely big enough for the three of us. It consisted of a tiny bathroom, a small eat in kitchen, a small living room and a small bedroom. At night I slept in the living room and a convertible … (48 comments)

My Brain Left and I'm Stuck Sitting Here - 07/25/09 07:24 PM
I feel like my brain's gone on vacation and forgotten to take me along. When I got up this morning I had so many ideas to blog about. The post were formulating in my head faster than I could process the full thoughts that were racing through my mind. I figured I was goof for at least 5 maybe even 6 before the day was out.
Then the grand children woke up and the real day started. I forgot all about my blog, forgot all the material that was going to fuel my posts. I thought that if I started typing … (21 comments)

ActiveRain Saved My Grandsons - 07/18/09 12:17 PM
Yes, it's true. Thanks to the awesome powers of ActiveRain and its readership, both my grandsons were spared what would surely have been a cruel and painful demise. Thank You, ActiveRain, for saving my boys!
It all started at about 9:45 this morning. I was downstairs in my kitchen making the boys breakfast. It was their favorite, scrambled eggs with tiny little pieces diced ham smothered in ketchup. Grandpa was at his computer in our bedroom so he could monitor the sounds from the boys' bedroom while I prepared their breakfast. They seemed to playing remarkably well. Except for a little … (29 comments)

Someone Once Said: You’re Never Too Old - 07/17/09 08:59 AM
Everyone that knows me knows I love old houses. There's just a certain something about them that makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. During the course of my home inspections I inspect inside first leaving the basement and attic for last, then I inspect the outside. It's just my way of minimizing dirt and dust, besides those require me to put my shoes back on.
So knowing how much I love old house you can just begin to imagine how much fun I was having inspecting this old 175 3 story country home. When I went into the basement … (18 comments)

ActiveRain Is Like A Bottle Of Fine Wine. - 07/16/09 08:18 PM
Now you wouldn't just open a bottle of fine wine, pour and drink would you? Of course you wouldn't. You know that once you open that nice bottle of wine you must let it breath. Once you pour your glass, you must take a minute or so to enjoy the fragrance and once you drink you hold it a few seconds before you swallow.
Well, ActiveRain is just like that bottle of fine wine. You must start out by opening your account, adding your profile, writing a post or two and going out there to meet a few people. Relationships don't … (18 comments)

This Is Why We Don’t Refer You? - 07/16/09 02:48 PM
I was supposed to say that this roof had another couple of years of life left.

Then I was told that if I didn't, my client would not be able to get bank financing. Finally, it was explained to me that this is why they don't refer me to their clients anymore. Usually I get upset about now and tell them what I really think. I'm not known for keeping quiet while being screamed at, but this time I decided that life was too short to waste on nonsense. So I told the Realtor to have a nice day, went … (28 comments)

Thankful Thursdays: I Have It All - 07/16/09 01:04 PM
Wow, this is my first Thankful Thursday post in over, well let's just say a very long time. I sat here thinking of what I wanted to share with you all ... when it hit me. I realized that I have it all. I have everything I can possibly want and few more things to boot. I also want to add that most of this is by no great feat of my own. So what do I mean when I say I have it all? Well, let me share my list of things for which I am thankful:
I am married … (16 comments)

Voice of Reason - 07/06/09 09:13 PM

On July 4th my friend Terry Chenier launched a new group titled Voice of Reason. So far the group has 18 subscribers and 13 posts. Not bad for a group that's barely 2 days old. Larry Easto wrote a fine post which pretty well captures and conveys the principle purpose for the group. I'm providing the link to his post here The Voice Of Reason: Old Concept...New Format for anyone who might be interested in reading his post. One of the first posts written for this new group was My First to Post to Voice of Reason written by Bob … (17 comments)