food for thought: Did you know?... - 10/29/08 04:45 PM
The benchmark for an "Average market" or a "Normal market" is a 6 months supply of listings. That means if you didn't add any new listings, at the current rate that homes are selling, you would run out of inventory in 6 months. A "seller's market", by definition is usually considered … (0 comments)
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food for thought: I'm Useless, You're Useless, We're all Just a Bunch of Useless Real Estate Agents - 10/27/08 01:38 PM
Geez, seems like ages ago (well, almost two years now) that I have been on the Rain. I have seen it all. Rants, whines, controversies, points, photos, you name it, it has been here on this blogging network. I have never thought it a useless system, nor have I thought blogging … (16 comments)
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food for thought: A Note From G_d - 07/01/08 03:02 PM
To: YOU Date: TODAY From: GOD Subject: YOURSELF Reference: LIFE This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day.
I love … (1 comments)
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food for thought: Mortgage issues - 06/20/08 10:57 AM
Knowing this mortgage market.
We all hear the horror stories about qualifying for a mortgage. Well, here are a few reasons why horror stories occur.
1. Bad Loan officer -- not every buyer/applicant can buy. The loan officer tried to create magic by not qualifying the buyer from the start. Loan … (2 comments)
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food for thought: My Photos Lie...but I am not Going to Change Them - 06/15/08 10:14 PM
Many real estate agents have a computer generated feedback system in place for their listings, so that when a home is shown, the agent can let the seller know what buyers think of their home. It is a great way to get honest feedback about price, condition, etc.Today I received some … (19 comments)
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food for thought: Are Buyers Spoiled? - 06/05/08 03:37 PM
For the last few months, I have been working on and off again with several buyers, which is keeping me really busy. However it is proving difficult to find a home that each of them likes. Now, trust me, we are finding homes that are fantastic, but it seems buyers want … (94 comments)
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food for thought: The real reason we go to open houses - Here's some food for thought! - 05/06/08 03:13 PM
Alright, confess! How many of you go to open houses for the free food and cash drawings?
I've noticed a heck of a lot of open houses lately - every day of the week something is going on somewhere. Today's afternoon delight was tacos with soft drinks, and the dessert was cheese … (13 comments)
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food for thought: Take Time to Look Up From the Computer - 05/04/08 10:29 PM
Hmmm, I just noticed I have an even 90,000 points. What are the odds that you would hit an even number like that. With the way the points are calculated, I cannot even imagine how rare this must be. I also cannot believe I have been on Active Rain this long. … (17 comments)
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food for thought: In Minnesota, Going Barefoot is the Only Way to See a Home - 04/25/08 09:19 AM
One thing that surprises buyers that come to the Twin Cities to look at homes is the house etiquette they must abide by. The number one rule is that upon entry, buyers and agents must remove their shoes before they venture further into the home.I have had many question the reason, … (0 comments)
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food for thought: Sorry, but I have to Throw You Under the Bus! - 04/09/08 09:39 PM
As some of you know who might read my other blog, we recently moved into our new home we had built. We were lucky to buy one of the last lots, so the builder was giving away some great incentives to close out the subdivision.This past week, two homes have gone … (3 comments)
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food for thought: How Do You Spell Relief ? Apparently Not T-A-X-M-A-N - 03/28/08 08:56 PM
I get a call at least once a week from an upset home owner asking if I could let them know what their home is worth. Frightened of this upside-down real estate market, home owners this last week have been receiving their 2008 tax bills in the mail. They don't like what … (2 comments)
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food for thought: Pushy Appraisals Could Be History! - 03/13/08 11:20 AM
I have been in the real estate business long enough to see some iffy appraisals come across my desk for my clients. No more was this so then during the housing boom. Appraisers seemed pressured to "make it happen". And needless to say, some home owners and real estate agents, not … (1 comments)
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food for thought: Have you ever wondered???? - 03/11/08 11:32 PM
Have you ever wondered what the meaning of those silly and sometimes very strange words that we have to type in most blogs to enter your post are? I have always wondered where and how on earth they come up with them!?!?
You know the ones I am talking about......
FarkleberryPimentaRinonYou get the … (12 comments)
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food for thought: Are you a BUST on TRUST? - 03/11/08 11:13 AM
It's something we all are seeking - trust. Unfortunately, trust is something that we are finding less and less. Here's where I could talk about how the news of bankrupt mortgage companies, foreclosures, & declining markets descending upon us daily is causing increasing mistrust but I want to take this to … (0 comments)
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food for thought: How Agents are the Enemy...and Often Kill the Deal - 03/05/08 09:33 AM
Over the weekend, an offer came in on one of my listings. No big surprise but it was a low-ball offer. Needless to say, the sellers were not too happy, especially because the buyers saw the home four times this last week. Now, if you are going to make an offer … (10 comments)
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food for thought: FOOD FOR THOUGHT - 03/04/08 02:31 AM
I love lists.
I have lists of websites, list of to do's, lists of dreams, lists of accomplishments, lists of trivia, lists of books I want to read, lists of movies I want to see, lists of this and lists of that, and the list goes on. There is a serene … (0 comments)
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food for thought: food for thought - 03/03/08 09:37 AM
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE SHOULD TAKE OUT OUR GARBAGE EACH DAY SO IT WON'T "STINK", BUT WE FORGET TO THROW AWAY OUR "STINKY" EMOTIONAL GARBAGE EACH DAY. NEGATIVE EMOTIONS SUCH AS ANGER, RESENTMENT, JEALOUSY AND UNFORGIVENESS POLLUTE OUR BODIES AND MINDS. THESE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS HINDER US FROM BECOMING OUR BEST … (0 comments)
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food for thought: Something to lift your spirits!!!! - 02/27/08 08:40 AM
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the … (4 comments)
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food for thought: Is Flipping Homes as Bad as the Media Makes it Out to Be? - 02/22/08 09:59 AM
I will be the first to say that there are some good things that come out of our Realtor Associations, like consumer advocacy, Realtor education, and the option now for health care. But I don't agree with everything that comes out of the mouths of our so called "leaders" here in … (0 comments)
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food for thought: How Some History Should Stay in the Past - the Excelsior Waterfront Problem - 02/09/08 09:26 PM
When you are a lover of historic homes, you can't help but cringe anytime an old home sits and rots, or when a new owner decides to take a house down, or add on to it some horrible addition. Many communities still are behind the times and do not have a … (5 comments)
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food for thought: An Unconventional Method to Selling a House - Bring Your Tank - 02/06/08 02:39 PM
Times have changed. No longer can you just stick a sign in the yard and get a home to sell. Agents and home owners have to come up with innovative ideas that will spark interest in a buyer's mind. For some homes, this is a relatively easy task, but there are … (7 comments)
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food for thought: How Gallup Polls are Nothing but Bunk, at Least When it Comes to Realtors - 01/31/08 10:39 PM
I happened across an interesting article today from Realty Times that talks about the recent Buyer / Seller survey released, put together by the National Association of Realtors for the year 2007. Now, I know some of you out there hate NAR and think they are the anti-Christ, and while I … (0 comments)
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food for thought: 4th Grader Faced With A Conflict in Conviction... - 12/21/07 02:10 AM
I was listening to the news & heard about a 10 year old boy who was asked to do a report on his favorite holiday. His favorite holiday, of course, is Christmas.
Upon presenting his report to his class, he began to describe the true center of the Christmas holiday & he … (2 comments)
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food for thought: Food for Thought - 10/09/07 11:24 AM
SOMETHING WORTH READING
First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:
"What is the first name of the woman … (4 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from My Back Porch—Monthly Check Ride—How would YOU do! - 05/01/07 06:12 AM
Good Morning Gentle Readers! It’s a fine foggy morning here on my back porch, according to Pruett’s, the temperature is 49ºF, and I’m a happy guy! Why would I tell you I’m Happy? Aren’t you always happy, y’old coot, when you wake up alive? Well—yes that IS a good start each … (25 comments)
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food for thought: REFLECTIONS FROM MY BACK PORCH—Saturday before Christmas - 12/23/06 07:07 AM
I’m out here, enjoying my china mug of organically & shade grown fair trade Sumatran blend (I really LIKE this stuff) coffee enjoying this disgustingly repetitive weather: cloudy, near snow-less, +32F & scant wind!
My kids & kid-in-law remain asleep (slackards!), it’s really great having them here—and I don’t give … (23 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from my Back Porch on a Warm Thursday Morning - 12/21/06 05:27 AM
I can see the clouds approaching from the south, more ominous in the pre-dawn sky than what they actually represent. The main storm that hit Denver yesterday seems to be passing to the south of us. We remain unseasonably warm, and any snow we receive in the next couple of … (4 comments)
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food for thought: From my Back Porch: Where should Medford and I duck Winter in February? (a comment carnival) - 12/14/06 05:34 AM
Again this morning the temperature is hovering around the freezing mark, and it’s raining. This could cause some serious traffic problems during this morning’s rush. More importantly, to this codger anyway, it could cause some senior-sidewalk-slippage problems as I make my way to the morning meeting at the café!
This … (24 comments)
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food for thought: Tuesday Reflections from my Back Porch—What happened to “REALTOR®” Teresa’s Face? - 12/12/06 05:21 AM
A warm (39ºF), foggy, North Star State morning greeted me today as I stepped out on to the porch. I can linger a bit, and savor the warmth of my (china, not stoneware) mug of Kona blend coffee (I purchased a whole 1# bag, so I will have it for … (25 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from my Back Porch, Monday, 11 Dec ‘06 - 12/11/06 04:17 AM
(If you’re in the neighborhood, c’mon around to the back & say hello (be careful of the squeaky gate—my “Medford alert”), coffee’s hot and fresh, just to your left, inside the door.)
It’s another fine morning here on my back porch with my (china, not stoneware) mug of Kona blend … (4 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from my Back Porch, Friday, 8 Dec ’06 - 12/08/06 05:35 AM
It’s a balmy 11ºF with almost no wind, allowing me to remain on the porch with my (china, not stoneware) mug of (organically & shade grown, fair trade, Guatemalan roast) coffee warming my hands, and helping my brain fire on all synapses.
Daisy did not spend the night here last … (10 comments)
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food for thought: Tuesday Morning Reflections from my Back Porch - 12/05/06 07:28 AM
Our gentle readers seem to key on the weather as observed from my back porch—OK, here it is: 9ºF, slight southerly wind, and with no wind & my parka wrapped about me, I can actually enjoy my coffee without it instantly cooling to “iced coffee” (yuk).
Not so long … (15 comments)
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food for thought: OLD MEN & COFFEE SHOPS Monday 4 Dec '06 Snow or No Snow - 12/04/06 02:46 PM
“Against the wind I was running against the wind I found myself seeking shelter Against the wind” - Bob Seger
And so it was as I made my way to the coffee shop, anticipating that hot mug of organically & shade grown, fair trade, French roast coffee, first warming my … (8 comments)
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food for thought: Monday Morning on the Back Porch—12/04/06--Wonderings - 12/04/06 06:48 AM
You’re looking at the front porch, I’m in back!
Its 19ºF and snowing very, very, lightly, with an accumulation of the “dusting” variety—meaning almost nothing! I wonder why at the beginning of the winter season, we wish for heavy snows—and by January, we’re already soooo tired of it???
You’d … (1 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from the Back Porch, Friday, 1 Dec 2006, “Misfits, loosers and angry loners” - 12/01/06 06:10 AM
This morning, Medford & I joined the “Misfits, loosers and angry loners” group, complete with the misspelled “loosers” (losers), a nice touch. We joined because Realtor® Teresa pointedly invited us in her focus statement: “Codgers are always welcome.” Although she did not send us an invitation, we were more than … (13 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from the Back Porch, 30 Nov 2006, Flash-Frozen Coffee! - 11/30/06 04:56 AM
OK—Reflections from JUST INSIDE the Back Porch!
I stepped outside on my back porch, as I do every morning, and was greeted by a +6ºF St. Paul morning—exactly as predicted. I may be old, but not stupid—my china, not stoneware, mug of organically & shade grown, fair trade, unpolluted with cream & … (9 comments)
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food for thought: REFLECTIONS FROM JAY’S BACK PORCH—FRIDAY, 24 NOV 2006 (EARLY AM) EDITION - 11/24/06 04:50 AM
By Medford Ambrose (My Turn)
Now—how does Jay start these? Oh never mind, he ain’t writing this so I guess I’ll do it my own way. It’s a fine morning, this one. I’ve pretty much recovered from yesterday’s excess. I’m walking over to Jay’s for my morning cup of Folger’s© … (4 comments)
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food for thought: REFLECTIONS FROM THE BACK PORCH—THANKSGIVING EDITION! - 11/24/06 03:39 AM
By Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose
I just stepped out on the back porch, and with my ever-present mug, china, not stoneware, filled with steaming organically-grown, free trade, Guatemalan-roast coffee, I was savoring the 33ºF clear morning, and the apple pie beginning to bake in my oven—when I heard my … (2 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from the Back Porch, Wednesday Morning, 22 Nov 2006 - 11/22/06 06:13 AM
We will be taking Thanksgiving off—completely, as we hope you consider as well. No Posts. No comments. Med, Laura & I will not so much as press the power switch on our computers. We will be developing a couple of new characters: James our currently one-dimensional whipping boy will start to … (8 comments)
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food for thought: Old Men & Coffee Shops—Our New Friend Molly Vents! - 11/22/06 05:47 AM
As Medford and I made our way towards our usual table, the one by the front plate-glass window, where in the summer months we can (and do) make comments about the passers-by, but in winter we generally avoid looking out—the reflection’s not pretty, we were AGAIN stopped in our tracks … (2 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from the Back Porch, Tuesday PM 21 Nov 2006-IMHO, BBS, USNET, FAQ Et Al - 11/21/06 08:22 PM
While reading some of the comments to various posts, I often come across the acronym: IMHO. I really hate to admit that I’m not exactly up on IM speak—so to speak—in kinda validates the opinion of some that seniors ar not with it—whatever it is. So I looked it up:
… (4 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from the Back Porch, Tuesday AM 21 Nov 2006-New Character? - 11/21/06 05:45 AM
This morning I find the back porch a balmy 40ºF, with a light breeze out of the west, my mug (china, not stoneware), of (organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Guatemalan-roast, unpolluted with cream or sugar) coffee hot and steaming, warming my hands. Not that they needed warming, mind you.
Yesterday, I mentioned that … (0 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from the Back Porch, Monday Morning 20 Nov 2006 - 11/20/06 04:34 AM
My ever-present mug (china, not stoneware), of (organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Guatemalan-roast, unpolluted with cream or sugar) coffee hot and steaming, is warming my hands in the 22ºF clear pre-dawn morning. My thoughts again roam to my great good fortune in this life. Again this morning, as I have each … (7 comments)
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food for thought: The Back Porch of the Reflections—Sorta What it Looks Like - 11/19/06 11:05 AM
Since it seems I find myself reflecting from the back porch, I figured you might like to see a facsimile of what it looks like—these drawings are pretty accurate—if I do say so myself. Drawn using MS Word’s limited graphics program, they may be rotated with the coffee mug (china-not … (6 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from the Back Porch, Sunday Morning 19 Nov 2006 - 11/19/06 05:51 AM
This morning will dawn clear & cool, as I look up, I can see Orion the Hunter making his way across the sky. It’s quiet this early Sunday, as I stand on the back porch in the moderately cool +20ºF. The Westerly breeze is light, but brings a taste of … (5 comments)
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food for thought: Reflections from the Back Porch, Saturday, 18 November 2006 - 11/18/06 06:43 AM
Another great morning in the North country, about 33ºF, with a light breeze out of the west, my mug (china, not stoneware), of (organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Guatemalan-roast, unpolluted with cream or sugar) coffee hot and steaming, warming my hands. I find myself reflecting upon how fortunate I’ve been in … (1 comments)
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food for thought: Old Men & Coffee Shops, Tuesday Morning, Nov 14th Edition: "Living within our means" - 11/15/06 05:50 AM
This (Tuesday) morning I was the first old man at the coffee shop, and was comfortably seated at my usual spot, one chair in from the front plate-glass window, and already enjoying my china (not stone-ware) mug filled with organically-grown-fair trade-French roast-unpolluted with cream or sugar-coffee, when the rest of … (5 comments)
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food for thought: Old Men & Coffee Shops—Codgers Contemplating the Upcoming Holiday Season - 11/14/06 05:35 AM
I know I leave the house for the coffee shop at the same time every morning, and am usually the first to arrive, but lately, as I am today, the last to arrive, and the boys were already deep in conversation when I walked up to our table, the one by … (3 comments)
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food for thought: A CODGER REVIEWS COST OF OWNERSHIP –vs- SENIOR RENTAL HOUSING - 11/12/06 06:10 AM
Edited by Jay Merton to protect Fred & Annie’s (not their real names) privacy. Parenthetical notes are mine.
Jay asked us to review Lisa Dunn’s cost comparison schedules from her (post of 11/08/06). Annie and I sat down and plugged in our numbers. We had no idea what our home … (5 comments)
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food for thought: Old Men & Coffee Shops, Thursday Morning, Nov 9th Edition, Fred Adapts - 11/10/06 05:16 AM
“The hardest part,” Fred began, his ever-present morning Pioneer Press still folded and unread, “is the feeling that I’ve lost my freedom and independence. This first week without my car has been very tough for me.”
“You really haven’t lost it, y’know,” Carl replied, “you just gotta adapt.”
“Your … (4 comments)
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food for thought: Old Men & Coffee Shops—Wednesday Nov 8th Edition, Fred is not a Car FSBO - 11/09/06 06:02 AM
The boys, all looking a bit tired, were gathered at our usual table, the one by the front plate-glass window, where from mid-March until late September, we can observe (and often comment on) passers by. The rest of the year we rarely look towards the window—not much caring for the … (6 comments)
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food for thought: Tuesday Morning AFTER the Coffee Shop! - 11/08/06 05:10 AM
After a short 45 minute meeting of the Codgers at the coffee shop, where we discussed (what else but—politics), we reconvened at our precinct’s polling station to do our patriotic duty and arrived moments before it opened at 7 AM. There was already a short line outside, boding well for … (2 comments)
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food for thought: Tuesday Morning BEFORE the Coffee Shop - 11/07/06 05:24 AM
Today’s the big day, America’s going to speak, and speak loudly, I think (hope). And we, your crew of Codgers, are going to be part of that conversation. There’s going to be a long line at the West Seventh Street Salvation Army Citadel Service Center, the official polling place for … (1 comments)
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food for thought: Monday Morning at the Coffee Shop with the Codger Crew - 11/07/06 04:30 AM
“G’morning gentlemen,” I boomed out as I approached the table, “you guys appear to be a little more animated this morning that usual—except Fred, he appears to be sleeping.”
“I’m reading.”
“No you’re not, your lips aren’t moving.”
“Election’s Tuesday,” I said, sitting down in my usual chair, next to … (0 comments)
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food for thought: JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY - 11/06/06 05:12 AM
Well, not exactly “manic,” its 4:20AM (CST), and I find myself standing on my porch enjoying the rather balmy 400F temp with no wind, and the quiet. The nearby thoroughfares, West 7th St, & Smith Ave, are still, or nearly so, as the City is only beginning to awaken. The … (7 comments)
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food for thought: Walking with Daisy, Again - 11/01/06 08:35 PM
This afternoon I needed another Daisy-the-long-legged-Beagle fix, so I stopped by the Boardmans and convinced “Boomer” Jack to let me take my step-dog for a walk over to Irvine Park. I kinda think the little critter likes me (beagles are known for their discriminating taste in humans), as she wags … (2 comments)
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food for thought: Pausing on a Crisp Morning - 11/01/06 05:57 PM
This past Wednesday morning, it was again cold for this time of year—mid 20’s, the sky was clear and the wind, calm. Crisp. Crisp is how I describe a day in winter when the sky is clear and there is little or no wind. It won’t be winter for more … (1 comments)
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food for thought: Election' A'comin' Are You Ready? - 10/31/06 06:11 AM
Monday morning, the day would dawn clear & bright—not something we’ve seen much here in St. Paul of late—‘though we’d still be hard-pressed to rival Seattle in cloudy days, but as I ambled to the coffee shop, it was still quite dark, the stars obscured by the streetlights.
Medford (the techno-geezer), … (3 comments)
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