An interesting "trsadition" I learned about on NPR last night. Does anybody buy realeste in Iowa while this is going on !!!

Lucky, great pictures. Iowa must be an interesting place when election time rolls around.

A proud tradition, now I hope the phone calls stop after today for a while. 

Charlie,

Of course!  I just assisted a couple with an offer on new construction.  We're putting together the final plans for their home as this is written.  They are moving to Davenport, Iowa from Panama City, Florida! 

Hey!  The builder just drove by with his snow plow as I was typing this!  Too funny!

Take care!

Lucky :)

Frank,

Iowa is ALWAYS an interesting place! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lucky :)

Jason,

I haven't received one!  (I'm bragging.....not complaining) :)

Years ago, about 15, I got an unlisted, non-published number.  That stopped most of the solicitation calls.  Then about 10 years ago, the phone company came out with a blocked phone number that you pay an additional $2.95 per month for.  It requires the caller's phone identification to be shown or it is blocked.  In addition, when the first do-not-call registry came out, I quickly added our number to it. 

After all of this, our home phone usually doesn't ring.  When it does, it is someone we know. 

Technology is our friend!

BTW, I like your new picture.  Liked the deer one, too!

Have a GREAT 2008!

Lucky :)  

I spent about a half an hour watching all the excitement last night on the news (not a big fan of TV).  I am curious, did the Iowa caucuses always happen before the college bowl games finish or am I nuts?

Renee,

They got moo-ved up this year!  (Sorry, just a little Iowa humor)

Some other states decided to try to trump Iowa by changing theirs and then Iowa and New Hampshire responded accordingly.

We used to be in February a long time ago.

Oh well, that's progress!

Take care,

Lucky :)

Hi.  My friend Mike Jones said to read your blog.

Magdi,

Great!  What did you think?

Lucky :)

You noticed my rotating picture over the last 3 days.  Went back to the old one again now.  Going to have a new one taken this weekend so watch for something new next week.

Lucky.... Where'd the time go... 1980 doesn't seem like it was that long ago but I guess we've aged a little.  :-)

Great pictures.  Can't wait to see what happens tonight.

Hey Lucky - Great photos. That must have been an exciting time. Got back from our caucus about an hour ago. As soon as I got in the car to start home, WHO radio said that Huckabee had won the caucus. How the heck did they know? I had just voted two minutes before then!! [ha-ha]

You mentioned 1980 - the last time I caucused was in 1972! After that, I also became a disillusioned Democrat for a while.

And I'm with Jason on the phone calls - but I like your approach there, too!

Ken Tharp, Iowa Equity Exchange 

Obama and Huckabee win Iowa. 

Jason,

I'll be watching!

Lucky :) 

Dan,

Your running has kept you young!  My eating has gotten me fat!

Have a GREAT 2008!

Lucky :)

Linda,

Did you like the results that we had?

Huckabee was my choice!  My wife went wife McCain and my son went with Giuliani.  How's that for a mix?

That's what makes caucusing so fun.  Everyone has an opportunity to discuss the candidate's positions, debate them, make a decision who they like, and vote for them! 

Hillary's comment about how a primary gives a truer picture of what an election is really like, is BULL!  It is too early for people to have enough information (except what the media has given them) about all of the candidates to make an informed decision.  Most people only hear about the top 2 or 3 from the media.  The caucus process allows everyone equal time to discuss the candidates.  That's why Iowa has "uncovered" and jump-started many political candidate's careers!

Thanks for commenting!'

Lucky :)

Ken,

Did you go back and caucus democrat or stay republican?

Yes, it is an exciting process!  Technology gets those results to us incredibly fast!

Take care,

Lucky :)

Jason,

Thanks for getting the quick results on here!  I was busy negotiating an offer to purchase until about 11pm.  Then up at 3:15 for a flight to Florida!

Marco Island is a great place to visit!

Lucky :)

Lucky - My dad instilled in me the idea that my politics were my own business and no one else's, but that's hard to live by in Iowa! So I've learned to adapt. As far as whether I caucused for the D's or the R's, I stuck with the R's.

And you are so right about Marco Island! We've been there a couple of times. The last time, we had to evacuate our condo rental and get on the mainland due to Hurricane Charley. Turned out we were a lot closer to the real problems where we ended up than if we'd stayed on Marco. What did you like there? Did you try Michelbob's Ribs?

Ken Tharp, Iowa Equity Exchange 

Lucky,

Who is that guy with Bush One, and why does he have all that hair?  The caucus thing must be really exciting; the candidates won't likely come to Tucson.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Mike in Tucson

Ken,

I know that a lot of people feel the same way (about privacy) and that's why they don't like the caucus process.  Personally, I find it stimulating to have live discussions and debate issues with people that have a mind.  We don't have to agree with one another in order to get along.  Maybe that is what's wrong with Congress.  They've never had to go through an Iowa caucus process! 

Still here in Marco.  We went to Flamingo's yesterday and had an awesome burger and fries!  The day before we went to Cocomos and had Grouper Fingers (who knew that fish had fingers?) that were scrumptious!  I take it that Michelbob's Ribs are good?

Lucky :)

Mike,

My kids did that to me!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Why won't the candidates come to Tucson?  Arizona was a critical state more than just a few times!

Take care,

Lucky :)

Lucky - If you're still there, check out Michelbob's.We went to their take-out shack; I'm not sure if they have a fancier place on the island, but I think there's a nicer place somewhere in FL. The ribs are outstanding. My 22-year-old son (a rib expert!) says they're the best he's ever had, and I'd have to agree. They offer them by mail order, too. A few years ago, my wife ordered some for my birthday! They were even great by mail order!

I'm trying to remember the other places we ate. We went to some place on Goodland, I know. I don't think we had grouper fingers, but we had grouper. I'm not much of a fish eater, but the grouper was good. There was a little cafe in the north part of the island that we liked, but I can't remember the name. Heck, we didn't have any bad food there! Oh, we walked up the beach one evening and ate at the Marriott. The coolest thing about that was the view.

I'm envious that you're there! I hope you have fun and enjoy it!!!

Ken Tharp, Iowa Equity Exchange 

Ken,

I heard last night that they have a carry-out here on Marco Island and their regular restaurant is in Naples.  We will certainly have to check it out!  We already have plans for tonite and tomorrow so it will have to be Thursday before we leave!

As for the view from the Marriott, that is the view from our room!  The Eagle's Nest Resort is right next to the Marriott and our suite faces the Gulf.  Spectacular Sunsets every night from our room!  Here is more information: 410 S. Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, Florida 34145

Take care,

Lucky :)

Lucky,

The Marriott is just up the street from the condo we rented the last two times we were there. We were at the Somerset, which is at 780 S. Collier Blvd. Cool places, both of them!

Have fun!! Don't get sunburned!

Ken 

Ken,

I had Melanoma once........not gonna happen!

Lucky :)

Lucky:  I missed most of Iowa's caucus but your post fills in some blanks.  Great pictures and I'm writing this comment when Iowa and New Hampshire's primary is over.  I am so proud of Iowa for their turn-out!  Go Iowa.

Donna,

Right On!

Thanks,

Lucky :)

Great pictures, Lucky! When you look at these, don't you wonder where the years went?.....seems like yesterday.  Well, Iowa did themselves proud and we are started on another political campaign. With this large a field, it sure is interesting.

Bonnie,

It does seem like yesterday!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Take care,

Lucky :)

Lucky - Great photos!  Thanks for taking a look at my site.  The woman who owns the unit lives in Dubuque, IA.  Hey!  If you are still in Marco you and your family should try eating at the Snook Inn. We've enjoyed the Grouper sandwiches there.  Have you checked out the beaches in Naples yet????

Have fun! - Lynn

Lynn,

What a small world! 

Snook Inn is a great place to eat and we enjoyed it last year.  This year we were busy trying a bunch of other great places to eat.  We'll be back again next January!

The only activity that we did in Naples was to go to dinner at Park Shore Grill with some good friends that live there.

Next year we'll have to make plans!

Take care,

Lucky :)