michael thornton: Percy Warner Park...
- 06/02/11 10:24 PM
Percy Warner Park...Located at the end of Belle Meade Blvd in the prestigious Belle Meade section of Nashville, TN stands the entrance to Percy Warner Park the "Crown Jewel" in Metro Nashville's park system. Percy Warner Park at 2058 acres is the larger of the two Warner Parks. Together Edwin Warner and Percy Warner combine to make the largest municipality administered parks in Tennessee with a combined acreage of 2,684.Variety is the one word that comes to mind when describing Percy Warner Park. The approximately 10 miles of scenic roadways meandering through the hills and valleys, offer motorists a leisurely drive … (32 comments)
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michael thornton: Unofficial ActiveRain Blogging Report - May 2011…
- 05/31/11 10:48 PM
Unofficial ActiveRain Blogging Report - May 2011…
Wow! What a month. This month we had three major contests/challenges come to a close. There was the first annual ActiveRain PhotoBloggers Group, The May 31 Day Challenge, and the ActiveRain Collage Challenge all geared towards incentivising members to do what is good for business - BLOG. The numbers speak for themselves, 14 - 2,000+ post days with the low being 1,097 posts on Sunday May 8 which was Mothers Day. Quite understandable. So my 2¢ question for the day: do contests / competiton motivate you or the membership? What would really, really … (54 comments)
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michael thornton: It's Only Tuesday...
- 05/30/11 11:21 PM
It's Only Tuesday...
What's that? Tuesday? Is it really Tuesday? Wh-a-a- What happened to Monday? Did I get short changed this week? I thought I paid for 7 days, not 6. Oh, that's right, yesterday WAS Monday. Silly me, here I was thinking it was Sunday on steroids. Alright then! It's the dreaded day after the long weekend. Time to fumble around for the ignition key and get the motor revved. Time's a wasting! Time to hit it! What's this? Wr-r-r-r-r, click, click, click. H-m-m-m, not quite the sound I was expecting. Okay, Let's try it again this time with a … (34 comments)
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michael thornton: No Greater Love...
- 05/29/11 11:57 PM
No Greater Love...
Memorial day is a day when we celebrate and honor the lives our servicemen and women. A day to reflect those ever faithful servants who, like the faithful Shepard, laid down their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have today. Let us remember as well, the love that these brave men and women had for each other and for us all. Love. There are many events throughout the calendar year that focus on and are dedicated to love and loved ones. Often, when we think of these celebrations, thoughts turn towards more traditional holidays … (43 comments)
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michael thornton: (not so) Speechless Sundae...
- 05/28/11 11:12 PM
(not so) Speechless Sundae...
There is something special about roses that really appeal to me. Yes, they are challenging to grow, constantly augmenting the soil, spraying for black spot, mites and gawd only knows what else. Kinda reminds me of some folks that I know; can we say the words, "high maintenance"? Maybe I go through all this rigmarole, because I like to mindlessly putter in the garden after an especially hard day; a mental escape from life in the world of real estate. My reward for all the TLC I bestow upon my precious? She does look pretty in pink, … (31 comments)
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michael thornton: Cross Another Day Off the Calendar...
- 05/28/11 11:17 AM
Cross Another Day Off the Calendar...
I hate to say it, but today has been one of those days. Yesterday, I peaked. Today? Quite a different story. It must be one of those anticlimactic things, but today, I have been riding the emotional roller coaster and just have a bad case of brain drain. I can only remember not posting something here in "the Rain" only twice since I joined in November 2007. Once when I was ill, the other I was just too busy and way behind. I hope that you, like me, have come too far into the … (24 comments)
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michael thornton: How Sweet it IS...
- 05/27/11 01:58 PM
How Sweet it IS...
This evening as I wind down from the day's activities and take another sip of "the fruit of the vine", I look up and out at the peak of my Everest, my last milestone here in the Rain. The final step of going where few ActiveRain blogger have gone. The journey is so close, one click away, but still, it seems so far away. Needless to say, I am a mixed gambit of emotions. I am nothing special. I have no great writing abilities or wonderful talents. I'm just a dumb 'ol farm boy who grew up … (140 comments)
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michael thornton: Friday's Fotos...
- 05/26/11 10:54 PM
Friday's Fotos...
There is something nostalgic about seeing old Jukeboxes that takes me for a drive down memory lane in my red '64-1/2 Mustang and cruising the drive-in's with my buds. Simpler days, when we would hang out, order cherry cokes, burgers and fries and listen to the thumping sounds booming from the corner of the joint. There was something about the glowing, colorful lights, the stacks of 45's, the highly polished chrome, even the buttons that beckoned you to get your 1 play for a dime, 3 plays for a quarter and 7 plays for a half dollar. Today, these … (27 comments)
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michael thornton: Images of Days Gone By...
- 05/26/11 01:22 PM
Images of Days Gone By...
Fellow ActivRainer Rob Thomas has written several posts with accompanying photos of barns. Verdant fields that were once put under plow, are now being put under the 'dozer's blade to make room for our ever expanding population. I, like Rob, feel that these images of our American heritage, the simpler times, should be preserved for the next generation.These stately statues are no more. The remnants of what was once a prosperous dairy farm have been leveled and a new subdivision is now being built. I was glad I got the opportunity to see them one … (18 comments)
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michael thornton: Doing Things Bass Ackwards...
- 05/26/11 06:15 AM
Doing Things Bass Ackwards...I like my job. As long as there are fix-er-uppers, unhandymen, and folks to buy, I will never run out of blog fodder.I just love it when I get a call from an agent or buyer and they say, "This house is immaculate. We couldn't find anything wrong, I'm sure you won't either; but 'as a formality', we are going to have you inspect it.""As a formality"? Oh gawd how those words strike fear to my heart and give me that churning feeling in the pit of my stomach. Having had a lot of experience with flippers, I … (19 comments)
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michael thornton: Good Night ActiveRain...
- 05/25/11 02:08 PM
Good Night ActiveRain...
As the sun goes down on another day here in the Middle Tennessee area, my thoughts reflect forward on the busy schedule I have over the next few days. Thankfully, real estate activity is still robust in this area, and market activity is holding steady. That being said, time to get some shut-eye as I will be peddling my Prius all over Nashville and the surrounding area. Good night folks ~ Manana...
… (27 comments)
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michael thornton: (not so) Wordless Wednesday...
- 05/24/11 10:37 PM
(not so) Wordless Wednesday...
As many of you know the new CEO (Niki) Nikesh Parekh, has offered the community a challenge. A challenge to create a collage of what ActiveRain means to you. Being the dismal hack at Photoshop that I am, I came up with the entry below. C'mon, get in on the fun and show us what ActiveRain means to you. Hurry, the contest ends real soon. Oh, did I mention that there is the chance to win 5,000 ActiveRain points? Oh, I just did...
… (36 comments)
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michael thornton: Go Knock on Someone Else's Door...
- 05/23/11 11:59 PM
Go Knock on Someone Else's Door...
In this business you meet types. There are those who have big, brass door knockers. Occasionally, I get calls from dissatisfied sellers wanting me to change my report. I explain to them that this is a legal document and I must write what I see the property conditions are at the time of the inspection. The buyer has a right to know and is paying for my knowledge. It doesn't matter that "The Other Inspector" didn't catch or mention what I did. Shame on them. Just because you happened to hire an inspector that was blind … (26 comments)
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michael thornton: Good Night ActiveRain...
- 05/22/11 01:46 PM
Good Night ActiveRain...
Wow, here I am, at the end of another blogging week and at at the end of another week of working on and off on the pond. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is a pond, at least the magnitude of what I have been building. Koi ponds are ecosystems that if done correctly, not only support the fish, but frogs, dragonfly larva, and a host of other beneficial organisms.While the Lilly pond is 95% done, I've had to shift focus to the bog which is the septic system for the two fish ponds. Sometime in … (16 comments)
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michael thornton: Let's Make it an Even Dozen...
- 05/21/11 11:03 PM
Let's Make it an Even Dozen...
Checking in with the ActiveRain Leaderboard last night, I noticed that one of the original faces to the rain, John Novak, reached the millonaire status, rounding the elite to an even dozen. John's first entry, dates all the way back to August, 2006. Talk about longevity and stick-to-itiveness. I guess we can relate John as the proverbial tortoise in the Rabbit and the Tortoise story. While there were those who jumped out and lead the pack quickly surpassing the MM mark, John kept plodding along, slowly but surely; putting one blog down after the … (32 comments)
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michael thornton: Weathering the Storm...
- 05/20/11 11:01 PM
Weathering the Storm...
As we all may know by now, Douglas Ching and Steven Graham have left ActiveRain and have found employment elsewhere. While we may be sad at their leaving or shocked at the news, that is life in the corporate world. Generally, there will be a few key folks that will leave when a new skipper takes the helm. Although I did not know them personally, I wish Douglas and Steven the best in their new endeavours. So where does that leave us, the loyal ActiveRain patrons? We too have a decision - we stay or we too jump … (102 comments)
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michael thornton: Friday's Fotos...
- 05/19/11 10:54 PM
Friday's Fotos...
Today I will deviate from my typical, picturesque type of photo - maybe tonight. There are some photos that belong in the hall of fame, while others belong in the hall of shame. Not that they were badly taken, but for the subject matter. This one belongs in the latter category. One expects a certain level of workmanship based on the location and price point of the property. On a renovation of an early 1900's Victorian, with a price point of over $700K, I expect a lot. What some folks do to desecrate a property is a crime, and … (26 comments)
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michael thornton: D-u-u-u-h...
- 05/19/11 02:08 PM
D-u-u-u-h...
Flippers. Ya gotta luv 'em. They can find 5,982 ways to save a buck and keep us home inspectors employed and give us blog fodder to boot. The way I look at it, there are 3 ways to do a job: the right way, the wrong way, and the flipper's way. Although the flipper's way is wrong too, it is so much fun to tell them what a dunderhead they are. Folks pay good deal of money to purchase a house nowadays, and while properties are not perfect, they should be functionally acceptable and workmanship should conform to some … (13 comments)
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michael thornton: And Now There's 11...
- 05/18/11 11:04 PM
And Now There's 11...
Although not quite there yet, fellow ActiveRain member, home inspector extraordinaire, and blogging sensation, Steven L. Smith, will become the next King of the House as he joins the ranks of ActiveRain millionaires. Poised at 999,950 points, Steven and his assistant, Nutsy, have been around the Hallowed Halls of Blogdom since April 2007; entertaining us with his inspection blogs, photos and of course Nutsy's antics. Now he is just a stones throw from being our next millionaire. Let's all stop by Steve's Blog to congratulate him on his lucky day and reaching this milestone by subscribing to … (33 comments)
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michael thornton: My 2¢'s Worth...
- 05/18/11 02:02 PM
My 2¢'s Worth...
I have come to the conclusion, that unlike men, all vehicles are not created equal. They have not been bestowed by their creators with certain basic functions. Some have not been equipped with turn signals. Be it far from me to be a smart a$$, or even for even a moment, give the hint that folks behind the wheel are too busy texting, yakking on the cell, or otherwise preoccupied by being engaged in meaningful conversation with someone else in the vehicle. And it couldn't be that they are too self absorbed, rude, ignorant or inconsiderate of … (17 comments)
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Percy Warner Park...Located at the end of Belle Meade Blvd in the prestigious Belle Meade section of Nashville, TN stands the entrance to Percy Warner Park the "Crown Jewel" in Metro Nashville's park system. Percy Warner Park at 2058 acres is the larger of the two Warner Parks. Together Edwin Warner and Percy Warner combine to make the largest municipality administered parks in Tennessee with a combined acreage of 2,684.Variety is the one word that comes to mind when describing Percy Warner Park. The approximately 10 miles of scenic roadways meandering through the hills and valleys, offer motorists a leisurely drive … (32 comments)
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