Veteran’s Day: From the Mind of a 10-year old

We’re a little off-topic today, being Veteran’s Day, but there will be plenty of days to get back to Clark County’s real estate adventures.

Let’s not have today become the forgotten holiday. Too many people died face down in the mud so we could live our lives in freedom.  Sure, there are days when we may be frustrated with work or our government leaders or other complexities of life; but we live in a country where we have freedoms that billions of others world-wide only long for.  When you think of that, it provides more meaning to the day.  This morning, as our family discussed the reality of what today meant, especially to our kids (besides a mid-week day out of school), my ten year old shared this poem he had written.

V – Victorious soldiers leave the war;

E – Eleventh Day, Hour, and Month;

T – Together, America stands;

E – Even in Iraq;

R – Ready we are, again and again;

A – Another soldier home, hooray, hooray;

N – No more war to come near;

S – So long, war, so long.

It is imperative that we share the stories of the sacrifices of those who have gone before us with those who come after us.  When I think about it, I realize my ability to write this blog, to speak my mind, to even live as I choose, is an indirect result of the sacrifices made by those before me who stood firm in support of our country and our freedoms.

Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.

John F. Kennedy

For myself, and for those who come after me, to all you Veterans, THANK YOU.

Election Watch: Clark County Real Estate Style

Mercifully, we are down to the final hours of a 700+ day election campaign.  And two things come to mind.

First, ever thought it strange that someone campaigns two solid years for a position that may only last four years.  Doesn’t seem like a very good ROI there… just sayin’.

And secondly, is there any more appropriate ending of a word for what these election cycles put us through than camPAIN.  Pardon the Freudian slip on the spelling.

Anyway, as most of us will be away from the TV, (again, maybe mercifully?) throughout the day, I came across a great set of links, courtesy of Mashable, that might help you stay on top of it via the web.

Electoral Map Projections

270ToWin.com – To win the election a candidate needs 270 electoral votes; this site shows you what the current projections are.  Breaks down polls, runs simulations and gives you a detailed history on how each state has voted.

Electoral-Vote.com – A map of the electoral votes that is updated daily with the newest data on how the states are breaking down.

ElectoralMap.net – This map is based off of the Intrade prediction market and can be backed up to May of 2008 to see how the map keeps changing.

FiveThirtyEight.com – 538 refers to the total number of electoral votes that are up for grab and the site provides a standard breakdown of how they see the electoral votes turning out, as well as news and in-depth analysis of possible election scenarios dependent on various factors.

Politico.com – The Politico’s map shows you the latest polling data, focusing heaviest on the states that are still too close to call and how they may swing to decide this election.

Poll Tracking

Gallup.com – The election 2008 poll results from Gallup, one of the best known polling companies.

Pollster.com – Tracks various polls and gives you updated charts on how each candidate is tracking.  Also offers an electoral map as well as analysis of what each poll means.

RealClearPolitics.com – Features poll breakdowns by state. You can also see a national overview that shows you which candidate is in the lead in each state and by how many points.

USAElectionPolls.com – Brings together information on national and state polls, battleground polls, house & senate polls, and more.

So there you go. Knock yourself out.

I have to admit, I have nearly abandoned twitter and facebook over the past week, as I grew weary of the non-stop, unproductive, fur that was flying on the web.  Don’t get me wrong, I took Political Science in college, and at one point, I was completely, unabashedly enamored of the political process. Big-time. It’s just a different political landscape out there now.

Despite that landscape, and regardless of who you decide to vote for, please, at least exercise your right to do so.

Clark County Real Estate: Friday Fun in the Sand

OK, no one can be all work and no play, especially on a Friday. So to the rescue we come…

Been a long week, but still have some work to do on the ‘puter and looking for a numbing way to spend a few minutes?

Kids want on the computer, but you’d rather have them do something more “creative”?

Well, have your cake and eat it too…  www.thisissand.com is a blast. Mindless fun and creative adventure to boot.

Check out these creative masterpieces by the Canton Crew.

Enjoy your weekend, there’s plenty of work stuff to get to soon enough.

Get Out Your Blankets and 10 Other Ways to Cut Energy Bills This Fall

Staying warm doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are some ideas from the U.S. Department of Energy for conserving heat and saving money. When the leaves start falling, you know that the heating bills are about to start rising. But keeping your home warm and cozy on chilly autumn nights doesn’t have to break the bank.

The U.S. Department of Energy offers these simple tips and relatively inexpensive home improvements that will help ensure cold gusts stay out and your furnace doesn’t have to work harder than it should. The goal: Conserve energy and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your pocket.  After all, who doesn’t need to save a little money these days?

1. Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Save 10 percent ($190 per year) or more on energy bills. Focus on windows, doors, outlets or switch plates on exterior walls.

2. Properly maintain the heating system. Heating accounts for half the average family’s energy bill (approximately $950 per year). Make sure the furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. The small cost (about $75-100 for most service calls) will pay back in better performance all year long.

3. Install a programmable thermostat. Programming the thermostat from 72ºF to 65ºF for eight hours a day while no one is home, or everyone is tucked in bed, will cut the heating bill up to 10 percent ($90 per year), paying for a basic unit in less than a year.

4. Seal and insulate heating ducts. A system can lose up to 60 percent of its warmed air before it reaches the register (wasting $570 in warmed air per year) if ducts are not properly insulated in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces.

5. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Adequate insulation in the attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces can save up to 30 percent on home energy bills ($630 per year).  Focus on the attic. (Heat rises.) Most homes should have between R-30 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Learn more at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.

6. Close fireplace dampers when not in use. When in use, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window about an inch, close doors to the room, and lower thermostat setting to 50-55ºF.

7. Let the sun shine in. Open curtains on south facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.

8. Stay out of hot water. Water heating accounts for 15 percent of household energy use. Reduce water heating costs by lowering the water heater’s thermostat setting. Each 10ºF reduction can save between 3-5 percent in energy costs. Also insulate the hot water heater and hot water pipes.

9. Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with Energy Star qualified windows. Storm windows reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent, and storm windows with low-e coating that reflect heat back into the room during the winter months save even more energy.  Look for the Energy Star label to maximize savings. Energy Star qualified windows reduce heating and cooling bills by an average of $345, but could be higher in cold and hot climates, compared with uncoated, single-pane windows. Can’t afford new windows just now? Tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of window frames if drafts, water condensation, or frost are present.

10. Net big savings with a little label. When replacing appliances, light bulbs, electronics, or heating and cooling systems, cut energy bills by up to 30 percent ($600 per year) with Energy Star labeled products. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs. Find retailers at www.energystar.gov.

These and other improvements that impact the energy efficiency of a home can save home owners money in the short term and serve as a selling point to potential buyers later. Be sure to save receipts, documentation, and manufacturer’s information.

Not sure where to begin? Try the Department of Energy’s online energy audit tool at http://hes.lbl.gov.  And remember, you can always grab a blanket.

Are You Ready for Some (REAL) Football?

Let the debate rage… Pac 10 or SEC?  UW or WSU?  Seahawks or Dolphins… um, Dolphins?  Never mind that last one.

Regardless of your preference, as far as I’m concerned, you can keep ‘em all.  The real game of football, the one played by those who simply love the game, the school, and the community… well that game starts now.

For the High School players with dreams of a playoff run as well as the small tykes who live with the simple goal of seeing how muddy they can get, football starts in earnest this weekend.

So get out there Friday night and support your local high school team.  Or better yet, grab a front-row seat to the way sports of all levels should be played and catch a local Clark County Youth Football game at one of the local stadiums on Saturday.

You’ll find yourself reflecting back on all that was good about sports and envisioning all that can be good about them again.

For more information on local schedules:

Skyview schedule
River schedule
Bay schedule
Fort schedule
Evergreen schedule
Mt. View schedule
Heritage schedule
Union schedule
Battle Ground schedule
Prairie schedule
Camas schedule
Washougal schedule
Ridgefield schedule
La Center schedule
Hockinson
Woodland schedule

There… that should keep you busy this fall!

76 Days That Went by Faster Than a Usain Bolt Sprint

Clark County Kids are Back to School.

It seems like only 76 days, 10 hours and 34 minutes ago (who’s counting?) that kids were making the mad dash from their classrooms, into the outstretched arms of summer’s calling.

Yet looking at it now, this summer seemed to pass faster than a Usain Bolt sprint to a medal stand.

And while it may have only seemed like all of the approximately 74,000 Clark County school kids spent most of the summer playing in your specific neighborhood, as of today it’s likely a little quieter… as most, if not all, of these kids should be back in school.

I know it should go with out saying, but I’ll say it  anyhow.  With all those kids filling the school crosswalks and milling around the bus stops throughout Vancouver and Clark County, let’s take it a little slower in our mad rush around town.

While they may not admit it, the kids actually like getting to school, and your cautious driving around our school zones and bus stops will help them get there in one piece.

By the way, did you know there’s only 286 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes until summer vacation!  Let the countdown begin.

Clark County, Olympic Ties and How to Actually See Them

Yes, we all know that the Olympics are starting today.  Not like that’s a breaking news story. And here in Clark County, we even have some of our own participating.

But since all the action is happening half-way across the world, unless you keep (my kind of) night-owl hours, you will miss most of the fun.  Of course, NBC seemingly owns has broadcast rights to the Olympics, and you can see lots of programming there… but what if you tire of their announcers or angle?  You are out of luck, right?

Not necessarily.

Thanks to the wonder that is Internet technology, there are now loads of other ways to watch the Olympics. Here is a list of websites that offer various Olympic coverage.

Enjoy, be sure to cheer on our local and native Clark County participants, and look forward to Vancouver hosting our own Winter Olympics two short years from now.

Oh, wait, that’s the OTHER Vancouver.  (I was wondering how they were going to do the Giant Slalom on St. Helens…)

Cooperate With Those Who Have Both Know-How and Bail Money

“Cooperate with those who have both know-how and bail money.”

Those entertaining words of wisdom came from my Dad. Mind you, I hope he expected me to work well with the former, and I hope he didn’t really think I’d need the latter. Either way, I’m not totally sure, as he didn’t tell me directly. I found it scribbled on one of the hundreds of scraps of paper that contained poems, notes, editorials on life and other random musings he felt he needed to write down and that I have gone through over the past two months.

As most of you know, real estate is my full-time gig, but one I may have seemingly been working at part-time recently. Especially in the area of my activity in social networking. I understand that a large part of my chosen profession necessitates a connection to clients, prospects and industry peers via social networking. But to really do social networking right, well, you have to actually feel social. Sometimes, life, you know, “real life”, (not twitter or myspace or your blog), makes it where you just aren’t social. Interestingly enough, some of those non-social times are when you most may need to be social or to interact with others.

I haven’t posted in over three months, and I haven’t really been involved on twitter in almost four months. That “real” life thing kinda took over. So, if you are wondering if you could ever stop your twitter or facebook or friendfeed or other social media addiction Cold Turkey, it can be done. I just don’t recommend my way of doing so.

See, this year my wife and I celebrated the first Father’s Day of the rest of our lives. What I mean by that is that over the course of the past three months both of our fathers went into the hospital, succumbed to fatal illness and passed away. Within five weeks of each other. As one of the counselors said with a huge degree of understatement, “the world is a different place without your father.”

After some closure (it’s never really “closed”, is it…) of the services and Father’s Day, we are now picking up the pieces and getting back to work. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all those who helped get us through these very trying times. We are also indebted to the great clients (they are now friends, really) who have stuck with us during this time as we diligently tried (but, with painful candor, sometimes failed) to maintain the level of service we are committed to providing.

I am dusting off the blog (and boy was it dusty) and adding some long-awaited features. Same with the website. I am updating twhirl so I can get back to twitter. I am even going back into facebook and friendfeed to get my (on-line) social life back in order. Social networking has its place… but don’t forget to enjoy real life while you can.

And remember, always cooperate with those that have both know-how and bail money.

A Redux – Manic Monday’s… and the Desire to Find the Friday Spirit

One of the great things about the adventures associated with trying new things is the learning aspect of it all. I am committed to the conversation that blogging provides, but I am all too aware that there will be bouts of laryngitis along the way.

For example, I don’t think the video I loaded in my last post came through. At least it didn’t in many of the email versions that were delivered. I know it works on the site directly, so please click on through to the site and enjoy.

Maybe it’s Here…

Manic Monday’s… and the Desire to Find the Friday Spirit

Monday’s are just one of those days that can’t ever seem to be over soon enough. In addition to the daunting task of simply starting the week out right, I am usually following up with weekend showings on my listings as well buyers that I have shown property to. And if there are fires to be put out, assuredly they will start on Monday. Because of that, I have invoked executive decision powers (that means I checked with my wife and she said OK) to add some levity to my Monday.

While I understand that there is something to be said about “Fun Friday’s”, I don’t think it will ruin anyone’s week to bookend the work week with something a little less stressful.

So in this case, I am starting my Monday Movie Moment (if only because it sounded catchier than my “Monday YouTube Video Post”).  This may or may not be a weekly occurrence. Hey, it may happen with the frequency of last month’s eclipse. Regardless, at least for today, I am going to find something to chuckle over, because if history serves as any guide, tomorrow will likely be my second Monday of the week.

I will dedicate this one to those poor folks in Ohio and Texas, who will trudge to the polls tomorrow with the belief that they will affect the outcome of their primaries and ultimately the national election. Kidding! Remember, find the fun…

h/t to Dustin

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