My wife and I recently left the Howard with my wife's parents (my in-laws refer to him as the "grand-dog") and took a little trip down to Santa Barbara, and then back up the coast to Pismo, Avila Beach, and San Luis Obispo, and then home. It was very relaxing, and made me want to move back to a beach town. I used to live in Santa Barbara before it became yet another extension of Los Angeles. It's still beautiful there, but nothing like it was back in the early 80's - 90's. My old boat is still there, as are many of my old neighbors...somethings never change.
Anyway, seeing the website for Somerset Condos in Greensboro, NC, made me wonder what it's like there. Are any of you familiar with that part of the country? It sounds beautiful and serene. I always like to think of the south as quiet and peaceful, with friendly folk willing to smile back at you. Unlike the west where you're likely to get shot at if you smile the wrong way, but that's the wild wild west for you.
Anyway, if the south isn't like that anymore please don't burst my bubble. I have somewhere to dream about when I hate my life. If Somerset Condos is still around when I'm old and rich enough to retire, I'll be the senile old man down there muttering about cheerleaders playing their music too damn loud.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Curbside Appeal
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Taking the week off
PS: This is not the dog in the story.
I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the U.S. Postal Service.
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to Heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in Heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her, you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to Heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter. Yes, I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, "To Meredith" in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays In your heart. Abbey loved being your dog.
Since we don't need our bodies in Heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God
Friday, November 16, 2007
By Popular Demand
Since you were requesting it, here is a video of our neighbors. Okay, well, maybe not OUR neighbors, but the music and dancing are identical. Be sure you turn the volume all the way up to get the full effect.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Perfect Cheer
Ready? Okay!
I am a snotty cheerleader
The world revolves around only me!
My parents taught me I was a princess
I am the monster they created me to be!
My neighbors hate me
I practice with my friends!
I play my music way too loud
The party never ends.
I am so popular
my beauty is no match!
My neighbors can just stuff it
at least I'm not in foreclosure with the latest batch!
This house I'd never own
because I am too good
I'll make my future husband
take out an even bigger loan!
Shut-up? No way!
If you could you know you would!
ARM's? What's that?
Brown lawns next door?
Who cares!
My parents pay the rent
so I'm not in their hair.
Ready? Okay!
The world revolves around only me!
My parents taught me I was a princess
I am the monster they created me to be!
My neighbors hate me
I practice with my friends!
I play my music way too loud
The party never ends.
I am so popular
my beauty is no match!
My neighbors can just stuff it
at least I'm not in foreclosure with the latest batch!
This house I'd never own
because I am too good
I'll make my future husband
take out an even bigger loan!
Shut-up? No way!
If you could you know you would!
ARM's? What's that?
Brown lawns next door?
Who cares!
My parents pay the rent
so I'm not in their hair.
Ready? Okay!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The "SWEET" Bus
I'm guessing this guy doesn't even know about the Housing Bubble.
I could be wrong...maybe he has a housing blog and travels around the country blogging about the housing market. Right now he's in Bakersfield. He's bitter after his house was foreclosed on, and that he missed out on the bail-out plan. Maybe if he hadn't bought this "SWEET" bus he could have qualified for the bail-out.
I could be wrong...maybe he has a housing blog and travels around the country blogging about the housing market. Right now he's in Bakersfield. He's bitter after his house was foreclosed on, and that he missed out on the bail-out plan. Maybe if he hadn't bought this "SWEET" bus he could have qualified for the bail-out.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Miracle Grow
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Stick a Fork in It
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Up for Auction
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HZPt1Tcfaavio9Q1nUEP54Fflg7PWbb9XK-i3-py6ROc_2iB-6Xyke3Q4KFZAnUIKdevMG8hyphenhyphenH4mS4MYrBrVsejm6pM0VZGUEjkNXffyJfUgW5sBiQoO2go07PdzYxD1YNHYnAE0sMO6/s320/Fifty+Grand+1.jpg)
One of the few houses on the auction block that is not totally thrashed. It has nice wood/tile floors, fireplace, decent sized yard, and in a quiet neighborhood. Needs a little work, but nothing like what's out there in the foreclosure market. I'd buy it, but I'd miss the cheerleaders and the car alarm that goes off every 2 hours on a regular basis.
Howard and the 3 Stages of Foreclosure
Sunday, November 4, 2007
the REAL deal
Hang-over
Well let me just tell you what went wrong. Houses went up fast and furious and times were great and people were buying them up like it was the last house being built. Builders were holding lotteries and people were camping out to be the first in line to buy the next over-priced house. Anyone could get a loan. Who honestly thought it would last forever? It was a greedy-shark feeding frenzy. So, what a stupid question. It's like pissing in the wind and asking, "Hey, how did I just get all this piss on me?"
It's only a question someone drunk or high would ask. So now people are finally waking up from the stupor of living high, wide, and handsome off of loans that they could not afford. This is going to be one long hang-over.
Coffee anyone?
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