No Mailboxes?

When we moved into our home in northern Illinois, we realized that we needed a mailbox. Coming from California, in an area where residential mailboxes were located at one spot for several houses, this was a surprise for us.

What to do? What to do?

I wish we would have known about this company that specializes in residential mailboxes as well as commercial mailboxes. We ended up going the do-it-yourself route and were not as pleased with the results as we had hoped. Many times it pays to go with the professionals!

This company has way more selection than any home improvement store can offer, with many unique ways to add to the character of your home!

Hey Roomie Where Should I Park My New Boat

Perhaps you are thinking about getting a roommate, or looking for a room for rent. Unless you want to end up with a roomie like this guy, then might I suggest a roommate matching service? Allow me to explain. I am a quiet, laid back person. I prefer turning in early and waking up early. I like to quietly eat my bowl of cereal before taking on the demands of the day. I hate cigarette smoke.

Sooo...for me to live with a smoker, party animal, night owl, or loud mouth could be a recipe for disaster. A roommate matching service such as this one lays everything out on the line. Even down to orientation (gay, straight, etc.), which at the end of the day we all have our opinions.

A roommate matching service is an excellent way to weed a lot of people out that just would not be good matches. We all lead busy lives, and it is nice to have services like this that take a lot of the guess work out of difficult choices.

Howard says hi

I can't help it if "going bye bye" sounds like a great idea. It is all I know to call that exhiliration of being on the open road, ears flapping, nose sniffing air at 80 mph.

There are some things I miss quite a bit. When I was a wee little pup, Brad would drive from Lake Havasu to Santa Barbara every single week and sometimes he would bring me with him. It was a fun trip, of course, because I was on the road nose to the wind. The only problem was he would drive his truck every single time but does not have a ton of space for me to lie down. I, Howard, need my naps. Even as a puppy I needed a daily nap or five.

I used to dream that he would buy a bigger car,maybe an Acura TL. I used to picture myself hanging out the huge side window, barking at the passers by and laughing under my breath like Mutley when the jumped. Never happened though. Instead I was stuck in the little truck bracing myself for every slam on the brakes. One time we were cruising along at 70, and all of a sudden he slammed on the brakes and I end up on the floor. Not fun for me at all, and after that the truck needed a brake job.

I needed a craniotomy.

Brad was always good at putting her up on two wheels as well. You have NO IDEA the suffering I endured all for the thrill of a joy ride. I would even drive from California to Arizona just for an oil change. That is how hardcore I am.

Montana

This guest post written by Lorenzo Matthews

My wife and I have lived in Los Angeles (where we met) for over ten years. After we had Simon, we started thinking about moving. The area we lived in was expensive plus the apartment seemed to be shrinking. Funny how kids change everything. My family owns a lot of property in Montana where I grew up. My dad offered one of the rentals to us and even hired me as a property manager. So we moved.

Our new neighborhood lacks some of the cultural refinements of Los Angeles, but it sure is a lot quieter. Cindy joined the neighborhood watch to meet the neighbors because my job will force me to travel all over the state. She learned our new home is in a great area with good schools and low crime. So far the only reported crime we have noticed was under-age drinking at a high school dance.

But since I am on the road quite a bit, I did get Home Security In Montana. Now there is good exterior lighting and the property is wired into a reputable, local security company. Cindy is also getting a dog. Not for protection but just because we finally have a yard.

We have been here for over five months now. I feel a lot better on the road knowing the neighborhood is safe and our house is protected. You know you live in a pretty safe spot when the neighborhood watch spends most of its time deciding where to have the next barbeque.

Moving into a new home

This is a guest post by Angela Walker.

We just bought a new home on the other side of town and I am so excited to get moving! I started packing up boxes last week and we have so much stuff. I did some shopping around for internet and tv and made a call to get it hooked up at our new house. I am really happy that I got a better deal than we had before. I got the electric and gas ready to be set up too.

On moving day we started right away. We moved everything we could in one day. It made for a really long day but all that is left at the old house is the beds and essentials. We will be sleeping at our old house for the last time tonight. It is crazy thinking we will never stay there again. I am so ready to start the new adventures in our new home.

Dallas Crime

Guest posted by my friend Matthew Thoms

As with any major metropolitan city, Dallas, TX has its fair share of crime. Additionally, certain areas of the city appear more prone to crime than other neighborhoods. Statistically, there was a time when Dallas had the highest crime rate of any U.S. city for 10 years. However, in 2009 it dropped to the number two slot. This is a significant improvement for those living in the DFW region.

Living in Dallas, TX for the past 15 years has offered many benefits. We have lived in many neighborhoods over the years but particularly in the smaller suburbs surrounding Dallas. Regardless of the neighborhood we have lived we take necessary precautions in order to keep us safe. When we purchased our last home, we had all the locks changed with state-of-the-art locks, and we installed a highly sophisticated alarm system with motion detection from an online dallas adt security company we found. We have three large dogs that are part of the family, but also would make an intruder think twice before entering.

Regardless of the area we have lived in the city our main concerns have stemmed from burglary, car jacking, and violent assaults. Living in a “safer” neighborhood in Dallas, does not mean you let your guard down, on the contrary, you must always take the necessary precaution in order to remain safe. Many crimes occur because the victim failed to use common sense, shopping in the wee hours of the night or not locking doors and windows in their home. Overall, my family and I do feel safe living in Dallas, TX.

Putting It All On Red 36!

Right before the housing bubble I did some day trading. It was fun, but hard to make money. I did like the ability to do online trading. It was like I had my own online broker. Mobile trading was not even around at that time. Sometimes, I get the urge to put in a couple of hundred dollars and try my luck again with stock trading. It has come a long way in such a short time! I also have learned a lot on what stocks to buy. The difference, is I am now working at a 9-5 job, and cannot sit at home in front of the computer and watch the market.

One of the good things I have now, which I did not have before, is a few IRA accounts.