Ok, yes I know this is a real estate website; however I have to keep up with what is going on in the NFL. Fortunately that includes a wonderful man, husband and teammate.
Brett Favre. Some of you may not like Brett because of his wobbleness (my word.. don't look it up in the dictionary). Some of you judged him because of his age! Some of the Green Bay Packer Backers were unforgiven to him and maybe the team too for allowing such a staple to leave the team. Whatever your reason is to follow the man, you have to admit that he has given us many surprises!!!
Brett has been playing professional ball longer than some of you have been alive or even married. He and his wife Deanna has been through cancer and back which helped them create a wonderful nonprofit organization for research. Yes, even athletes have normal life issues to overcome. My condolences to Chris Spielman and his children for the loss of his lovely bride of many years, Stefanie, who we lost to breast cancer. Have we ever wondered why the press focuses on the negative areas of these players lives and not the real life issues or the great things they do to help their community?!!!
Let the record speak for itself. Brett has had a great year. Although I as a common person can see that when Brett is able to call his plays; there is a huge difference in yardage. Just like the linebacker calls the defensive plays, the quarterback should have the right to call the offensive plays...isn't that what you hire him for??? We cannot expect the Vikings to win every game. We can't expect the offensive line to be great every single week and protect such a commodity. But hey, I am not the coach and I am sure he would have a different opinion. These players are human and they have aches and pains on Monday morning....heck Tuesday through Saturday too. For some reason Sunday or Monday comes and they forget the pain because of their adrenaline. Nevertheless, they have pain and they need time to heal; not just physically, but emotionally too. It's rough being booed or unfavorable reporting; matter of fact, false reporting is yet a better view in my eyes. So the next time you read the newspaper or a blog, remember that truths are only half told. Also remember the next time you decide to judge or be a Monday quarterback; that young man could be your son, husband or cousin....so be kind. One of many of my favorite quotes came from Douglas M. Lawson, "We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give." Give kindness and a Smile this 2010 year. It could be contagious.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Energy Tips Can Save Money !!
I often wondered growing up why my parents would tell me, "turn off the light Sara."
Now that I am that parent and aunt, I am often repeating myself except I add, "and that TV." You may wonder what the big deal is? I too wonder until I got my first bill of my new home in 2000. It was a Duke Energy bill because we were on electric and not gas at that time. It was also for two months because of how the bill cycle fell. I opened the bill and gasped for air. I showed it to my husband and he nonchalantly continued a conversation he was having with our son. I was sure that there was an error with the bill. I called Duke Energy to inquire their procedures and if this was an estimate or did they REALLY read my meter. They determined that it was indeed an accurate read!
"Really, I blurted out, Really??? I came from the coldest of the north and my bill in 4 months was never this high.!!" I am sure she was thinking, then go back North. I paid the mortgage, I mean electric bill and decided to do some observing over the next month.
Everyone, I mean all 3 kids, husband and dog left the lights on. The thermostat was moved again and again; I would adjust it to 71 and somehow, an invisible person would move it again and again.
Because our kids did not have Televisions in their room, fortunately I didn't have to monitor that power button. However, I would have to shout up the stairs, "did you turn your lights off?" "Yes mam" would echo in the foyer synchronized as if they were singing the hook to a song.
The next month's bill came. I ripped it open to see if my diligence paid off. Yes, I replied, 30% less. I knew we could do better the next month. It would be the last cold month for Charlotte. Again, the next month's bill came and we were down 50%. The experts say that it takes 30 days to create a habit. It may have been sixty days, but I was elated with the progress. Today my kids have homes of their own and when I visit, I am proud to say that they are very energy efficient!
The great thing is that we are working as a society to become more green. Duke Energy has great information on how to save on your home bills. Their research shows that 43% of residential energy consumption is heating and cooling, 12% is water heating and lighting is 11%. Just the three categories above is over 67% of our total bill. We can really decrease our budget by carefully creating new habits.
I received a wonderful surprise today in the mail. It was a duke energy efficiency starter kit. It included wonderful information and 6 Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, (CFL). I posted this blog because of this surprise and the great information in this kit.
I want to leave you with one fact from the U.S. Department of Energy; "In the average home, up to 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics occurs when the devices are turned off." I suggest unplugging those toasters, car chargers and night lights when they are not in use. It will make a difference.
Now that I am that parent and aunt, I am often repeating myself except I add, "and that TV." You may wonder what the big deal is? I too wonder until I got my first bill of my new home in 2000. It was a Duke Energy bill because we were on electric and not gas at that time. It was also for two months because of how the bill cycle fell. I opened the bill and gasped for air. I showed it to my husband and he nonchalantly continued a conversation he was having with our son. I was sure that there was an error with the bill. I called Duke Energy to inquire their procedures and if this was an estimate or did they REALLY read my meter. They determined that it was indeed an accurate read!
"Really, I blurted out, Really??? I came from the coldest of the north and my bill in 4 months was never this high.!!" I am sure she was thinking, then go back North. I paid the mortgage, I mean electric bill and decided to do some observing over the next month.
Everyone, I mean all 3 kids, husband and dog left the lights on. The thermostat was moved again and again; I would adjust it to 71 and somehow, an invisible person would move it again and again.
Because our kids did not have Televisions in their room, fortunately I didn't have to monitor that power button. However, I would have to shout up the stairs, "did you turn your lights off?" "Yes mam" would echo in the foyer synchronized as if they were singing the hook to a song.
The next month's bill came. I ripped it open to see if my diligence paid off. Yes, I replied, 30% less. I knew we could do better the next month. It would be the last cold month for Charlotte. Again, the next month's bill came and we were down 50%. The experts say that it takes 30 days to create a habit. It may have been sixty days, but I was elated with the progress. Today my kids have homes of their own and when I visit, I am proud to say that they are very energy efficient!
The great thing is that we are working as a society to become more green. Duke Energy has great information on how to save on your home bills. Their research shows that 43% of residential energy consumption is heating and cooling, 12% is water heating and lighting is 11%. Just the three categories above is over 67% of our total bill. We can really decrease our budget by carefully creating new habits.
I received a wonderful surprise today in the mail. It was a duke energy efficiency starter kit. It included wonderful information and 6 Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, (CFL). I posted this blog because of this surprise and the great information in this kit.
I want to leave you with one fact from the U.S. Department of Energy; "In the average home, up to 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics occurs when the devices are turned off." I suggest unplugging those toasters, car chargers and night lights when they are not in use. It will make a difference.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Can I get a loan???
I have been working with some great clients that have paid their bills on time for over 10 years plus. They are hard working people that cannot obtain a mortgage loan today. If they would have found the home they wanted 2 years ago, no problem; Today is a different story. I speak often to lenders, brokers, bankers and investors....they all tell me the same thing. The banks that made bad loans messed the typical borrower up in today's market. Being in finance for many years, I totally agree with qualifying the loan; the person; the character of the borrower. However, lenders are just look at the bottom line with no compassion. Some of the clients I have served may have been unemployed for 6 to 9 months which put them behind on some bills. They made every effort to pay what they could; however, even after finding employment and catching upon their bills, the banks will not lend to them. I have been listening alot to CNN on the XM radio. (I do alot of driving so I catch up on the news with CNN) there is information that conveys to us that while US track our wealth through the DOW Jones. We are also tracking the median prices for home prices. The DOW was 14,164 in October 2007 and around January 2009 it was around 9,000. Good news is that we are on the climb. I feel that everything is relative and volatile.... so who knows and how can we really predict the outcome.
The moral to this blog is don't wait for the rates to plumb any further. If you want to buy a home, then by George go buy one. If you want to try a new career while you are one of the 8% unemployed....then go do your passion. You don't have to get permission to succeed. You may fail along the way, but at least you tried. Along those failures you will discover success!!!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Super Bowl Sunday
I Can't believe it is Super Bowl Sunday again. I was just figuring out who was in the 2008 game. I had a discussion today with Brian and he couldn't remember who won last year Superbowl; so why do we make such a big deal of it??? Unless of course your "baby" is playing in it or you have relatives playing or I can even see a fan who thought their team never had a chance. I always say, "Any given Sunday," any team can win.
I thought about the Superbowl games I attended the past 15 years and each one seem to be the same except for the teams, and city. Each one consisted of expensive airfare, ridiculous room rates with a minimum stay; expense of eating has doubled because the restaurants know we need to get our grub on.
I am not being negative about the Super Bowl.....but where the heck are these people getting money from to pay for the scalped tickets of at least $1200 apiece; hotel is $1,000 and transportation can run from $500 to $2000 a person. We are at a high for unemployment; a low for interest rates and our funds are decreasing as I type because of the NYSE and others. So the point that I am making is... folks don't have enough money to pay their bills but they can go to Florida for pure entertainment. Oh and let's not forget all of the $5 beer and stadium food that should be budgeted in to the equation! And if you are a real fan, you will be tailgating.
So, I guess you know that I am in the comfort of my home with store bought wings and chips.
I actually got a cold housing call today that I will work on today; I guess everyone doesn't watch the Super Bowl.
May the team wins that plays their best today.
I thought about the Superbowl games I attended the past 15 years and each one seem to be the same except for the teams, and city. Each one consisted of expensive airfare, ridiculous room rates with a minimum stay; expense of eating has doubled because the restaurants know we need to get our grub on.
I am not being negative about the Super Bowl.....but where the heck are these people getting money from to pay for the scalped tickets of at least $1200 apiece; hotel is $1,000 and transportation can run from $500 to $2000 a person. We are at a high for unemployment; a low for interest rates and our funds are decreasing as I type because of the NYSE and others. So the point that I am making is... folks don't have enough money to pay their bills but they can go to Florida for pure entertainment. Oh and let's not forget all of the $5 beer and stadium food that should be budgeted in to the equation! And if you are a real fan, you will be tailgating.
So, I guess you know that I am in the comfort of my home with store bought wings and chips.
I actually got a cold housing call today that I will work on today; I guess everyone doesn't watch the Super Bowl.
May the team wins that plays their best today.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Nascar Sponsors vs NFL strike
For Richard Petty and many employees over the past 60 years; an end of an era is ending. With a great amount of respect as well as sorrow, I am in awe that a company that started in Charlotte is actually ending in Charlotte. The job loss alone was a challenging turn. Will those Nascar employee be able to merge in the merger? Will the other Nascar drivers blend together?
This may be a part of Nascar that continues to fall like the national market. It appears that lack of sponsors is causing a downward spiral; yet the support of the fans are alive. Like the last NFL strike, the uncertainties for players each week are a constant sign of those times and yet the fans were favorable. The NFL strike gave some young men the opportunity to play on a professional level..... what a dream come true. For other NFL families, it only allowed more frustration because of the lack of communication between the NFLPA and the owners. However, after 3 games and many hours of negotiations; the league came back as a whole and it is more powerful than ever because the players stuck together. With Richard Petty racing ending its stellar 60 year career, one only hope that the economy will jilt back into place and continue the race. Although it may give younger drivers a chance to more quickly because their dollar demand is lower than the proven drivers. Which brings up another story at another time..... "why does a guy out of college in sports make more money than players that have
gone to the Pro Bowl, the All Star games etc..." stay tuned for my take on it!
gone to the Pro Bowl, the All Star games etc..." stay tuned for my take on it!I would hope that we could stick together through this hard economic times; whether we are stay at home moms, engineers, professional athletes or owners of fortune 500 companies, we should continue to suppport the businesses as much as our budget allows. Dealing with the unknown is very stressful. The owners of many small companies are closing shop. The larger companies are cutting back on advertisement and the liquidity that we once felt as a family is gone. We now buy only necessities. I am sorry but the $300 rebate didn't do much for me.
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