Amy Roberson

I wanted to let folks know about an awesome way to straighten out their bookshelves and "find" some new books themselves. Last Spring I took a look around the manse and decided I needed a few more bookcases. I started pricing the ones I liked and they were running $600 EACH. I am talking something you'd have in the living room, not something you'd hide in the guest room closet. My books were, frankly, overflowing the boundaries I had set for them.

Now, let me explain, I have a library habit: I know where every library in my end of the County is located and visit them all frequently. Brevard County has the best library system in ANY county I have ever lived in.

In spite of my library habit, I also have a B&N habit. That is; I can not walk in the doors of West Melbourne's Barnes and Noble without leaving with an armload of books. I love books, I have always loved books, and I always will love books.

I'll talk about my Kindle in another blog posting...(loves the kindle, too)

This brings me to www.BookMooch.com. Last Spring I started listing books on the website and steadily worked my way through some grad school books I had held on to for 20+ years--two career choices later. I also cleared out some paperback beach books and some hard backed novels that I felt were undeserving of another read. For the price of postage, I added some real treasures and re-discovered some authors, and met folks from around the globe who enjoy their books as much as I do.

I know there are other services out there-- including one in which you leave books in public places and follow their travels. But, BookMooch works for me.

I did end up getting three new bookcases from Staples that are real wood mission style and well priced. Had to put my newly mooched books somewhere.

One of the things my Associates talk about when they talk about our office is that we always offer their customers and clients a drink-- coffee or water, usually. We always make sure to keep a supply of refreshments on hand for our Associates. It gets hot in Florida, and dehydration is a problem when the sweat gets to flowing freely as it does on those days approaching 98% humidity--and they are on the way again. Combine our humidity with plenty of properties to see and one can easily end up with a nasty headache from not taking in enough fluids.

Our office recycles. Even though according to our town, businesses are not supposed to or are not allowed to. We recycle copier & printer paper, out of date RE mags, junk mail, cardboard boxes, toner cartridges, old cell phones, old computer equipment. I make sure all of our yard waste is collected for mulch. Some of this is curbside, some I have to collect and deliver myself. I will say that it has affected the amount of actual trash we put out and what makes it to the landfill. So that makes me feel pretty good. Why do I feel so bad about bottled water?

The new green thing is to say how bad bottled water is for the planet. I am not sure if this is an anti-spring water thing, or something bigger.

I will say this about Florida; I have lived here more than 20 years and never willingly drank water from the tap. I will swim in it, I will play in it, I will use it to water my plants, I will fish in it. I just can not bear to drink it.

So, we stock bottled water for our visitors, and I drink it myself. I recycle the bottles--curbside. And personally, the bottle I am drinking out of was probably re-filled from the five gallon bottle about nine times before it makes it to the curb.

Robburritos on Ocean Avenue in Melbourne Beach has become in a short time period one of those places my family knows will consistently give us a good meal in a pleasant, clean atmosphere.

My first reaction was what the heck is "Slawsa?" Now, I almost crave the stuff on a weekly basis. Slawsa is sliced cabbage that provides an extra crunch in your taco or burrito. At Robburritos they have a variety of sauces for your enjoyment and I have found over time that my taste buds get a pretty good kick out of chipolte --but the mayan is too much. Even the BBQ has a little excitement added. There are other sauces, but I admit I haven't tried them yet.

My favorite side dish is simply Guac and chips--which I like to squeeze a little lime into. Huge chunks of avocado and just aboutthe perfect food.

Robb makes some ice cream that I love--Not for the kiddies: Chocolate lime with jalapeno. It's cold, it's sweet. and it tastes so good that it hurts.

Glenn and Robb are about the nicest folks you'd ever want to meet. Their graciousness spreads through the dining room.

If you like eclectic surroundings you will enjoy the music posters and kitsch from the seventies. It's amusing for the youngsters. Outside there are a few picnic tables and inside seating is limited. You can call ahead for takeout and head over to the beach to picnic.

(321) 729-6244

I've said it before : the image of a real estate agent with a phone glued to their ear is not far from the truth. Imagine my life in a great neighborhood with a 75 acre preserve in my backyard surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon for the past nine and a half years. Love, love, love it. No cell reception. Ever.

This iswas a problem. Samsung got together with Sprint and made a VOIP type antenna for broadband cable (possibly DSL, I don't know) users. I plugged it into my router yesterday and suddenly had six bars where before --for 9+ years-- there had been none. My life has changed because of technology, again.

If you have no signal, I suggest you run out to your local Sprint store and grab an Airave they're $99--and worth every penny. And, yes, it costs an additional $20/per month on my multi-line plan-- but the minutes you use while you are on your antenna DO NOT COUNT on your plan. And, to be able to use the phones at all while we're in the house is going to be life changing!

I know there are folks out there who think the basic premise of a cellular company is to provide service. The problem is that over the past 9 years I have had: Cingular (before they were BellSouth and before they were AT&T), Nextel (before they were with Sprint) and Verizon. I have never had a signal. See coverage map below. Yellow pin is my house.

So, I was always just grateful that my family had a way to communicate with each other when we were away from the house--and tried not to get frustrated when I couldn't even pick up voice mail or answer calls--from the house. And my constant fumbling refrain was-- can I call you back from a landline?

If you have the same symptoms I had; switch your carrier--like I did, and get an Airave. When you pay the additional $20 per month your phone will be able to pick up on other home signals --Yes, my house is now a cell tower--as long as they are unlocked. You can also choose to lock your personal tower and allow up to 50 phones to use it. Look at all the grey space on the coverage map. Probably 75 real estate agents live within ten miles on that narrow strip of land--how many mortgage brokers, I couldn't say.

There's a growing national trend to go without a home phone--I always laughed before when I heard about it. No, way--no signal. But now I'm starting to imagine...