Dinah Lee Griffey Allyn, Belfair,& LakeLand-Homes & Land

I wanted to share with you an exciting program that is being offered by our local power company. If you are anything like me, my power bill last year after the snow storms was a bit of a shocker. How would you feel if you did not get a bill at all but recieved a credit instead?

Senior Power Supply Analyst Matt Samuelson reported that there are seven customers participating in PUD 3's "net metering" program. Six of the customers are producing electricity with solar panels while another is experimenting with a small wind turbine. If these customers produce more electricity from their renewable energy systems than they consume in any given month, they are provided a credit toward future consumption.

In addition, participants may benefit from the Washington State Renewable Energy System Cost Recovery Incentive Program, which is administered by the state Department of Revenue. Four of the seven net metering customers participated in the program for F.Y. 08-09, generating approximately 9,000 kWh of electricity, for a combined compensation of $1,350.

While the payments are made by PUD 3, the utility is credited for its outlay by a corresponding decrease in PUD excise taxes. More details on the program may be found at the link below.

http://dor.wa.gov/Docs/Pubs/SpecialNotices/2009/sn_09_RenewableEnergy.pdf

As a Realtor I would like to know how important solar and wind energy is to you. Would you consider a home with solar power over one that does not have the option? Please feel free to share your comments. Your opinion may make a big difference in the housing you see offered in your neighborhood in the future.

If you have scanned the headlines this morning you probably saw a story about 6 year old Zachery,a cub scout forced to be home schooled for 45 days because he brought his cub scout silverware to school.

I know there are many sides to this story. Although I do not think that the school used their best judgment here. What message are they really sending to Zachery. Slip up even innocently and we gotcha...

Then there is my daughters experience. It was her first year to sit in the back of the bus. It was one of those little things that said you are now in high school- congrats.

On nearly the first day she started being bothered by a couple of boys on the bus. They said crude things to her and telling her she should kill herself and told her how to do it.

I told her to stand up for herself. She was afraid that SHE would be the one in trouble then. So I told her to sit somewhere else. She said why should I? I haven't done anything wrong. She was right. All she did was ride on the bus 10 minutes to get home every afternoon.I suggested that we talk to someone at the school. She was adamant that that was a BAD idea. We had been that route before it had never failed to make EVERYTHING worse than it already was.

Up to this point I did not know they had been telling her to commit suicide. I found that in a note on the counter one morning. So I called the school.

How can we keep my daughter anonymous and get these guys to stop? They said talk to the counselor. So I convinced my daughter that we should. That was my mistake. The school principal got involved. At first I felt relieved then He started insisting that we address the boys in a meeting and ask them if they were doing this. EXACTLY what my daughter was afraid of...Confrontation. We have learned this only makes it worse.

I had asked the bus garage and now I was begging the principal to just observe one day. If they heard it they could say that they noticed it. All we wanted was our daughter ( the victim) to remain out of the picture. The Principal was indignant and pursued the issue. I was told if you tell a school counselor anything that involves harm to someone of threat of harm they have to report it. IT IS NOT CONFIDENTIAL- even if the victim wants it to be.

I begged him to allow my daughter to switch buses. He reluctantly allowed it. All the while my daughter is terrified that the boys will figure it out. This has killed her trust in me and certainly the school. She will NEVER trust a school counselor again.

So who wins here- The school who won't be bothered by my daughter's needs again, the bullies who got away with it...or My daughter who has no way to resolve her issues unless it is their way regardless of how it effects her.

As a Realtor how do I answer the question...How are your schools? I tell them they are like any other public school. We have a lot of options here for education. ( take it or leave it) We are in a debate now as to how to help our daughter and we are looking into online education with sports for socializing and P.E. After all we may fix the schools, but will we in time for my daughter to be successful now.She sleeps as much as she can she doesn't want to eat and she gets headaches Sunday night before school. In a nut shell she hates it. How is that going to help her become successful?

Parents keep in mind that what your kids tell a couselor is rarely confidential!

The debate over Health care today is not about health care. While many on both sides are able to paint a grim picture of the outcome if we do not fix the issue, one way or another. This is not the issue.

We can all agree that things are not going the way that they should. That costs are out of control and that no one should be denied needed care.

But this argument is as much about health care as the civil war was about slavery. Neither side is fighting for or against anyone to have or not have medical care.

The battle is over rights. Just as it was during the civil war and if you think about it any war.

The real decision or choice is how much power are you personally willing to hand over to the government for safe keeping? Do you trust them? Who are they?

The Government that is frequently called "them" and "they" is "You and me." We elect them and we can unelect them. When we complain about the "system" we are admitting failure on our part to act.

It is a big job. This is a large nation with an enormous debt and choices made today will carry through for generations to come. For as long as we have a Nation of the people, by the people and for the people we will be personally charting our Nations course.

So lets ask the question. Do you want to be personally responsible for John Doe's health care? Do you want to find the money to provide it? Do you want to make the call deciding what is next for Mr. Doe? Do you want that responsibility?

Or do you want to put the power back in Mr. Doe's hands. Let him decide the next step either with the advice from his doctors or not. Isn't it his call?

When it comes down to it we are really in a battle to retain our rights. To be the one who makes the call in our own lives. To have the powers that were granted to us in the constitution. The only thing proposed to be denied are the rights of the American People.

Just as in the Civil War we are in the fight for our Nation, our rights, and the continuance of democracy. Do not allow those in power to let you think this is about health care. It is about retaining a right you have or letting another hold all the power. Once you hand over your rights, It will be a battle to get them back.

Lets make the call now. Lets fight to retain our rights as American citizens and not be fooled by the talk of politicians. Lets see this issue for what it is and what it is capable of stealing. You may not realize it until it is past, so take a good hard look now.

Is the debate really about your health care or about your rights? Your voice is free...share it!

As you can see the cloud hovering just above us at Rain Camp today was letting loose with a pretty big deluge. I have seldom in my career been as inspired as I was today.

A group of us from Windermere Peninsula Properties attended this not to miss event. We came away in awe of all the possibilities when it came to enhancing our businesses.

There are a ton of free tools just waiting to be used on the web. From photo enhancing, to web conferencing. The tech world has arrived to real estate and it is going to simplify and enhance our lives in dramatic ways.

The tools of the future do not include personal websites, but they will utilize your phone for just about any task. Real Estate live will be just a click away and transactions will be a much more interactive responsive experience.

I can't wait to see what they have in store next. After attending Rebar camp just this last February and September I was truly inspired, but what I saw today was amazing. The possibilities are endless and Active Rain will be there every step of the way.Just ask Brad Andersohn ( really ask him) I can't wait to implement these strategies for my Sellers. They are going to love the attention!

Waking up, I drug my sleepy feet to the window to search out my day.

Clouds tend to require a little more coffee than blue skies do.

As I peered out to the Victor hillside across the cold North Bay, the Sun began to pull itself slowly from its slumber into the dreaming sky.

Purples and oranges lit my day on fire as the dark tree stood by stoically awaiting their breath of light.

Why are these moments so unforgettable?

Is it the moon hanging heavy over the night waters amongst the strings of sparkling stars that makes the contrast so unreal. How can one beautiful moment lead so grandly to the next?