Ted Komenda

The Red Sox have clinched another post season berth! All the more exciting that they were able to continue their great play and join seven other teams in the playoffs while the Yankees streak of post seasons ends. It appears the Sox will have to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim who have the best record in baseball and will be a daunting task to defeat. However, never fear the Sox definitely have the Halos number in the post season beating them last year on the way to the title. I think it is now safe to root for a Sox-Cubs series! No matter who we end up playing its just nice to know that you can still get a Fenway Frank and you can't get a Yankee Dog this October!

This weeks top ten....

1. My prayers go out to the victims of Hurricane Ike. What a powerful storm that brought absolute destruction to South East Texas and beyond. Galveston and its outlying communities seem to have been hardest hit with neighborhoods simply wiped off the map.

2. It has been quite a week as far as the stick market goes. I think by this time next week it will fall below 10,000 though I really hope not.

3. The race for the AL East is a hot one. As of now the Rays hold the slimmest of leads. It will be interesting to see if they can hold off the more experienced Red Sox.

4. I guess the real estate market still hasn't hit bottom, but mortgage rates are probably as low as they are going to get with inflation rising. Tell your buyers what they save by waiting for the bottom they will lose in the amount they pay for thier money.

5. You would think with the amount of babies being born in China that they would make sure the formula is safe. SHAMEFUL!!!

6. I think its going to be an exciting NFL season. What a game on Monday night.

7. Pretty soon the US government is going to own all of the big mortgage companies.

8. The Sarah Palin phenomenon reminds me of the days of Jackie O.

9. Personnally I think septic companies have us by the short and curlys.

10. Sadly we say goodbye to one of our real estate agents. We wish her the best!

Have a great week and SELL SELL SELL!!!!

Ted Komenda

As I take a few minutes to reflect on another anniversary of September 11, 2001 I am troubled by the short memories Americans seem to have. I can recall the outpouring of national pride that we as a country showed ourselves and the world after 9/11. Every street was adorned with American Flags, high atop flag poles or on a wooden stick stuck into the front lawn. My street, I think like most in America, was a sea of red, white, and blue flags waving our pride in the wind. The way the country pulled together reminded me of the sense of National Pride that my grandparents generation must have felt as it embarked to fight a world war. Now it seems as if no one remembers what happened a few short years ago. I know most certainly remember, they are just to busy to do anything about their memories. This anniversary seems like a day that the country should remind itself not only that we are vulnerable to attacks on our way of life but also to celebrate the country we are fortunate enough to live in. Everytime I look at "Old Glory" emotions deep within bubble to the surface reminding me of all the men and women who have died to keep their generation and the next ones free. I always find it simply amazing when Americans burn their own flag, I guess exercising their Constitutional Rights, to make a dramatic point at one protest or another. I have to wonder if they realize how they insult the memories of all who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and the very flag, they insist on burning. It seems to me that the American Flag represents different things to different people and though individuals might not agree with the politics of the day they should still respect the flag enough to stand when its being raised or lowered, stand when The Star Spangled Banner is playing, make sure it never touches the ground, take the time to fold it properly, and above all else remember those who died for it. On September 11, 2008 I just don't see what I saw in the days and weeks following September 11, 2001, the pride and togetherness. It saddens me deeply.

This weeks quote.....

If wishes were horses...... beggars would ride.....

What this simply means is that if you sit around dreaming good things will happen to you and all you do is dream, nothing positive will ever happen. You must go out there and apply yourself. Life is about honesty, integrity, compassion, and risk. If you never put yourself in vulnerable situations you will never face risk in your life. Sure it's risky and frightening to leave yourself exposed to financial, personal, or even physical risk but to grow as a human being you must! Otherwise you will go through on the periphery of life never actually involved. The same holds true in the business world! So work hard, apply yourself, and get in the game! Sometimes the only thing your risking is time!

Have a great week and SELL SELL SELL!

I must say last nights game against the Red Sox and the Rays was truely exciting. I am of course very dissappointed that the Sox fell short but I still had a great time watching! The game had it all, from great starting pitching, Dice-K and Kasmir, to defense and finally long balls. Jonathen Papelbon ended up blowing his first save since June 22 which unfortunately happens from time to time. I was a little surprised by pitch selection Jason Varitek chose. Pap first 16 of 17 pitches to start the nineth were fastballs. These are major league hitters who can if they know its coming sit on anyones fastball. Mix in some sliders or even splitters just to keep the hitters honest. Anyway the Rays just weren't quite ready to relinquish the lead in the American League East. Lets see what happens tonight!