Mike Jones

Arizona's gift to the nation, the 2009 Capitol Christmas Tree, stopped this weekend in Oro Valley, Arizona.

Oro Valley is one of Arizona's newest success stories, with wide streets, beautiful subdivisions and shopping centers that eclipse most of what quiet old Tucson has to offer.

The tree, 65 feet tall, will be trucked to the White House, where it will be put on display shortly after Thanksgiving.

People came from all over to put their signatures on the side of the vehicle. This little guy, seven years old, didn't have a pen, but my Darlin' took care of that.

I had to get in on the act, and I made sure Active Rain got to go along for the ride. It's faint, but it's there!

When the tree is set up and tricked out with lights and decorations for Christmas in our nation's capitol, I'm expecting that one of you Active Rainers in the DC area will take a photo or two and post on your blog about Arizona's Gift, the Capitol Christmas Tree for 2009.

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I'm Mike in Tucson, and I blog here on the Active Rain Real Estate Network just about every day.

I'm an internet based mortgage lender who happens to reside in Tucson, Arizona. Read my blog, and get to know me. The internet allows me to perform at the highest level of trust and productivity for clients outside Tucson who have internet access. Click the Active Rain link below to see my guarantee of service.

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC
a correspondent banker
Call me if I can help you or someone you know
with a purchase or refi mortgage.
(520) 349-9090

photo copyright Mike in Tucson

They're not making any more real estate. How many times have you heard that from an agent who's trying to sell you some?

Actually, it's not true.

Planet earth is living, moving, folding in on itself, and constantly re-creating the stuff we call real estate. (Then again, our lifetime is less than the blink of an eye on that geologic time scale, so you might want to act on that purchase you've been contemplating before someone else snaps it up.)

A dozen of us got together on Saturday morning to take a
"roadside geology" trip to Winkleman, Arizona. Two of our number, Dave Young and Keith Long, are geologists.

That's the Gila River on the left. Over eons, it has cut through what is now Arizona, exposing strata of rock to our view.

On the west side of the river is this man-made vertical cut through the same rock strata, made by the Road Department when they built Rt. 77 through Winkleman.

The photo at the top, and the one on the lower left, show "concretions" made of rock, embedded within a solid rock matrix.

These particular concretions are located along the side of the road, north of the town of Winkleman. Pretty cool, isn't it?

You won't see these gems from Interstate 10 at 65 MPH.

Next time you visit Arizona, don't be in a hurry to get to your resort destination. Get off our Interstate Highway system and spend some time on the back roads.

What you see will make you want to stay and explore.

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE
Call me if I can help you or someone you know
with a purchase or refi mortgage.
(520) 349-9090

photos copyright Mike in Tucson

The Arizona Cowboy Symposium, "a western heritage event that preserves the tradition, heritage and memories of the rural American West," is coming to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds November 13-15, 2009.

Supporters of The Arizona Cowboy Symposium include Southwest Strings right here in Tucson, purveyor of quality instruments & accessories at exceptional prices, and Larrivee Guitars, beautifully crafted guitars endorsed by Doc Stovall.

If (like me) you're fortunate enough to attend, here's what awaits us:

• 30 Western Acts on 4 stages
• Western Trade Show
• Western Swing Dances Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 p.m.
• Antique Car Show
• Chili Cookoff

The Mission

The mission of the Arizona Cowboy Symposium Association is to perpetuate and preserve the heritage and values of the Old West and the American Cowboy, by producing the Arizona Cowboy Symposium, a western heritage event, and any other event that promotes and preserves the tradition, heritage, and memories of the rural American West.

These events will bring to the public the art, music, prose and poetry of the American Cowboy and his legacy.

Through our endeavors [we will] establish and support the Brielle Boisvert Scholarship Fund for students who wish to continue their studies in music, literature or rural agricultural endeavors including, but not limited to, veterinarian science and ranch management and operation.

I expect to be there! I'm hoping to see you.

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, and I blog here on the Active Rain Real Estate Network just about every day.

I'm an internet-based mortgage lender who happens to reside in Tucson, Arizona. Read my blog, and get to know me. The internet allows me to perform at the highest level of trust and productivity for clients anywhere in the world.
At the moment, we're completing purchase loans in less than 30 days for US Citizens in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Click the Active Rain link below to see my guarantee of service.

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC
a correspondent banker
Call me if I can help you or someone you know
with a purchase or refi mortgage.
(520) 349-9090

I opened escrow for one of my FSBO clients yesterday at Stewart Title & Trust of Tucson, 3131 East Broadway Blvd.

Imagine my surprise when I pulled into the parking lot and found that the inmates had taken over the facility!

I looked around to see if maybe Sherrif Joe Arpaio from Maricopa (the man of pink-underwear-for-inmates fame) had come to Pima County, but I didn't see him.

These two inmates were not in the least camera-shy. (Unusual for inmates...)

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE
Call me if I can help you or someone you know
with a purchase or refi mortgage.
(520) 349-9090