Kathleen Lordbock Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes

     As you all well know, today marks the eighth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. I am listening to some of the 9-11 memorial program on the television and remembering where I was and what I was doing on that day.  We had a tornado rip through on June 13,2001 taking almost everything we owned including our roofing business and horse stable.  We lost horses as well and that was the most difficult for me.

   Our insurance company purchased us a dumpy old house trailer that we named Barney after the purple carpet that ran through the living spaces. It was parked behind what was left of our home. Some young men had already shown up for work and were in there with my husband deciding on the day's plan. I was doing my morning chores and listening to the TV as I went. After the first building was hit I ran to the house with a sinking feeling that there was more to come.  My husband and the guys were already in a circle holding hands and praying for our nation and the lives of those in peril.

     I hope that you will take a some time today to reflect on the things that are most important in your life.  My relationship with God reflects on all the other people and things in my life. I have experienced tragedy and sorrow and pain, but God has never left me and I have never left Him. I have found that, though painful to endure, through trials we have the opportunity to rise even stronger.

    I also will spend some time praying for those who were left behind and those who were injured and continue to endure great pain from this  terrorist attack on the United States of America and her people. May God be with us. 

Photo : Flickr

I WILL NOT FORGET! 

FOR A COMPLETE TIMETABLE OF THOSE EVENTS CLICK HERE**********

To my C-21 friends ~ my apologies!

Summer is winding down but the number of stinging insects, such as yellow jackets and wasps, flying through the air, have not. In my case getting stung results in a big ouch, temporary redness, swelling and itching at the site of the sting. Hoewever for a small number of people with severe venom allergy, these stings may be life-threatening.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) urge people who suffer from a stinging insect allergy to take extra precautions and to carry epinephrine with them at all times.

"September through October is prime sting season; a nest that had a few dozen yellow jackets in July may have thousands in late September" said David B.K. Golden, MD, Fellow of the AAAAI and member of the AAAAI's Insect Allergy Committee. "Therefore, be careful when doing yard work or attending football games this fall."

Up to 5% of Americans are at risk for severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions from stinging insects. Unfortunately, most people are not aware that they are allergic to insect stings until after experiencing a reaction.

When an allergic person is stung, his or her body produces an antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). The venom reacts with the IgE antibodies which trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions to insect stings can involve many body organs and may develop rapidly. This reaction is called anaphylaxis.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis are:

• Itching and hives over large areas of the body
• Swelling in the throat or tongue
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• In severe cases, a rapid fall in blood pressure may result in shock or loss of consciousness

The AAAAI's Insect Allergy Committee recommends the following tips to avoid insect stings:

• Stay out of the "territory" of stinging insects' nests
• Hire a trained exterminator to destroy nest and hives near your home
• Don't drink from a straw or can that you cannot see inside of, this is a favorite place for yellow jackets to hide
• Do not swat at stinging insects if encountered by them
• Avoid wearing heavy perfume and brightly colored clothing outdoors
• Keep all food covered outside until eaten

In my area of the Brainerd Lakes in Minnesota, ground nests are common and difficult to find until you disturb one ( then run like the wind). Yellowjackets also love piles of old hay or straw. They nest under stairs, in dark cavities and get particularly annoyed by vibrations.

Play safe , they do not play nice!

Recent sightings of four great white sharks have prompted a swimming ban for the rest of the Labor Day weekend at some of the area's Oceanside beaches, including North Beach, Lighthouse Beach, South Beach and Harding Beach and Nauset Beach.

No swimming this Labor Day weekend and maybe for another month. The Great White Sharks have moved in and are enjoying the ideal water temperatures and the abundant fresh food, in the form of seals. They do not care if you planned a beach weekend retreat, are there on your first vacation in years, or if you are going back to school tomorrow. They are doing what sharks do and they are doing it very well.

Great white shark scientific name : Carcharodon Carcharias photo by Flickr: hermanusbackpackers

The Great White is between 12-16 feet long, and can grow up to 19-21 feet. The Great White is the most feared fish for humans. Great White Sharks are a very large species of shark. They are streamlined swimmers, and have a torpedo-shaped body with a pointed snout.

They have about 3000 teeth, arranged in several rows. The first two rows of teeth are used for grabbing and cutting prey, while the teeth in the last rows rotate into place when front teeth are broken, worn down, or fall out. The teeth are triangularly shaped with serrations on the edges. (How cool is that!)

The back of the shark is a dull grey color and the underside is colored white. They have three main fins: the dorsal (on back) and two pectoral fins (on the sides). The tail is crescent shaped. There are five gill slits on Great White Sharks. The Great White reaches maturity about 9 years after it's birth. The growth of The Great White shark is about 25-30 cm per year. The White Shark has litters of about 7-9 pups. The females only reproduce twice in her whole life.

Some shark information from www.indianchild.com

I am signing up for a Webinar sponsored by the National Association of REALTORS and am thinking how sad it is that we need to even consider these issues. Although I have not had any trouble or even felt uncomfortable at a showing or an open house, I know others who have. I have also heard of robberies, rapes and murders of agents. I am not naive enought to consider that this could not happen in my area. It Could! I am going to do what I can to prevent it from happening to me. To sign up for the free Webinar go to NAR and sign in.

Attend the Free REALTOR® Safety Webinar from NAR: Safety at Open Houses

Your safety is a top priority for NAR and as part of a year-long initiative to help build safety awareness, NAR will host REALTOR® Safety Webinars each quarter led by safety expert Andrew Wooten. The first in the series, Safety at Open Houses, is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2009 at 10am Central. Advanced registration is recommended.

Photo FLICKR

Most buyers are looking for a well-maintained house in apple pie order. They will be looking to buy as much house as they can get and still leave a little dough for changes to adapt things to their personal taste. That doesn't mean that they will be looking to dive right into major home improvements, because they won't. The down payment on your home will take most of their savings. After the monthly mortgage payments, taxes and insurance, there is no room in their budget for major repairs. Many buyers today will not consider a house that needs remodeling and improvements, they do not need to as there are plenty of move in ready homes available. Those buyers who will are called flippers and need to buy property as cheaply as possible to make needed repairs and enhancements and still clear a profit. Nothing personal - it is their business.

Your house will stand a better chance of selling if it has an up-to-date kitchen, an up-to-date bathroom and shows the signs of regular maintenance. Inside and outside everything should be in good repair. Fresh paint improves the curb appeal of any house, along with blooming flowers and a nicely cropped green lawn. Cleanliness, both inside and out will make a good impression on the buyer. Clean out the gutters and downspouts, pull out all weeds, put fresh mulch around trees and in flower beds. Pressure wash the sidewalks and siding, if it will stand up to it. Go the distance and the reward will be much greater.