Vicky Chrisner

You probably are aware of the first time home buyer tax credit of up to $8K. You may also be aware it is set to expire soon, I think there are 53 business days left to get your transaction closed and still be able to take advantage of this incentive.

In my area, this, combined with low interest rates and great home prices, are creating a buyer frenzy.... this is keeping inventories low and pushing prices upward.

Rebounding home prices are key to restoring the net wealth of American families.

Traditional sellers are now able to sell their home and move up into larger homes.

The market is improving... and we need to keep the momentum going.

If you agree - visit this web page and follow the links to the CALL TO ACTION being sponsored by the National Association of REALTORS.

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To learn more about Vicky Chrisner, visit: www.VickyChrisner.com

Yep. I am sure that's what I've had all week. No, I didn't have testing... the CDC doesn't really recommend it. It's been a long time since I had a flu that did more than inconvenience me. This one put me in bed for a few days.

In case you're wondering, here's what I now know:

• It doesn't really matter "which" flu it is.
• It's all contagious, it all makes you feel terrible.
• Symptoms are fever, cough, sneeze, running or stopped up nose, achy-all-over feeling, fatique. Some people get tummy problems, not all.
• It seems pretty much like any flu we're used to getting. For most people you don't need medicine and you don't need to go to the doctors'. You need to stay home.
• Treat your symptoms like you would normally - cold medicine, fever and pain medicine, vitamin C, fluids and rest.
• Don't panic. It sucks, but it is not the end of the world.

A couple of things I thought were interesting:

• In most cases, people over 60 are considered high risk for complications from the flu. For some reason, that's not so with this one. It seems that people over 60 have an antibody to help fight against this flu strain. Did a similar virus circulate 60 years ago? It seems the only logical conclusion.
• My friend said dogs can get this flu. I didn't learn that from any reputable news source - but my friend tends not to circulate silly rumors; and dogs can get lots of our illnesses. So, if you're one of those "my dogs are my children" people (like my best friend), your dogs are at risk - keep them out of your bed for a few days.
• Apparently, there are people out there that are intentionally getting the flu. They are organizing Swine Flu parties, and going to visit some who is sick with it and trying to get the flu themselves. Their hope is that they'll get "a little" sick now, rather than deathly ill later. I am just wondering how people know that they'll get "a little sick" rather than "deathly ill" now? The CDC agrees with me and recommends against this.... but I am a sarcastic person so I posted on Facebook that I was having a Swine Flu party. Look, when you're sick, you have to get your jollies where you can.

In case you're old like me... there's a new rule, do you know it? We no longer cough into our hands... you're supposed to cough into your sleeve. There's supposedly a hit video you can buy if you want, but that's all it's gonna tell you: http://www.coughsafe.com/index.html

Okay... but, I want to say something important - so keep reading. In February or March of 1992 there was a flu going around - it was a bad one. I managed to catch it. I remember watching on TV where the ERs were flooded and the news cast was saying that because it was viral there was nothing they could do, so stay home. And, I hate hospitals, so I stayed home. It was a stomach flu. I got so bad that my stomach was swollen from vomitting and I couldn't lay on my stomach because it hurt, and I couldn't lay on my back because the weight of my stomach was so heavy against my lungs that I couldn't breath. My 2 year old son was keeping me alive with Dixie Cups of water, because I couldn't get out of bed. If I tried to get out of bed or even sit up, I passed out. And, I lived alone with my 2 year old son, so that was not OK. Eventually I had my mom come get my son, I thought I would die and he would be there alone with me. I truly went 3 days without getting out of bed. Three days.... not even to go to the bathroom, and no I was not wetting my bed - I was that dehydrated. My mother begged me to go to the ER, I refused and refused. Eventually she convinced me. She said "so you're going to die and leave me to tell this little boy that his mother didn't even try to stay alive for him?". I went. Guilt wins every time. But, Mom had to dress me, and carry me to the car. I was really bad off.

As it turns out there IS stuff they can do for the flu. (Wish someone on TV had said that, I'd have been there sooner.) For me, it was that they could put me on an IV so I didn't die of dehydration. The doctors actually thought I should have already been dead at that point. They also have anti-viral medication... I don't know if they had it then, but they have it now. They won't give it to everyone, but if you get sick enough, you can get some.

I share this story so that you learn, there's a balance. Yes, give yourself a few days. Use grandma's remedies and try to heal yourself. For most people it will work. But, when you start thinking that you're going to die, you probably are - so go to the hospital. There is no good reason to suffer like that. My son almost lost his mommy. As much as you hate hospitals, or as much as I do, there's a time for them. Ask for help when you need it.

So, the points of my post are this:

• Don't panic about this flu. Most of us will be just fine, and the news media just likes using buzz words.... pay no attention to them. Besides, as I pointed out, listening to the news nearly cost me my life once, so now I take everything they say with a grain of salt.
• An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure (ever hear that?) - it means wash your hands, take vitamin C and try to stay in overall good health. IF you get the flu, you're more likely to get through it just fine if you're otherwise in good health.
• If you're likely to get complications, get the shot when it's available. If there are limited supplies, let those at the highest risk get the shot. It's the right thing to do.
• If you get the flu, use grandma's remedies, and you'll likely be fine (cinnamon toast, chicken noodle soup, orange juice, cold cloth on your head while the rest of you is buried in layers of blankets, and have someone rub your back - that always helps).
• Don't let the dog sleep in your bed, or eat your leftovers. There's no reason to have a sick dog if you can avoid it.
• Watch for complications and use common sense. When you're sick enough, you may not really be able to judge for yourself just how sick you are. Rely on others to help you judge. If you live alone, make sure someone is checking on you.
• Do go to the hospital if you need to.

And, when all else fails - plan a Swine Flu Party!!! For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1Flu/

For information on Loudoun's plans for a pandemic (because we are prepared), for plans for dealing with this in school, and other information, visit the LoCo Health Department site: http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=652

LoCo Health Dept is offering a meeting for the public on 9/23 at 7pm in Ashburn - and details are available on the above web site... in case you don't think a real estate agent has the best health information available (Note: I am a real estate agent. I am not a doctor, although I do play Dr. Mom at home. I am just trying to share my experiences with you - I take no liability if you rely on this and die. Got it?).

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Flu Shots: The vaccination for the H1N1 (Swine flu) is not yet available. But, getting any flu sucks. So, if you're interested in protecting yourself against our regular flu bugs, get yourself a shot... Where?

• Yes, you can get a flu shot at your doctor's office. It might be covered by your health insurance, so check.
• Most local health departments are also offering them....although I don't see that on LoCo's web site. Hmm....
• Shots are available for about $25 at just about all major pharmacies - CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid. Check out their web sites, call or just stop in and ask.
• An urgent care center is offering Drive Thru Flu Clinics where they'll give you the shot and you don't have to get out of your car. Seems a little strange to me, but there are 2 dates, the cost is still $25 and they're doing it in Ashburn and Leesburg... check it out: http://www.novaurgentcare.com/. Also I picked up a coupon for $5 off at their Urgent Care, so sneak in (in advance) and pick one up at the front desk if you're thinking about trying this out.

I hope something in here was helpful. I will try to make my next post on something a bit more fun. My last ones (about Obama and the school speech, and 9/11, and now this - the flu)... well, they're kinda downers; but that's how life is sometimes. There's lots of good stuff, too. So, I will try to write about that next.

So, Stay Tuned and Stay Healthy, Loudoun... Until Next Time....

It's 9-11.... need I say more?

I'll never forget that day. You won't either.

For me, the panic really didn't set in until late in the day - after the Pentagon was attacked. Is that because it's close to home? Probably not. I think it is because my dad always told me there'd never be another war on American soil. The Trade Centers? That was Terrorism - we always had that. But, WAR is what we had when they hit the Pentagon. War is what we've had ever since.....

Today it is rainy and grey. Just like I think it should be on every September 11th, from now until forever.

You know what I think I will always remember most? Days after... I was fighting constant migraines from all the stress and crying. This night was no different. My husband was simply angry. He yelled at me every time I cried. He wanted to re-enlist in the military but he was too old. He wanted to fight. So, the boys (then in 7th and 9th grade) tiptoed around him so as to not become the target of his anger. The whole thing was making me sick. The skies were so quiet - it was eerie.

This one night, I had gone to bed. I managed to find a stupid sit-com on TV, and I started to fall asleep. My husband came to bed. Thinking I was asleep, he changed the channel. It was another one of those shows... you know the ones.... "Here's a picture of my dad. We haven't seen him since the morning of the 11th. He was on the 16th floor of the North Tower. If you've seen him, please call us at 555-1212." and then they'd move to the next person, and the next person, and the next person. The line never ended.

I kept my eyes closed, I tried to think of anything else... I couldn't... I couldn't block out their voices, their tears, their sorrow and their pain...

I sat up in bed, and screamed bloody murder at my husband.... "I can't take it anymore! I can't. I am sorry they lost their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, their best friends. I am sorry. I am so DAMN sorry. And, there is not a thing I can do about it!" And then I collapsed into sobs, heaving sobs. The kind that don't stop. The kind where you can't breath and the snot and tears all run together and you can't even tell the difference anymore. I cried all night.

This time my husband didn't yell at me. This time, he cried, too.

I'll never forget that. Not for as long as I live.

Still, I am so damn sorry.

It happened, again.

This morning I got a message from a friend - our daughters go to school together. The message said "I need your help. My home was foreclosed on... and I have 5 days to find a new place to live..." Oh, how I wish I'd known.

It seems they were working through a loan modificiation company thinking all would be well... and, all the while, the home was being sold on the courthouse steps. WHY, WHY, didn't they call me? Maybe I could have done something? Maybe I could have given them a bit more control over the situation, at least. So, I will work with them and do what I can to help place them elsewhere, but honestly I probably could have done better for them. I would have liked to have tried.

Then, I think, "Why WOULD they call me?". Let's be honest, they may have considered it embarrassing. They didn't want to sell, so why would they call a REALTOR? Well, here's why. They know me. They can trust me. I have industry contacts. I could have given them resources. I could have at least saved them the money they paid to the loan modification company.

Please, please, friends... if you or someone you know is struggling with your house payments... PLEASE call me. At least give me a chance to try to help you. Here are some posts I've done on similar things.... I am doing what I can to get the word out, especially to you... I am here to help, please let me try....

http://therealestatewhisperer.blogspot.com/2009/04/need-help-with-your-mortgage-watch-your.html

http://therealestatewhisperer.blogspot.com/2009/07/short-sale-anything-but-short.html

Did you hear all the uproar about Obama wanting to give a “back to school” speech to the children of the US? There was even more uproar here in our county (Loudoun) about our superintendent’s decision not to feature this speech at our schools. Then later, there was controversy because the superintendent made a last minute reversal of this decision, sorta. He said it was up to the teachers – the teachers who already had their day planned.

Apparently, all this attention caused Obama to rethink his plan, too. I understand he re-wrote his speech after hearing the criticisms. I hope it was not just the criticisms from Loudoun County, but here in the county seat the roar was deafening and I couldn’t tell if anyone else was whining or if it was just us LoCo’s.

I have to be honest here… my family is fighting an attack of what might be H1N1, and so I haven’t been paying that much attention. Plus, I didn’t care really. If the kids watched it in school, or if they didn’t, I would discuss it with them at home. If they hadn’t seen it, and I liked it, I could show it to them at home. If they hadn’t seen it, and I DIDN'T like it, I could show it to them at home. Yes, that’s what I meant.

You see, I think my kids should make educated decisions and not be sent to the mushroom school (where they’d be kept in the dark and fed… ah, er, poop). Whether my kids are 3 or 22 (I have 4 kids and this is their actual age range), I want them exposed to different ideas. As a parent, I do not believe it is my job to protect my children from hearing, seeing or experiencing the world… but to ENCOURAGE it. And, to give them the defenses they need to survive no matter what the world throws at them.

The most valuable of those defenses is education and my values. Let them hear what others say. If I disagree with it, I will explain why. Young kids will adopt my sentiments, older ones will consider my point, the educated ones might challenge me. Perfect. Those are the kids I want – independent thinkers with educated decisions. People that can listen to the point of views of others, consider it, and then challenge it…. Respectfully, not fearfully.

I hear so many political comments based in fear and hate. Come on guys, this is America. We can do better than that. Let’s have educated discussions… and this starts with listening, EVEN to our President.

In any case, now that it’s all said and done, I ask you… did you hear the speech? Did you watch it? What did you think?

I thought Obama’s speech was a nice attempt. He lectured my kids, and put it on You Tube so that next time I think this stuff needs to be said, I can email that clip to my kids. They won’t hit play…but they weren’t going to listen to me anyway, and now I can save my breath. There was no political agenda in the speech, not that I heard. He wanted them to work hard. He tried to inspire. In my opinion, he fell short of inspiring… but again, it was a nice attempt. It takes a village to raise a child… and this time I felt like Obama was on my side.

On a larger scale, I think we should make this a tradition. Since schools all start back each year at different times, and the first day of school is very overwhelming for all, I really think that the speech could be better timed. But, once a year, I’d like for our President (no matter who it is) to go to a high school and give a speech (with no political agenda) intended to inspire our youth. Maybe during education week? Maybe at the end of the summer, just before school starts back for the year?

And maybe the speech should be watched with parents at home, and then re-aired in school. Instead of “what did you do for your summer vacation” the first paper could be “how I am the future of the country, of the world”, or “did the President’s speech inspire you?”; or "if you were President, what speech would you deliver to the kids of America?".

What do you think? Your comments are encouraged!