Leslie's Blog

Back on October 24^th 2007, Arina Hanciulescu had a post "A Christmas tradition..."  It is about her family taking her every year since she was four years old to see the Nutcracker Ballet.  She gave all the dates that the Nevada Ballet Theater would be presenting it.

On Friday, one of my cousins had extra tickets to the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, so I went.  I had gone to the Nutcracker many years ago but this time I noticed how many little girls were there--dressed up in their finest!  They loved it-during intermission you would see them spinning and trying to do ballet steps.  You would also see fathers that had taken their daughters--I was very impressed by that.

So far, I have two young grandsons and do not know if they would be interested.  I know my daughter would like to go with me next year.

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I was looking up an article on Forbes.com and the following was their quote of the day.  "The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."  -Abraham Lincoln 

First of all, I always feel kind of humble when I think of Lincoln.  He had a heavy load on his shoulders and probably didn't even have "speechwriters."

I thought it was a good quote to think about as we are preparing for 2008.   I am going to scramble to get everything done before midnight 2007, so that I am ready to hit 2008 hard and keep on target.  My goals are in place and it is going to be an exciting year! 

I love starting a new year!!!

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Since we are coming to the end of the year 2007, and it is time for reflection, I thought it would be nice to see what people thought was their best or favorite post this year.  Mine is:  What does Our Flag Mean to You?

If you don't have a favorite of your own-what did you especially like that someone else wrote?

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

Today I am going to tell you about one of the cheapest, greatest gifts my mother has ever received.  It is a "Nordic Ware Microwave Spatter Cover, a clear cover that is used to cover food that is heated in the microwave. It is approximately 2 3/4 inches tall and 10 1/2 inches in diameter."  It is excellent for keeping spaghetti from getting all over the microwave.  You just wash it off with warm soapy water.

I introduced it to a friend in Virginia and she stores hers in her microwave so that her family will remember to use it. The cover is available at Target for $1.99.  Sears has it for $1.79 but it is currently out of stock.  If you go to the Sears link above you will see a good picture. 

I have been giving them to friends and relatives that I know do not have them--everyone, so far, has really liked them.

Merry Christmas!!! 

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I read a great Associated Press story today that is in The Seattle Times entitled "American girl adopted in China meets her bone-marrow donor."  The little girl had been found abandoned in china and was taken to an orphanage, where she lived for a year before being adoped by Americans, Owen and Linda Wells from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

After the little girl turned 5, she got aplastic anemia and needed a bone marrow transplant.  In 2003 they went to China to see if they could find a match.  In 2005 they found a candidate but it was not a perfect match and it was not successful.  There was another transplant the same year that also was not a perfect match.

In February they found a doctor from the eastern city of Hangzhou that became their donor and it has been a successful transplant.  The family is "spending Christmas in China and want to help recruit marrow donors."

The article states:  "The number of China's registered bone-marrow donors has grown from tens of thousands in 2003 to 700,000 today, thanks to increased understanding of the procedure.

'More people need to have basic knowledge of it. Now they feel horror when they hear about marrow donation,' said Hong Junling, director of the Red Cross Society's blood and stem-cell program. "They need to know there's no harm to their health."

Many people do not understand that different ethnic groups can only match with their own ethnic group.  It is very important that the bone marrow pool get larger from all ethnic groups.  If you are healthy, I would encourage you to get on the bone marrow registry.  All you need to do is go to the blood center and give a blood sample.  There are still many people that die because they cannot find a match in time.

I am giving you the link to the Seattle, King County Blood Center, in case you want to book an appointment to get on the registry or just find out more about the program.  I received a call two days ago that they are very low on blood so I am going today to donate that.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

Well, here are pictures of my new little darling.  His big brother is no too thrilled and started to cry when his mother was going to nurse him.  So dad jumped in and they all started reading a book so that mom could take care of Collin's needs.  

My son-in-law called me early this morning to tell me that my daughter has gone into labor.  She was supposed to have the baby on Thursday (via c-section).   So I am hear babysiting the big brother (he will be two in February).  I got a call a while ago saying that she would be having the baby in an hour--so here I stand--typing away--waiting for a telephone call.

Before they left, She had me run over to the store to get a baby book that she wanted so that they could get hands and foot prints right away--and they forgot the book at home.  When I get the call I am suppose to take big brother and his diaper bag, and toys, and books (with the new baby book) to the hospital.

They are quite concerned that big brother is going to be jealous of the new baby.  Whenever they hold another baby, he wants to grab the baby and take it off their lap.

I will update you when I get back from the hospital.

This I was reading the Seattle Times this morning and I read the article by James Patterson "The Best Gift To My Son," that was in the Parade Magazine today.  In case you do not know who James Patterson is, he is a best selling novelist that has written 44 books.  If you do not get the paper, to beable to read the article, you need to go to the link and register and then put in the title.

In his article, he says that he wants his son "to become a passionate reader for life."  Patterson is going to give his son at least one book every Christmas and a few every Summer.  That is the same goal I have for my grandson-and I will follow Mr. Patterson's lead in giving him books.

It is my opinion that buying books isn't enough.  Children need to be read to, starting at a young age to help develop a love of books.  I remember enjoying, so much, my grandmother readying books to me when I was small.  My maternal grandparents lived with us for a while and when I was little I would get the Sunday comics and crawl in bed between them and grandma would read them to me.

Have you every listened to "books on tape," while on a long driving trip?  The miles just drop away-I find it hard to stop at the "rest stops" because I have to stop the tape.

It will soon be Christmas and it is not too late to buy books for the children in your life.

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I was looking at KOMOTV.com and saw a video "Contractor finds cash treasure hidden behind wall."   It is about the Cleveland contractor that found $182,000 while he was remodeling a bathroom for a client.  After I watched the video I looked up the article on newsnet5.com, "Contractor, Homeowner Fight Over $182,000 Found In Walls,"

It is a very interesting story.  Back in May, a contractor, Bob Kitts, was gutting the bathroom for the homeowner, Amanda Reece, and "helped discover bundles of Depression-era U.S. currency totaling $182,000 hidden behind bathroom walls said the homeowner should turn the money over to him or at least share it."  Because of how old the money is, it has been estimated that the money is really worth a half a million dollars.  The money was probably placed there by a previous owner.

The owner did offer 10% as a finder's fee to the contractor, but he thinks it is not enough and is now suing the homeowner. 

What do you think?

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I have two college savings plans started for my grandson.  One is the Independent 529 plan and one is the GET program for Washington State.  The Indpendent  529 plan is geared to students that will be attending a private college.

"Independent 529 Plan allows you to prepay tuition today that your child can later use at any member college. It provides a guarantee against tuition inflation, and the flexibility to choose from some of the nations' top colleges. Independent 529 Plan has no start-up fees, no maintenance fees, and no annual fees-and is free from federal taxes."

You pick five different colleges (you can change them at any time) and the plan will track the percentage your contribution has paid in for each one.  You also can transfer out of the 529 plan if the child chooses to go to a public school.  Yesterday, I was researching schools that I thought sounded interesting.

Since, it was fresh in my mind, this article (from ABCNews.go.com), "Ivy League Curtain Opened, Yale University Allows Free Access to Select Undergraduate Courses" by Sarah Ulrey caught my eye.   Ulrey mentions that Yale is offering, on-line, seven full-semester liberal arts classes free on their web site to anyone.  "Though people may mention the classes on resumes of the future, no credit will be given and no transcripts will be available."

The classes are:  Astronomy English Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology and Religious Studies

These classes might appeal to students that wonder what an Ivy League course would be like.  Or someone that thinks they may not be able to "handle" college.  Or, people that have a "love of learning."

Courses are accessible at http://open.yale.edu/courses/

P.S.  The photo is a shot of the exterior of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library by Gordon Bunshaft of SOM, located on Yale's campus.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

I spent the hour and 20 minutes it took to listen to the "Time Management Lecture" that Randy Pausch professor at Carnegie Mellon gave to Virginia Tech students.  Yesterday, Carolyn Gjerde-Tu wrote the post, "Time Managment -- life lessons," she listed four things that she got out of his talk.  What is important about Randy Pausch is that he has pancreatic cancer and was told he only has six months to live.  So time management is very important to him.

One of the important things I caught from the lecture was that Pausch said to either throw out your television set or else stick it in a closet and put a blanket over it.   He mentioned that people were spending something like 24 hours a week watching television.

There was a time that I completely stopped watching television.  It probably was for three years or so.  Now, I have gotten hooked again, now on NCIS, Cane, and a few others.  This is a hard habit to break.

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It is a big news day today.  "N.J. lawmakers vote to ban death penalty" by Tom Hester Jr., Associated Press Writer had an article printed on king5.com.  It is being replaced with imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

New Jersey had a special commission that found in January that "the death penalty was a more expensive sentence than life in prison, hasn't deterred murder and risks killing an innocent person."

CNN has an article entitled "New Jersey lawmakers vote to abolish death penalty" by Bill Mears.  He says, "New Jersey lawmakers have voted to abolish the death penalty in the state, sending the governor a bill he has already said he will sign. The measure will make New Jersey the first state in more than 40 years to outlaw capital punishment."   The state Assembly approved the measure 44-36 Thursday, following up Monday's 21-16 approval in the state Senate. " Some Republicans had argued police killers and terrorists should still be eligible for execution, but Democrats, who control both houses, backed the change."

Nearly 1,100 people have been executed in U.S. since death penalty's return in 1976.

According to www.clarkprosecutor.org:  "As of July 1, 2006, the Death Penalty was authorized by 38 states, the Federal Government, and the U.S. Military. Those jurisdictions without the Death Penalty include 12 states and the District of Columbia. (Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin)."

On infoplease.com many statistics are given i.e., the countries that have abolished the death penalty and in which year; and the countries that still allow the death penalty.

Amnesty International USA: http://www.amnestyusa.org/

Death Penalty Information Center: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

I am writing this post is response to today's post "Loss of a Loved One" by Ann Cordes.  She goes into details of what she is having to do and pay for after a loved one has passed.  Some the the difficulties she is going through could have been eleviated if her loved one had done some planning in advance.

These maybe things that you do not want to think about-just do it and move on!

• First, I want to encourage everyone over the age of fifty that hasn't had a colonoscopy to do so!  You can be semi-put out and it is not painful.   This procedure saves lives.
• Everyone, that is an adult, needs to have a will.  I have old relatives that still do not--it will be terrible for their children.   Young parents often do not think about it-you need to have in writing, whom you want taking responsibility for your children.
• Make sure you have enough insurance to take care of your spouse and the children if you should pass.
• You also want to have a "living will" to give directives in case you become mentally incapacitated.
• Make sure that your funeral (if you are going to have one) is paid for in advance.  Get insurance enough to cover it.
• If you are divorced, remarried, widow or widower, make sure that all of your policies have the correct beneficiaries listed.

I remember buying insurance for my children, when they were very little.  I told the insurance man "I just want enough to bury them if something should happen to them, and I don't want to think about this any more."  It will not bring you bad luck to get your affairs in order.

This is not a complete list, but if you get these things accomplished you will be doing yourself and your loved-ones etc. a big favor.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

I was scheduled to give platelets today at 3:00, but the Puget Sound Blood Center called a few minutes ago and asked if I could reschedule because they had someone that needed platelets from a specific donor.  That was fine with me, since I can come in and donate on Tuesday evening. 

I have been deferred since last November, when I took a vacation to Guatemala and Belize (they are high risk areas for Malaria) and hence a deferral for a year.  This would have been my first donation since then.   Giving whole blood and platelets is important to me and I have missed being able to do so.

“Platelets are blood cells that help control bleeding. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets collect at the site of the injury and temporarily repair the tear. Platelets then activate substances in plasma which form a clot and allow the wound to heal.”

Platelet transfusions are needed each year by thousands of patients like these:

• Heart Surgery Patient, 6 units
• Burn Patient, 20 units
• Organ Transplant Patient, 30 units
• Bone Marrow Transplant Patient, 120 units

When you give platelets you are called an “apheresis donor.”  It is a completely safe procedure (just like giving blood is).

I will not lie to you, it is not comfortable reclining for a few hours while they take blood out of your arm, spin the platelets out it in a machine and return it back to you.  But it does save lives and you can watch a movie or television while you do so.

I also want to remind you that because the holiday season is when the blood centers typically run low on blood, it would be nice to add giving blood to your busy schedule.  You can make an appointment online to donate platelets or whole blood by going to the above Puget Sound Blood Center link.

Back on Oct. 4^th, 2006, I wrote a post, “Donate Platelets,” it is still very important. 

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

This post is in follow-up to articles I wrote in November about EPFX Machines.  Today, The Seattle Times has an article entitled “FDA bans import of unproven machine,” by Christine Willmsen and Michael J. Berens (Seattle Times staff reporters).  It discusses how the FDA is going after William Nelson’s EPFX machine, that is manufactured in Hungary; and distributors.

In 1992, Nelson was making claims that his machine “could diagnose and heal.”   He was indicted in 1996 on felony fraud charges relative to his machine and ran to Hungary.  From there he sells the machine for $19,900; and “rakes in millions of dollars monthly.”

The FDA is also investigating into other machines.  The article said that “The FDA and state regulators failed to confiscate or warn the public about a dangerous device, the PAP-IMI, a 260-pound electromagnetic pulsing machine linked to patient injuries and death.

The devices, made in Greece by math professor Panos Pappas, were smuggled into the U.S. as seed germinators. They remain in use today in at least five states, including Washington.”

There is an investigation being conducted by a U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, which oversees the FDA.  There are some people that believe the machines have helped them—hopefully the investigation can clear up what the machines are capable of doing.

 
You can read the previous posts:

Beware of EPFX Machines for Miracle Cures--It is a Hoax... Part 2

Beware of EPFX Machines for Miracle Cures--It is a Hoax--And Still Being Used

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. 

On the front page of the Seattle Times is an article "Home prices slip to '06 level," by Elizabeth Rhodes.  The median price for a single family residence in King County is $435,000-the price it was last November.

Ms. Rhodes points out, "The number of King County houses sold has declined every month since March, when compared with the same month a year earlier. Since August those dips have consistently surpassed 25 percent. Last month, for example, roughly 26 percent fewer homes sold than during the previous November.

Meanwhile, the number of houses for sale in King County last month was about 40 percent higher year-over-year, a percentage realized almost every month since May."

This is not the same for condominiums--their prices are still going up; the median price was up 4.1 percent, to $284,450. 

The article has charts comparing closed sales and median prices of condominiums and houses in King County for 2007 and 2008; and a line chart showing the price change of houses over time.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Ballard, Washington Real Estate Property Listings

This morning I was watching "Fox & Friends" and saw Ted Danson and his wife Mary Steenburgen being interviewed.  They were talking about a website "Betterpresent.org," and asking that people go there to make a pledge that would support any of the following charities.  They were stressing that if people just bought one extra present (their pledge, which could be as small or large as they liked) what an impact it could make in people's lives.  The three charities that are sponsored by Betterpresent.org are:

Share Our Strength which works to end childhood hunger in the United States

Heifer International is to provide a pair of animals so that a family can help feed itself and they are asked to pass on the offspring to help others.  You could help provide a gift of chicks for $20;  a trio of rabbits ifor $60 or a share for rabbits would be $10.  Here is the link to their catalog which I thought you might find interesting.

Conservation International "Our mission is to conserve the Earth's living heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature."

On 11/17/07 Peg Silloway posted "Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is."  She talked about how she came up with a different way to "honor some of the people who have helped changed her life for the better."

Peg said that each time she profiles one of these special people on on her blog, she is going to make a donation to Heifer International in their honor.  She said "I choose Heifer because they also help people improve their lives. Recipients of animals from Heifer receive training and support, but also agree to pass on the gift by sharing the animals' offspring with others in need in their community. Thus, the gift of self-reliance and self-esteem multiplies and spreads through the village, whether it's in Albania or Appalachia."

So, if you were thinking of buying me a gift this year--I really don't need anything--please just make a pledge instead to betterpresent.org (just kidding).

Update:  On 12/15/07, Good Morning America had a video: "Got a Goat? Change a Family's Life," it is very good.  It shows some of the things that can be purchased from the World Vision catalog to help poor people.  They are talking about how the gift of livestock can help boost needy families in the world's poor regions--the recipients receive training as to how to care for the animals.  They also have in their catalog, items like sewing machines and even soccer balls so children will have something to play with. 

You can see the catalog at:  http://www.worldvisiongifts.com/

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Ballard, Washington Real Estate Property Listings

I was just checking Yahoo/Finance and came across the article “Five-Year Mortgage Rate Freeze Looms,”  Martin Crutsinger and Alan Zibel, Associated Press Writers.  The article says, “Congressional aides say the Bush administration has hammered out an agreement with industry to freeze interest rates for certain subprime mortgages for five years in an effort to combat a soaring tide of foreclosures.”

Another person familiar with the matter said the rate-freeze plan would apply to borrowers with loans made at the start of 2005 through July 30 of this year with rates that are scheduled to rise between Jan. 1, 2008, and July 31, 2010.

Many people have been wondering what President Bush and his administration would come up with.  There is supposed to be a news conference Thursday afternoon with the President, the Treasury Secretary and the Housing and Urban Development Secretary.  I have personally been wondering what the effect will be on all of the tax payers pocket books.

Here is the latest: 

Bush's mortgage-plan deal freezes some rates," by MARTIN CRUTSINGER and ALAN ZIBEL of the The Associated Press

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Ballard, Washington Real Estate Property Listings

A Seattle Carriage Ride is a fun this to do at this time of year.  Their "standard Christmas in Seattle rides start at 4th Ave. between Pike and Pine.  Carriages are lined up waiting for fares.  Passengers are to load from the first available carriage.  Most carriages will hold up to 6 standard sized adults.

The Seattle carriage rides "during our Christmas Season are short rides. It usually lasts about 10-12 minutes, depending on traffic.  The price runs $25.00 per carriage, no reservations are accepted for their short ride."  After my daughter and son-in-law's wedding, they were picked up by one of these carriages and taken to their hotel.  For more information, click on the link above.

Another popular way of enjoying the Seattle Christmas lights is to participating is the "Argosy 2007 Christmas Ship Festival."  The Spirit of Seattle is the Official Christmas Ship^TM and it is beautifully decorated.  It leads a parade of boats that are all individually decorated.  You can either book a ride or watch the parade of ships go by from shore.

The ship has local choirs singing holiday greetings and the music is sent over speakers for the enjoyment of other boats and to the people on shore.  Many people gather around bonfires to share the joy of the season.

Click here for the schedule so if you want to see the ships pass by you can find out which park to go to and when.

Happy Chanukah!  Today, on Good Morning America, I heard that tomorrow is the beginning of Chanukah—I must admit that I didn’t even know how to spell Chanukah.  I am embarrassed about this and my lack of knowledge about the Jewish Religion.  I have Jewish friends/clients and frankly I don’t care which religion people practice.  I believe we are all praying to the same God.  I know I am going to take some “heat” for this one and I will attempt to explain how I came up with my conclusion.

I have had a fair amount of exposure to a variety of religions and would highly recommend it.  I grew up Lutheran and Presbyterian and later in life attended some Fundamentalist Christian Churches.  Many years ago, Mom and Dad rented rooms to college students (one of which was my science partner) that were from Iran (they were practicing Muslims); my parents also rented rooms to Catholic French girls.  As a real estate agent I have had several clients that are from India and have become familiar with Sikhism and Hinduism. 

These people all practice there own faith; they are good people and have good values.  It is interesting to me to learn about what they believe and how they practice their faith.

Now back to Chanukah--you can search the web for Chanukah + Seattle to find events, calendars etc.  If you live out of the area you can do a search for your own area.  Here is a link to Seattle Washington Churches and Religion Resources if you care to do some religious investigation.

I hope I have selected links that do justice to the faiths, if there is a better link or one that should be added please feel free to share it.  I also truly hope that I have not offended anyone! 

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Ballard, Washington Real Estate Property Listings

I was so hyped up to begin working on my "to do" list that I created after reading the post "A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine go Down...Goal Setting & Business Planning Part II" by Colleen Fischesser.  I had spent a lot of time working on the goals and was full of enthusiasm.  Then in the middle of the night I noticed that my bedroom floor was wet-and also the area in front of my bedroom.  (Yes, it is raining here in Seattle).  My bedroom is in the basement.

So, I was up at 2:30 in the morning mopping up water.   I was also outside with a flashlight (in the pouring rain) to see if I could see a crack in the cement or anything. This is the house that my daughter and son-in-law own because we have traded houses because they have had a baby and needed more room.

This is the last day of studying that my daughter has before her final in an accounting class she is taking tomorrow; and along with the fact that she has a toddler to chase around and has another baby arriving on the 20^th she doesn't need this added stress.

Mom and I will go over and get the wet and dry vac to clean up the mess and deal with it.  My handi-man just left and thinks it is that the drainage pipe that goes underground and away from the house in plugged.  Sure hope that that is all it is!

So, therefore, my business plan is pushed aside for a bit longer.

P.S.  Gov. declares emergency as rivers approach record flood levels This is a report from KOMO-TV news.  If you go to the link you can check the different counties for road closures.

Here are the latest updates:

I-5 flooding all too familiar as politicians spar, by DAVID AMMONS, AP POLITICAL WRITER

Flood-damaged I-5 to stay closed until this weekend, by Hal Bernton and Ralph Thomas

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Ballard, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.