Lewis Grizzard a columnist for the Atlanta Constitution coined the above phrase and I’m not so sure that is doesn’t show some relevance to the economy of 08 vs what we have seen so far in 09. 

Okay Now!  New Years has passed.  Resolutions have been made.   And plans put into motion.  You’re 15 days into your plans and here’s your check up.  Anyone lost weight yet?  Are your budgets on track?  And have you talked with your trusted financial advisor and adjusted your retirement plans and 401k’s?  If not, Que Pasa?  Hopefully you haven’t lost your job as there are a lot of good people that have.  Say a praise prayer if you haven’t lost your job and a prayer of hope for those who have. 

I’m not a superstitous person at all.  But yesterday while backing out of the office parking lot, I happened to glance back towards the building.  What I saw were Two Large Black Buzzards perched up on top of the roof.  Hopefully they were just passing thru and became cold and tired and needed a rest.  Omens and supertitions are for books and movies,  not our Real Estate shop.  It was and erie sight none the less. 

Times are hard and things are bad but if do still have your job and $100(just kidding, sounds like the KIA comercial, Don’t you leave til you see me!).  There are opportunites and interest rates are below 5% for 30 yr fixed.

Banks are getting TARP money.  Some former corporations are changing their status to qualify as a bank so they too can receive TARP money.  And now the Big Three are looking for some cash.  Oh boy,  I was just reading where the CEO of Merrill was wanting a 10 million dollar bonus and was actually taking it before the board eventhough his company had to be bought by BOA in order to stay afloat.  Awful ballsy or just plain stupid.  You be the judge.  Seems to me that as my girls were coming up I was always being fleeced for extra cash for a variety of uses.  In the back of my mind I knew I would not be repaid so I’m wondering if maybe I qualify for being a bank? And for giving out bad loans without any sign or method of repayment can the government give me some TARP.  How about it?  I bet most parents could use a little TARP about now!

Wow what a year 2008 is turning out to be. 

Early October brought us the worst week ever in stock market history, gas prices fluctuated so much it was hard to keep up-  and hurcaines season hit tennessee with the threat of gas shortages.

Unemployment rates have risen, Jackson 5 have announced they they will have a reunion and rumor is Michael has reluctantly agreed.

The writers strike came to an end in Feb. costing Los Angelas what is estimated as billions of dollars.

Paul Newman passed away.

more to come……

Remember to grab you light blue shirt (compliments of the Tennessee Titans, CMT and LP Building Products)on the way into LP Field for tonights game where Hank Williams, JR will be on hand to sing the national anthem. 

Tonights matchup against the Indianapolis Colts(3-3)  is the first home Monday night football game for the Titans(6-0)  since 2004.  NFL oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have the Titans as a 4 point home favorite over the Colts.  The Colts, who have ruled the AFC South since 2003, have struggled all season.

Tonights history making “blue out” will be one you won’t want to miss. The Titans are on a franchise-best streak of allowing 17 or fewer points in 10 straight games.

This townhome subdivision has proven to be quite nice and very popular.  It is a golf-course community that features a community pool and club house.  The home featured has two bedrooms, two and a half baths, white cabinets, marble vanities, upgraded lighting and security system.  It is located across from the pool and on the 11th fairway.

With 1216 square feet, the Woodridge at Nashboro townhome is convenient to the interstate, airport, and shopping.  For a personal tour or more information, contact me at (615) 584-3481.

Last week I rolled up another year on the calender.  I have to say, its been good.  But to celebrate my wife took me on a sightseeing/shopping spree trip to Chicago.  We had to go thru Chicago anyway because our niece is getting married this saturday in Wisconsin.  But we went three days early and camped out at the Avenue Hotel on the Magnificent Mile.  The magnificent mile is actually a portion of Michigan Ave that has almost every high end shop located on it the world.  No WalMarts or Targets here.  For those of us familar with shopping in East Tennessee, its kind of like Gatlinburg on steroids.  Non stop shopping everywhere. 

For sightseeing we have been to the Field Museum, Navy Pier, Trump Tower and the Tribune Bldg.  We have had lunch on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Bldg over looking Lake Michigan and later trolled thru Tiffany’s.  We have also gone to a Broadway play at the Oriental Theater (Wicked) and have ate an assortment of Chicago style this and that.  Pizza’s, dogs, brauts, you name it.  Normally I would have shuddered at the expense but with the way things have gone lately, we may as well enjoy some of what we HAD! 

The people here are friendly enough once you get their attention.  Being that I’m an early riser and the wife isn’t, I go downstairs and talk to the bell hops and ride around with the cabbies until she gets up and about.  All it cost me was a cup of coffee on our first day here when it was cloudy, rainy, and cold.  I’ve felt every pot hole and raced every El train in the area with my new Buds as they hustle to make a living.  I acutally know my way around now which impresses the wife.  I promised myself that I would finish a book I have been reading (Flip) but haven’t made much progress as yet.  Tommarrow we will break for the shopping and go visit some Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in Oak Park and then blast out for Wi. and the wedding. 

By the way,  I don’t know how or why but my Ditch got mowed last week and not by me.  Oh happy days!

Here’s a little play on numbers that rates at least a half snort/laugh.

 If you had purchased $1,000 of AIG stock one year ago, you would have $42 left.

With Lehman, you would have $6.60 left.

With Fannie or Freddie, you would have less than $5 left.

But if you had purchased $1,000 worth of energy drinks one year ago,

then turned in the cans for the aluminum

recycling REFUND, then you would have had $214.

Below are 10 considerations that I have thought to myself and will share.

1.  Voting vs Not Voting.   I’ve heard several people including family members say that due to the lack of good candidates they would not vote this year.  I’m sorry, but how idiotic.  We had choices in the primaries and our 2 candidates won.  And most importantly, how can you look a member of our military in the eye and tell them what they protect for us is not important ALL THE TIME.  Being a former soldier I can tell you there were many times that we would have liked to chuck it all and just go home.  But we did not, we stayed the course, both good and bad and finished.  How dare you tell me what has been given to you as a right is not important.  Sorry but the thought really peeves me.

2.  Coconut oil as a sports drink.  Sorry, when I play I play hard.  And sucking down a coconut doesnt work for me.

3.  Unemployment Lines.  I think everyone should go see one.  Might think twice about some of the workforce complaints we all have had. 

4.  Landfills vs Recycle bins.  You say you’re too busy to use a recycle bin?  Take a trip to a landfill and just look at all stuff we go through.  And then think pro-actively .

5.  Animals and wine labels.  Did you know that wine labels that have animals on them sell more.  I think I’ll put a photo of my dog on my sales card and let the good times roll.

6.  Politicians and motorcades.  Think of it as doing your part in a democratic society.  How would you feel if during your morning or afternoon commute you looked over and saw W in the car next to you or Condy putting on make-up while steering with her knees.  It’s the only way to get them to work on time.

7.  Music in the Gym.  Loud and fast please!

8.  Stressing a rat.  I read a article where some researchers had found that coffee grinds actually reduced the stress level in mice.  Put them in my barn with Bugs and Phoebe and they’ll know what stress is all about and coffee grinds won’t save them.

9.  The Grand Canyon.   If you don’t believe in God.  Go see it.  If you don’t feel inspired.  Go see it.  As Nike says.  “Just do it”

10.  Being my Grandsons Grandfather.  My favorite thing to do.  I have so many plans and thoughts.

There once was a General named Stonewall Jackson, who when asked how he had been so successful in his campaigns, advised theat really the key was “whoever gets there the furstest with the mostest” was usually the winner.  Not having the assetts to draw upon as his oppenents, Uncle Thomas used speed and stealth to position his army in order to gain the advantage.  As far fetched as these scenarios are similarities do exist.  As stated before, in the beginning speed was the method I used.  It was easy.  I could attack the DITCH at will and roll over her in 15 to 20 minutes.  No big deal!  Later I hired help(assetts)! Life was good! I could sit on the front porch and just watch the grass fly.  How wonderful!  But as the case with all mercenaries, they move on.  The replacement, well lets just say, he was older than me.  And after crawling up and out from the bowels of the DITCH to collect his well deserved pay, my wife, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, fired him.  Upon hearing that I no longer had help(assett) I said “WHAT THE HELL”!.  Who would you rather see dead in the DITCH, me or him?  She started to respond, but not wanting to know the answer, I stopped her.  So as you can see the speed is gone.  The helper or assett is fired and my BEAUTIFUL WIFE sure isnt going to hlep.  So its up to me.  I mean a gut wrenching, foot stomping 18 rounder.  Once I get pumped to start there’s no stopping.  ZZ Top, SteppenWolfe or some other form of what my wife calls stripper music(I wonder how she knows whats considered stripper music, but again, I really dont want to know the answer).  My beverage of choice, and I’m really stressed because they have sold out to a foriegn company.  And away I go.  Down the DITCH.  Up the sides and along the road.  Cars zooming by within inches.  Rocks, bottles, and cans slinging out from below.  And an occasional vine or rose bush to rake across the legs and arms.  OH HAPPY DAYS!  Guys understand that once committed they have to drag you away feet first, before we’ll quit.  And so goes the battle.  Once the final pass is complete and I crawl up the long driveway I hear the usual comforting words of concern from the BEAUTIFUL WIFE.  “Use the hose to clean off the blood and dirt and take those filthy clothes off in the shed before coming inside.  “What a Bride”.  But so what I won again!   ME 280 DITCH 0

My theory is based solely on the craziness that we seem to be running into every time we turn around these days, but here it is, bring back debtors’ prisons.  Sure its a terrible solution when you consider we already have over crowded prisons, but hey every solution has its holes.  The credit crisis that our nation seems to be facing seems to have begun back in 1833 when the practice of imprisonment for unpaid debts was tossed away and now many generations latter the loss of individual responsibility seems to have taken its toll on our economy.