Christmas lambs and children

[Alison] I went to a Christmas pageant on Christmas eve because both my nephews were shepards and one had a song (an almost solo) with three other boys. It was just glorious and I took this photo that I loved and wanted to share about LOVE. Enjoy! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Joyful Kwanzaa! Rejoice and anticipate the wonders, challenges and triumphs of 2009!

Levels of Desperation?

[Karen] My previous post on the Nebraska safe haven legislation had me thinking. Sometimes a person gets into a situation that can leave them with a feeling of desperation when they try to do everything right and it just does not work the way it is supposed to work.

You know what I mean.

Have you even gone to motor vehicle when you had a problem or tried to get help from city hall? Can you imagine the desperation when you need help and have no where to turn?

I have a neighbor who is new on the block. Actually, she is in the process of renovating a house on my block to move in as she also attempts to sell the house where she presently lives. Her problems began when a neighboring house that overlooks her back yard began having rock slides into her back yard. Pardon my error, I should say small boulders. She attempted to go to the other owner who did nothing to stop the damage. Her next trip was to city hall, who went to the owner to address the problem with threats and warnings. The neighbors response, "I don't have the money, take your best shot". I don't think the city is going to take another shot.

I have another neighbor, Sam, who lives next to a house. I should really say garbage dump but I guess you get the gist. My neighbor has been to the city. The city has fined the owner for the truck in the street overflowing with garbage and construction supplies. The owner has been fined for illegally paving his front yard and the list goes on and on. The city has threatened to tow the car and pile on the fines. Six months later and the over flowing truck is still sitting right in front of their two houses.

I understand that this is not the equivalent to dropping off children but feelings by anyone in despair are feelings of desperation just the same. Where do you turn?

Of course, returning to Nebraska, I am reminded that this is America and so the pendulum swings in the other direction. There was one father who dropped off his 9 children. The mans wife of 17 years had died about a year ago. The reason for the drop off, the kids are just too much work.

Like I said, there seem to be levels of desperation

[Shirley] I am experiencing burnout -- in fact my whole family is, I'm not sure if we're coming down with colds from the sudden change in weather, or the fact that I in particular have been exposed to germ carrying co-workers who can't afford to stay home because they've no sick days left, either way all of this has definitely contributed to the dull achy feeling I've been experiencing. Hubby's just as bad, he has threatened GBH (greivous bodily harm) to half of Queens motorists if he doesn't get a change of environment... and quick.

The list of things I promised myself I would get to by time of my next women's meeting has hardly been touched, and that old feeling of drowning in a sea of 'unfinishedness' and 'half-starts' has taken up residence in achy body. Still I know myself well enough to know, this is the time where I must take inventory and stock of all the things I have done to make sense of what didn't get done...

Like attending Laurie's gallery solo opening in Chelsea Market this past Thursday--had to go, she one of oldest and dearest friends. I had a great time sampling good wine and great gourmet food. Savoring the various snippets of conversations and discussions I entertained the notion of making blog entry about all this as soon as I got home. However, when I finally sat down to the computer there is a huge note on it with "Mommy you promised to help me with my science project, its due tomorrow". Laid out on the guest bed is a huge poster board with what I believe was collage of a cell. Strewn all over that were loose leaf scribbled handwritten pages each with page numbers in red felt pen from 1-12 in each corner, begging to be typed.

Well Ladies, I wish I could blog saying this was an easy task and that I knocked it out in 20 mins, then blogged for another 20 mins and was in bed just under an hour... but I can't. I was ankle deep in 4" books, including Webster (dictionary), and bitched and moaned between why this educational system does not make Handwriting, an academic school requirement and where on God's green earth did some of the money I spent on private school education actually go! So 3 hours later I drag myself to bed and pray Friday, I can accomplish something on my list. Goodnight.

Pass it On -- Abundance

[Shirley] "The path that lies before you is one of unlimited abundance. And it begins by SEEING the abundance available all around you. As you begin to experience life through the new lens of abundance, you'll find that many of the problems you face today will simply disappear. As for the ones that remain, your relationship to them will have changed profoundly, empowering you to take actions that are congruent with and support abundance" -- Author Unknown.

I came across this saying recently, during a period where I was questioning my motives for being at the church where I give service and help lead its basketball ministry. From church politics and personalities to dealing with 20 male teenagers age range 16-22, but who behave like 8-10 year-olds gone wild, I had to step back and ask myself how does this fit into my big picture -- "Financial Independence!!" Gratefully, in an instance these words soothed my doubts and I was soon able to see the 'abundance' of the situation as part of my path in my journey. I pass it on to you.

Integrity

[Karen] Integrity in a fellow human being is often a hard value to come by. When you do chance upon it, it is quite refreshing.

On Thursday, October 23rd I had to go out of town. I received a witness subpoena broke into one of my houses, stole copper pipes and fortunately, was caught in the act as he exited and was making his way down the street. No, this is not where the integrity was found.

After I left court, I met with my property manager. We talked about business and future plans. After a couple hours, it was time for me to leave. I pulled out of my space on the corner, drove through the intersection and 20 feet into the next block, it happened. A man and his passenger were pulling out of a space and hit me. It was as simple as that. I was stunned. I bought the car about two months before and it was immaculate. His SUV already looked as though it was held together with spit.

What happened afterwords has been very interesting. I took photos, waited for police and talked with my property manager who had come to my aid. The man who hit me, Chris, was apologetic but also said he was in a hurry. He read between the lines when I said that I wanted to file a report. I said "I don't live here and you are not going to disappear on me". Not today. Maybe he shouldn't have been in such a hurry in the first place.

I will try to keep this short but we were there for at least 2 hours. Apparently, the police were looking for someone because we saw about 20 police cars passing at various rates of speed but they all said the same thing, not now. During this time, we all began to talk. I had calmed down, the man realized I am getting my police report if it takes all night and he resigned to the fact that he had no choice. We began to talk about a home repair business that he and his passenger/partner were trying to get off the ground. Although he doesn't know it, I own properties. My property manager handles about 150 properties. The more he talked, the more we were impressed by his ambition and honesty.

The police finally arrived. The first thing that Chris said was "It was all my fault". As I mentioned, his car isn't a good specimen so he had to really insist that there was no fresh damage on his own car. After the police finished their report, we continued to talk. Eventually, Chris suggested that I should get an estimate for the work. I don't want to report an accident no matter who caused it so I was thrilled. Before we left, he had my managers business card. He still has no idea what it meant for her to hand it to him. She had listened to him and made up her own mind. We all parted company and I headed for the turnpike.

I was busy on Friday and Saturday and did not have time to get estimates. Chris had already called me twice on Saturday to find out the price. I had three estimates by Monday afternoon and they ranged from $950 to $2950. Big difference and I needed a tie breaker. Chris called me for the estimate twice on Tuesday to explain that he would be sending me some money on Friday and needed to know the cost of the damage to see where he stood financially. I explained the huge gap and that I was going out on Wednesday to a fourth shop. The tie breaker came out at $967. We had a winner.

A friend of mine was very angry. Why was I working so hard to get estimates? This guy had better not complain. Didn't I have any thing better to do? Was he going to take months to pay off the debt? Well?

Chris called me on Friday October 31st to clarify my name and address because he was sending a money order for $300. He would pay in three installments and the worst case scenario would be that he would be finished by November 28th. I say worst case because he said that if he gets any home improvement jobs between then and the end of November, he would take his share it give it straight to me. I can live with that.

Okay, I didn't get the money order on Monday. What is taking so long? People who know the situation are asking. Could you be wrong? You should have received it if he mailed it on Friday.

Chris called on Monday November 3rd to clarify my name again. He called me on November 6th to find out if the money was received. I hadn't checked my box. He called me again on the 6th and 7th. I hadn't checked my box.

I finally checked my box on the 8th and there it was. He had mailed it on the 3rd.

I called Chris to let him know that it was received.

Was there every really a doubt

Nah!

Integrity

Desperation

[Karen] It is a sad state of affairs when you begin to be apathetic towards all the bad that happens in the news. Could it be that after a while you have just heard it all and nothing can surprise you?

I was just reading an article that surprised me. It was in regard to Nebraska's take on creating a new law to prevent "dumpster babies". If you are not familiar with this, there are laws in all states. These other states have created safe havens for infants to be left (abandoned) at hospitals when the parents think that they have no other choice. Remember this key point, in every other state the laws specify infants.

Apparently, in Nebraska, legislators have no idea what their constituencies are going through on a day to day basis. They don't understand their own citizen's level of desperation. Did I say their constituencies? Well, I meant to say the nation.

Parents began dropping off their children and as of November 13th, there have been 31 children dropped off from 1 year old to 17. The reasons vary but a common thread was in parents with troubled children who claimed to have sought out help to no avail and who out of desperation made decisions to turn their children over to the state. As I read one particular article, there is one story that illustrates this issue very well. According to the article a "Lincoln mother who dropped off her 18-year-old daughter said she was repeatedly turned down when she sought help from police, state social services authorities and the girl's school. The woman said her daughter had been diagnosed with a mental illness when she was 12 and had deep psychological scars from childhood abuse and from being left alone with her dead biological mother for a week."* In this case, the mother left with the child because the law only covers up to 17 years old.

The mother still does not know where to turn.


*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/safe_haven;_ylt=AuHh7gxUNVY_ZGonNazaNBRsaMYA

NYC Marathon 2008

The NYC Marathon runs right past our door in East Harlem at around the 20th mile. The first women and men to run by are going SOOO fast you can hardly see their legs. So every year, I go out on the fire escape and watch from there. This year, 2008, the shadows were amazing and I took this cool photo, among others. Inspiration in action!

What did they say?

[Karen] In case you are interested in the Ron Clark Academy and the great video, I simply don't blame you. They are a group of 6th and 7th graders simply saying get out and vote, whoever you vote for, just get out and vote. If that is the case, you must want the lyrics so here they are.

“You Can Vote However You Like”

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

(McCain supporters)
John McCain is the man
Fought for us in Vietnam
You know if anyone can
Help our country he can
Taxes droppin low
Dont you know oils gonna flow
Drill it low
I’ll show our economy will grow

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick with McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN’T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

McCain’s the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They’ll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might

(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama’s new, he’s younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He’ll bring a change, he’s got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq’s a shame
Four more years would be insane

Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won’t
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won’t!
Have enough experience - you know that they don’t
STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won’t

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you’re going to have some drama
We need it
HE’LL BRING IT
He’ll be it
YOU’LL SEE IT
We’ll do it
GET TO IT
Let’s move it
DO IT!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

I’m talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice
But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick with McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN’T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

I Just Couldn't Help It

[Karen] Okay, I admit it. I couldn't help it. I saw this video and election day is around the corner but it is great because it doesn't matter who you vote for, you have to appreciate the spirit behind the video.

Have you seen the kids from the Ron Clark Academy singing "You Can Vote However You Like"? If not, turn up the speakers and check this out

By the way, get out and vote because

You Can Vote However You Like

The Rules Have Changed

[Karen] Yesterday, Rosa and I attended a real estate investor meeting. Although many of my friends and fellow investors are at different levels, I thought that I would post some information that is not good news in any way but something that as real estate investors, we need to know.

The rules for how many mortgages an investor can have has changed drastically. Two years ago when I began investing, the rule was that a person could have 10 personal mortgages before there would be a challenge from the bank. Even then, this could be worked out one way or another.

Times have changed and not for the best.

Granted, the subprime market is a serious issue. There are way too many who have been put into homes simply because they had a pulse. Now, the time has come and the bills are not being paid.

As is always the case, the government now wants to close the barn door. The problem arises because there are also those responsible individuals who have chosen real estate investing to provide affordable housing and supplement their incomes.

The new rule is that individuals can not have more than 4 mortgages and this is a problem. If you are an investor with more than 4 mortgages, the bank will simply say that's all folks. From our side, the investor side, that simply is not good enough.

Next time I post, I will point out a few options for life after 4 but for now, just remember that 4 is the new magic number.

Gifts from the Universe

[Shirley] I have a Spiritual Sister, who when asked, 'How d'ya feeling?' She always answers "I'm Blessed and Highly Favored". That's how I feel when I reflect on my experience at Big Apple Real Estate Investment Association (BA-REIA) and what it has done for me in the space of 1 short year. In terms of personal growth, it has been best thing to have happened to me, and continues to be. I love re-telling the story of how I found this particular REIA.

I had just finished reading "Who Moved My Cheese", and knew real estate would be the best avenue to seek out 'new' cheese as it were. A group of friends and I were planning to attend a workshop in Manhattan with Robert Kiyosaki. However, that weekend before the workshop, I had returned a rental car back to Enterprise, the driver who drove me back started asking questions about my neighborhood. It turned out he was a real estate agent, and he spoke candidly about the business, and I about wanting to be an investor. He told me it was very important that I joined a Real Estate Investment Association, and took out one of his business cards, the kind with his photo and wrote "Big Apple REIA" on the back. He suggested I go there, which I did and have never looked back.

The family welcome I received at that first general meeting was great, it was what I needed to get my can off the fence and finally do something about my dreams and goals. I signed up that very night, and within a week was on the bus tour to Baltimore, to educate, enjoy, and empower myself in the world of real estate investing. I've was overwhelmed by all that was happening around me -- meeting new people like myself, learning of opportunities, listening to educational tapes during the ride, asking questions, etc., it was great. On the way back from Baltimore, the conversations in the van was light, the President of Big Apple, Al Johnson asked how I found the REIA, I told him the name of the guy from the rental car company, but he'd never heard of him. Still I had no worries, I was happy to be there, because I could see my life taking a whole new direction.

Funny though, months later would I learned that no one within the REIA had ever seen this person who gave this card, and when I finally got around to call and thank this person, the receptionist said no one by that name worked there...

Blessed and Highly Favored!

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

[Alison] A respectful, thoughtful and just plain great conversation with Colin Powell about the candidates, culminating in his endorsement of Barack Obama. Enjoy!

Sarah Palin on SNL Was So Funny

[Alison] HILARIOUS! I have now watched this clip about ten times, laughing every single time. Sarah Palin handled it with fairly good poise, although I noticed her lips thinned out significantly at times. Outstanding...

Selling That First House in North Philly

[Alison] I wanted to sell the North Philly house, the first property I ever bought, in the worst way but it felt like giving up and I was prideful. I did not want to admit that I made a mistake and needed to admit it, take my losses, and move on. Above is a picture of the first floor stripped down to be rehabbed. So I dithered. I put it up for sale on Craigslist and with my REIAs and did not get good offers so I pulled it down and looked for another solution. I did this twice, not wanting to give up, to fail. Every time I went, I had to round up a friend to go there with me because I was afraid. Not a good situation.

Finally I got serious, placing online ads and reaching out to my networks to sell the house. About 25 people looked at it and placed pitiful non-serious offers. Some included taking on the taxes and water bill, as I had. Others did not. I was starting to look at other solutions again (rehab, private lender, pay down the taxes and wait until the neighborhood improved and the house value went up).

In that moment an offer came in, still low, still taking a significant loss, but I could live with it. The prospective buyer promised to bring in a deposit to the lawyer liaison, then served up four days of excuses, including why he could not close on the date he promised. By this time, I was fed up and feeling like I was being played. I told the lawyer that the price was about to go up because the low price was contingent on a very fast, easy close. The day of the close came and went. The buyer failed to come through with the money. I took a day off work for nothing. I was VERY disappointed.

In the eleventh hour, at 5 pm on the day I was supposed to close, the lawyer called me to say that another buyer had surfaced, a man who was interested before but had made a lower, unacceptable offer. He told her he would come in with a deposit and firm offer and DID. Eureka! The new buyer asked the lawyer to pull title work on the property to make sure there were no surprises I had not already revealed. As far as I know, this could all be the lawyer's manipulations of my eagerness to sell. At the same time, I am convinced that only someone from the neighborhood can get that house sold. I don't like it but I don't care. God willing, we close this week. Keep your fingers crossed on my behalf, please.

Sad History of the First House I Bought

[Alison] I bought a single-family house (3 BR, 1 BA, 1015 sq. ft.) in August 2007 in North Philadelphia from a woman with 7 children, one in her arms. It was pretty cheap but there were tax liens and a water bill I agreed to take care of when I closed. An agreement of the sale was that the appliances would stay in the house (no stealing). The day after I became the owner, the previous owner's boyfriend broke in and out they walked with the water heater, a couple of ceiling fans, the electric panel and some other stuff. They even left the door open! So that was discouraging...

I stripped the house to rehab, hired a dumpster, discovered garbage sealed into the walls and welded security bars on many of the windows. The problem is that I am not comfortable in the neighborhood (small white woman in tough, mostly black, drug-infested neighborhood). I bought the house because I could financially and it was my first. In retrospect, not a good enough reason. I had an idealistic notion of making a nice home in this rough location for a family. After the stealing, I had to confront the fact that, during the rehab, supplies could very well walk out of the house. So it sat... and sat.

I made an agreement with the city to pay down the taxes and turn on the electric. I put in another water meter. I got an assessment on a rehab which was very high and with no specific figures for the different aspects of construction, just a total number, useless. So I have been stymied about what to do for over a year. Now the market is more difficult and it's a challenge to get out but I must.

The Second New Accountant

[Karen] The saga continues. I am very happy to announce that I have come full circle and have met the accountant that I should have been using in the first place. Why, you may ask, well I will tell you. About two years ago I was out of town attending a real estate investors meeting. I had been invited by my real estate agent and she introduced me to quite a few real estate professionals. Of the group, many were wholesalers but I also met Anthony, an attorney and Rich, a CPA. The attorney stood out in my mind because I needed an attorney but at the time, I was working with another accountant so unfortunately, Rich was out of site out of mind. Later on when I decided to replace the accountant that I had at the time, I thought of everyone except Rich from out of town.

Some may recall that I mentioned that Fred, the Loser from Harrison,(did I say that? Yes!) was not sure how to handle my particular form of asset protection. I had gone back to the out of attorney A few weeks ago when that highly recommended loser decided that after going back and forth for months discussing my taxes that he now did not have time to actually do my taxes. At this point, I called Anthony and asked him for a recommendation and lo and behold, he points me back to Rich. We have since sat down and I am pleased to report that we are moving ahead. Unfortunately, not full steam, but that is because of me. Can you believe I still can't find some documents and don't even get me started on why I haven't completed my spreadsheet.

Fortunately, this time it is me. Yes, Rich is waiting for me. This time it is all on me.

Where is everybody?

[Karen] Thinking back, I begin to wonder, where did all the people go that were in my new member orientation class at the real estate investor association? We were all so excited and ready to learn. The class ended and we moved on. Some went back to watching TV. After all, it is more fun and much easier. Some people moved on to learn even more and are still professional real estate students traveling from one boot camp and workshop to another and never stopping to actually do a deal. There are people like this in every field of interest. Think about your friend who keeps signing up at the gym or buying the latest and greatest piece of exercise equipment only to use the treadmill as a clothes hanger. Of course, there are still others who are trying every day to take their first step to the investor side. Some know what I mean, it is the step where you go from theory to a real life situation where you sign your name on the dotted line and suddenly you are a real estate investor. It doesn't matter if the person is going to assign properties, wholesale, property manage, etc, it all just takes the first step.

I for one think it feels really good and can't wait to see more and more take the step from employee to investor, no matter how long it takes, it is worth the ride. We know, there is never a point of no return so what's holding us back? We owe it to ourselves to try something new. The government wants us to start businesses, so why not get into real estate. If necessary, we can sell the house and go right back to watching TV as if it never happened. This is all just another form of life's education. We should all try to learn something new every day and if it just happens to be something that can build wealth, why not. We just have to remember that sometimes we just have to take that step away from the comfort zone and take a chance in life.

A New Kind of Life

[Karen} Someone asked me what I gained from my volunteer service with the real estate investor group and I had to think past the usual "it feels good to give" and when I did I realized how much I have learned. I really had started to take it for granted because the truth is that it does feel good to give a hand to those trying their hand at investing.

In the last two years I have met some extraordinary individuals, a small group with which I am involved on a regular basis and many great people who have come and gone. As I have learned, real estate investing has a great deal to do with relationships. You have to get out an network. You might walk into an event and meet someone new only to find a year later that you have partnered with each other on that four family property that you just could not pass up but could not swing on your own.

I know I said that it is work. After all, real estate investing isn't for everyone. It is hard work. As with any type of business, for the most part, it is harder to get up every day and work for yourself than it is to get up and go to work making someone else rich but isn't that the whole point. If you work for yourself, aren't you worth it? For me, I think about what I hear from those going to work every day and what I usually hear is that they are comfortable. I was too, to a point. Fortunately I have seen the light and I don't want to go back. A friend asked me, will I go back to the corporate arena and I can easily say, not if I can help it. There are no guarantees but I love it much better, even with all of the work, on the other side of, dare I say, Robert Kiyosaki's Cashflow Quadrant. I have tried employee for way too long, I want to try my hand for just as long and an investor and business owner. To me, a job is a place to kill time until you can leave and go do things that you really want to do for you and your family. I don't want to go back. If I click my heels, I guarantee, it won't take me back to a 9 to 5 job.

As a real estate investor, I have gone through my fair share of tenant issues. Usually, it comes back to the only real issue, which is where is the rent. Although I don't get the calls from tenants in the middle of the night, I have had a potential tenant call my office on a Sunday night at 11:00 PM looking for a place to live. Not exactly a broken toilet bowl but...I guess the early bird catches the worm. Or was she really late?

Freedom into Wealth

[Karen} I can't wait. I know that there will be a time when my time will be just that, mine. Right now, I look back at the last few years and think about all of the time that I spent volunteering with my local real estate investor group. I had a ball, I really did but I think that the time has come to take a step back and put more of what I have learned into action. I know it's time. I was buying properties and then stopped. Something is definitely wrong. I know there is too much on my plate and as has already been posted on this blog by one of my colleagues, it is time to stop, regroup and spend more time on me.

It isn't that I don't have enough time in the day, I think that it is more that there are too many things that need to be put on the back burner. Everything can not be that important or at least that is what I have to start telling myself. The houses are there just waiting to be picked up. The banks will wise up and this credit crunch will eventually cease to be an issue.

After all, as an investor, whether equity or real estate, we can’t build a strong house of wealth if we don’t start picking up some more bricks.

Fear and Hate As Political Strategy

[Alison} Watching TV, I am appalled to see the Ayers connection and Arab, Muslim characterizations dominating McCain's campaign. The Republican tactic of dusting up fear and hate to try to win again rears its ugly head. I can only hope Americans have become more interested in the issues this time around. The question is who can get the job of President done best, not all this other garbage. Nobody wins this way.

In this country, we need someone who can bring people together, not drive them apart. That's Obama. These divisive tactics are despicable. McCain is now backtracking to mend the divide which is honorable of him. He may pay from the conservative right. Good for him, anyway.

Ebay Anyone?

It seems like forever since I last posted anything here, for the simple reason that the time and energy it takes to get my family (all of 'TWO') in agreement to actually and physically do something in the house leaves me completely depleted of all energy. Besides, I view this blog as a place where I share with my comrades the baby steps of I've made in my goals and accomplishments, you know -- forwards and onwards, not giant steps backwards.

Initially, the proposition to detox the basement was met with the usual groans and moans, all of which I had expected, but I was armed Ladies, with pictures, ideas and possibilities this unused space of 13 years held, and welcomed all their suggestions. "A 42" flat-screen would really go great down there", says Hubby; "so would one of those pullout couches for sleepovers", my daughter chimes in. Great they were on-board. Still it would take several failed weekend attempts, before Hubby and I actually descended into the basement, leaving my daughter at the top of the stairs to hand off those precious pieces we'd keep. We were so surprised at the amount of 'stuff' that was down there, it took us a few minutes to take it all in, undeterred, we started under the stairs, and uncovered a red Radio Flyer go-cart, a snow-sled that resembles the one from the Orson Welles movie "Citizen Kane" -- Rosebud; An old wire basket that held eggs in its former life, a Milk Maiden Can in pretty good condition, three old wooden Printer's Boxes all these were buried beneath seven picnic lounge chairs, picnic tables, an antique mahogany bed headboard, a Shabby Chic window framed mirror, and several pieces of wood that once held the promise of an ambitious project. Hubby relished this time recalling how most of these items made their way into our household by my say-so, and since this was one of those rare occasion where he is absolutely right, I let him have his fun. We had been detoxing beneath the stairs for almost two hours, when Hubby finds a large oval gold-leafed mirror (I swear that was there when we bought the house), he stops laughing for minute "You know, I bet we've got enough stuff here to help fund our 401K!"

Ha! You see Ladies, I know what I'm doing -- Craigslist, Ebay here I come!!

Gospel Singing Joy

[Alison] For 10 years, I sang in a gospel choir. In fact, for 3 years, I sang in two of them. I had a chance to sing at places like Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater and churches in Bedford Stuyvesant and the Bronx. What I most love about singing is standing in front, looking at everybody as many come in with life dragging them down, revealed in their faces and postures. All the thoughts of money, jobs, family, children, school, home and other stresses flicker through their heads as distractions from being present.

We begin to sing songs of uplifting joy, love, hope, peace and, looking out, I can see the faces lighten up. The lines drop away. Everything, all the worries, are still there but, for a moment, we are linked in community and in love so tangible that it rises like waves all around us. Some places we went, I was one of three white people in the choir and young children pointed and stared. Both choirs I sang with were very diverse with people from lots of different backgrounds, races and religions.

In 2002, we sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as one of the choirs to rededicate the shell by the World Financial Center with light and song. My heart soared and tears pricked in my eyes. I was smiling so wide my mouth hurt. Seeking joy in all things and sharing it with others is my key to happiness. Remember...

Professionals

[Karen] This is an update to my post from September 10th. I had met Fred for the first time that day at his office where he does the books for a computer sales company in Harrison. I had accepted the recommendation because where he works, he supposedly works for a real estate developer and so I thought he was capable of handling anything that I could possibly bring to him. Prior to April 15th, we had spoken on several occasions and he had filed an extension for me. At this point when we were going to finally meet, it was time to get down to serious business to be ready to make the October 15th deadline.

Well, let me first reiterate that he was recommended by a very, very good friend. For this reason, I waited a suitable amount of time before I posted my reaction to what occurred on September 30th, which is in fact this post. If I seem calm, I am now. Of course, you or Fred would not have wanted to be in my office on September 30th but now, I have had the time to calm down.

I will take you back a moment and remind you that my first and last appointment with Fred had concluded by Fred taking some important documents from me in an effort to clarify how one aspect of my taxes should be handled. Yes, I know, I should have ran at that point but again, Fred was highly recommended. Also, my companies investment properties are out of state and not every accountant would be expected to know the details of what I brought for him to decipher. At least that is what I told myself. In hindsight, I think that the poor man was dazed, confused and overwhelmed. Or maybe he was just dazed, confused and dim. I drift.

When we ended our first meeting on September 9th, Fred told me that he had to find out how to handle my particular situation but that he knew exactly who to speak to and that he would call me. I should have ran but when you have so little time, you make allowances. My mistake going forward was believing him and expecting him to behave in a professional manner. I was wrong in my assumption, dreadfully wrong.

On September 29th, almost three weeks later, I had an appointment at another company in Harrison and although I wanted to call Fred and maybe stop by for a moment while I was in town, my appointment ran late and so I had to leave and proceed directly to another meeting. After all, we sat down on September 9th and he said that he was going to call when he had answers, I thought that he just wasn't ready but that everything would be just fine.

Should I have assumed that he would not live up to his word on something so simple as a return call? On September 30th, I called his office and when he picked up the phone he led with "I was going to call you". Actually, yes, he had been like this since before April, never ever actually calling when he said that he was going to call but again, his work was highly recommended and in my mind, I can see it will take a little work just dealing with him but he is supposed to be very good. As he spoke, it was with a weak, muttering tone and so I knew I was in trouble. He proceeded to hem and haw and beat around the bush until he finally said what anyone in my position would never have expected or wanted to hear. "I have no time to do your taxes." Can you believe it? Among other questions, one of my most obvious was when was he planning to call and tell me. After all, half of the time we had been communicating since before he filed my extension I was "waiting" for him to call when he was ready.

As I sat on the other end of the phone listening to him mumble and stammer as he attempted to answer my questions on how he could do this, I could only think of what a terrible business man Fred turned out to be. Fred mailed my documents, which I received a couple days later. Any decency would have brought him to the realization that he should have sent them overnight but again, what could I possibly expect from him at this point and I knew that I could not go to pick them up the next day so this was the next best alternative. Would I have wanted to see him anyway? I think not.

What has this reinforced in me? To remain a professional in my word and deed. To never treat anyone in this manner. If I need to simplify my business and personal life so that I can always do what I say when I say that I will, that is what I need to do. There is a saying that we have all heard, treat others as you would want to be treated. We may not be able to keep the "Fred's" from crossing our paths but at least if we are professional in manner, there will not be someone posting a note saying that we are the "Fred" who crossed their path.

Decluttering Our Apartment

[Alison] Entropy rules in my house. It's amazing how much stuff can fit in 600 square feet. I hired my sister to help me clean and release things. I had gifts from over 30 years ago that I never even liked, like a white terrycloth robe my brothers and I stole from the Hassler in Rome when we were children. My father was furious when four robes turned up on his hotel bill but by then we were back in NYC and it was too late. Truthfully, it was pretty ratty by 2008.

My sister said, "No, you don't have to keep that." I'm very grateful she didn't laugh hysterically at some of the things we turned up.

I notice that each thing I let go, each area that gets really clean, makes me feel lighter. Still I get to a certain point and then stop cold. Things build up again. I struggle on again with the cleaning. I don't know if I am afraid to finish because it would be such an unfamiliar state for my home. At the same time, I don't like feeling uncomfortable having people over and, when I walk inside, I am immediately exhausted. I know I have to resolve this but I don't know how. My husband doesn't care about it and that makes the work even harder. If my labor was appreciated, I think it would make a difference. Tomorrow was my promise to my women entrepreneurs' group but I'm not going to make it. I recommit again until I am finished... forward into the breach. Oy vey!

A Knot In My Stomach

[Alison] I was dismayed when Sarah Palin made a decent showing during the vice presidential debate although her colloquialisms made me repeatedly cringe. I woke up this morning with such a knot in my stomach. What was causing it, a sore back, thinking about too little work, bills? No, Sarah Palin as VP candidate with John McCain. I told my husband, "If that ticket wins, we're moving to Australia." He thought I was overreacting but I don't think so.

She looks to me like a female George W. Bush and these last eight years have been VERY painful in so many ways - politically, economically, socially, globally, environmentally... Here are some of the similarities:
Palin: unwillingness to think about issues (What Bush doctrine? Georgia?).
Bush: went into Iraq against Colin Powell's advice and all the evidence that Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11, no weapons of mass destruction.

Palin: cronyism (putting friends at high salaries in political office, hiring for loyalty instead of competence, firing everyone from the previous administration).
Bush: remember Brownie and Katrina and LOTS of other conflict of interest appointments.

Palin: cluelessness about people, the world, the economy, pretty much everything.
Bush: completely disconnected from reality, judging from his comments.

Palin: creating a protective political environment where nobody disagrees with her opinion (extremely scary trait in potential world leader).
Bush: Ask Colin Powell or Valerie Plame, among others.

Palin: no engagement or interest in anything outside of the USA (no passport at 44 until last year).
Bush: plummeted world opinion about the US to an all-time low internationally and appointed unacceptable UN representative in a sly way, during a recess.

I could go on as I differ in my values from Sarah Palin in too many ways to count. She is probably a nice enough woman and clearly spunky BUT TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED TO BE EVEN A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN THIS ELECTION. Sorry but that's really how I feel. Finally, I am so insulted as a woman by this choice. With all the extraordinarily competent women in politics today, that McCain chose Sarah Palin, who isn't (in my opinion) just blows my mind. I will do anything in my power to see Obama and Biden win in November because the world McCain and Palin would create is too horrible to even consider. OK, rant over for now.

We don't usually talk politics in my entrepreneur women's group so please forgive me if you, my friends and colleagues, disagree. Freedom of speech is an American right (1st Amendment) that Sarah Palin would not support as VP (judging from her attempt to ban books from the library in her town).

I Finally Made It

[Sherba] Friday October 3rd was the day I and my brother were to fly to Dominica to spend 2 weeks with our father, as he has retired there. We were to leave JFK at around 6:55 am but we left a little after 7 am. Our connecting flight in San Juan, Puerto Rico was to leave at 11:35 am. We landed in San Juan at around 11:10 am enough time to catch, I thought our connecting flight even though I was nervous we left late from JFK. When we arrived at the counter we were told the flight was closed. I could not believe it. We made it in enough time.

People were furious. There was yelling banging, especially when the American Airline lady told one person that they were getting a $10 voucher for meals, then it really exploded. She stated she would call the police, a man yelled "call the police", "call the police" she did and left with the attitude I'm don't need to take this. I was truly frustrated.

I went to baggage claim to see if I could get my bag and was told there were no more bags for flight #769. I was so upset. Now I have no clothes. This has never happened to me before and I was...I can't put it into words. When I came back there was the policeman, and a few American Airline workers helping us with food vouchers, $7 for lunch and $10 for dinner. My brother and I were confirmed for Sunday, but this was Friday. The gentleman said for us to go get on stand by for the next day, Saturday and that with his experience not to worry we would probably get on. I told him that my bag was not in baggage claim, he said it is probably there go check again. I did check again and again it was not there. I said let me try baggage services when the gentleman called they found my bag, where was it? Sooooooooooooooooooooo frustrating you have no idea.

We did get on the plane, thank God. If things could not get worse as I am going through immigration after we landed in Dominica, and they are checking my papers and passport ( I have a Dominican passport) the gentleman tells me that I will not be able to get out of the country with the passport I have. I said "are you kidding me?" , he said "no, there is a new passport that supercedes this one and you will have to apply for a new passport" and he gave me an application. My father, who did not tell me about this, said that this went into effect as of February of this year.

I get to my father's house and somebody is there that is not supposed to be there because I made it very clear to my father, over and over again, that we, my brother and I, wanted to have the 2 weeks with just the 3 of us, but this is another story. What a start to my 2 week vacation.

WHEN You Pay the Mortgage Matters

[Alison] I was crunched financially on paying my two Syracuse mortgages in September so I paid one mortgage and called up the bank to ask if they could refrain from reporting a 30-day late if I got the second mortgage in within a week. Some of my tenants have not been paying on time and so I've been having trouble getting it done. No sympathy!

"Sorry! It's the law. We have to report it." the bank official on the phone told me. I said that policy did not give me much incentive to race to get this payment made faster.

Now this month, October, I will have paid my two mortgages ON TIME for a year. I was unwilling to give that record up so I raced around and took money I had wanted to use for other purposes (health care, phone/internet/cable, water bill etc.) to cover that second mortgage. I'm trying to sell one of my houses for greater liquidity but the market is so bad, it has not been easy. Once I have made on-time mortgage payments for two years, I will be considered a seasoned investor with added credibility.

Anyway, the bank official told me that the bank has a 5-point system for the payment of mortgages that I did not know about. If the mortgage is paid by the 1st of the month, that's 1 point. Between the 1st and 15th is 2 and 3 points. After the 15th until the last day of the month is 4 points and a late penalty. I was aware of the penalty. After the last day of the month, the next month is also due so that is a 5-point internal bank rating, both months plus one month's penalty are owed, and the bank reports the 30-day late to the three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion & Equifax) which causes the individual's FICO score to drop. This ding on the credit score record lasts seven years and affects applying for favorable mortgage rates, buying a car, getting a job and a host of other unpleasant consequences. I don't know how this 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 internal bank track affects future financing with this bank or any another lender, although I'm certain it does somehow. The following month, this 1 to 5 rating system begins again, each and every month.

Wild, right? Do you know what your bank's policies are? What do these numbers mean in real life (higher or lower interest rate offers, internal coding as a bad, fair, good, great client, who knows what else)? What are the penalties exactly? Are there rewards at 1 and 2, and what are those? Do banks and other lenders share this information with each other? You may want to find out for yourself on your own mortgages. I feel like this policy is a stacked deck for the bank against the property owner since it isn't transparent. However, if the deck is stacked against me, it's even more vital to know the rules we are playing by. Knowledge gives us greater power to make informed choices as individuals, families and investors, and to be aware of future consequences. Let the good times roll!

Friendship

[Karen] Today was a very long day. A group of people and I began the dismantling of an office that we had quickly come to know as home. It was a very long grueling day. There were some people from this group, some others from the real estate investor association and then others, who were simply trying to lend a helping hand to those in need.

This post came about because I was so touched by a couple members from this group that came by and lent a hand. Although we were short handed most of the day, Lynn and Rosa stepped in to help get the job done. The fact is that I know that this group is comprised of a very special group of people and that had you all had the knowledge of the event and could have been there, you would have, because you all are very special

Lynn had actually mentioned the Women Entrepreneurs group early on in the day and in fact, there were not only us three, but also Natalie, who although invited to join, has had to decline to be a member due to scheduling challenges but also Michelle, who we are patiently leaving the light on for in hopes to one day see her come through our meeting door.

Lynn, Rosa, Natalie and Michelle, I want to say thank you to you all. This is not because we were the only people there, for we know that this is farthest from the truth. What would we have done without Michael, Tony, Doug, Donald and Natalie's friend Snapper. This is because you are the movers and shakers who provided the means to make it work and get us through the day. We all were very blessed that when there was a need and a call, there was a response by some very special individuals.

To take this a step further, I wanted to say a simple but heartfelt thank you to those very special people that I have met as a result of my foray into the world of real estate investing. I met you all as I joined the real estate investor association in an effort to build financial wealth and yet in the interim, I have gained much more. Friends.

Cleaning out before year end

(Lynn) Last time I spoke about time management. I have realized that one of the main reasons I do not have enough time is because I am doing too many things. And 90% of them do not bring in any money. So I have decided to get rid of the activities that do not help my family or bring us any money. And let me tell you I feel GREAT!!!!!

Getting rid of the dead weight in your life is hard, but so rewarding. And with the few activities I have gotten rid of, I can tell you I will be getting rid of some more pretty soon. I say why wait until the beginning for the year clean out our closets or change things in our life, DO IT NOW. DON'T WASTE TIME. ACT NOW BEFORE YOU GO CRAZY!!!

Family vs. Home Business Boundaries, Anyone?

[Alison] This morning I got up at 8 am with 7000 things to get done today, work on selling my Philly rehab (AARGH!), check on my tax refund, pay bills, place classified ads online for my businesses, follow up on selling domain names, clean the apartment, get all the papers filed, make 100 calls out to sellers, write for the blog...Also, with the Lehman bankruptcy, Merrill Lynch being taken over by Bank of America, and AIG being bailed out by the government (Sherba's blog was practically prophetic, huh?), I am stressed about losing more clients and maybe having EVEN LESS freelance work.

Our apartment is around 600 square feet, five rooms, and the wires for the TV, computer and filing system are all in the same room. My husband has a studio downtown in Union Square where he paints and meets with clients. So today, he decided to visit with me, talk on the phone, watch TV, make lunch because he did not have meetings and finally left at 4 pm. I got a few e-mails done, a few classifieds placed, some domain name work done and a quick blog, maybe 1/100th of all my tasks.

Other times, I have gently mentioned to D that THIS apartment is where I work and I can't easily do it with him here. The result of that tactic was that he slammed around, leaped into his clothes without a shower, said, "Well, if you don't want me here, I'll just go to the studio. And, by the way, I'll probably stay downtown tonight and work," and left without a kiss. (Stick in the knife and twist so I feel like a bad wife.)

So, here's the question, is there any graceful way to claim the importance of my work, when I run my businesses from home? How do I make clear that I love my husband dearly and really enjoy spending time with him BUT, when I have work to do, I NEED to get it done? How do I establish professional and personal boundaries when home is my workspace? How do I keep the peace with my family? No answers, just questions...

Analyzing the market

[Karen] Times are changing very fast. Not always for the better. We can all see how our lives have changed from one day to another and this is relative to our employers, businesses, families and friends.

I am in the process of researching a real estate investment in the North East and although I have made similar real estate investments in the past, the times have changed so drastically from my first investment to the present, that every aspect of the investment must be reconsidered.

In the past, I purchased properties to produce passive income as I have learned and strive to do in my quest to create wealth. I presently own numerous rental properties but the economic times have taken their toll, and now the strategy must change.

The problem? Well the problem is that just as homeowners are being forced into foreclosure because they can not pay their mortgages, those in the alternative rental market are finding themselves hit by the same challenges that are hitting their counterparts. How does one pay rent when they are downsized, when their car has gone from a fill up costing $40 to $70? These same individuals quite often have lost jobs and are often forced to make withdrawals from their retirement accounts. That is if they have retirement accounts. Where will the money come from?

Every single aspect of our lives has changed and unfortunately, not for the best. And so, what is the strategy for the present? Flexibility!

Where's My Tax Stimulus Payment?

[Alison] I just discovered a curious secret about the tax stimulus payment. The software the Social Security Administration and the IRS have only registers three names and I have a first name, two middle names (middle and maiden) and a last name - no hyphens. So Social Security, in their infinite wisdom, decided to hyphenate my second middle and last name without informing me. The IRS couldn't find me because I put my legal name (no hyphens in sight) on my tax return.

You only get the tax stimulus payment if your return flies through the system with NO GLITCHES. It doesn't matter if you did everything right. Nobody can do anything to fix it. Also, my tax refund check, filed in June and not here yet, has taken months and months because of that little hyphen. Next year's solution, according to the IRS, is to hyphenate my last two names, even though that's not my legal name. Nobody there seems to understand why I have a problem with that. Oh, all this unravelling of this problem took four phone calls and about six hours of time. AARGH!

Mixed Feelings About Life As I Live It

[Alison] I found out last week that I am being offered more hours at work until the end of the year, and I confess to mixed feelings about the change. It's not about the proofreading work. I know the client's account and can provide backup to the team very well. It's this dream I have about financial freedom. On the one hand, with a lot of my money tied up in houses, I have been struggling financially and have less reserves than I did before. When I began learning and investing in real estate, I was working 40 hours a week so that paid the bills. Rents from my Syracuse houses were extra cash.

Then, as there was less work, I became very involved in the NYC and Big Apple REIAs, and began intensive learning from real estate gurus on different topics, traveling around the country. I noticed I became less effective as I had more time to pursue the real estate and my work-from-home tasks expanded to fill the time. I also wasn't particularly good at keeping the work promises I made to myself. So much else to do at home...

Going back to four (sometimes five) days a week, I will be forced to prioritize my time more tightly. Already, I see a difference in my effectiveness by having accountability partners (four individuals and my entrepreneur women's group). I thought I needed more than one (ha! ha! ha!) To report in weekly on the achievement of, or gap between, my goals and dreams and my actions, brings added commitment and passion to my vision. Oh, they also have my permission to kick my a** if I don't show forward progress, even if it's like a crab (one step forward, two steps back, three steps forward). Mistakes are fine in my world, especially new ones, because they mean action, stretching myself, boldness. I'll still get it done and reach my dreams, more financial resources and time, a louder voice in the world. Onward and upward...

How I got into real estate

[Rosa] let me introduce myself. I am from queens. Used to (still do sometimes) drive stretch limousines, did that for 10 years. I used to work for 80-90 hrs a week. I used to think I will save money and i will be financially secure at one point. Invested some money in the meantime in real estate. Suddenly things started changing when I was involved in a motor vehicle accident while I was working. I was out of work for almost 1 month. No money came in. My boss used to show such a little income on the books that I could not get any money from insurance. My boss pulled me out on the road after 1 month (he is only interested in his business and all mighty dollars.) My knee injury got worse. Had to do surgery but it didn't really help. In november 2007, my right knee gave up and I fell. Now I've hurt both my knees. It was so bad. September 20th is my birthday. I had a very nice day.

What About Failed Banks ?

[Alison] I went looking for this list to see which banks have failed, where, how big or small, so I could begin to think about what is going on here. Of course, it doesn't stretch to other financial institutions like Lehman Brothers or AIG, which are currently in the news nor does it cover banks for whom the FDIC is NOT the receiver. Of course, by the time a bank hits THIS list, you're already late to take any effective action to get out beforehand. So what can we do?

If you'll remember, in Mary Poppins the musical, a run on the bank was caused because a little boy did not want to deposit his tuppence in the bank and caused a scene when they tried to take it from him. That's a huge danger here, panic, fear diving the banks down as reality and perception meet. Worth thinking about...

Did you know that there's a confidence index and also a misery index in the financial papers. Needless, to say, for many people, confidence is down and misery is up and that is what the indexes are currently reflecting.

So you can follow along for yourself: Failed Banks List (http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html)

The FDIC is often appointed as receiver for failed banks. This page contains useful information for the customers and vendors of these banks. This includes information on the acquiring bank (if applicable), how your accounts and loans are affected, and how vendors can file claims against the receivership.

This list includes banks which have failed since October 1, 2000.

Ameribank, Northfork, WV closed September 19, 2008
Silver State Bank, Henderson, NV, En Español closed
September 5, 2008
Integrity Bank, Alpharetta, GA closed August 29, 2008
The Columbian Bank and Trust, Topeka, KS closed August 22, 2008
First Priority Bank, Bradenton, FL closed August 1, 2008
First Heritage Bank, NA, Newport Beach, CA closed July 25, 2008
First National Bank of Nevada, Reno, NV closed July 25, 2008
IndyMac Bank, Pasadena, CA closed July 11, 2008
First Integrity Bank, NA, Staples, MN closed May 30, 2008
ANB Financial, NA, Bentonville, AR closed May 9, 2008
Hume Bank, Hume, MO closed March 7, 2008
Douglass National Bank, Kansas City, MO closed January 25, 2008
Miami Valley Bank, Lakeview, OH closed October 4, 2007
NetBank, Alpharetta, GA closed September 28, 2007
Metropolitan Savings Bank, Pittsburgh, PA closed February 2, 2007
Bank of Ephraim, Ephraim, UT closed June 25, 2004
Reliance Bank, White Plains, NY closed March 19, 2004
Guaranty National Bank of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL closed
March 12, 2004
Dollar Savings Bank, Newark, NJ closed February 14, 2004
Pulaski Savings Bank, Philadelphia, PA closed November 14, 2003
The First National Bank of Blanchardville, Blanchardville, WI closed
May 9, 2003
Southern Pacific Bank, Torrance, CA closed February 7, 2003
The Farmers Bank of Cheneyville, Cheneyville, LA December 17, 2002
The Bank of Alamo, Alamo, TN closed November 8, 2002
AmTrade International Bank of Georgia, Atlanta, GA - En Español
closed September 30, 2002
Universal Federal Savings Bank, Chicago, IL closed June 27, 2002
Connecticut Bank of Commerce, Stamford, CT closed June 26, 2002
New Century Bank, Shelby Township, MI closed March 28, 2002
Net 1st National Bank, Boca Raton, FL closed March 1, 2002
NextBank, N.A., Phoenix, AZ closed February 7, 2002
Oakwood Deposit Bank Company, Oakwood, OH closed
February 1, 2002
Bank of Sierra Blanca, Sierra Blanca, TX closed January 18, 2002
Hamilton Bank, N.A., Miami, FL, En Español closed January 11, 2002
Sinclair National Bank, Gravette, AR closed September 7, 2001
Superior Bank, FSB, Hinsdale, IL closed July 27, 2001
The Malta National Bank, Malta, OH closed May 3, 2001
First Alliance Bank & Trust Company, Manchester, NH closed
February 2, 2001
National State Bank of Metropolis, Metropolis, IL closed
December 14, 2000
Bank of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI closed October 13, 2000

Take time to smell the roses

[Karen] As usual, the past few weeks have been very hectic. I am sure that we can all relate to this. After all, this blog is about that delicate balancing act that we all must perform to survive our daily lives with our sanity in tact. Work, work and more work but what is life all about if we don't force ourselves to stop and smell the roses.

Okay, so I don't mean to stop and literally smell the roses, but you should if that is what you want to do. I for one have found my new rose. Normally, I look out my window and the Hudson River is there, about a quarter of a mile away, this is everyday life, but this is different. On Saturday, September 13th my nephew and one of my fellow blog posters, attended the Yonkers Riverfest. I for one, watched in awe from a distance as men, women and children paddled kayaks of all shapes and sizes around a small area of the Hudson River that the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club (YPRC) members had cordoned off for their guests safety. I had been Kayaking once before many years ago when my friend Dean had the idea but that had been many years ago.

The next day was Sunday, the Hudson River Museum held a special event in conjunction with the YPRC at the JFK Marina. Fortunately for me, my nephew Monte pleaded to attend and now we have a new routine. At this event, the YPRC was inviting museum members to a "walk in" kayak event, all you had to do was show up. Once you had a quick lesson and an available kayak, you were on your way.

I have kayaked four times since the day I stood on the sidelines and watched but last night was by far, the best overall. Last night, my mother, Monte and I had joined Jerry, our new friend and teacher at the YPRC boat house. He had invited us to come down when he saw us the night before. We first met Jerry at the museum event. That day, he took Monte under his wing and we have been lucky enough to go along for the ride ever since.

Jerry has been teaching us about the tides, currants and everything interesting about the river and kayaking that we would want to know. We were introduced to some YPRC members that were on their way out to enjoy the river and then then we went out ourselves. Jerry said that this was the big leagues and I could tell. The water was rougher but we could handle it and handle it we did but this was not the story, the story is about the beauty of it all.

After the four of us had traveled in the immediate vicinity of the club for a while, my mother returned to shore. We followed her back to make sure she disembarked safely and then the three of us started out again. We traveled North as we hugged the shore, being careful not to hit the posts that sometimes jutted out of the water or rocks that may have been underneath in the shallower areas.

Jerry and Monte were ahead of me as I slowly paddled, taking in every wave that rocked my kayak and every bird that flew by. What's the hurry? There was none. I took my time and looked at the wall of rocks that lined the shore on the Yonkers side and the mountains of the New Jersey Palisades on the other. Could it get any better than this?

Again I ask, could it get any better? Yes, it could. By the time we had gone out about a mile, it was getting dark so we turned to head back to shore. This time, as we headed back we paddled closer to the center of the river to take advantage of the fast moving current. At one point, the three of us raised our paddles over our heads and just let the current carry us all along. Dusk had entered the picture and we just paddled as we watched the lights of the city come to life. Jerry brought our attention to the New York City skyline at around 7:00 and we watched the lights that had come on along the edges of the George Washington Bridge.

I could not believe how breathtaking the view was as we floated down the river. I did not want it to end but all good things come to an end. We landed, carried the kayaks to the boathouse where Jerry gave us a tour of the facility and we talked about the possibility of my nephew working for the club next year and my families future with the YPRC. I could see myself relaxing in the summer sun next year. I know that I have a great deal of work to do and if I have to make up the time by working until 1:00 or 2:00, so be it but personally I need that balance. It can not all be about work so now, I can't wait until next Monday when it will be our time on the river once again.

Would you like to join us? There is plenty of room

If a tree fell in the forest........

[Shay] It all started when the storm that was created by Hannah blew through our area two weeks ago. We woke up early the next morning and there was our tree with a huge limb split from it hanging off and knocked down our neighbor's fence. This is something that I am not happy about. I called our insurance but since nothing on our property was damaged, they would not help at all. It was an "Act of God" they said and since the tree did not hit our house or garage there was nothing they could or would do about it. I even tried to get them to at least send an adjuster out to look at it but they refused. It was ridiculous. So now we have to incur the cost of the tree removal. The tree is not small at all. I was concerned about our neighbor but finally after a week I talked with him and he said he called his insurance company as well. I guess they told him the same thing because he knew he would have to take care of it himself. I feel horrible. If I could afford it, I would have compensated him in some sort of way. After all, it was our tree.

I finally got my fiance to have a few tree services come and give a quote on the tree. I refused to be the one since I always wind up taking care of these things for the house. It ONLY took him two weeks to do it but not to my surprise every service said the same thing. The whole tree needs to come down. The price???? Well it ranged from 4,000 to 4,800. My mouth dropped when I heard those prices. I will have to sit down and really figure this one out. I have to mention the fact that the tree service will probably take the tree wood and sell it for firewood as additional profit to them. It is crazy how these things can happen. It's unfortunate that it keeps happening to me.

Autistically Awesome

[Shirley] When my daughter was very young, she attended a daycare who had an amazing owner, Lucy. She cared for my daughter from 18 months until she looked awkwardly out of place amongst the new toddlers. Anyway, I remember one year a new face had come to Lucy's happy band of children, a small little boy, with big brown eyes, who would sit in corner by himself, just rocking. Everyday I'd see this beautiful child sitting in the same chair rocking, never answering when if you said 'Hi' -- just rocking. I later learned from Lucy that she had voiced her concerns to the boy's mother, who was adamant that there was nothing wrong him, he was just sensitive to noise, you see she was an opera singer, and apparantly as soon as she opened her mouth, it would send her son in fits of rage, inaudible screaming until she stopped singing. For some reason I found this funny having met the mother's cold shoulder on more than one occasion, which only warmed me up to the little boy more, despite his oblivion to my presence. Lucy already had an autistic child in her midst and knew the signs. So when the special case worker came to work with that case, Lucy would make sure the boy was in the same room. Unfortunately, when the boy's mother found out about this, she removed her son from Lucy day care. Where I'm going with all this... Last week I saw a documentary on BBC-America about an autistic man named Stephen Wiltshire. As a child, Stephen was mute and did not relate to other human beings. Aged three, he was diagnosed as autistic. He had no language, uncontrolled tantrums and lived entirely in his own world. By age of five, he was sent to a school for children with special needs, where it was noticed that the only pastime he enjoyed was drawing. Fast forward, today he is being called the Human Camera as he has the ability to look at building, landscape of buildings for a few minutes and then recreate it with such accuracy it makes some of the top architects of the world swooooon. Check out his work on www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk and/or Utube. I was in awe of this young man's ability and how this gift has opened my eyes to the misunderstood world of autism. Also, the possibilities that might have awaited the little boy at Lucy's day care had he been given a chance.

Finally I am here

(Rosa) Good morning everyone. I wrote my whole blog, but somehow my computer did not save it, but that's OK. I am an Indian woman in my late 30s. Married for 21+ years. I have two beautiful teenagers. Very committed to be financially free within next 3 years. My biggest challenge now to get my finances together, working very hard on that. I am very fortunate to have friends like you all. I am very confident that this group will reach us to our goal. This is my first blog.
I will write again tomorrow.

It Came To Pass

[Sherba] Recently I posted about Lehman Brothers and other financial institutions failing. Little did I know when I went to the meeting, "Banks and Brokers that will Fail", that it would really come to pass so soon. What is happening is scary. It all boils down to greed. We want more, bigger and better. We in America don't know how good we have it when it comes to other countries. By comparison we are blessed.

How executives can and did take huge bonuses and people who work for the same companies were losing their jobs. I always thought that was wrong. And this idea I recently heard of "Short Selling" where people involved in the stock market want a companies stock to go down so that they can make money off of it. This is now being stopped and blamed as one reason for the trouble on Wall Street. Greed now has America suffering.

I would like for this to be over soon but recently an economist said he does not think this will be truly over until sometime in 2012 or later. Just pray that God will bless us with relief soon.

It's a man's world??

[Karen] I have your attention don't I? Let me bring you up to speed because I was insulted, angry and ready to strangle one of the lesser species. Okay, okay, maybe men are not a lesser species but last night, I could have easily compared a male restaurant employee to the lowest of the low and it will take some time before I forget the experience. Actually, that is not accurate. This has happened before, the details have changed but the story is just the same.

I have a friend named Dean that I have known for about 20 years. He just hit the big "50" and his birthday falls on 9/11 and as if that was not enough, we were not able to go out previously due to scheduling conflicts so yesterday I made myself available and I decided to take my friend out to dinner.

Did I say that I am vegetarian? Oh, I forgot. Normally, that is not an issue but I am a work in progress. I have not eaten red meat in about 20 years and I stopped eating all other meats about 11 years ago. I had not gone as far as not eating dairy or seafood but over the last year, I had contemplated this more and more until at the end of August 2008, I decided to stop eating dairy and seafood at the beginning of this month. So here we are, a vegetarian attempting to take a friend who runs away from the thought of eating anything healthy, out to dinner.

Where to go? We went to an Indian restaurant, of course. To me, the choice was clear. Actually, Dean suggested Indian just as quickly as I had. Here we both knew that I could get a vegetarian meal in a cuisine that recognizes that vegetarian does not mean rabbit food or should I say green salad. As with other humans, I need protein and so lies the lure of beans in an Indian meal.

So, we chose Patang in Yonkers, New York. I had never been there and actually, they were the second choice. Deans first choice was a restaurant in the Bronx but they had closed down.

We walked in and were quite surprised to find that at prime dinner time, there was only one other table occupied. We decided to stay and take our chances. High gas prices and downsizing along with many other challenges, have taken their toll everywhere and so we both assumed that this was just another restaurant facing the financial issues of the times.

Our waitress and other wait staff were very pleasant and attentive without being pushy. Our appetizers came and went. Not bad. Our entrees came and so did "the man in the orange shirt". Hey, I don't know his name. Actually, I don't want to.

Anyway, a short time into our meal, he walks over to Dean, bends slowly at the waist until he is looking Dean directly in the eyes and asks if he was enjoying his dinner. Dean answers affirmatively and "the man in the orange shirt" walks away. Our waitress arrives a few minutes later and asks Dean and I the same question. Okay, I should have told you that at this point, I am steaming. You may have noticed that I said that "the man in the orange shirt" asked Dean how he was enjoying his dinner. He never acknowledged that I existed. Dean literally could have been sitting there by himself because it was the same result anyway. I asked our waitress who this man was and she said that it was her manager. I explained what had happened and she apologized but walked on egg shells as would be expected as she discusses her managers behavior with a customer.

Dean knows me very well. I can't stand bad service and I tried my best not to start trouble on his birthday, at least not yet. About 15 minutes later, here he comes again, you know who, "the man in the orange shirt", the manager. The manager repeats his earlier action to the letter. He walks over to our table, bends at the waist, looks Dean in the eyes and this time asks if he would like a drink refill. The answer is negative and the manager walks away. The difference is that this time our waitress immediately walks over, bends down, looks me in the eyes and asks me if I would like a drink. The answer is also negative but by this time, it is too late, two strikes and this place is out.

Finally, the meal is over, despite the service of the manager, Dean and I have a great time. Granted, we would have a great time anywhere. That is what friends are for. It is time for me to pay the tab. I ask the waitress for the check, which she promptly provides and I pay the bill.

I admit, Dean asked me to remain calm and for all intents and purposes, I did. But, on our way out, who was standing at the register near the bar but the manager. He's actually standing in what could be construed as my direct path. Well, I did have to go a bit to the right but he was still fair game. My comment was short and sweet. Well, maybe not sweet but it was very short.

I proceeded to walk over to the manager, look him directly in the eye with what I hoped was a look that said you are the dirt beneath my feet and told him "For future reference, may I suggest, that if you choose to inquire as to the satisfaction of your guests, that you inquire as to the satisfaction of all the guests at the table. I am truly insulted that I have brought a guest to dine at your restaurant and yet I was completely ignored. At this point, I again think of Dean. It is his birthday and he doesn't want me to start trouble so as the manager begins his apology, I calmly turn away, as if he does not exist.

Dean had a great evening, was proud of me for not going overboard and hopefully, I made my point.

Dinner anyone?

Tenant termination in NYC

[Senai] I know, I am late in reporting on the court system. Yesterday I was so down that I didn't want to talk about it. First some background, I own a two-family home in the Bronx. I rent the downstairs two-bedroom apartment out. Over the years it has proved to be very successful. Until a year ago when I rented to a family of four. Now I usually limit the number of people in this apartment to three but this man came and begged for the apartment. It was near his children school, familiar with the neighborhood, etc. I did the usual credit and employment check and they seemed OK.
what sealed it for me was when I received a notarized letter from his former landlord saying how he was such a good tenant, paid his bills on time. He wanted them to leave because he had family coming from P.R. and they needed a place to stay. This sounded reasonable to me and the potential tenant was very persistent about the apartment. I let him have it - with a one year lease (mistake). He paid the first and second month's rent with no problem. On the third month he was a week late - reason? school started (what?!) Another two months he paid on time and then was late again - why? he was off so he didn't get paid that week (what?!) This pattern continued with one sorry excuse after another, wife couldn't work, had to buy clothes for children. When the lease finally ended I told him that I would not be renewing it and he would have to leave. At that time he was already two weeks late with the rent and I would not accept partial rent. His response to me was, "I tried to work with you." (what?!). He continued by saying "I am not leaving and if you want me out you will have to take me to court."

Here is where I got my lesson about being a landlord in NYC. First, the tenant has all the rights. I was told that I could not do anything to him since that was legally his apartment! If I wanted him out I would have to go to court. If I did anything to him, it would hurt my case. So I had to call off those folks who offered to hang him out to dry. The paperwork was relatively simple once I was able to find out what I needed and where I had to go to get it. Advice was freely given by those who had 'been there done that' but no one mentioned the time involved. Even though I had already sent a letter to him to terminate the premises in 30 days, I had to get someone who was not involved to serve him with one of the forms and notarize it - another 30 days. Then I had to complete two forms and have them served followed up with a postcard notifying the tenant of his pending court date three weeks later. Here is where my inexperience slowed the process. I used the Bronx Sherriff's office to ensure that he was properly served - I was told any error could require me to start all over again. The proof of service document along with post cards to the tenants had to be given to the courts. I did not do that, I thought I could mail the post card myself. When I learned that this was not the procedure, plus I did not have an original proof of service from the Sherriff who served him, my court date was postponed - three weeks. I now have a court date for October 4th. In meantime I have not received any rent from this tenant since June 1, (he said it is in escrow!?) Anyway my attorney said that I could not take any money from him because it would change the case. I did however request that the tenant not only get out but pay all of the arrears with interest. Not sure how much interest I should ask for though.

I am writing all of this one to get it out of my system and two to let you know how the process works to evict a NYC tenant. By the way there is a resource center in the court house where you can speak to an attorney for free. I would highly recommend that if you are doing an eviction yourself. The attorney I used was a generalist about NYC evictions. The resource attorney was precise about the process and helped me avoid some of the pitfalls.

I will let you know after October 4 what I hope will be the end of the story.

Be blessed.

Master Cleansing Life

[Shirley] Last night finished my first Master Cleanse of 10 days, the lemon detoxification program where you drink only a lemonade mixture: organic grade B maple syrup, fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice, and cayenne pepper added to spring, distilled, or purified water to remove toxins from pollution, cigarette smoke, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods and whatever else that drains vitality from our bodies*. The initial goal was to continue for 20 days where spiritual gains beyond just health was also promised, however, the urge to use my jaws was a far greater cry, so I caved. Still for my first time this was an excellent experience, giving me this fresh start feeling. I have lost 7lbs (despite small lapses here and there) and gained increased energy levels I haven't felt in ages. Therefore, I've decided to put this concept (and new found energy) to other areas of my life... First on the list, detox my house, heavens knows it could do with it. This will definitely take longer than 10 days, but if I breakup each room/area into separate parts giving each area its own 10 days, this could be doable and if I enlist the help of my husband and daughter this is definitely doable -- Ha! ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha, ah, ha, ha ha! ... I'll keep you posted.

*For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, check out http://www.mastercleanse.com/.

My visit to the hospital

[Shay] Well....I had my first scare last night with my pregnancy. It was not fun to say the least. Before I get ahead of myself, let me tell you who I am. My name is Shay and I am expecting my first child. Some may call me a "mature" expecting mother because of my age. How old am I? I am 39 years old but I will be hitting the big "4O" in December.

Let me tell you what happened. I was at work yesterday and started feeling pain in my lower back and abdomen. I was hoping and thinking it would go away. After and hour I decided I should call my doctor. I called the office and the front desk nurse answered, I told her what was happening and the doctor was at the hospital at the time. The nurse then called the doctor who returned her call within minutes. The nurse called me back and told me to get to Labor and Delivery at the hospital. My mouth dropped, I said "Are you serious?". She said yes because she wants to make sure that I am not having contractions. I think I hung up on her while she was still talking. Let me explain why I reacted this way. I am only 29 weeks which is too early to even think about having the baby.I started shutting my computer down and packing up and left for my trip. You see, I work in Stamford, CT but I live in New Jersey. I know it sounds crazy but currently that is how things have to remain.The whole ride to the hospital I was chanting over in my head "My baby is OK, My baby if fine."

Once I got to the hospital, I went up to Labor and Delivery and as soon as I went through the door, that asked me my name and shuttled me to a room to change and connected me up to monitors. I was relieved when they told me my baby's heart rate was perfect as well as my blood pressure. The nurse was very reassuring. I was waiting on my doctor so I was just laying there watching television until she came. She came in and told me everything looks OK but she wanted to run some tests to make sure. I had to lay in the room and they continued to monitor the baby as I laid there and waited on the test results. Then the shift changed. Another nurse came in and started asking me questions I already answered to my doctor and the other nurse. I am sitting there wondering why is she asking me these things when my chart is in her hands. Then she told me I need to lay on my left and starting shifting me and putting this wedge pillow on my right so I can lay on my left. I can't see the TV laying this way. So am I suppose to watch the door for the next hour or so. I know it is good for the baby to be on my left. I lay that way for the baby all the time but goodness she was nerve racking. Thankfully about thirty minutes later the tests came back OK and I could leave. I was still in pain but at least everything looked good for the baby. Now all I have to worry about is how much pain I will feel once I get the bill for this episode. Even with health care it is always a pretty penny.

Well, I am feeling much better today. At least I can mentally prepare myself on what to expect when I do go into labor.I don't think I prepare myself for the pain though.

What's In a Name?

People often ask me about my name. Senai is not my birth name. I changed it to Senai when I was in college. I am a child of the late 60's and we were all seeking our afrocentric identity. No one wanted a "slave" name. I did not get on the bandwagon until I began dating a man from Ethiopia. We were in love, or so I thought, so I allowed him to choose a name for me. He said a word and told me the meaning but he was not sure how it was spelled so I created the spelling based on what it sounded like he was saying. His native language is Tegrinia (sp?). Our relationship lasted another year but I loved my new name so I formalized it and kept it. It is a part of me. I would have made it my first name but I was named after my Aunt Jenny (Virginia) and she was not too happy about this name change business...so I compromised and made Senai my middle name. I love my aunt.

What does Senai mean? According to my Ethiopian friend it means peaceful, beautiful, and blessed. Over the years I have been reluctant to share the entire meaning of the name because I did not always feel that way. I now realize that it was an excellent choice for me. It is just that back then I did not see myself the way he and others saw me.

I think names that have meaning attached to them and if that meaning is known it helps shape the person. To some extent, I see that has happened in the names that I have given my children. Maybe it is how I raised them I don't know but they do seem to exemplify their name.

Tomorrow I will share my experience with the flawed legal system.

My very first blog!!

I am a woman who is in the process of reinventing herself. I am a divorced mother of two wonderful young adults (son and daughter. I am a grandmother of three handsome boys ages 2,3, and 4; an entrepreneur, and I love life. Life is not loving me right now and I will share why later but it is OK because I am a child of God and He is always looking after me.

Two years ago I was downsized from a job I had been at for more than 20 years. Not knowing what to do with myself I signed up with Peak Potentials. I think it was one of my better decisions. Since I no longer had a desire to go back to an office I looked for businesses that I would like to be involved with. After several mismatches I ended up with what I am currently doing which is financial education and travel. These two businesses will be the vehicles that will allow me to achieve a dream I have had for years - to start a school for children in low income areas that will focus on building self awareness and self esteem.

While I am new at blogging I think it will be fun to share and exchange views on a variety of topics. The women in the group are phenomenal and I never really thought I would find them all in one place...

My Name Is Lynn

My name is Lynn. I am in my 30's and I am still planning to be financial free by the time I am 40. With the state of the economy I know that I have to come up with some creative strategies. I am a mother, wife, entrepreneur, etc. Time management is my greatest challenge. Currently I am working on my values and goals. I need to know where I want to go which will help me to get there soon.

He Ain't Easy People, He Ain't Easy

[Sherba] I’m a very casual person, laid back, in the way I dress and my nature. My father hates the way I dress sometimes, even though I think he has come to terms with it.

He used to complain about my hair and I would burst out laughing, because the look on his face was so funny. He did it because he cared. Every time I see him I can see him scanning what I am wearing. He does it because he loves me. So I know he is concerned for me, but the lack of concern he has for my concern for him is soooo trying.

My father has retired to the Caribbean and a few times a year, in the warmer months of the U.S., he comes to visit. He never calls ahead of time to tell me or my brother when he is coming, he just comes. He was here earlier this year and did not call me. When I saw him I said “How long have you been here?” He replies “Since Saturday.” People, that means he was here for 2 days without calling to let me know.

Recently I had been trying to call him in the Caribbean as well as e-mail and he did not answer for a while until I received an e-mail with his sentence not finished, which had me very concerned. I sent an e-mail again, my brother sent an e-mail, and I called both his numbers, no reply. He then called, only because somebody who knows somebody in his town told him I had been trying to contact him. Now can you imagine if I did these things, pleeeese he would be beside himself worrying. He lives on 4 acres, usually by himself, in the boonies. He’s driving me crazy.

I love my father but it feels to me as if he’s acting like he's my teenager and he’s 70! All I say is, give me strength, Lord, give me strength.

Who is all of this for?

[Karen} No, I’m not married. I have no kids but I do support my 79 year young mother and I have a dog named Mr. G. I say this because like you, every day I work hard, very hard actually. My days are always extremely full and for the most part, very enjoyable but exhausting. The thought of being wealthy, having more money to donate and time to volunteer and just have the ability to do what I want when I want is on my mind.

What I have found is that I have been in a dangerous cycle of working all day and night building all of my businesses and volunteering with my local real estate investor group. Of course, I attempt to spend time with my mother, even if it is to go sit down with her and watch TV for some quality time or take her shopping but right after we’re finished, I go back to work so I don’t feel too guilty.

The problem is that for the last six to eight months, this cycle has begun to include going to sleep at 3am or 4am in the morning and me still waking up exhausted no matter what time I rise but it is usually about five hours later. I really think that my internal clock is actually broken. After all, how could I go to sleep so late and still wake up so early and why would I wake up if I am still exhausted? We hear about sleep deficit, well, I think that my account is seriously overdrawn because I am in no way catching up. I know full well that this is wrong but do as I say, not as I do because every day the clock runs on and there I go again. I have actually seen the sun rise as I sat at my computer a couple days in the last 5 months but that is the extreme. My magic time seems to be 4am.

I have a friend and fellow investor who is only two years older than me that recently suffered a stroke. A group of us were away on a business trip. Yes, just like I said, work, work, work. I will never forget sitting down next to him that very day and telling him that he needs to get more sleep. I just wrote that I am a firm believer in do as I say, not as I do. He is just like me, in the past, we often sent emails to each other at 3am and we would find that we were both still awake. Do you think that his stroke would teach me a lesson? Nope!

What did it take? Well, yesterday I was talking to my property manager. I mentioned that I had sent her an email last night but was calling anyway because I was not sure if she had seen the note. The fact that she then proceeded to ask what I was doing sending notes at 3:15 did not go unnoticed. Fortunately, the conversation went on and she said what finally hit home, and that is “who is going to take care of your mother if something happens to you”.

I get it. It finally hit me. She is completely right. I kept saying to myself I’ll get some sleep tomorrow and everything will be fine. The problem is I never did. The reality is that if something happens to me, there is nobody else. I have two married brothers but the thought of my mother relying on them scares me. Don’t get me started on that.

So now what? Well, I will strive to take better care of myself. I will continue to eat right but now I will get to sleep and then start exercising again. I will commit to excel in these all important building blocks of healthy habits

From now on, all I have to ask myself is for what and who is all of this for?