American Flag Etiquette

It is summer time and the 4th of July is right around the corner. Time to get Ole' Glory out and display it out in front of the house. I thought that you might want to know how to handle the American Flag properly.


STANDARDS of RESPECT

The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:

• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
• The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

Note: Most American Legion Posts regularly conduct a dignified flag burning ceremony, often on Flag Day, June 14th. Many Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, and Girl Scout Troops retire flags regularly as well. Contact your local American Legion Hall or Scout Troop to inquire about the availability of this service.

The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night

The flag should be taken down when raining, also.

Until we meet again,

Claudia

And fly that flag with pride.

Selfies should come with a Warning

 Just taking a selfie has proven to be an act that carries the risk of injury. Unfortunately for a 43-year-old Concrete, Washington man, that injury turned out to be death, reports the Skagit Valley Herald.

According to Chad Clark, a Skagit County Sheriff Office official, the man and his girlfriend were taking pictures of themselves while at a suburban residence. The man was holding a gun while taking the selfies, with the girlfriend saying the man removed the bullets and reloaded the gun several times.

Unfortunately, there was a bullet that wasn’t removed after the last reload. Thinking the gun was empty, the man pulled the trigger while the gun was aimed at his head, and the gun discharged, resulting in his death. According to Clark, the death is currently under investigation as an accident.

To say that selfies aren’t worth dying for is a sentiment that shouldn’t have to be repeated, yet 2016 has already seen nine people, including this Concrete, Washington man, die while taking selfies. At this rate, 2016 should see more selfie-related deaths than 2015, which reports suggested had 27 selfie-related deaths around the world. Over half of those 27 deaths took place in India, which led the country’s capital city, Mumbai, to impose 16 no-selfie zones at locations around the city deemed too dangerous for taking self-portraits.

Out of the nine selfie-related deaths so far this year, seven have taken place in India. The string of accidents have included everything from falling in a canal to being hit by a passenger train, all occurring while taking self-portraits. Most recently, a group of five tourists fell off a cliff while taking selfies, and two of them sustained serious injuries. No one in that group died, though it is not hard to imagine that result.

This is an article posted by Williams Pelegrin,Digital Trends I really couldn't haven't written it any better but I really think that Selfies 

are definitely for the younger set. I really don't want all of those photos of me on my phone or on the internet.

So, be aware that a Selfie could kill you!!!!

Until we meet again,

Claudia

Am I Who I Am

Am I really who I am? Your thoughts, your words, your actions make up your life that you are living.  As Larry Winget states in his book "Grow a Pair". If you play the victim then you are a victim. We love to play the role of a victim because it is never your fault, never your responsibility, there is always someone else to blame for our situation. Does this sound familiar? We like to blame our parents, boss, and yes even family for the way we are and not take responsibility for our own lives. This is why rehabs and self development books are one of the fastest growing businesses in America.

According to a post on facebook that I read, this person forgives all of those who used them, abandoned them and forced them to retreat into alcoholism and drug abuse. Really? Grow a pair and stop whining. The only common denominator is 'you'. Stop being mad at someone, stop holding a grudge because in reality you are possibly the cause of the anger. When one attends these rehabs they want to blame anyone but you. Of course, you are the client and you are the one paying their outrageous fees. Why be honest with you and say that you are the problem. That would be the only rational conclusion but they want to take you back to your childhood and blame your parents, then it's your teacher's fault, your friends fault, let's go onto your boss, co-workers and mates.  I am who I am because of you? What a victim. You let everyone influence you and made you a mad man? 

Am I who I am because of the world? You must look into your own life and wonder why life isn't going your way. Why am I not married? Well, one can't date unavailable people, emotional or married status, and wonder why? Why am I not making more money, is it because I didn't show up on time, or do my work? I know because I have these same issues. Was I really in the right when I let my brother take my mother away? No! I didn't fight for her plus I felt guilty that I was spending more then I was making.Why am I always  broke, well, I could get a job that pays more, stop spending money on things that I want but don't need, or buy the things that I don't need and hide them in the back of the closet and bring it out later! Sound familiar? Where are all of my friends? Am I being a good friend? Get Larry's position? It is just common sense. They are bullying me at work? Is it my attitude, work ethics or do I critisize my co-workers too much. Maybe I am not always pleasant. (and trust me, I am not as nice as I used to be). Why am I always have the feeling of abandonment. Are you sure that you were abandonment or not the center of everyone's world like you think you should be. Stop, Look and Listen to You! You know why you are the way you are, deep down you do. Why didn't I finish college, my excuse is that my father didn't make me. Really, it was because I wanted to party and not apply myself. My father was rich, I won't have to work a  day in my life, wrong!!!!! My life turned out exactly the way I made it. It wasn't anyone's fault but mine. Own it.

Except for money I love my life, I would like to have more of a life but I am close to my children and their children. I just need to get out more! And I am! First, off to my cousin's party the night before Thanksgiving!!! I will be taking my strange sense of humor with me, I think that I will curtail it a bit!

These are philosophies from Larry Winget - the king of self improvement.

Until we meet again,

Claudia 

Real Estate Advice

Don't press that Button when looking for Real Estate.

If you are online researching homes on any site, you will be asked to contact the listing agent. Don't do it. Find an agent that you trust, is knowledgeable about the type of home, the area, and financing.

Why, you ask. The Listing Agent has a fiduciary responsible to the seller. They will not be representing you at all.

What difference does that make to you. Let's go step by step.

First you will preview the property. Your reactions will be noted and reported back to the seller. If it is favorable you will loose a bargaining chip. Your argument to me could be that you love the house and don't want to loose the house. You would pay their price.

Question: Would you pay the asking price? Would you pay more than the market price? If the answer is yes, my number is? You are a Realtor's dream. Yes, to the asking price. The listing agent if they did their job well, it should be priced right.

How about more than market price? Well, historically home prices should increase with time. In recent years, we have seen wide swings in the housing market. Homeowners are finding themselves upside down in their home. This isn't a situation that you want to find yourself in, this is the largest purchase that you will ever make. It is your largest investment. Do you really want to find yourself unable to sell.

Okay, you found the house. You are in love with the house. You think about it day and night. Let's put an offer into the seller. The agent represents the seller, they may not realize it but they could influence your offer favoring the seller.

You want someone who will get you the best deal and is it really the listing agent?

Now, it is time to obtain financing. At best this will be labor intensive. Your agent and the loan broker will be in constant contact ( and so will you). Your agent needs to know what they need to do to get this offer to the underwriter. They will know everything about you and your credit needs. If this information goes to the listing agent, it will go right back to the seller. It is their fiduciary responsible to inform all details to seller. You need someone who will help you, not that the seller agent wouldn't want to help you but it is the law. You may have perfect credit (not many of us do with this economy) and don't predict any problems but there are always some sort of issues to be resolved. Involved in this process is the issue of the Appraisal. In my career I have had only one property not appraise for the contract price. It was in the beginning of the real estate scandal, not that I was a part of it, the condo's price was above recent selling prices but it had features that the other condo's didn't and I had to fight and convince the appraiser that these features warrant the contract price and would he reconsider.

Okay, you now, have an accepted offer and financing. It is time to close and the title agent doesn't have all of the papers and contracts. Your agent needs to get on the phone and encourage (notice I said encourage and not press, coerce or demand) the parties to get off their behinds and do their jobs. It could be the responsibility of the financing, the seller, or the buyer to get the necessary papers into the title agency to close.

The property is now yours but the seller can't move or won't move. Adverse possession, don't think that this can't happen and if it does the law will be on your side. This week, a man came home to his empty house only to find that there was a squatter in his home and he had sold most of his appliances and fixtures. The law isn't clear to adverse possession and who wants to go through the courts to get the squatter out. When I do a deal and it is time to close, I insist that the seller be completely out of the property and the buyers do a walk thru before signing any papers. If I was representing the seller, I might not do that, especially if I know that they aren't completely out. The buying agent would press the issue and not let you close until the buyers were completely happy with the condition of the house. The walk thru is important, you want to make sure that the seller is out and left the house in the condition that you viewed the home.

I have done dual agency where you represent the seller and the buyer, but lately do the scandal, dual agency is the thing of the past. Now, you represent on or the either. You really want someone to represent you because you don't purchase homes everyday and it is the largest investment you will ever make.

I don't want you want to think that these actions are immoral. They aren't, they are just working according to the contract. The agent is working for who they represent, let's make sure that you are who they represent.

Like the old adage goes, If it is meant to be, let it be me.

Until we meet again,

Claudia