Owner: Rich's Blog URL:http://activerain.com/blogs/richd Join Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:37:54 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: I live in Atlanta which I consider to be a bastion of culture and enterprise. It is my hope that through this blog you will come to know me as both a person and a loan officer. I am a member of The Thornton Team at Home America Mortgage. With over 25 year Site statistics:Click here
Recipes! Cooking Articles! Coupons! 2008-04-01 17:39:42 With the way we work (constantly) in the real estate industry we don't always take the time to think about what we are putting into our bodies (i.e. fast food, take out, that mystery stuff in the Tupperware). I for one really enjoy cooking! I am a vegetarian, so most importantly I like to know there is no meat nor meat product in what I am eating and when I cook I am assured of this. I like using vegetables that I know are fresh and well washed (to remove any residual pesticides, insecticides, or herbicides). Combine these with the cost savings from cooking at home, especially if you take advantage of free grocery coupons when you grocery shop, and you have a trifecta. I have tried the recipes cards kept neatly organized in recipe boxes. I have tried cookbooks (in addition to the Read more:Articles
, Coupons
Atlanta's FREE Attractions! Part 3! 2008-04-01 16:23:57 As the title says, this is Part 3, in my series on Atlanta
's FREE attractions! If you missed either Part 1 or Part 2 you can check them out by clicking on the links below:Atlanta's FREE Attractions
! Part 1! Highlights - MODA (Museum of Design Atlanta), Underground Atlanta, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site! Atlanta's FREE Attractions! Part 2! Highlights - Woodruff Park, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Georgia Governor's Mansion!I hope you will find something that peaks your interest! Remember, Atlanta also has some wonderful attractions that charge admission (i.e. Stone Mountain Park or Atlanta Braves Baseball Game) and are also worth checking out! Now on with the freebies. First up is the High Museum of Art! Some of you might be wondering how t
Atlanta's 2008 Walk For Autism Saturday, April 12, 2008 2008-03-30 14:00:15 It seems that their are charity walks for everything nowadays. This is not to diminish the impact of thousands of people walking en masse through normally busy city streets. I remember as a child participating in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Walk A Thon. The excitement of getting pledges from neighbors and your parents' friends really helped to lend to my enthusiasm for the event. Today cities and towns across the US, and worldwide, experience these charity events with regularity. Atlanta
on Saturday
, April
12, 2008 will be the site of the Walk For Autism
sponsored by Autism Speaks and The Marcus Institute.What Is Autism? And Why Should You Care?Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder, impairs the ability of those afflicted from communicating and relating to other
Why I Joined PPP? 2008-03-29 21:37:50 I saw something on television a week or so ago that was highlighting the bolgoshpere. More specifically, the program was highlighting some well known bloggers such as Perez Hilton and Ariana Huffington. Now understand that I realize I am nowhere near as well known nor as savvy when it comes to the blogosphere (yet). What did interest me was that these two and several other less well known bloggers were actually earning a respectable income from their blogs. You mean all this time I was doing this for free! Thinking about it, I do realize that I was making an income in terms of increased business from relationships forged in the Rain. This referral business is not what I am referring to however. What I am referring to is generating income as a direct result of what I am doing right now...bl
Atlanta's FREE Attractions! Part 2! 2008-03-25 20:02:18 In Part 1 of Atlanta
's FREE Attractions
, I highlighted MODA (Museum of Design Atlanta), Underground Atlanta, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site! All three of these are worth an afternoon's visit. While Atlanta has numerous attractions that charge some amount of admission, the goal of this post is to highlight some of the FREE things to see in this great city. I hope you enjoy three more that I have highlighted below! Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta is six acres of solace for those seeking a retreat, even if only for a lunch hour, from the hectic pace of the city! If you are taking a relaxing lunch break or having a working lunch, Woodruff Park with its FREE Wi-Fi, thanks to atlanta city pass, might be the place for you! Or maybe you are simply wanting to admire the i
March Baseball Talk 101 Contest Results! 2008-03-25 10:53:47 First let me say that this post was supposed to be out yesterday and I apologize that I needed the extra day to get it done. With that said, let me say that we definitely had some great entries into this month's Baseball Talk 101 contest. There was however a noticeable drop in the number of entries that we received for this contest. It is my sincere hope that all of you have seen an increase in your business, I know that things are definitely picking up in our market! This is definitely a busy time of year for our industry and our personal lives. I hope the spring cleaning, the spring sports, the spring planting, and the spring sales are all moving right along. I know to some of you it seems that the deep freeze of winter will never end, but I have news! Today, March
25th, 2008, is OPENING Read more:Contest
Atlanta's FREE Attractions! Part 1! 2008-03-24 13:49:09 With a city the size of metro-Atlanta
there are numerous diversions that don't cost a dime! In addition to Atlanta's Beautiful and user friendly Piedmont Park, that I highlighted in the post below, here are a few other FREE Atlanta highlights!Back To Nature : An Urban Tale, Atlanta's Piedmont Park This should be of great interest to all you HGTV fans and budding or accomplished designers. This one of a kind (in the Southeast) museum features free, multifaceted exhibits on everything from architecture to fashion. They have some wonderful exhibits scheduled for 2008 including the two which are running right now entitled The Furniture of Eero Saarinen: Designs for Everyday Living and On You. For both local and international innovation in design, check out this free gem located in the heart o Read more:Attractions
Habitat For Humanity International : Americus, Georgia 2008-03-17 15:26:29 I live in metro Atlanta, home to the the the and the In addition to these wonderful sports teams Atlanta also offers some wonderful theaters, beautiful public parks (many of which offer baseball and softball opportunities), the Georgia
Aquarium and numerous Universities and Colleges (including many of the nation's top Historically Black Colleges and Universities). There are, of course, numerous other things to see and do in metro Atlanta. Today I wanted to highlight a top notch community service charity that is headquartered about 2.75 hours drive south of the city of Atlanta in Americus, Georgia. The organization is Habitat For Humanity International
was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller as an ecumenical Christian housing ministry after having spent three years doing simi
Atlanta's Local Baseball And Softball Opportunities 2008-03-13 11:23:36 One of the many great things about the metro Atlanta
area is the access to a top notch, world class baseball organization the For those of us who are not quite Major League Baseball caliber, the metro Atlanta area offers many local baseball and softball outlets for all skill levels. With this blog, I am going to highlight some (not all) of these local opportunities. You will be able to click on images and hyperlinks to access more information. First up would be the City of Atlanta's Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs whose general page can be accessed by clicking this image We are fortunate to have a Department of Recreation within the larger Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs. This specialized department is charged with enhancing the life of residents t Read more:Local
, Softball
, Opportunities
Atlanta Dogwood Festival 2008-03-11 13:48:48 Atlanta
Dogwood Festival
April 4, 5, & 6, 2008This is the 72nd year that this free Atlanta festival will be held! The name for the festival is derived from the beautiful Dogwood Trees that grace the undercanopy (they can grow in full sun) of much of the southeastern United States. Though there are a multitude of different dogwoods (HERE is a Wikipedia link which lists many varieties), most southerners and those who have taken note of these beautiful trees, are familiar with the Flowering or Eastern Dogwood! The widespread planting of these beautiful trees in and around the city of Atlanta, at the urging of Rich's Department Store founder, Walter Rich, in 1936 was an attempt to ease the blues caused by the Great Depression and the impetus for the festival's name.Through the years the Atla
March Baseball Talk 101 Contest 2008-03-05 13:34:56 Baseball and softball are integral parts of the American landscape. In almost every community in the United States you can find players and spectators enjoying this great American pastime. If you are fortunate enough to have a major league or minor league team in your town its financial impact can be felt and measured! Not only do cities benefit from the associated revenue generated from sports teams, the towns also benefit on a cultural level. With that said I would like to announce the March
Baseball Talk 101 Contest
! This month's contest is going to highlight your local community and how it benefits from local baseball or softball! This is an opportunity to show your local expertise! Whether you have a Major League Baseball franchise or a Minor League Baseball franchise or an Amateur S
Recap : Top Baseball Talk 101 Blogs For February 2008-03-03 13:49:00 Where to begin? Definitely not in the dirt, unless you are sliding into home trying to beat out the throw to the plate! There were a lot of great blogs this month in the Baseball Talk 101 Group. If I did not comment on your blog please forgive me as I read most but commented on too few. We had some wonderful entries to the February
Baseball Talk 101 Contest. There were three top winners and they were all ladies. Click HERE to read the blog announcing the winners! If you want to read the winning entries just click on the hyper-links below:Baseball Is Like Real Estate - February Contest by Della LambertBaseball And Real Estate: There's No "I" In Team!!! by Lindsay PendletonBaseball Talk 101 Contest Entry...Baseball And Real Estate...Two very Similar Games by Brande BradfordThere was a blog t Read more:Recap
, Blogs
The Spiderwick Chronicles - A Real Fantasy Winner! 2008-03-02 20:52:45 Today I had the pleasure of seeing this movie! Now keep in mind that this picture is rated PG and with good reason. There is some rather frightening creatures and events, including swordfighting, that may be too intense for children under say 8 years old. Now with the warning out of the way, this is an awesome movie! It transports me back to my childhood and the fantastical realms inhabited by ogres, trolls, faieries, a scary David Bowie (replaced in this movie by Nick Nolte), and great adventure! This is for the kid in all of us, and to be shared with those who actually are kids. The effects are magnificent. The story is superb; it is based on books by Tony DiTerlizzi. This magnificent writer of young adult fantasy fiction adheres to the philosophy Never Abandon Imagination! How can some
Stressed Out! Chill Out! Take A Hike! Hot Tea Therapy! 2008-03-01 23:59:21 With all the changes that have occurred within our industry over the past year or so, it should be rememberedthat stress is a major side effect. Stress comes in two forms. Acute stress is short term and is the body's reaction to any situation. Chronic stress is typically long term and can be caused by irritating life events (i.e. bombardment of negative media coverage of housing market, projections that small banks may fail, etc), or chronic disease. I primarily want to focus on non-disease related chronic stress and natural ways to try to alleviate chronic stresses in our lives. *Reading this could cause stress (but will hopefully equip you with tools to counter stress)* and are excellent sources of information on a variety of health issues including stress. You can click on the WebMD an Read more:Chill
, Therapy
Let's Visit Zoo Atlanta! 2008-02-25 22:53:27 As the weather begins to warm from a cool, though not really cold winter...except for those two snowstorms in one week's time Yep, this is the second snowstorm that hit Atlanta
on January 19th and lasted about a day. This is my side yard and that is a magnolia tree with snow on it on the lefthand side of the photo. While we all enjoyed the light dusting of snow, the possibility of a recurrence is not likely,and people are emerging en masse to begin enjoying the outdoors. Remember though, just because it is warming up doesn't mean a trip to the Georgia Aquarium or taking in a show at one of Atlanta's many theaters should be forgotten. Both of these still make for a fun afternoon or evening.One of the many things to do and many things to see in our magnificent city as the weather warms and Read more:Zoo
February Baseball Talk 101 Contest Results 2008-02-18 13:36:50 We had a good turnout for the Baseball Talk 101 FebruaryContest
. I enjoyed reading all of this month's entries. The variety of takes on the relationship between Baseball and the Real Estate industry was refreshing. This variety speaks directly to the different approaches people take in their professional dealings. I must also point out that the results of this month's contest also demonstrates that the inherent positive qualities of the sport cross archaic gender boundaries. I hope you all find some positive inspiration in this month's entries that can translate directly to your professional life.And now for the results:Our first place winner is Della Lambert with her post Baseball is Like Real Estate -February contest Our second place winner is Lindsay Pendleton with her post Baseball a
Atlanta's Historically Black Colleges and Universities 2008-02-16 13:21:47 Education is a key component in any modern, progressive city's quest for excellence and progress. The city of Atlanta
embraces educational diversity. As such there are numerous universities and colleges of higher learning located in the metro Atlanta area. In this post I would like to highlight those historically black colleges and universities that call metro Atlanta home. Please note that all the images in this post are clickable and will take you to the respective homepage that symbol represents. The first five five colleges and universities profiled below are part of the Atlanta University Center Consortium. The consortium structure allows for students to cross-register at the other institutions in order to attain a broader collegiate experience. On June 24, 1988 Clark Atlanta Univers Read more:Black
, Universities
Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium 2008-02-14 14:02:38 In addition to other wonderful things to see and do in Atlanta
, Atlanta's Vibrant Theater Scene, Back To Nature : Atlanta's Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta's Historic Ansley Inn Bed and Breakfast, and Back To Nature : An Urban Tale, Atlanta's Piedmont Park, Atlanta is home to the 8 million gallon GeorgiaAquarium
pictured at left (photo is clickable and will take you to the Georgia Aquarium's homepage)! If you are visiting our beautiful city, or thinking about relocating here, I would recommend checking out this fun and educational attraction. The Georgia Aquarium is conveniently located in downtown Atlanta directly across from Centennial Olympic Park. There is a 1,600 space covered parking garage attached to the Georgia Aquarium. There is also available parking for motor homes and tour buses
Season Long Contest - Your Winning Picks! 2008-02-12 15:02:25 Final approval is in! I am very happy and excited to announce a "Season
Long Contest
" in Baseball Talk 101. With us all geared up for a great 2008 in real estate, keep in mind that baseball's kickoff is fast approaching. Pitchers and catchers report tomorrow and away we go! Now we all have our favorite teams that we have followed since childhood. Or maybe you just recently became interested in baseball (where have you been?) There is a saying in fantasy sports that loyalty to a team can be fatal. Either way, does your team have what it takes to go all the way to October? Are you that confident in your favorite? Would you prefer to bypass your favorite because "they are rebuilding" or "they are young"? Whatever the case might be, your picks, your choice! For those of you that may be new to Read more:Winning
*VOTE* Are You Registered? 2008-02-11 10:20:54 I want to preface this post by acknowledging that this idea is being co-opted from a blog I read today by Christina Williams entitled *VOTE* Cumberland County! In this post, Christina points out just how close past elections have been and the need, and patriotic duty, for all eligible US voters to exercise that privilege. I am not going to regal you with heart-wrenching stories about the struggles past generations endured to secure this right. Nor am I going to tell you about all the countries around the world where people are still sacrificing their lives to secure this privilege. We have all heard these stories; we may even know someone who fought for this right (or in the case of many other countries, is still fighting for this right). Here are some interesting tidbits of information o Read more:Registered
Are You Sick? You're Part Of The Problem! 2008-02-06 20:49:50 I have been contemplating this post for several days now. It is the unintended consequence of two posts. The first post is by Adam Waldman entitled We Are INDEPENDENT Contractors! I would urge you to check out this blog and the comments. While it does not directly pertain to healthcare, it does illuminate our employment classification and what that means! The second and more directly related post is by Duane Marlink entitled 37,000,000 uninsured Americans and I would urge you to also check out this blog and the comments as this is what directly prompted this blog. This is quite the volatile issue and it does directly relate to the real estate industry. I think there is a real difference between socialized medicine and affordable access to healthcare regardless of pre-existing conditions Read more:Problem
February Baseball Talk 101 Contest 2008-02-04 16:16:54 I hope everyone enjoyed Superbowl Sunday. Whether "your" team made it or not, won or not...it was a good game with some excellent football! That said, the 2007 Football season is history and now all eyes turn towards both March Madness and baseball's upcoming Spring Training. I would encourage everyone to check out the new and veteran talent that can be seen at Spring Training in both Florida and Arizona. With the approach of Spring Training and the hope to make the cut for the new players, and maintain their presence for the veterans, I got to thinking about all that has been happening with the real estate industry and the housing market over the past ten months or so. There is a famous quote that is full of optimism that I think is appropriate: Hope springs eternal in the human breast;Ma Read more:Contest
, February
Recap : Top Baseball Talk 101 Blogs For January 2008-02-01 20:25:24 Before I get going on this, I must issue a disclaimer on this blog. Yes the top Baseball talk 101 blogs for the month are highly subjective! I am choosing them, in no particular order, that move me or inspire me or highlight a specific area that may generally be overlooked. That said, let's "play ball"The first (and easies choice) is Debbie Malone's blog entitled Take Me Out To The Ballgame! I say that she is the easy choice for a number of reasons. She (and her aforementioned blog) is the inspirationfor the first contest in Baseball Talk 101. Her blog had all the essential elements of a good blog. There were personal memories, places remembered, a sense of pride, and encouragement for us all to enjoy and promote what we have available to us. And of course she tied everything around th Read more:Recap
, Blogs
, January
Hidden Gem in the Rain ; Meet The Inspector 2008-01-30 23:06:29 As I understand it, this very gracious idea by Melissa Grantis meant to highlight those bloggers with whom we have become acquainted through their posts. The Hidden
Gems In The Rain...Are You Up For A Challeng ? is meant as a vehicle to bring recognition to those who blog, and blog, and blog some more and don't seem to get proportional comments. I think this is a great idea because it differs from the Meme's in that you are writing about others you have come to know and appreciate through their posts in the Rain rather than writing about yourself! While I am all for self promotion I do believe in paying it forward! Without any further adieu, I would like you all to say hello (and make comments) to Frank Schulte-Ladbeck! I just happened across his blogs&nbs Read more:Inspector
History Is Coming : So, You Have Rotel Dip? 2008-01-29 17:00:44 This Sunday, as most all Americans know, is Superbowl Sunday!!! Now I know that you may not be a football fan and that is ok in some parts of America. I know that some of you will be watching for the great musical performances that are lined up for this year's festivities. While it is true Paula Abdul will be featured in the pregame festivities, the American Idol judge will not be live. (Insert Joke Here) Instead her new video will be shown! I know, and I feel the same way, we love Paula on live TV, trainwrecks are fun to watch from afar. The actual Live pregame entertainment will be Grammy-Award winning singer Alicia Keys So for those of you not interested in what those commentators, who are just hilarious and knowledgeable ask any of them, have to say, check out Alicia Keys.There will Read more:History
Georgia's Chateau Elan Winery & Resort 2008-04-04 22:13:42 Just a short drive, 45 miles from downtown Atlanta, nestled in the north Georgia
foothills, there is a fantastic place called Chateau
Elan Winery
& Resort
. This beautiful resort sits on 3,500 acres of the most beautiful land in Georgia. The Inn itself resembles the beautiful chateaus one sees in the French countryside. All the details were captured in the authentic architecture of the 275 room inn. There is also an 1,832 square foot presidential suite; though I never got to see it! The beautiful resort features eight restaurants to choose from with menu options ranging from All-American to French cuisine. The 1,600 square foot Culinary Studio even offers cooking classes; you don't even have to be a guest at the Inn to take these classes! In addition to the fine and casual dinning options a
College Is Coming...How Do You Pay For It? 2008-04-04 18:37:29 The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. -Aristotle I would venture a guess that Aristotle was not referring to the expense incurred by both parent and student in financing a good college education. With the skyrocketing cost of college education and the elimination of some state sponsored student loan options, the expense of a college education is daunting. It is ironic that the college education, a prerequisite to landing a high paying job, will take much of that income to eliminate the debt caused by it. The Bill Gates foundation started the Gates Millennium Scholars program in 1998 to help minority students overcome the financial barriers to higher education. This outstanding program seeks to award scholarships to outstanding minority students in all discipline Read more:College
Economizing...How Much Is Your ISP? 2008-04-04 16:53:03 Because most of us are either independent contractors or heavily invested in the overhead expenditures, the real need to run our business efficiently and economically is ever present. With this in mind, a realistic review of our operating budget should be a regular thing. Now don't get me wrong, none of us have the time and energy to do this every month or even every other month. This realistically needs to be done twice a year or at least once a year. Figuring out how much you spend on advertising, cell phone, internet service, and gas among other things should definitely be a part of how you operate you business. All of these expenses can add up quick and ultimately lower your bottom dollar. I have been seeing so much on internet service providers that this is the area I have be
Atlanta's FREE Attractions! Part 4! 2008-04-04 16:06:23 It has been very enjoyable for me, the blogger, to be able to highlight for you, the reader, some of Atlanta
's wonderful FREE attractions! I am a big fan of our wonderful city and truly view it as a beacon of the progressive south. In this the final installment of this series, I am going to start a little north of the city where the pivotal Civil War battle for Atlanta began, then move to the final resting place in the city proper of many of the diverse residents who have loved this city, and ending this blog, and this series, with a modern celebration highlighting the art, music, and culture that exemplify Atlanta, while hinting at its future! If you have read my previous posts in this series, you already know that I have ended each of those with a relevant quote and video. In this fi Read more:Attractions
Tired of Hotels...Need Space...Need to Save Money... 2008-04-03 19:03:17 One of the pitfalls of traveling or the need for temporary housing during relocation, especially for extended periods of time, is the lack of healthy, nutritional meals and snacks. Another thing we tend to neglect when staying somewhere for a long period of time is exercise. We may not want to neglect this, but sometimes fitness centers are either not available or inadequate. Temporary housing on the executive level helps to solve both of these issues with fully equipped kitchens that allow you to decide how you want to eat. You also have access to fitness facilities, saunas, and pools to help you keep in shape! If relocating to a particular neighborhood, where you are working, or you child will be going to school, and you are not able to take immediate possession of your new home (o Read more:Hotels
, Space
, Money
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