2009 Hurricane Supply Sales Tax Holiday Thursday, May 28 2009

Living in South Louisiana, we are all aware that Monday, June 1 is the beginning of Hurricane Season.

This weekend May 30-31, 2009 our government is giving us a break on the 4% state sales tax for hurricane preparedness items! (Items must be priced under $1,500.)

The items exempt from the state sales tax are as follows:

1. Flashlights, candles
2. Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, and weather-band radios
3. Tarps or other flexible waterproof sheeting
4. Ground anchor systems or tie-down kits
5. Gas or diesel fuel tanks
6. Various battery sizes (excluding automobile batteries and boat batteries)
7. Cellular phone batteries and chargers
8. Non-electric food storage coolers
9. Portable generators
10. Storm shutter devices – Materials and products manufactured, rated, and marketed specifically for the purposes of preventing window damage from storms (La. R.S. 47:305.58)
11. Carbon monoxide detectors
12. Blue ice products

Food products are not included in the tax exempt weekend.

Let’s all take advantage of this weekend and get prepared.  Hopefully, for a nice quiet hurricane season!

For more information, you can go to the Louisiana Department of Revenue website.

Photo courtesy of: NOAA

Leave a Response »

 

Headed to Philly…Virtually! Tuesday, May 26 2009

Tomorrow is the start of REBar Camp Philly. [in a nut shell, Real Estate Bar Camp is a collection of the brightest Real Estate minds sharing their knowledge about technology, blogging, viral video, etc]  I woke up this morning and jumped on Twitter. All of my friends were chatting about their venture to Philly. I am so envious! I will be following the #Twitterqueens travels to Philly today! @HeyAmarettohas already made it to Delaware where @MayaREGuru has picked her up. @LesleyLambert is on her way now too!  I am following many other #Twitterqueens as they travel too.  There are too many to mention!

I have cleared my schedule for tomorrow morning so that I can watch the live stream on-line provided by @Dakno! (Have a closing in the afternoon… Can’t miss that!)  I also have already set up a special column on Tweet Deck so that I can follow all the excitement tweeted during #REBCPHL!

#Twitterqueens and all my other friends, travel safe and  I will be there with you – online! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me and we will have a drink together tomorrow evening!  How I love the power of technology and social media  

3 Responses »

 

Operation Mend Monday, May 25 2009

Watching the CBS Sunday Morning News, I was drawn to a story about a mission called Operation Mend.  The story was called “Healing The Most Deeply Scarred.”   So many of our servicemen and women are coming home with the most devastating of wounds.  Severe burns that leave grotesque scars and disfigurement.

This program has partnered up with a plastic surgeon at UCLA.  They are providing surgeries to reconstruct the faces of these soldiers.  Surgeries that may not otherwise be available to them.

On this Memorial Day, I would like to ask you to please take a moment to read about Operation Mend.  This is a wonderful program that has been established to help our brave men and women regain their confidence to face the world again. 

Thank you to all of those who are making sacrifices to keep our freedom.

Leave a Response »

 

What Goes Around Comes Around Sunday, May 24 2009

This morning we visited a different church.

As the service started, the Pastor asked the congregation to speak to someone they did not know.  Well, being visitors we were surrounded by well wishers.  There was an elderly gentleman, full of life, that came to speak to us.  Immediately he looked so familiar to me. The name on his badge was very familiar also.  He asked me if he had seen me out at the local dance hall last night.  We laughed and I told him no but somehow I did know him.  After a few moments of trying to figure it out, we got it.  He was an administrator at my high school.  I immediately said, “You used to let me take your car to fill it up with gas!”  He then remembered me as well. 

A little while later, this gentleman got up to sing.  Before he sang he shared with the congregation the story of how he would get me out of class to go fill up his “pride and joy.”  Recounting the times we shared some 20+ years earlier.  Then he said, “Thank you.”  He began to sing his song and tears began to stream down my face.  His singing voice had not changed!  I was taken back to his office where I spent so many days.  (I would always find a way out of class to visit with him!)  My life was topsy turvy the last two years of high school.  Besides the craziness of being a teenager, I had problems at home that really ate at me.  He would always take the time to talk to me, try to guide me, but most of all…trust in me.  It was such an honor for me to get to take his car to the gas station.  We didn’t have nice cars and for someone to trust me to take their “pride and joy” made me feel like I was someone special.  I remebered him singing up and down the halls all the time.  It was such a peaceful sound.

As I sat this morning in church with my husband handing me his handkerchief and smiling from ear to ear, I wanted to stand up and say, “Thank YOU!”  I had always been grateful for the care this gentleman showed me.  Today, I felt like I had impacted his life as well.  All day I have been overjoyed. 

I am at a time in my life again that I need some direction.  I have asked God repeatedly lately to show me my purpose, I feel like sometimes I have lost sight.  This gentleman walking into my life some 20+ years later is definitely a sign.  God is working on me, just like I have asked.  Today, I am focused and grateful.

3 Responses »

 

Never Forget Saturday, May 23 2009

I would like to thank all the brave men and women for the sacrifices they have made for our freedom.

Hoping you all have a safe and happy Memorial Day.

Leave a Response »

 

Exercising my Parental Right Friday, May 22 2009

As some of you know, my oldest daughter broke her foot three weeks ago.  During our first visit with the Orthopedist, the plan of action was laid out like this…We visit every week for x-rays, on week three they will take off the cast for a clean x-ray.  Depending on how the fracture is healing, they may put her in a boot.

Well, today was the third week visit.  The x-rays were taken and the intern reviewed them.  To my daughter’s horror, he suggested that a new cast be put back on.  The Doctor was called in and felt the same way.  After discussing the pro’s and con’s he turned to me and said that I would be the one to make the decision.  By the way, one of the con’s was that  if the bone moved we would have to go in and have it pinned in place!

Guess what decision I made.  As the Doctor listened to the banter between my daughter and I, watched the tears stream down her face, I finally said, “I am exercising my parental right and this is my final decision.” I don’t often use the parent card but today I felt that it was a must. 

The Orthopedist did promise her that when we came back in two more weeks that she would get to have a boot.  She is not having a good first day of summer.  When she decides to speak to me again, I hope that I can get her to understand that I do understand at age 16 this is disastrous to her, but at age 40, two more weeks is not the end of the world.

Again, I came home and told my husband that I didn’t sign up for all of this. Again, he told me that I did…I just failed to read the fine print!  Thank goodness we have him to keep us grounded!

2 Responses »

 

Ole Homestead Subdivision in Prairieville, La Thursday, May 21 2009

• Large lots
• Community Play Area & Pool
• Active Homeowners Association ~ $150.00 yearly dues
• Galvez Primary, Galvez Middle & St. Amant High School Districts
• Located off of LA Hwy 933. One mile down from Galvez Middle School

Leave a Response »

 

Shoes Can Boomerang! Wednesday, May 20 2009

Last night at dinner my oldest daughter announced, “Hey mom, we talked about you in class today.”  Hesitantly, I asked, “Would you care to share?” Oh boy…were we in for some fun!

Seems that they were talking about spanking children.  How this came up, I have no clue.  In any case, my child pipes up to the class, “My mom never spanked me, but she can throw a mean shoe!”  Of course this got the attention of everyone in there!  She proceeded to tell of a time that I lost my temper with her.  She was in middle school, I had had a really bad day and she popped off at me.  We were in the car and when we got home, I proceeded to throw my shoes at her.  Let me stop here.  Picture this, I am running around the backyard throwing shoes at my pre-teen.  She is running from me screaming.  My youngest daughter who wasn’t even in school yet is sitting on the picnic table laughing hysterically! One of those not winning mother of the year moments!  All of you mothers (and fathers) know these moments!  They happen to the best of us!  The whole ordeal ended in both of us in tears with my husband separating us from each other.  To this day, I feel bad about the way I reacted.

As she told the story, guilt overwhelmed me.  My family laughed, partly because of the way she recounted the story.  As she told us about the reactions from her classmates and teacher she told us that she said this, “By the way, if you were curious, Shoes can Boomerang!”  At this point, we all fell into fits of laughter.  My husband turned to me and said, “I think you just found tomorrow’s blog post!” 

I thought about this the rest of the evening.  As much guilt as I have felt about my reaction that day, I feel better today.  My daughter saw that I was real.  Even moms have bad days. I didn’t scar her.  She sees this as something funny to share with her friends!

Do you have a funny story of your own?  I would love for you to share it with me!

3 Responses »

 

What is a Home Warranty? Tuesday, May 19 2009

A home warranty is a service contract that covers the things that may need replacement/repair in your home’s systems/appliances.  These things will typcailly fall under the categories of mechanical, electrical or plumbing. 

A home warranty is a negotiation item when you are writing your purchase agreement.  Many homeowners offer a warranty as an enticement to purchase their home. Home warranties do range in cost.  There are basic warranties and there are warranties that offer extra coverages for things like removal of defective equipment, permits, etc.  This is very helpful to have if you have to have some A/C work done. 

How do they work?  If you have an electrical, mechanical, plumbing issue with one of your home’s systems, you will give the warranty company a call.  They will give you the name and number of an approved contractor.  Contact that contractor and they will come out to assess the problem.  You will pay the service fee that is associated with the warranty you have in place.

Do I recommend a home warranty?  YES!  When we bought our home, it was only 3 years old.  We asked the seller to provide a home warranty in which they did.  Two days after moving in, my A/C went out.  This is in June in South Louisiana.  It was HOT!  I called the warranty company, they put me in contact with an approved contractor.  The A/C guy came out and fixed the problem.  I paid him my service fee and we all slept in cool air.  Have you priced an A/C guy lately?  You can’t get a guy to come  out and ring your doorbell for the price of the service fee! 

As an agent in Ascension Parish, I get cards from our warranty company whenever they do work on a home that I have placed a warranty on.  On my desk right now, I see that they have saved homeowners, $733.80, $155.60, $330.65.  These are just the recent repairs that have been made.

Would you like to know more about a Home Warranty?  American Home Shield, the founder of the home warranty,  is the warranty we use here at C. J. Brown/Latter & Blum.  Feel free to take a look at their website.

Leave a Response »

 

Towne Center Living Monday, May 18 2009

SOLD!

PRICE REDUCTION! $165,000

Cute Cottage home located just minutes from Towne Center.
3 bedroom 1 bath with 1135 sq ft living area.

• New paint inside and out
• New range, hood, sink & fixtures in kitchen
• New fixtures, commode and tub surround in bathroom
• New carpeting in two bedrooms and hall
• New architectural shingle roof
• Separate 18×20 utility/workshop not included in sq footage 

Leave a Response »