Julia the All-Star

Julia (our oldest daughter) made her first basket tonight at her FIRST ever basketball game. Actually, she made two!

She truly embodies Wayne Gretzky's famous quote, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take". Well, in this case the ones she didn't take weren't the only ones she missed. ;) She shot a blistering 7% (no, not a typo) she really only shot about 7% from the field, ;) but she was the team leader on the floor and I'm very proud of her.

She was incredible, she is the defination of a true leader. On several occasions she shoved...and I mean "shoved" her teammates into position (not meanly), but hard enough to let them know they were not in the right spot defensively.

Julia is an 18 year old stuffed into a 7 year old body. She's always been mature for her age, and she excels at just about everything she does. She's a dancer, a reader, tennis player (or was until I pushed her a little to hard), a Spanish speaker - she's in the dual language program at school, a great speller, fashion expert (Lisa now asks Julia if things go together) ;) and now a basketball player.

She's a real life "King Midas" - every thing she does turns to gold. She meshes well with both younger and older people. Fits in everywhere and is generally the center of attention.

Most recently, she' learned to drag every state into it's proper place on a map of the United States (and I'm not talking about a jigsaw puzzle) - she can actually drag the name of each state into the correct place without an outline and she completed it in 320 seconds. Give it a try yourself, it's much harder than it sounds - Geography Games Pick Level 6 under the States column to see for yourself how challenging it really is. We've got even more fun and challenging games that you can play at www.BryanCollegeStationInfo.com in the Entertainment Forum.

Now she's even got her own blog - Julia Smith Check it out and be sure to leave a comment!

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# 6 Aggies vs. Texas Tech

A&M vs. TT - Wednesday 1/24/07 - 7:00 PM (CST even though as far away as Lubbock is, it seems like Tech should be in a different time zone) at United Spirit Center. No TV :(

The Aggies are hot, moving up to number 6 in the polls and tying their highest men's basketball ranking ever. Tonight is a true test. A road game in Lubbock vs the 14-5 Red Raiders.

All right, I'm not a Tech fan by any means. Although my sister actually went to Tech in the early 90's, I don't know if I've seen a less classy fan base anywhere. Texas Tech fans make Oakland Raider fans look like Cub Scouts.

From their high flying tortillias to their dorms which actually have "Drug Free" floors Seriously, if they have "drug free" floors what does that make the other floors?

You may remember in the 90's when Tech fans threw red punch all over our football team as they were coming onto the field. Or when Tech fans got into an actual fight with the Aggie basketball team after a game in Lubbock in the early 90's.

On campus, they even have a statue of Will Rogers riding a horse in which the rear of the horse intentionally faces Aggieland.

One thing that I truely do love about Tech is that the Masked Rider looks exactly like the Hamburglar from Micky D's.

I went to a football game at Jones Staduim in 1994. My brother, myself and a couple of friends and my had one of the best times just laughing at their outrageous traditions and the Tech band. The game started with the Lone Ranger making a guest appearance (apparently that's their mascot) and Tech fans tossing tortillas around like frisbees.

Next was the truely fun part, I don't know if you've ever seen "The Puffy Shirt" episode of Seinfeld, but we had a field day heckeling the fans around us with this one. It had to just have been release a week or two before because it was fresh on our minds. The Texas Tech band marched out onto the field to our "Avast, Ye Matey!" and "Arrrrr!" yells.

If you haven't seen "The Puffy Shirt" episode, it's a must see! You'll think about the Tech band the next time you see it.

To borrow a line from one of the Dixie Girls, "I'm embarassed they're from Texas".

Gig'em!

Game Predicitions? Make yours here...
http://www.bryancollegestationinfo.com/showthread.php?p=333#post333

View all B/CS Homes for sale at www.AndrewSmithTeam.com

ZEBRA Meat!

What the heck is ZEBRA meat? "Zebra Meat" as defined by Webster's as anything that a parent (OK, maybe...myself) attempts to place a "curiousity label" on to an "unwelcomed food" item to an unknowing individual (let's just say for illustrative purposes only ;) a five-year old child...OK...cough...my child, Alyssa...cough,cough...).

I don't exactly remember all the details, but I do remember, it was a dark and stormy night, all right maybe not stormy, and yeah, it was in the summer, so maybe it wasn't even dark, but this I do remember. We grilled chicken on the grill (fajita chicken) and Alyssa (our second child (out of four)...stop laughing right there! YES, We HAVE a TV in the Bedroom!!) :)

Anyway, Alyssa decided that the food I worked hard to prepare (OK, maybe I bought it at HEB) wasn't worth eating. Alyssa, who actually has a "Sixth-Sense" and can actually TASTE food based on the way it LOOKS, decided right then and there that she was not going to eat the chicken that I had prepared because of the charcoal lines/stripes that the grill produced.



Alyssa also has a 'Seventh-Sense" that recognizes "rhetorical questions" better than anyone else in the world (including myself). Honestly, I'll ask her a legitimate question and if she doesn't feel like answering it (than gosh-darnit it's a rhetorical question). It's quite frustrating at times! "Alyssa, did you spill this milk on the ground?' She just walks away... and mumbles...never really answering my question. :(

I'll never forget it, it was at that moment that it hit me. It was like a great flash of brillance, like you'd see in the movies. I was just about to pack up her things and send her on her way (yeah, I know she's only five) but I was tired of it. All she wants to eat is chicken nuggets and candy. Anyway, a stroke of genius hit me like a ton of bricks.

However, you need to know this first...Alyssa is known as the "Animal Angel" in our family. My parents dubbed her that after she spent a couple of days with them (God bless them!) ;) She is fascinated with animals, watches Zaboomafoo (a kids' "Wild Kingdom" show) and tries to pet and smother every living creature.

Back to my epiphany...I fooled her and although I probably shouldn't be proud of this moment (secretly, I am - OK maybe not secretly, since I'm sharing it with over "8 billion internet friends") but Alyssa can't read, and what she can't read, well, it will only make her stronger - isn't that how the saying goes? She was complaining about the stripes on the chicken and how she wasn't going to eat it, when I dug down deep (into her biggest weakness) and said "You're not going to have any of this ZEBRA meat?" acting quite astonished and convincing.

She bit! She wanted to try the zebra meat. WOO HOO! I finally hooked the big one. You see Alyssa is not your typical child. Alyssa is not scared of punishment, and she is not motivated by rewards (treats). Disciplining her has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I still claim that she's the only child I can't beat (no, not "beat" literally). What I mean is that I've figured the boy (Hunter) out and Julia (our oldest) out, but I've never been able to figure out Alyssa and how to motivate (or better yet, manipulate her).

Alyssa, is our "special child". You see, Alyssa has "Selective Amnesia". Alyssa can't ever remember doing anything wrong...EVER! Yeah, she can recall the name of the cat she pet back in 2002, but she can't remember who knocked the lamp over - 20 minutes ago! She's got "Bill Clinton disease" and just "can't recall" her mistakes.

She's also very in-tune with her rights. As a five-year old, she knows more about the fifth-amendment than both Lisa and I do together.

Back to my story, it was a true stroke of genius on my part, (and since I don't have them too often - I'm having to brag about it here), using her ONE weakness (animals) against her. Her curiousity of knowing what a zebra tastes like (for those of you that don't know, it tastes a whole lot like marinated chicken fajita meat). ;)

Hope you enjoyed it! - Leave a comment & tell a friend!!

Get a FREE, Quick, Over-the-Net Market Analysis of Your Home - by simply going to www.AndrewSmithTeam.com and fill out the brief form and I'll email you a free, no obligation, market analysis of what you're home might sell for! Find out Today!

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Gig'em Ags! BTH outta OSU!

I Don't Want to Take it Anymore!

OK! So, I'm flipping through the 456 stations on DirecTV hoping to find something interesting - especially since there is no Rockets game tonight...

Instead, I find some chump trying to sell me the latest, greatest, newest piece of athletic equipment that "I can fit in the corner of any room in my home", obviously, so when I QUIT using it after the initial two-week period (one week past the initial money back guarantee trial period) then I'll have a place to store it.

Now, if that wasn't tempting enough...they also offer a no-money-down payment plan, where you can finance the entire $35,000 slightly-modified treadmill machine, over the next 240 years for payments of only $39.99.

It reminds me of the first time I went to a Rockets game without my parents. A group of four guys (including myself) decided to go to a Rockets game at the Summit in 1985-86. I was naive. I just didn't realize a carton of (pre-popped) popcorn cost $12.50 (even back then)! I was just excited to be there.

I remember standing in the concession line. For some reason the items I was planning on purchasing were hidden from the view of the checkout lady. She asked me what I was buying, I promptly told her "a popcorn and coke" - she quickly replied that my total was $17.50. I held up my 3 1/2 oz. Coke (mostly filled with ice anyway) to display the size (of both my 12 kernel popcorn and 3 1/2 oz. drink) and said "No, this size popcorn" thinking that maybe she had misheard me and thought I had said "Popcorn & Cokes for the whole frickin' Arena is on me tonight". She quickly replied, "That'll be...$17.50."

Ouch! I was speachless! Actually, I wasn't...although, I was only 15 at the time, being the smart-alec I was, I quickly asked her if I "could put that on my Visa card?" Un-amused, she said "No!" I then asked her if I could take out a second mortgage on my house and bring my payment by later. Again, she was un-amused. I finally paid her the $11,000 cash that was due for the popcorn and coke that I had ordered.

In addition to being a "Rockets Freak", I'm also a "Parrothead". What is a "Parrothead?" A "Parrothead" is defined as anyone that enjoys Jimmy Buffett music.

A few (OK...maybe many) years ago, Jimmy Buffett released an album called "Fruitcakes". In the title track, Jimmy sings (or shouts) "Take for example when you go to the movies these days, you know. They try to sell you this jumbo drink...8-extra ounces of watered-down Cherry Coke for an extra 25 cents. I don't want it. I don't want that much organization in my life. I don't want other people thinking for me. I want my Junior Mints! Where did the Junior Mints go in the movies? I don't want a 12-pound Nestle's Crunch for $25.00. I want Junior Mints! We need more fruitcakes in this world and less bakers! We need people that care! I'm mad as hell and I don't want to take it anymore!"

I really identify with this song. I'm so sick and tired of every one trying to tap me for another 30-50 bucks each and every month!

In my business, technology is crucial. Not having a state-of-the-art website, can be the difference between whether or not you make it in this business. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 75% of all people that bought a home last year did at least some sort of their search via the internet.

It's crucial that I have a strong presence on the internet. It's also important that I advertise in the local newspaper, on TV, the radio, on the shopping carts at the local grocery store and in the bathroom at my Kindergartner's school...Seriously, where does it end?

I love marketing! It's a passion of mine. It's fun, exciting, and I enjoy the challenge of finding better ways to "out-do" my competition but recently I've been struggling with everyone, everwhere...(borrrowing a line from Alanis Moresette) trying to stick a "hand in my pocket".

Everything I do there is someone, somewhere with a better product, service or idea that they want to charge me $25, $30 or $50 a month to "make my life easier". Is it worth it? In some cases yes, but in most "no."

I don't know who first invented the "upsell", but in my opinion they are a genius. I don't have many opportunities in my business to ask "would you like a condo with your house?" but seriously, whoever first came up with the idea was a marketing genius. However, it has gotten to the point that I am starting more and more each and every day thinking maybe I can live without some of these products.

Today I cancelled two call-forward numbers that were costing me over $40 a month. IT FELT GOOD! It felt nice to say "See Ya!" to Verizon and the $40 they charge me each month for simply moving to a more desireable location. I support local businesses and hope they do well. However, there is a fine-line between earning an honest living and taking advantage of someone. I moved office locations about a year ago, when we needed more space. It was quite costly, and I understand that part of that is the cost of doing business. However, I also don't agree with many of the "because that is our company policy" rules made by corporate monopolies.

It's just not right. It's not acceptable that I pay $25 for my family to go to the movies and then have to buy their concessions...at an over-inflated 5000% mark-up.

That's why we sneak our own candy into the movies. It's not that I'm cheap. I'd honestly prefer to buy their concessions, but not at the 5000% mark up. Come on... it's public knowledge that a fountain drink costs 5-10 cents (probably 2-3 cents when they fill it up with ice) but to charge $4.00 as does Cinemark (not to mention the $5.75 bucket of popcorn that probably cost them another 5-10 cents.)

I'm bombarded each and every day with hundreds of SPAM emails. Anything and eveything from "a new stock that has just been released that will quadruple your money in 24 hours" to pills that can help you "lose 35 lbs. in 23 minutes" or "grow your manhood 3 x bigger in just a few weeks."

Enough of my rave. I'll see you at the movies (matinee of course)! I'll bring the candy, you bring the soda. ;)



P.S. Don't forget the Junior Mints!

Bryan-College Station Housing Market Statistics 2006

Click here to see the 2006 end of year B/CS housing market statistics!

http://www.bryancollegestationinfo.com/showpost.php?p=54&postcount=3

I need your help!

I've been working hard on the technology end of my New Year's resolution. I've just installed a new message board on my website and my desire is for it to be a leading source of local information for local residents. I think it's crucial that there be significant buzz on the site (rather than just a few posts by myself) or people will not go back and re-visit the site on a regular basis.

I need new members to join and post so I have some traffic and create a buzz. I'm advertising it in tomorrow's newspaper and would REALLY appreciate it if you'd register and post something or start a new thread www.bryancollegestation.info There's plenty of things to talk about and although some of you may not live in B-CS there are still many other interesting topics; humor, sports, Aggies, etc. or anything you want to talk about. Share a funny photo, or anything else you want that is interesting, informative or entertaining. It shouldn't take you but a few minutes of your time and I would really appreciate it.

My goal is to have 100 new members and 500 posts by the end of next week. Please help! Anything is appreciated!

In fact, if you're one of the first 25 to register and post 10 (legitimate) messages, then I'll send you a gift certificate for a free Little Caesar's pizza or if your out of the B/CS area, I'll send you a gift card for a free movie rental from Blockbuster.

Feel free to forward this to anyone else.

More Money Saving Tips for 2007!

As promised, I told you I'd share even more money saving tips...Here are a few more out of a list of 25 that can literally save you thousands of dollars each year. I also share tips on my new message board www.BryanCollegeStation.info so be sure to check it out as well. Also leave some of your own tips and earn chance to win two movie tickets if I feature your idea in a future newsletter or blog.

Continued from previous blog...

6) Invest your new savings. As you put money side (see above) your “pay-yourself-first” money could become automatic contributions to a mutual fund or other stock-oriented or real estate investmet fund. If you need the money to be more liquid than that, consider an online savings or money market account that gets linked to your current checking account. Many of these online-only accounts are insured by the FDIC and pay annual percentage yields between 5-6 percent and in some cases even higher.



7) Pay extra towards your mortgage each month. By paying $100 extra towards your principal each month on a $150,000, 30 year fixed mortgage at 6.5%, you’ll save more than $50,000 in interest over the term of the loan and be able to payoff your mortgage approximately seven years early. Just by paying an extra $25-$50 each month can make a huge difference. Paying off your mortgage early may mean eliminate some of the tax benefits of home ownership, however if owning your home outright and spending less on interest are some of your goals, then it is worth it.


8) Eliminate credit card debt. The best way to avoid creating problems for yourself in 2007 is to use your credit cards cautiously and sparingly. Pay off your entire balance off each month, if at all possible. However, if you’re already in serious credit card debt as 2007 begins, transfer your credit card balances to a card with a lower interest rate. You’ll save over $700 if you transfer a $2,000 balance from an 18-percent card to an 8.25% card and then pay off your balance at a rate of $50 a month. You'll even receive better result the lower the interest rate.

Transfer balances to cards with rates of 0-4% percent and concentrate on paying them off entirely while those low rates last. Another option may be to take out a second mortgage on your home. Obviously, paying 7% on a second mortgage, which is tax deductible, toward your home is far better than paying 18-20% on a compounding interest credit card. If you do use credit cards, make sure that your credit card is at least paying you back with some sort of incentive program. I found a credit card that allows me to earn points on my daily purchases toward our annual vacation trip, including airline miles and hotel accommodations.


Since most of my expenses each month are incurred at Office Depot, I found a rebate card that rewards specifically for these types of purchases. Of course, you will need to make sure that you are paying off your balance each and every month. Paying a high interest rate on your credit card will negate any savings you accrue on your incentive plan.

9) Avoid over-the-limit and late fees. If you keep finding yourself getting hit with extra finance charges because your credit card bill is regularly due before you’ve received your paycheck or your over the limit, call your credit card company and ask to have your due date changed. It might take a few months for this change to kick in, but it’s worth the wait.

10) Quit smoking and other bad habits. Depending on the “sin taxes” where you live, you could save more than $2,000 a year if you go from being a pack-a-day smoker to a non-smoker. You’ll also qualify for significantly cheaper life-insurance rates a non-smoker. Cigarette taxes in Texas just increased by $1.00 a pack in 2007, if there's never been a better reason to quit...there is now. Also, don't buy lottery tickets. Yes, they may claim you can't win if you don't play, but you've got a better chance of being struck by lightning.

Visit my new message board and share money saving tips with other users…also be one of the first 25 to register and make 10 legitimate posts and win a free pizza! Visit www.BryanCollegeStation.info and bookmark it!

25 Top New Year’s Resolutions for Saving Money in 2007!

If you weren't already aware, the Chicago Bears are my favorite NFL team. Ever since the Oilers defected and left Houston to become the Tennessee Titans, I went back to my roots and have followed the Bears closely.

In Sunday's Bears/Packers game, one of the announcers said that the Head Coach of the Chicago Bears, Lovie Smith, had already mapped out the Bears course through the Super Bowl.








He gave the players a calendar detailing hour-by-hour, day-by-day, schedule from Jan. 1 through the Super Bowl (Feb. 4). The schedule detailed, very vividly, what their expectations would be so that they could begin to see it for themselves. I won't even touch their last game (26-7), as I'll rack it up to an attempt to rest players and reduce the risk of injury before the playoffs or a going away present for Mr. Favre but it's no coincidence that Da Bears had the best record in the NFL this year.

I'm sure you've heard the expression "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." I am a firm believer that without a goal (plan or map) you will surely reach your destination...no where!

Here are some valuable tips that can assist in saving you money in the New Year...

1) Create a budget. Your spending plan can be as simple as a Excel spreadsheet or more thorough like Quicken or Microsoft Money. Not having a budget is like not having a plan. It is extremely important to know what you are really spending. For years, the budget I had in mind was really more of a "wishful thinking" budget. However, this eventually led to debt. Whether you use a computer program or a simple ledger, make sure you know where your money is really going.


2) Cut down on incidentals. Review credit card statements. Be aware of monthly fees that you may have forgotten. Cancel unread magazine subscriptions and gym or club memberships that you don’t utilize.

4) Improve your credit score. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com and follow the prompts to find out what your credit reveals. Scores typically range from 350 to 850. The higher your score, the better. If yours is low, try to improve it by paying bills on time, getting out of debt, and disputing false or inaccurate claims.

5) Pay yourself first. This is a great time for an honest self-analysis: What are your saving habits? If all the money you make falls through the cracks and gets eaten up by bills and other expenses, consider a reasonable amount you could utilize as another monthly bill and set it aside as a savings. Save for the future. Take 10 percent of your income and put it in savings, right off the bat. You now know what you need to cut back on (or how much more you need to earn) to make up the difference.

Got any of your own tips that you're willing to share...submit them to my attention at Andrew@AndrewSmithTeam.com and if I feature your submission in a future blog or in my newsletter then I'll reward you with two movie tickets!

By the way - I now feature my monthly trivia question online on the homepage of my website www.AndrewSmithTeam.com enter for your chance to win two movie tickets! (It's on the top left corner in the starburst).



Know of someone thinking of buying or selling a home in the Brazos Valley? Please let me know and I'll be sure they receive the best service available! You can always reach me at (979) 777-7677.

Visit my new message board and share money saving tips with other users…also be one of the first 25 to register and make 10 legitimate posts and win a free pizza!
Visit www.BryanCollegeStation.info and bookmark it!


More money saving tips coming soon... check back tomorrow!

A True Christmas Miracle?

Happy New Year! A friend of mine, Roy Llanes, forwarded me the following story...

The brand new pastor and his wife were newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn. They arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc., and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.
On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.



By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman; she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria.

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war. He wondered how there could be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again for the 35 years in between then and now. The pastor asked him if he could take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid

------
I attempted verifying the story above and found the following link http://www.snopes.com/glurge/tablecloth.asp It neither confirms or denies the story. However, there are apparently several small variations in the story. It simply says "undetermined" as whether or not it is true. Regardless, it is a great Christmas story and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Do you know of a great story, facinating antecedote, humerous quote, interesting piece of trivia, or a great money saving tip? If I feature something that you submit in a future newsletter or blog, I'll reward you with two free movie tickets! Simply submit your ideas to my attention at Andrew@AndrewSmithTeam.com

2007 is off to a bang! One of my New Year's resolutions is to assist over 150 local home buyers and sellers in the Brazos Valley this year. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the Brazos Valley please contact me at Andrew@AndrewSmithTeam.com or call me at (979) 777-7677. You can obtain a free consumer report entitled "44 Money-Making Tips for Preparing Your Home to Sell Fast and for Top Dollar" simply by visiting my real estate website