Brigita's Blog: September 2008

There is now hope for horses with leg injuries.  No longer do they need to be put down when they sustain a fatal leg injury.

Riley, 16 year old Quarter Horse from Fredonia, Arizona had lacerated her tendons.  Even with medical care, she was in severe pain.  Instead of euthanizing her, her left hind leg was amputated below the hock at a Sheridan, Wyoming animal clinic.

When she first entered the Sheridan, Wyoming animal clinic, she was in severe pain and barely able to walk.  The veterinarians tried to do the best they could to save her leg, but severe infections started to set in. 

Instead of putting her down, her left hind leg was amputated below the hock.  They then decided to try a prosthesis on her.  Riley was fitted with a prosthetic leg.  Her prosthetic limb was fitted same as a human's.   What normally would have been a fatal injury, she is now able to enjoy the green pastures at her home without pain.  She gets around quite well, now.

Veterinarians will now start to consider using a prosthetic limbs for horses in place of euthanasia.  The only requirement is that the horse's other legs must be healthy and the injury evaluated and checked for signs of serious infection that cannot be cured.

So, as you can see, there is now hope for horses with leg injuries.  No longer will they euthenize all horses that have broken legs.

A study is currently underway to possibly connect the Lehigh Valley to the NJ Transit with a rail system.  Currently, there is no rail transportation from the area to NYC.  The only public transportation in place for communters is a bus system. 

With the high costs of fuel, many commuters are looking for public transportation to get to work.  The park-and-ride lots are overcrowded.  People end up parking on the grass and the edge of the road.  Another type of public transportation to NYC is definitely needed.

A rail system would ease the overcrowded highways into the city and lessen the stress of the commute.  The trip would also take less time with a rail system.

A rail system was considered years ago, but was rejected because there would not be enough commuters to make it worthwhile.  With the population in the Lehigh Valley growing, signs seem to indicate that there is definitely a need for a rail system.

I know I'm a couple of days early, but this is in memory of all those who perished on this historic morning; the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights, the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all the innocent bystanders.  Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased.

 

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Author Unknown

 

Treat each day as if it were your last. 

 

God Bless!

 

Here are excerpts from actual letters that were written by tenants to their landlords.  I think you will get a kick out of these.

The toilet is blocked and we cannot bathe the children until it is cleared.

I want some repairs done to my stove as it has backfires and burnt my knob off.

This is to let you know that there is a smell coming from the man next door.

The toilet seat is cracked: where do I stand?

I am writing on behalf of my sink, which is running away from the wall.

I request your permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.

Our lavatory seat is broken in half and is now in three pieces.

Will you please send someone to mend our cracked sidewalk?  Yesterday my wife tripped on it and is now pregnant.

Our kitchen floor is very damp.  We have two children and would like a third.  So, will you please send someone to do something about it?

Will you please send a man to look at my water?  It is a funny color and not fit to drink.

Would you please send a man to repair my downspout?  I am an old-age pensioner and need it straight away.

Could you please send someone to fix our bath tap?  My wife got her toe stuck in it and it is very uncomfortable for us.

I want to complain about the farmer across the road.  Every morning at 5:30 his cock wakes me up, and it is getting too much.

When the workmen were here, they put their tools in my wife's new drawers and made a mess.  Please send men with clean tools to finish the job and keep my wife happy.

It's the beginning of September and the real estate market stats are in for August, 2008.  I'll give you a quick overview for the Lehigh Valley and I won't bore you too much with it.

According to the statistics, the average price of homes, new and existing, dropped slightly in August, down about 3.4% from July.  The number of sales also decreased from July's statistics, by .8%. 

The average number of days on the market increased to 68 days. 

What this means, is that it is still good news for buyers.  The homes are still affordable and plenty of inventory to choose from.

To all you home buyers, get out there are buy your home while the prices are low.  There is still plenty of inventory to choose from.

Now that wasn't too boring.  Was it?  It was quick and simple information.

HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING!!

The 2008 Olympic Games are now history, but Hong Kong still has more excitement occuring.  The 2008 Paralympic Equestrian Games will be held from September 7 - 11 at the Sha Tin Equestrian Center.  It is the same site that the Olympic equestrian events were held this past summer.

The equestrians that participate in the Paralympic Games have some sort of physical impairment.  To watch them is truly inspiring.  A total of 28 countries have sent atheletes to the 2008 Paralympic equestrian competition.  The US has 5 horse and rider combinations.  The dressage team will consist of:

Keith Newerla riding Walk on the Moon
Lynn Seidermann on Rhett
Rebecca Hart aboard Norteassa
Barbara Grassmyer upon Mibis
Robin Brueckman riding Radetzky

The US Paralympic Equestrian Dressage Team is currently ranked 4th in the world.  The team is made up of the most talented riders in the sport.  Everyone is excited about representing the United States in Hong Kong.

 Go Team USA!!

Dual Agency!  Subagent!  Transaction Agent!  What do all these agencies mean??  It is soooooo confusing!!

It is important to understand what legal responsibilities your real estate salesperson has to you and to other parties in the transactions. I will define each one to you and help you understand.

1.  Listing Agent - (also known as a seller's agent or a seller's representative).  A listing agent is hired by and represents the seller.  All fiduciary duties are owed to the seller.  The agency relationship usually is created by a listing contract.

2. Subagent - Subagency usually occurs when a co-operating sales associate from another brokerage, who is not representing the buyer as a buyer's agent or operating in a nonagency relationship, shows property to a buyer.  In such a case, the subagent works with the buyer as a customer but owes fiduciary duties to the listing broker and the seller.  Although a subagent cannot assist the buyer in any way that would be detrimental to the seller, a buyer-customer can expect to be treated honestly by the subagent. It is important that subagents fully explain their duties to buyers.

3. Buyer's Agent - (also known as a buyer's representative).  A real estate licensee who is hired by prospective buyers to represent them in a real estate transaction.  The buyer's rep works in the buyer's best interest throughout the transaction and owes fiduciary duties to the buyer.  The buyer can pay the licensee directly through a negotiated fee, or the buyer's rep may be paid by the seller or by a commission split with the listing broker.

4. Disclosed dual agent - Dual agency is a relationship in which the brokerage firm represents both the buyer and the seller in the same real estate transaction.  Dual agency relationships do not carry with them all of the traditional fiduciary duties to the clients.  Instead, dual agents owe limited fiduciary duties. Because of the potential for conflicts of interest in a dual-agency relationship, it's vital that all parties give their informed consent.  In many states, this consent must be in writing.  Disclosed dual agency, in which both the buyer and the seller are told that the agent is representing both of them, is legal in most states.

5. Designated agent - (also called appointed agency).  This is a brokerage practice that allows the managing broker to designate which licensees in the brokerage will act as an agent of the seller and which will act as an agent of the buyer.  Designated agency avoids the problem of creating a dual-agency relationship for licensees at the brokerage.  The designated agents give their clients full representation, with all of the attendant fiduciary duties.  The broker still has the responsibility of supervising both groups of licensees.

6. Transaction Broker - (also called a transaction facilitator or nonagency relationship).  Some states permit a real estate licensee to have a type of nonagency relationship with a consumer.  These relationships vary considerably from state to state, both as to the duties owed to the consumer and the name used to describe them.  Very generally, the duties owed to the consumer in a nonagency relationship are less than the complete, traditional fiduciary duties of an agency relationship.

Ask your real estate agent to explain what type of agency relationship you have with him or her and with the brokerage company.