Are you a "doer", or are you one of those people that says that would be cool. Some examples. 1. You join the health club, just because you have friends that joined. But you never go. 2. You are a member of several associations, but never attend meetings.  3. You bought that "Hybrid" car but don't really use the features to conserve energy. 4. You bought a lot of Xmas stuff at the year end sale. And it's been sitting in the closet for years. 5. You joined ACTIVE RAIN, but you have not filled out your profile, and never even made a blog entry. 6. Look at your "favorites bar, when was the last time you used more than three of them. 7. You buy new things just decause your neighbor did. Then don't even use it. 8. When you go out to eat, and the meal was less than very good. Why do you tell ... 02/25/2011

   Four friends were rafting down a river in the middle of summer. Suddenly a canoe was capsized. It sent two of the friends into the cool water. One friend swam the distance to the shore and the other was drifting down stream. He finally cought onto a big rock, and was stranded. They looked over the situation and realized that they could not get to him with all the swirling water. One said "we could go to the top of the bank and throw him a rope". The other two said "we are afraid of heights, we can't do it". The third said "we could get out on that tree leaning over the water and drop him a rope".   Great idea, So one of them climbed the tree and was ready to throw a rope to the stranded friend. "now let me have the rope". " What rope"? " "The rope we were going to throw him" "We don'... 02/22/2011

I was in the front yard yesterday with my granddaughter. We were trying to dig some holes for planting some new rose bushes. I had my shovel and she had her plastic shovel as well. Now her name is "Haylee" and she is only 4 years and 9 month old. And she is very opinionated. She wandered off to the very front of the yard and was trying to dig a hole. I asked her what she was trying to do. She said" I am trying to find buried treasure", I chuckled and asked her what she would do with it if she found it. She turned to me with her hands on her hips and said " I would buy a big new house with big rooms and a lot of new furniture in it. Then I would have a swimming pool put in too". Wow I said and she kept digging. She then came to me with an old end of a can that she had found. "grampa, loo... 02/21/2011

It was a cool morning and all three preachers were going to go fishing. After all it was a saturday and they had a day off before they had to be back at the pulpit. After a week of sermons and teachings they were ready for a break. The first preacher was a Baptist that loved preaching and fishing. The second was a local preacher with the "Church of God" And the third was a preacher that was visiting from the south and is a member of the Jewish faith. They had been fishing for about hour when the first preacher said "I have so much faith that I think I can walk on water" The second preacher sat quietly by while the third said "I have a lot of faith too, but I don't think you can walk on water" So the first preacher got up and walked to the shore, then back again and sat down. Amazed by w... 02/20/2011

     I have been in the construction business for 30 years. When ever a person that knows me needs something or advice they call me. They expect me to jump in my truck and go over to look at what ever they deem as a "look-see, advice".     Once I tell them what they need to do they ask "so what's this going to cost me"? If I tell them to get a plumber or an electrician, They simply say "can't you do it". This comes from the 30 years of helping "others in the community". Never asking for a fee for me just what ever the cost of the material. I was at my nephews home last week shortly after the "cold spell". It was some Broken water lins and they were leaking. I told him he needed to replace some lines with copper and "sweat the joints ". "Do what, I don't know how to do that."  I told him... 02/19/2011

Hello everyone. I am not the best in the world, heck not even in Carlsbad new Mexico where I live. I am talking about all the little "DOOHICKIES" you guys add to your blogs. I am wandering how you guys find all that stuff to add to your blogs. Like the simple little things from a waterfall to cartoon stuff. Do you spend hours looking all over the web for the right pictures to add to your blogs. And once you have found the picture or image you want to use, how do you save it to use it later? Now how do you add it to the blog. Or is there a "library of images" you can use? I am not the greatest when it comes to a "fancy blog". But I could get better with a little advice from the pro's at Active Rain. Leave a comment Or e-mail me clintmckie@yahoo.com it's that simple, only the best in 2011... 02/17/2011

   We all have opinions of how an inspection should go. But, have you ever complained to the inspector for writing up something in a report that shouldn't be there ? Then with all the asking you couldn't get the inspector to remove the item or rewrite the report.   Remember all inspections are "non invasive". Meaning as an inspector we are not going to be tearing into walls to "try to see something we cannot without tearing into a wall or any part of the home". In most all cases we will remove panels for the electrical and service door entries. Also we need to get to the attic if at all possible and the crawl spaces (if any). If you comment to an inspector about a report that you did not like then you need to be sure that "you are right". Meaning, have the codes at your finger tips. Be ... 02/17/2011

Buying a new home in Eddy, Lea or chaves Counties? Call Desert Sun Inspections for a home inspection. Our prices start at a very affordable rate. Looking to rent a home? We do "Rental inspections" as well. Desert Sun Inspections has 30 years experience in residential construction and inspecting for 15 years. Call me if you need an inspection for a home or business you want to purchase. Call 1-575-706-5586, if you have any questions, I offer a wide variety of services to include "ENERGY AUDITS" for homes and businesses. Our flat rates for these inspections won't break the bank. If you want "peace of mind" let us inspect a home for you. Just call any time and I will answer all your questions. Remember "don't buy a money pit". Good luck house searching. 02/13/2011

Next in line is the internet and tracking all who is on it. The new bill that passed the house this week is for the benefit of the "American security". Really. The director of the FBI, says there will be little difference in the way we can and will use the internet. Go to the following link to find out the "subtle" changes in the way our government watches how we use the internet. http://users.chartern.net/tonytempil/FBI_eyes/-windows internet explorer You need to highlite then right click, then click search with google. Click on top spot listing. Let me know if you think this will change the way you "brouse the net" Remember everyone is watching you and your brousing. Best of luck in 2011, Clint McKie Desert Sun Inspections. Carlsbad, New Mexico 02/12/2011

EERIE INSPECTION STORY  This is a true story I wanted to share with the Active Rain members. EERIE Inspection. I was inspecting a home in Michigan I looked at the first floor and made my notes. When I went to the stair way to the second floor I could hear a bunch of kids playing sounded like they were at the top of the stairs. I went upstairs and felt like something was wrong, I felt like something had happened bad really bad. I told the trainee that I had a bad feeling about the house. He thought I was crazy and I looked for the kids I had heard but they were not there. I thought they might have been outside playing. We opened up the access to the lower attic and found there had been a fire and the rafters had been burned pretty good.     We had made the notes about the inspection and ... 10/29/2010

    I had comments on "why would you do inspections on homes not sold yet", and have the owners get the inspection. I say stop before you start. Simply put, if you inspect your home in advance of listing it you will find out what the problems are if any. You really should know this. Have the furnace, water heater and all combustion appliances tested for efficiency. After all you don't want to be blind sided by the buyers inspector rendering a report that says the furnace needs to be replaced. So the buyer wants to negotiate you down 5-6 thousand dollars for a new furnace. Now I offer these services but (most) do not. So you will need to find a service company that doe's that type of testing, IE: an energy auditing company. It's like selling a used car, you give it a tune up before you l... 08/20/2010