Things I know about life.  Today, like everyday, I searched for a bit of inspiration to start my day.  I stumbled upon Michael Josephson's website, Character Counts.  Michael presents a brief summary of what he knows about life.  I felt it is worth repeating, as I happen to agree with each one of these points.  Perhaps you will agree with the majority of them too!  Make it a great day! I know that I'm a work in process and that there will always be a gap between who I am and who I want to be. I know that I don't have to be sick to get better and that every day brings opportunities to improve my life and my character. I know that it's easier to talk about integrity than to live it and that the true test is my willingness to do the right thing even when it costs more than I want to pay. I... 12/06/2009

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Grants Pass, Oregon!  The little town of Grants Pass Oregon is bustling with holiday decorations.  Downtown 6th Street is gleaming with Magical Musical Christmas Murals, snowflake lights, and a 20 ft tall decorated Christmas tree at the Grants Pass Visitor Center.  There is just something warm and fuzzy about the holidays.  Perhaps it is a bit of nostalgia that comes to life each year.  I love listening to Christmas carols.  I love drinking hot cocoa with marshmellows.  I love the smell of Christmas trees.  I love watching It's A Wonderful Life.  And most of all, I love visiting with friends and family. Tonight, the weather man says there is a good chance of snow in the forecast.  It will be the first snow of the season and I am looking for... 12/05/2009

FBI Crime Report Each year at this time, the FBI's annual crime report is compiled for the previous year. Since 1991, when our country's violent crime hit an all-time high, it has steadily declined as gun ownership has grown. Last years' crime rate dropped 40 percent to a 35 year low!  The nation's murder rate has dropped 45 percent to a 43 year low! I would also like to point out that during the same period, the number of privately owned firearms rose by more than 80 million, which is an all-time high. There are around 300 million firearms owned by American citizens.  Ironically, the annual murder rate in the areas with the most gun control is the highest. i.e., California, Chicago, and the states that allow their citizens the "right to carry," have the lowest crime rates.  Maybe it is... 12/04/2009

Grants Pass Real Estate Franchise Retires - Coldwell Banker Doran Taylor, Inc.  It's a sad day in the real estate world, when a major real estate franchise closes it's doors.  This week, we learned that one such Grants Pass Real Estate Franchise, Coldwell Banker Doran Taylor, Inc., has decided to call it quits.  The Doran Taylor family founded the company that has been helping people buy and sell real estate in the Grants Pass and Rogue Valley area for the past 59 years.  It is said that the family owned and operated franchise is closing it's doors because the owners are retiring.  Perhaps the current economy had something to do with the closure as well.  Regardless of speculation, the remaining 15 Realtors at Coldwell Banker Doran Taylor, Inc. have been invited to join another Grants P... 12/03/2009

51st State - The State Of Jefferson A follow up to the attempted secession movement in 1941 by a determined group of counties in Southern Oregon and Northern California.   The red shaded area includes the original counties included in the secession movement of 1941.  The pink shaded areas show the additional counties included in the current movement. The area that they now sometimes refer to as the "mythical State Of Jefferson" has its' own radio station.  "Jefferson Public Radio" (the largest regional public radio in the nation.) "JPR" operates from within the campus of Southern Oregon University and covers about 60,000 square miles of Northern California and Southern Oregon.  They have over 700,000 listeners and claim to hold more broadcast licenses than any other public broadcast co... 12/03/2009

State Of Jefferson - Southern Oregon & Northern California Secede From The Union! Dead serious!  Called the Secession movement of 1941, and they elected their own governor and petitioned the Federal government, requesting to become the 49th state, the State Of Jefferson.   "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them, will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."  -- Thomas Jefferson      This movement began in revolt against Sacramento, California and Salem, Oregon.  Citizens in Northern California and Southern Oregon felt that they were not receiving help from their ... 12/03/2009

As 2009 quickly draws to a close, today offers a special time for reflection.  Taking time to count our blessings and consider our failures, creates a wonderful opportunity for reflection and personal growth.   Any time you reach for new heights personally or professionally, it can be painful.  How you handle change depends greatly upon where you set your mind.  You can be discouraged or inspired by change, it's a choice.      As we head into another challenging year, it's important to prepare our minds and renew our spirit in a positive way.  One of the best ways that I've found to reflect upon my blessings and the opportunities before me is to view this special video from Power of Attitude.  I hope you enjoy the video and remember to take time for reflection.  May you be blessed in th... 11/30/2009

Lefties Flock To Grants Pass, Oregon I guess maybe I just notice left handed people more because my wife is left handed, but I have never seen such a high percentage of them than I have this last year since we moved to Grants Pass. I started seeing more and more "southpaws" and in talking with people who are "lefties", many have commented on the high percentage they have also found.  Among the left handers I have come across, some were born in Southern Oregon, but many have relocated to Grants Pass. Incidentally for those who wonder; "Southpaw" came to us from baseball.  A typical baseball diamond is laid out with home plate facing east (to keep the afternoon sun out of the batters eyes.)  Therefore, in facing the batter, a left handed pitcher would have his pitching arm facing south, t... 11/30/2009

Should You Lease A Car? I spent 38 years in the automobile business prior to embarking on a new adventure in real estate.  I have worked for auto manufacturers, lease companies, dealers, and owned my own dealership.  So I feel I am well qualified to give advice. Leasing is a very poor move for the MAJORITY of people, and I'll tell you why! A big selling point that dealers use to overcome the mileage penalty is "not to worry because most people end up buying the car at the end of the lease anyway, so don't worry about how many miles you drive."  Blatant lie!   Most people don't buy the car at the lease-end.  If you wanted a used car, you'd be buying one now!  I can't think of how many people stop driving their leases for months before lease termination in order to minimize the mileage pe... 11/29/2009

So, I must confess, today I had to blame it on the blog!  As some of you may know, it it easy to become a little obsessive and compulsive about blogging.  It sometimes consumes your every thought.  And, it can at times, make you late for certain events.  Today was one of those times. I needed to send a letter by Fed-x to someone in San Diego.  I figured I had plenty of time to do so.  I continued to blog about events in Grants Pass Oregon and I seriously lost track of time.  Once I realized it was 3:30pm, I started calling around for a Fed-x store.  After making several phone calls, to no success, I had a fleeting thought that I should have stopped blogging a little earlier and perhaps I would have successfully sent my Fed-x letter off today.  Before I knew it, one of my family members ... 11/28/2009

All You Need is a Little Lovie in Grants Pass, Oregon. Lovies make the world go round. Because what would the world be without a little Lovie? You must mean love, right?  Nope!  We do mean Lovie!  Don't call them a cookie, don't call them a truffle, they are something entirely new.  A unique approach to bringing you a sweet cookie confection.  And, Love Bucket Baking Co. is overjoyed to finally share it with the world. Denise Padgett, of Grants Pass Oregon, originally crafted the recipe.  A creation that is near to her heart. So much so, that she has united with her daughter, Leah Dancer, to reinvent the Lovie and bring it straight to you.  Denise's daughters were in fact the inspiration behind the company name.  They would wake each morning to her joyful call of "good morning my little... 11/28/2009

"Nutcracker" Soldiers in Grants Pass, Oregon Yes, the Grants Pass "Santa" has brought more gifts, and it just gets better! Brady Adams at Evergreen Federal Bank has set up the "Nutcracker" Soldiers throughout the downtown as he continues to amaze us with his creativity and generosity! Downtown Grants Pass makes you feel like you've been "whisked away" to Santas' Toyland.                         This is a terrific time of year to visit downtown Grants Pass.  Thank you Grants Pass Santa. 11/28/2009

Magical Musical Christmas Murals - Grants Pass, Oregon Looking for a festive activity to entertain the kids and holidays guests? Consider visiting Grants Pass, Oregon, where the Magical Musical Christmas Murals are on display along 6th Street in old downtown. Beginning the 3rd week of November and running through the first week of the New Year, downtown Grants Pass will radiate with fiber optic dazzle from 18 gigantic Magical Musical Christmas Murals.  The over-sized murals weigh 400 pounds each and include automatic sound systems to play the old-fashioned Christmas music emanating from them.  The murals are 12 inches thick, ten feet tall, five feet wide, and wired with miles of fiber optic cable and thousands of points of lights. And what lights!  They flow and blink so that snow falls... 11/27/2009

Beaver State Mascot Wreaks Havoc! - Grants Pass, Oregon Just when we in Grants Pass start thinking we have moved into the "big city" status something happens to remind us how close we are to nature.  When was the last time you heard of America's best dam builder  causing problems?  Well, it happened Saturday night in Grants Pass.  Thanks to the Beaver State Mascotpower went out for 17,500 people in our town, which is over half of the population.  The cause?  A beaver!                                                                                                                 That's right, our Beaver State Mascot chewed through a tree, and the wind did the rest, knocking out power for a time, and reminding us how close we still are to the wilderness.  So anytime we get thinking that w... 11/26/2009

Brigadoon Fudge - Grants Pass, Oregon You've heard the story of BRIGADOON, the mythical Scottish city that appears only for one day every 100 years, and each 100 years is just a day in the lives of its' residents.  This legend was made into a movie with Gene Kelly and Van Johnson, and they pictured Brigadoon as a wonderful place.  What does that have to do with this fudge?  Well,  Brigadoon Fudge is almost mythical in itself.  It seems to come out perfect about once every 100 tries, but when it does it is absolutely worth the wait!  The other 99 tries are still fantastic, but it makes you want to keep trying after it has once turned out perfect to keep going until it happens again. I remember when I was growing up, each Christmas season, my mother and grandmother would be trying to achi... 11/26/2009

The Realtor ABC's of Thanksgiving T is for the trust you earn each dayH is for the heart you pour into your workA is for all the time you devote to others N is for your excellent negotiation skills K is for kindness and the thoughtful deeds you doS is for smiling, even when you don't feel like it G is for gratitude, all blessings great and smallI  is for ideas, let your creative juices flow V is for the value you add to every dealI  is for the infinite wisdom you possess                                  N is for playing nice with your fellow RealtorsG is for Grants Pass Oregon Real Estate 11/26/2009

River Kids - Grants Pass, Oregon   These have been here for a while, but they are so unique they deservce to be mentioned as they are just more gifts for our city from Brady Adams at Evergreen Federal Bank.    These bronze River Kids  figures were created to tell of a "simpler time in our history." These River Kids are life-size figures of children engaged in "childrens' adventures" along the Rogue River, set in the 30's to 50's. This is just another gift from the "Santa Claus of Grants Pass," Brady Adams. Thank you and Merry Christmas! 11/25/2009

A Brief History of Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day is now a favorite American holiday...but did you know it took awhile to catch on as an annual tradition? According to scholars, the first known Thanksgiving took place on September 8, 1565 in Saint Augustine, Florida when Spanish settlers held a Mass of Thanksgiving after arriving safely in the New World. English settlers in the Virginia Colony held a similar day of thanks in 1619. Two years after that, the colonists at Plymouth Plantation celebrated the most famous Thanksgiving, during 1621. It wasn't until October 3, 1789, that it actually became a holiday, when then President George Washington proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving...but just for that year. In 1795, Washington again proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving, and President John Adams... 11/24/2009

Move To Grants Pass, Oregon   Move to Grants Pass where it's just a short drive to see nature's majesty.  Move to Grants Pass where the mighty Rogue River is just minutes away.  If the Rogue River isn't to your liking, how about the Illinois River? Or how about the Applegate River? So you'd rather spend time at the lake rather than on the River? How about Lake Selmac, where some of the largest Bass can be found? Or maybe you'd like a more secluded lake?  How about picturesque Baby Foot Lake?  Not big enough? You can always check out Fish Lake, or Lake of the Woods, or Applegate Lake, and the list goes on and on.  Move to Grants Pass where wildlife abound.  You never know who might show up for lunch. Or who might come to help you pick apples in your yard. Or who might come to help you ga... 11/24/2009

McCaleb Ranch Boy Scout Camp We found the McCaleb Ranch Boy Scout Camp on the Illinois River a few miles out of Selma, Oregon. The adventure began when we parked at a designated area high up above the Illinois River. This was the trailhead that leads to a magnificent suspension foot bridge that leads across the river to the McCaleb Ranch Boy Scout Camp which is owned by the Boy Scouts of America. Traversing a series of switchbacks, we arrived at a beautifully constructed 240 foot long railed suspension bridge that crosses the Illinois River at 100 feet above its' rushing waters. There is another bridge further down that you can drive across, but we chose to forgo that luxury and cross on foot. As we crossed with our two dogs, I was reminded why dogs aren't allowed on bridges; they set u... 11/24/2009