Had To Get His Hands Dirty

Another remarkable April day arrived with our temps reaching above 80 degrees this afternoon, and without a doubt the soil must be rapidly warming because our greening grass will soon need to be mowed. Kinda early don't you think?

Pretty much the bulk of my day was spent either doing research on a property, responding to emails and writing several detailed letters. I did make sure to find out where and when that public meeting is to take place regarding our 'city' wanting to sell a section of that large parking lot to the east of Brick Furniture, to that very same thirty-something investor/builder who's in the process of building that ticky-tacky apartment house at the corner of 2nd St. NE and N. Federal. I still can't believe the 'city' allowed them to build that many apartments with minimal off-street parking. What's the matter with our city planners anyway? I did get it confirmed that the public meeting will take place at 7:00 pm tomorrow night at the meeting room of our public library. The room where it'll likely take place, is the one that's closest to Pennsylvania Ave. I'm sure there'll be a sign posted on the door, so make sure you pass the word along because giving up that parking lot will have a major negative impact on those surrounding businesses for years to come. It looks like our 'city planner' wants to drive out all the businesses so there can be more apartment houses built in our city parking lots.

We had a number of showings on 113 - 11th St. NE over the weekend, and inquiries on it today, so hopefully the right buyer will soon arrive. There's no question that home is one of the best built I've seen in a while, along with it having an exceptionally well laid-out floor plan. I love it's kitchen breakfast nook. What a cozy spot to have one's morning coffee!

As I suspected, the sale I'd worked on several weeks ago, fell apart today, and not to my surprise because from the very beginning, I was having my doubts about it going thru, so it's now back to the drawing board. Oh well, there'll likely be another buyer who'll have the funds to make repairs and improvements. Just from what I've been seeing so far this year, there've been a whole lot of cash sales taking place in our market that's leaving me to wonder where all those people are getting their money.

While reading the news today, I happened to notice a man from Nebraska in his 40's who's running as an independent for a U.S. Senate seat, and from what I was reading about him, that's exactly the kind of person we need in Congress. It sounds like his popularity in Nebraska is sky-rocketing, and as no surprise because he's very much of a centrist who's willing to work with both the Democrats and Republicans. What I appreciate about him the most, is he's from the working class who's had to get his hands dirty every day, which is something a great proportion of our government bodies haven't had to do on a regular basis. I truly hope he gets elected, and if he does, he may have unknowingly created a National movement. Good for him.

Take a closer look at our City government and you'll soon find the bulk of them having never dirtied their hands, and likely so distant from menial labor, they wouldn't know the difference between a spade and a potato fork. Oh that reminds me, I took one of those online quizzes some months ago which was testing one's ability to recognize and name present-day and past used tools and machines. Smarty pants me got nearly every one of them correct, and at the end I got a big gold online star. Ok, where's my piggy prize?

Speaking of construction, some days ago I was causally mentioning to a 'contractor' my thoughts on various ways to attack structural issues with older homes and buildings. Oh my goodness! Did I ever get cut-off in a hurry, and so much so, I had to interject that I wasn't telling 'him' what and how to do it, but rather talking about my experiences. My gosh! Some of these contractors definitely have chips on the shoulders, and whenever someone acts like that with me, it's an indication of insecurity and/or ignorance.

I keep forgetting to mention to all of you my having discovered some months ago where there are doctors and their wives buying up residential and commercial real estate in Mason City. I know there've always been a few in past years, but it seems more prevalent in these times, which is telling me they've got wads of residual income to spend. Late last year, the woman who owns the Simply Nourished building in the plaza, purchased that three-storied double store front at the corner of 2nd St. NW and N. Federal, and just so you know, her husband is also doctor. They also received a handsome grant from the State to build-out apartments on the second floor of Simply Nourished. Good for them, and as I've said many times, it's much easier to make money when you have money behind you.

Tonight's One-liner is: Be polite to all, but intimate with few.

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