And this as picked up from AOL this morn...

Maybe I should open up a category for Garden "tips" for this one, but for now, humor will do just fine, thank you...

"Couple Reports Garden Stolen by Neighbor"

"A couple who moved abroad returned to their Staffordshire, UK home to find their backyard garden had been "stolen."

"Linzi and Phil Wood claim that while they were at their new home in Lanzarote, their entire garden -- including the shed, plants, plant hangers and path rocks -- were all moved to their next door neighbor's yard, a story by the Daily Mail reported. Even their flowers were replanted next door, the story said.

"The Wood's, who are trying to sell the house, claim their neighbor said he bought a ready-made garden from a third party, not realizing that it was coming from their home, the story said. Police are investigating the theft."

A Self Serving Call to Action

The below quote came to me from my lobbying group, the National Association of Realtors. One wonders about these things. It is a plea to keep yet one more bail out going. The famous $8,000 to first time buyers is, after all just another bailout: it gives 8 grand to folks who may not deserve it and take it away from those who earned it (in the form of more debt to pay in the future -- which will be paid by rising taxes). At the risk of losing the love of my fellow agents, I say no; no to any of this. Let us all work hard, try hard, take a bit longer to recover, if necessary, but let us stop this govenmant mandated re-allocation of wealth.

Read the text:

"We have all seen first-hand the positive impact the first-time homebuyer tax credit is having on the real estate market recovery. As the expiration date for this successful program looms, we ALL need to make sure that Congress hears from us about the positive impact this program has had and ask them to extend it, and expand it, so that we can continue to see our markets fully recover."

Back to School Redux

A lot of folks in my corner of the world seemed a bit put off by my flippant remarks and clear joy at the return of school. Unapologetic to the end, I hearwith join my Navy heritage to the return to school. Let's all sing along to the tune of "Anchor's Away!"

My kid's away, thank god!
My kid's away...
She's off at boarding school
for Ninety bucks a day ay ay, HEY!

'Though it's a lot to pay,
no gripes you'll see.
'Cause if there are,
then they will
ship her back,
they'll ship her back to me!

In My LIttle Corner of the World

In my little corner of the world, the kids are going back to school. Today... Yesterday, you could sense the emotion; the little ones were out in force on the nice day, soaking up the sun, trying to get in the last bit of play. I spent much of the day in a park. It was interesting to see the dynamics: for the kids, gone were the camps and rules. Left to their own devices, they made games out of rocks and sticks, jumping and running, scoring on a point system that was duly invented for the moment and is now forgotten.

There seemed to be more bicycles out and about on this last day. A few kids were testing out new sneakers. Some older kids, high school bound, were jockeying for position on the bully ladder, using fashion the way, in my day, they used a fist.

Some parents are tearful as that whole "sunrise, sunset" thing kicks in. Others are thoughtful at the "circle of life" gig going on. A couple skulking in the corner are fully giddy at the prospect of the kids gone -- they are having an affair.

In a few days, the patterns that will dictate our lives will full into place, and we will all move on, a bit diminished by the last summer gone in a fast declining decade.

For those of us in real estate, the fall means a return to business: folks will re-assess themselves, make "New Year" resolutions and wonder, wonder about what to do next. Homes will be marketed, and homes will be sold.

So it goes in Belmont. Summer comes to a crashing end. This morning feels cold, although it is, according to the weather service, just like yesterday. But take heart -- Labor Day is just around the corner.