I’m planning on selling my home pretty soon. What are the more important things involved in getting it ready to show so I’ll get the best price and avoid having it sit on the market?

Well, it is a Buyer’s Market, so it’s more important than ever in doing what you can to put your home’s best foot forward so it will be appealing and stand out from the crowd. Here’s a list of basic “Do”s and “Don’t”s that will serve you well as a guideline in any market.

DO:

1) Clean it. Get it scrupulously clean. Pay special attention to the kitchen and baths, the most important rooms in the house. Clean the grout in the bath tile. Replace the shower curtain with a new, fresh Continue Reading »

Del Martin, pioneering lesbian activist and first-to-marry in California in 2008 died recently at the age of 87.

National Public Radio ran a “Remembrance” for Del Martin on its “Fresh Air” radio show. It included excerpts from an interview of Martin and Lyon conducted in December of 1992.

The interview is a wonderful lesson in LGBT history and should be required listening for every queer in the country.

To listen to either the edited interview or the entire interview, click HERE and then click the appropriate link. NPR’s audio player will open and you can hear the selection.

A “HAIL SARAH” PASS

So John McCain picks Sarah Palin as his running mate. Risky, yes, but I think a brilliant strategic choice. As calculated a choice as could be, but what else is new. No longer can McCain or the RNC seriously use “the experience issue” against Obama, after his pickup of Palin. She has served approx. 1-1/2 years as the Governor of Alaska. Before that, she was the mayor a small Alaska town. Before that, the PTA. NO, none, zilch, nada, zip, Zero foreign policy experience. Continue Reading »

BARACK SAYS “ENOUGH!”

Last night, Barack said “Enough!” to the shame, disgrace and utterly failed policies and leadership of George Bush, and the low-down, small-minded and stale record and campaign of John McCain. And I said “WOW!”

It is hard to avoid cliche-ridden testimony of last night’s spectacular acceptance of the Presidential nomination, since so much has already been said repetitively concerning the brilliance of his oratorical ability and his talents in spellbinding a crowd. So, enough said on that score. On substance, he was more detailed than he has been: enumerating point after point after point of the kinds of policy changes he would like to make as President. On “values”, he was proud and strong, refusing to allow Bush, McCain and the Republicans to claim a monopoly on patriotism and love and country. I LOVED the fact that finally, finally, Continue Reading »

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27 (UPI) - Lesbian rights activist Del Martin, whose health had been failing for some time, died Wednesday in San Francisco. She was 87.

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DENVER-In what might be a preview of coming attacks from Oregon Democrats, U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., on Tuesday took Republican John McCain to task for supporting an anti-gay group in Oregon 15 years ago.

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Have you battled back pain for years? Does your low back ache? Do your upper shoulders feel like rocks? Do you carry your tension in your back? Have you considered acupuncture for your back pain?

My name is Anita Tadavarthy and I believe acupuncture can help you. I am a licensed acupuncturist. I became proficient in treating back pain after treating thousands of rice farmers in India with prolonged back pain. Continue Reading »

MARVELOUS MICHELLE; THE LION ROARS AGAIN; AND YET…

Well, last night, the first of four for the Dems, and there was Michelle. Michelle Obama. Bright, forceful, beguiling, strong, sharp, warm, funny, gorgeous, erudite, powerful, compassionate, loving, reflective, passionate, patriotic, endearing–have I left anything out?  My, my; impressive.  Yes, the right-wing will still go after her, find bits and pieces to twist and pervert and manipulate to demonize her. So be it. Can anyone, really, of sound mind and/or heart, look and listen to that woman and not find a smile inside their being in response? Continue Reading »

I lost my water bottle. Change was bound to happen after that…

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DANGERS IN THE HOME: LEAD PAINT

I’m thinking of buying an old Victorian home but I’m worried about lead paint dangers. What do I need to know?

It’s no secret: lead poisoning is a serious issue and can cause serious problems. So serious, in fact, that one of the very few Federal regulations that are part of the standard Oregon Residential Real Estate Sale Agreement has to do with lead paint issues. Two things are vital to comply with the Federal regulations: 1) Every prospective buyer of a home built in 1978 or earlier must receive and read the EPA pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in the Home” and 2) every seller of a home built in 1978 or earlier needs to submit to buyers a “lead paint disclosure” form, making known to the buyer any information pertaining to and  Continue Reading »