Wise Words

WISE WORDS

During this election year let's be reminded of these words:

* You cannot help the poor, by destroying the rich.

* You cannot strengthen the weak, by weakening the strong.

* You cannot bring about prosperity, by discouraging thrift.

* You cannot lift the wage earner up, by pulling the wage payer down.

* You cannot further the brotherhood of man, by inciting class hatred.

* You cannot build character and courage, by taking away men's initiative and independence.

* You cannot help men permanently, by doing for them what they could and should, do for themselves.

Do you recognize the author?

It was Abraham Lincoln

In these times....

We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails.

Lemons or Lemonade?

Phoenix area news reports that last month lenders moved to foreclose on 7,447 homes, a new high. Valley homes foreclosed on and resold in September seem to add up to as much as 50% of the resales in September.

While this seems like more bad news or just more of the same......The good news is.....

According to Arizona Multiple Listing Service Data, 6136 homes were sold in September, the highest monthly level since August 2006!

So yes, the buyers are out there! What a great market to buy for first time homeowners and returning Veterans! And today it looks like the Feds may be reducing interest rates. Investors know that all the families that have lost their homes are needing rentals, what a great opportunity!

Remember when your Mom told you that when "life hands you lemons.....make lemonade"
This may be one of those times!

Quick Citizenship Test...Can you pass?

Can you pass it? 10 questions from the re-designed citizenship test for immigrants who want to become naturalized Americans.

1. What does the Constitution do?

2. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?

3. Name one branch or part of the government.

4. We elect a U.S. representative for how many years?

5. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

6. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

7. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

8. There were 13 original states. Name three.

9. Who was president during World War I?

10. Name one U.S. territory.





Answers
1. Sets up the government, Defines the government, Protects basic rights of Americans
2. Bill of Rights
3. Legislaive, Executive, Judicial, Congress, the President, the courts
4. 2 years
5. 9
6. 18
7. April 15
8. NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA
(Ok, do you know your state abbreviations?)
9. Woodrow Wilson
10.Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam
(I'll give you a gold star if you know where the No Mariana Islands are!)

Fun Facts about Goodyear, AZ

Below are some fun facts I learned last night at my "Citizens Academy" class for our wonderful little city presented by Joe Schmitz, a city Planning Manager in the Planning and Zoning Division of the City of Goodyear's Development Department.

*In 2003, the Goodyear city limits encompassed 117 square miles
*Since that time, Goodyear has annexed over 71 square miles
*Goodyear is over 35 miles long north to south
*Goodyear now encompasses 188.4 square miles

*Since 2000, Goodyear's population has more than tripled
*Population in 2000 - 18,911
*Population in 2008 - 58,600
*37% north of I-10 freeway
*44% between I-10 and Gila River
*19% south of the Gila River (Estrella)
*Current population is less than 10% of the population projected at build out

*Goodyear has 20,194 residential dwelling units
*Of that number, 19,311 are single family homes (95.6%)
*There are 836 multi-family units currently under construction

A favorite thought

In this world of givers and takers
Too few are willing to give what it takes

author unknown

It's Fall in the desert

So the calendar says anyway! We still have temps just over 100* but our nights are definitely dropping. The hum of the air conditioner kicking on and off is much less also and will hopefully reflect on our next energy bill!

Yesterday morning Dennis and I left our cozy little abode here in the Sonoran Desert and within 2 hours were sitting under pine trees allowing nature to cool us down.

Payson was about 78* with breezes blowing....glorious! This state is so truly amazing in the diversity of the terrain and the wide open spaces. We continued our day trip from Payson up through Show Low (73*) and then down through the Salt River Canyon to Globe and on back to the Valley of the Sun.

Dennis commented that in California we could drive from the Ocean to the Pines in just under 3 hours.....but it was populated with cities and towns the entire drive. In Arizona so much of the state is still undeveloped and pristine in its own natural beauty. For miles we were the only truck on the road, we took our time, windows down and enjoyed ourselves. Simple pleasures!

Now back to the calendar, since today is the first day of fall I am sure we make the trip again in about 4 weeks as the leaves change. Perhaps Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon as well, more natural jewels of our state.