I am on a Raw Diet. Well almost totally

I guess this is a way to express my diet.
I wish I had started this when I actually started, but there's no time like the present after all.

I'll eventually show some pics and video when I get set up, for now though.
I just wanted to get this out there in the www.
Does anyone actually say that any more.

I have been off Diet Coke and other crap for over 2 months now.
I feel great and have lost a few inches too.

My ideal body weight is right around the corner, it's is a slow process.

Lately I have been eating, all kinds of raw nuts, berries and drinking Kale, Collard Greens and Bok Choy.

I have some favorites, like Carrot/Pear/Ginger juice from scratch and I've been experimenting with date nut bars and cookies.

Crawlspaces

I just realized that I was afraid of cob webs. We moved to our new house in Skokie this fall and didn't realize that there were vents that ran directly outside that were in the Crawlspace.
Needless to say our floors are cold in the back bathroom and family room.
So I decided to run out to Crafty Beaver down the street and get some Duct tape, insulation and some more insulation. I crawled into the space and realized that I wasn't as little as I used to be and it was really hard to get around. When I finally got to my first destination about 8 feet in and along the back wall, I saw a bunch of gnarly looking cobwebs and gooey goo.
I realized that maybe it was time to hire a professional for this one.

Thanksgiving is Over, Back to work

We had a pretty smooth Thanksgiving weekend with the rentals.
People checked in and out smoothly. I packed up my last box at my old office downtown. It was sad saying goodbye, but I know that it was for the right reasons. The office manager was giving me a hard time about leaving, but that's what they are supposed to do. So now I have some extra dough every month for more luxury lunches at Maggiano's or Blackies.
That's when I get to kickback and read magazine's or just get out of the office for some air.
We said goodbye to my son's pacifier last weekend! It blew away to another world by way of helium balloon. He has been great! Totally accepting of it. It's a big time for him. His first real addiction has been conquered cold turkey. We took a video in case you are interested!
My logo was finished for Amazingrentals.net Now all I need to do is get the name and password from my web designer to start editing the site myself. Let me know your thoughts

Okay time to go through the new pile of paperwork.

Breakfast with Former Neighbor

I just had some breakfast at Sarkis restaurant in Evanston. It's the perfect place to go after a long night of drinking or a long night of drinking. Kinda grungy and greasy.
It was recommended to me from my Sister in Law.
On a lighter note, I am putting the finishing touches on amazingrentals.net in hopes that someone will actually list their vacation property on the site.
Other sites are getting to be very expensive and clogged up, mine is crisp like the virgin snow.
It's a great place to search for bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals online.
It has been an interesting ride, going on a year now. We'll see how it pans out.

Long Day

I collected some money from one of the unpaid parking spaces! yeah!!
Still working on a few other things.
I'm working with a friend on gift baskets to be sold to guests of our short term properties.
I'll roll it out here first. These will be great for rln for next year. I am also excited about opening up at MDA city homes. These are some really beautiful homes that people will love staying in for the short or long term.
Can't wait for the Spring to come!! Hopefully the economy will start showing some turn around by then. Fingers crossed.

catching up

I was tossing and turning last night for a few hours.
Partly because I didn't want the weekend to be over and Monday to begin, but also because I couldn't stop thinking about all the places where I was leaking.
I have a few investment properties that I rent out. Sometimes it's easy to get sidetracked and not follow up on them. I have a few parking spaces that I own and some studios. I have a townhome that has a Sec 8 tenant living there, that is pretty much a major pain in my side (More on that later) and oh yeah, another parking space there too. Along with some other things, I made a statement this morning that I would not necessarily solve all the issues this week, but at least get on top of them and have a solution in place! So I started a spreadsheet, (the answer to all my troubles) and this week I will take control of part of life again.

WAMU WAMU WAMU

I woke up today and immediately started calling WAMU. I couldn't believe what happened on Monday afternoon, it was totally out of the blue and ridiculous.
Basically in 2002 I purchased an investment property using them as my lender, then in 2004 I refinanced my loan. It turns out that they recorded the legal description incorrectly for the refi and misapplied my pin number. Basically they stopped paying my property taxes 4 years ago.
Fast forward to Monday afternoon when the call that came in was from someone that evidently purchased my condo in a tax sale. Rule number one check to make sure that your bank is paying your taxes, that is if you escrow them.
So as it turns out we are a year or so past the tax redemption period.
So wish me luck on getting my place back.
I hope WAMU doesn't stick me with the bill on this one

Arlyn Tratt
RLN World Group Inc.