NEW FLORIDA RESIDENT BLOG

When we got married and had our reception at the Ritz Carlton Beach Club, being in a suit and tie seemed weird to me.  So I opted for the suit with no shirt and no tie - in my defense, I had had a few adult beverages and made that decision on the fly.  Now half a decade later that photo adorns the wall in the dining room and makes every Thanksgiving a bit awkward for some. Of course, now I have the opportunity to ensure my son makes none of these mistakes.  However, he is often seen in a bow tie and dress clothes, while playing in the Gulf of Mexico.  I guess that's the thing about Fllorida in general, and Sarasota specifically, if you aren't bothering anyone dress how ever you feel comfortable. But please wear a shirt at the Ritz.      

An open house is the perfect opportunity to showcase your property to local real estate agents and home shoppers. To prepare for the big day, homeowners stage their place in a way to make it more appealing to guests. Staging a house is a huge endeavor. It involves deep cleaning, depersonalizing, and decluttering every square inch of the property. Because it takes so much work, there are always things homeowners overlook before the big day. But, if you’re nit-picky about these open house preparations, your home will stand out among the rest.  Remove Pet Odors from Carpets When you have pets, it’s easy to grow accustomed to some of their less-than-desirable attributes. After all, who cares about how they smell when your dog has such big, beautiful eyes and that cute, wagging tail? However, if potential buyers walk in and notice pet odors, they’re likely to turn around and walk back out. Remove pet odors from your carpets and rugs with an enzymatic cleaner you can find at a ...

Growing up by the John Adams and John Quincy Adams homes, on the South Shore of Boston Harbor, has probably made me think twice about good home maintenance.   Both Adam's houses were built in the 1700s and look better today than many places that are brand new.  I actually thought both homes were better than the one I grew up in, and my childhood home was "new" - to be fair in my neighborhood "new" could mean; built in 1925. No matter where I grew up, I probably would have been interested in the Adam's Houses and the sacrifices they both made to establish and make America free.  As a kid, I would love history class and was always on the edge of my seat for the midnight ride of Paul Revere and his iconic shouts of "The British are coming".  Of course, as an adult I learned that Paul Revere had actually been arrested by the British and never made that ride.  But, it's still a great story. When my commander in the Army Reserves called me to say...

Welcome to paradise. I remember my older sister telling me once that "President Carter came on television in a sweater and mom and dad turned the thermostat down forever."  That was the same year the highway speed limit was reduced to 55 and that really upset Sammy Hagar.  I guess slower speeds were supposed to reduce energy consumption but, eventually calmer heads prevailed and the speed limit went back up. Especially in the Sunshine State. I drove across Alligator Alley once with my cruise control set at 88mph and I didn't pass a single car. But some thirty vehicles blew by me, a few as if I was standing still.  Based on this experience I have developed a theory that the speed limit in Florida is the temperature plus 2, but only if you're driving a convertible.  Of course, I can't be sure because I have NEVER been pulled over in a motor vehicle in the state - so it could just be a wacky theory. At any rate, Sammy Hagar must be pleased.... My Websit...