Things That Do Nothing for Your Home's Value-- Part 2

From the 9-13-13, Yahoo! Finance/Destination Home "Five Home Features You Should Skip."

1. Fireplaces (Well, we have a double-sided one)

2. oil heat (Does whale oil count?)

3. Built-in Mirrors (I'm S-o-o-o-o Vain.)

4. South-facing windows, skylights and doors (What they got against the sun?)

5. Wall-to-Wall carpeting (I don't care, I like my w-t-w carpeting and Empire wouldn't be happy if I didn't.)

I Tell You, It's Like They Looked At My House and Made Up the List. I'll Probably Never Be Able To Sell.  --RoadDog

Things That Do Nothing For Your Home's Value-- Part 1

From the 9-27-13 Yahoo! Finance/Destination Home "Five Projects That Lower Your House's Value."

1. Converting bedrooms into other spaces (Well, I have a an extremely cluttered study in one of our bedrooms)

2. Hot tubs (Well, we had one, it leaked and we got rid of it)

3. Colored trim and textured walls (Not me)

4. Children's theme room (No kids, so no problem here)

5. Too much landscaping (Uh-oh. Really got me here.).

Guess We're Not Going to Get Much. --RoadDog

Bah Humbug Here on Pine Street

I don't know exactly what happened to the Christmas spirit here on my street, or at least what happened to the outside decorations. At one time, just about every house was ablaze from one end to another as well as all over the yards.

This especially applied to my neighbor Juan who moved in the year after us. That first year, I held my own with him decorating. It got to be sort of like Home Improvement's Tim Taylor and his competition. But, by the second Christmas season, he buried me. I surrendered and let him have the decorating crown for the block and was content to be second best.

However, the last three years he has put less and less up. And this year I see nothing.

My neighbor Dan across the street also had lights all over as well as reindeer and a sled on his roof. But, Not No More. He has a Christmas tree in the window, but that's it.

Perhaps, it is advancing age. I notice that ladder climbing isn't as easy anymore. Maybe, it's the increased electric rates? Maybe the spirit just isn't there anymore?

Anyway, old Pine just isn't as colorful anymore. However, the next street over to the south, Elm, is a Christmas wonderland.

My Stocking Hat is Off to Elm, No Longer a Nightmare. --RoadDog