
Making Friends
If you meet someone new remember their name. I know this is not always easy to do but they will be impressed if you greet them by their name the next time you meet. People like to talk about themselves. It is just human nature, so be a good listener and they will think you are great.
Throughout my life, I have occasionally run into people that everyone seems to like.
To be that person that everyone likes there is one golden rule, “Never say anything bad about anyone.
This is very difficult to do as it is just human nature to talk about others. Always remember when you are saying something bad about a friend, the person you are talking to will be wondering what you say about them.
Never be afraid to offer a compliment.
Often I see something that someone is wearing or something they’ve accomplished that I admire.
A compliment will often make someone’s day and we always like to get a compliment.
It is always interesting to watch the different personalities. Some people are interesting to listen to and others not so much so. This often relates to their level of intellect.
It is always interesting to watch leaders emerge. Whenever you join a new group or become part of a group there always tends to be a leader whether it’s intentional or not it is just part of human nature to be drawn to a leader. This is even true in the animal world whether it’s horses or cattle or any other species as soon as you put a few individuals together a leader will emerge.
It is human nature to want to show your friends or neighbors that new car or toy you just bought.
In most cases, they will politely appear interested and happy for you but with the exception of your Mom and Dad they are probably resentful and jealous.
Understanding how others think will help you through your decisions in life.

Starting a Business
Starting a Business?
Just some filler text for now….Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..”, comes from a line in section 1.10.32.
The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.

Homebound Entertainment
Homebound Entertainment
This COVID-19 virus has many of us working from home or spending more time at home than we like to. I recently discovered the entertainment value in home automation.
We are all familiar with Captain Kirk asking the computer to solve a problem for him.
It is now possible for any of us to have this feature and much more in our home.
You do not need to be a computer wizard. If you are capable of downloading an application to your phone you will have the ability to automate your home with a few simple steps.
Which Platform:
Google, Amazon, and Apple have developed voice command hardware capable of delivering voice response to a request, however, some are better than others. I spent some time reviewing the capabilities of each platform and all are very capable, however, the Google home products seem to win every test I see performed by the YouTube testers. If you are already committed to one of these platforms they should serve the purpose for you.
I found a Google Home Mini on sale for $40.00 and had it set up and running in minutes. I was so impressed. I plugged it in then downloaded the free app to my phone and it stepped me through the very easy setup. I was soon asking it about the weather or how long it would take me to drive to a nearby town. You can have it link to your computer music library or ask it to play a free music station. You can even use it for a home intercom system. For example, you could have one in two or three places in the home. Then from any station, you can do a broadcast announcing that dinner is ready.
I took it one step further and for another $30.00 I ordered a three-pack of Bluetooth plug-ins. Now I can control lights or appliances in the home with a voice command. The setup was easy with the phone application.
The other day we were traveling and were not able to get home before dark. My wife was concerned about the house not having any lights on for the dog. I opened the application on my phone and told it to turn on the living room lights for the dog. When we got home the lights were on.
This small investment has turned out to be a valuable source of entertainment for the family and just might help you get through the next few months.
Ed Boothman

Selling your home
Selling your home.
Over the last forty years, I have gone through the process of selling seven of my homes. This has taught me many lessons and given me some experience that I can share with someone new at putting their home on the market.
First the easy stuff:
If you are dealing with an experienced real estate agent, one of the first things they will tell you is to get rid of some of the furniture as we all tend to over furnish our rooms. You want to have your home furnished as it might be displayed in a typical show home. Get rid of all of those personal effects that make your home unique to you. The knit afghan that grandma gave you and all the pictures of the kids and family strategically placed throughout the house should go. A homebuyer steps into your home trying to visualize it as their home and items like this are often a turn-off.
The most important:
Details are critical. That stain on the rug or those marks on the wall that you have always been going to deal with often become invisible to someone living in the home but they are the first thing that jumps out to a new home shopper. Take a very critical look at the tiny details in your home and where financially practical have them dealt with. Not spending that $50 on paint or the repair might result in receiving thousands of dollars less for your home. I have had real estate agents tell me not to bother replacing the rug in the living room because the new homebuyer may want to have a different colour or style. If that living room rug or floor covering looks awful or it is badly worn, replace it. Even cleaning the windows can contribute to the perceived value of the home.
The smell:
Yes, every home has a scent or smell. Whether it is from the supper that was cooked the night before or just the accumulated smells from previous meals or other items in the homes that could generate odor. This may or may not be critical to the sale of your home however it is something you should be aware of. Do not try to mask with artificial air fresheners as that might be a red flag for potential homebuyers. I have had real estate agents suggest that the smell of home-baked apple pie or fresh bread could give a homebuyer the needed incentive. Depending on the weather the solution may be to open several windows in the home a few hours before it’s being presented.
Using an agent:
Using a real estate agent may be the most practical solution for most home sellers. Through the years I have sold homes through real estate agents and on my own and have come to a few conclusions. First of all, choose someone you are comfortable working with. They will work with you to market your home, rather than simply taking the listing and waiting for the phone to ring. Don’t be afraid to ask how much money they will be spending on newspapers and other advertising to market your home, as they are working for you.
Selling on your own:
This may be more than some would like to take on, however, this has worked for me on a few homes. If you have done your homework and are prepared to do everything yourself, you can save on some real estate fees and put more money towards your own marketing
It begins by thinking out of the box. You have to get one step ahead of the competition. Make up a brochure on your home or have a semi-skilled friend put something together for you with photos and detailed descriptions. Find every “item for sale” bulletin board in your region and paste-up that brochure. Price the home as a bargain. For example, this house has been appraised at X number of dollars. Now the home is selling for X number of dollars less what you would normally pay for real estate fees. Keep in mind especially in this market you’re not going to get your asking price. Figure out what your very bottom line is and then add $2000 or $3000 to that for your negotiations.
Ed Boothman