“Repurposing” or Making this do that.

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Larry Starbuck

It has been brought to my attention that something called “repurposing” is something that is very popular right now. Since I consider myself to be a progressive conservative with liberal leanings toward the proven methods of production I want to know more about repurposing. It appears that repurposing is: “To use or convert for use in another format or product.” An example would be to turn an empty milk jug into a lunch box for your husband to carry to the oil rig but probably not back home. It would seem that you could take some old Coke bottle caps and make earrings to give your wife for the next wedding anniversary or should I say the last anniversary. Maybe we should find more practical applications that have a positive effect on personal relationships. I didn’t grow up in the upper crust of society so it occurs to me that I’ve been repurposing all my life. I converted an old glass door to a slide when I was about five years old that last one good slide but at least I’ve got a scar under my eye that has been a good conversation starter through the years. It would not be out of line to proclaim that I’ve been a repurposing all my life having grown up in and around the salvage business. I might even have a leisure suit in my closet. As a REALTOR® I repurpose your “rent” money into “equity” to help you build “financial security” and that beats pasting old candy wrappers to a notebook any day. Give me a call and let’s talk about that kind of repurposing. By the way, I don’t have a leisure suit any more.

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Christmas Group Therapy

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Larry Starbuck

holly_bell_pa_300_clrI have a cartoon on my desktop right now that is entitled “Christmas Group Therapy”. In it Santa Clause decries, “I don’t believe in myself.” Rudolph complains, “All the other reindeer call me names.” Frosty the snowman believes himself to be bi-polar and the elves feel like they are in a dead end job. Having been is some form of people work all my life I’ve noticed that the holidays sometimes cause us to lose sight of what is really important. If we spend all our time thinking about ourselves or our own abilities it is easy to become depressed or arrogant depending on your self-esteem level. I want to share my own little “Christmas Therapy” program. Say “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” to everyone you meet and that includes the ACLU. Drop your change in the red bucket in front of the store because it will do more good there than on top of your dresser in the ugly clay vase you made in the third grade. Put an extra check in the offering plate at church or adopt a family less fortunate (yes, there are those less fortunate). In short “treat others like you’d like to be treated” this Christmas even if they don’t reciprocate. Please, regardless of your religious persuasion don’t be naïve and think that renaming it Xmas and putting up a “holiday tree” is an improvement of the story of God coming to earth as a baby in a manger to save us from sin and ourselves. Even if you don’t believe the miracle don’t deny the positive influence it has had on civilization for a couple millennium now. It is easy to become cynical and anyone can do it. It is far better to embrace the joy of the spirit of giving with a smile on our face and love in our hearts. If you can’t do it that way then just think how much fun it will be to irritate that old sour puss with a big smile and a joyful “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”

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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 !!!

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Larry Starbuck

2011_into_2012_400_clr

So how are those 2011 New Year’s resolutions working for you?  Every year about this time people start to work on their good intentions for the next year.  Hey! What about all those good intentions we had for last year.  Did we lose that hundred pounds? How are those guitar lessons coming? Are all the credit cards paid off? Have we remembered to send cards to everyone on those special occasions? In our Bible reading are we getting closer to the end of the Old or New Testament?  I know the garage is clean, the fence is painted, the yard is manicured, closets are in order, and we’ve been helping around the house daily. RIGHT? OF COURSE – not.  We had very good intentions last year when we set our goals but we aren’t exactly where we had hoped to be at this time.  We had hoped to use the adding machine instead of the copy machine on 2012 list but alas here we are.

Most of the time our new year resolutions go something like this:

2005: I will get my weight down below 180.
2006: I will watch my calories until I get below 190.
2007: I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 200.
2008: I will try to develop a realistic attitude about my weight.
2009: I will work out 5 days a week.
2010: I will work out 3 days a week.
2011: I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.

2012: I will get my weight down below 230

I’ve decided to make make my November 8, 2011 resolutions to be followed by November 9 and so on because it’s not to late.  I may not be able to lose 100 pounds by the end of the year but I can lose 10! I can learn a few new chords and pay off a little more debt.  I can send a card to everyone I care about before 2012 “just because”.  I can read daily and I have to start over being a better spouse everyday anyway.  Good intentions are a daily thing so I, as a fellow pilgrim, challenge us to keep our November 8, 2011 resolutions and November 9 and you get the picture.  By the way if one of your resolutions involves Real Estate give me a call.

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