The Gaslamp Strip Club (It's a Steakhouse!)

Gaslamp Strip Club

340 5th Avenue, San Diego

Many of you are probably thinking that I am now a food critic and no longer a REALTOR! It's not true. I just happen to love food and when I am in a city on a convention or traveling with Rick I get to try new places.

Last night a group of Vermonter's that are in San Deigo for the NAR Convention got together for dinner. We went to The Gaslamp Strip Club on 5th Avenue in the gaslamp district of the city - not far from the convention center. You must understand, the Strip Club is a great steak house.

The steaks are all dry aged and served unprepared. You get to use a community grill to cook your own. The place was a blast and the food was really good. Along with you choice of meat they serve a huge family style salad, garlic bread ready to put on the grill and you can order sides. We ended getting a few sides for everyone to share: White Truffle Mac-N-Cheese (the house signature dish), Three Cheese Mac-N-Cheese, Brocolli and Carrots, and beet battered Onion Rings.

In short, the place was fabulous. The prices were great, the service was incredible and it's certainly worth checking out if you are in San Deigo! You can read more on their website at:

http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/gaslampsteak/

(Oh, and Rachel Ray likes it, so it's gotta be good! - see her video on the website)

Seaport Village, San Diego

Greetings from San Diego! I am in town for a few days to attend the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) annual convention. The convention is being held at the San Deigo Convention Center on Harbor Drive. I am staying at the Hyatt Manchester Grand Hotel and my room has a wonderful view of the city as well as the Marriott Marina.

For lunch I ate at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine - it's was fabulous! I started with Soy Beans tossed in seasoning (salt, sugar, chili's, orange, who knows what else) and then had the Prime Rib Sandwich. It was thin sliced prime rib on grilled sourdough bread with horseradish creme, havarti cheese and bacon jam. It was served with Maui onion au jus and parmesan fries.

Later in the afternoon I had the opportunity to take a walk around Seaport Village and boardwalk area. I came upon a great little cookie shop (leave it to me to find cookies) called Seaport Cookie Shop. They had the cookies on display in the window. I couldn't decide which one was for me, so I got 4! Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, and Walnut Chocolate Chip. I couldn't resist.

With a few more days here in San Diego, I'm wondering what other food exploration awaits!

Dennis Received "GREEN" Designation by NAR

I am excited that I recently received my 'green' designation from the National Association of REALTORS! I took much of the course in Washington, DC in May, and finished with a full day class in September at the VAR Conference in Burlington. Below is the press release:

RANDOLPH, VERMONT – Dennis Brown with New England Land Company, LTD. has been awarded the National Association of REALTORS®’ [NAR’s] Green Designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by NAR.

Dennis achieved this prestigious designation after completing 18 hours of course work designed specifically for REALTORS®. The courses were created in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of industry experts from across the country; ensuring designees gain comprehensive knowledge of green homes and buildings and issues of sustainability in relation to real estate.

More specifically, Dennis was trained in understanding what makes a property green, helping clients evaluate the cost/benefits of green building features and practices, distinguishing between industry rating and classification systems, listing and marketing green homes and buildings, discussing the financial grants and incentives available to homeowners, and helping consumers see a property’s green potential.
“As energy costs rise along with concern for the environment, homeowners are looking for innovative ways to save money and live responsibly,” said Dick Gaylord, NAR’s immediate past president. NAR’s Green Designation was developed in response to growing consumer awareness of the benefits of resource-efficient homes and buildings. The designation helps consumers who care about energy efficiency and sustainable building practices identify REALTORS® who can help them realize their green real estate and lifestyle goals.

As an NAR Green Designee, Dennis has gained the knowledge and the tools necessary to become a trusted green resource for Central Vermont. For more information feel free to contact Dennis at (802) 728-9100 x204 or by e-mail at dennis@newenglandlandvermont.com


For more information about NAR’s newest designation, visit their website at www.greenresourcecouncil.org

Birthday Fun & Great Food!

Patrick's Place - Randolph, Vermont

Friday, November 6th, I celebrated my 43rd Birthday! Like many years in the past I joined my friends Pam and Carolyn for our annual "Birthday Luncheon". Carolyn's Birthday is the 9th, and Pam's is the 11th, so we generally do one lunch to celebrate all at once. So on Friday we met at a local Randolph eatery - "Patrick's Place". It's known for great food, friendly service and good prices. I indulged on a Bacon Cheeseburger and French Fries, and it was delicous!

That evening Rick and I joined my sister and brother-in-law for dinner in South Royalton. My brother-in-law (Gary) had a birthday just two days prior on November 4th (I have lots of family and friends that are Scoripio's!). We decided on the "5 Olde Tavern" on the green in South Royalton. It was a great choice as I have two nephews who work there and so we got to say hello to both of them. We all had one of the evenings specials, the Surf & Turf. The steak was grilled to perfection and very flavorful, and the stuffed scallops were magnificent. We topped it off with desert, and I chose the Deep Dish Apple Cheesecake Pie - yummy! It is certainly worth exploring if you are ever in South Royalton!

This morning my mother wanted to take Rick and I out to breakfast to celebrate both of our Birthdays (Rick turned 50 on October 17th). So, again, we were off to Patricks. I had one of the days specials: Cinnamon Raisin French Toast, with a side of bacon of course (Bacon is my favorite food!). It was amazing. The french toast was really thick and was incredible flavor.

So, now I have to work off all this wonderful food I consumed over the weekend. But hey, what are birthdays for!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Just wanted to wish all my friends, family and business acquaintances a very Happy Halloween! It's such a treat to see all the neighborhood children all dressed up in adorable costumes going door to door with their parents. I am sure to have plenty of candy on hand, and love hearing the little ones say "trick or treat"! Happy Halloween everyone!

McAuliffe -Shepard Discovery Center

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

2 Institute Drive, Concord, NH 03301

I had the opportunity to make my first visit to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center yesterday. My visit was actually to attend a "planning and visioning" retreat for the Board of Directors of the Northern New England Real Estate Network (NNEREN). What a great place to get together to think about the future!

Although I didn't have lots of time to see all of the facility, I did have the chance to view some of the exhibits and to experience the theatre. I was one of the first to arrive and in speaking with the attendant at the front desk I learned that the center is a thriving educational venue for many school groups and other organizations. They hold four or so educational tours each morning and groups come from around New England. I understand they even have a "mobile" touring educational program.

I certainly plan to go back when I have time to browse, shop in the cool gift shop, eat in the cafe (it looked yummy) and just absorb all there is to offer. If you are interested, check out their website at www.starhop.com

"Shanty On The Shore"

"Shanty On The Shore"

After showing property in Northfield this morning, I had to drive up to Burlington to meet a client to get a contract signed. Getting your clients signature on a Purchase & Sale Contract is always a great thing, and certainly worth the drive.

Having completed the task at hand I found myself feeling hungry. A quick glimpse of the watch and I realised it was a bit after noon - lunchtime! After a very brief discussion with Rick (who I took along for the ride - and it gave him time to program his new Blackberry) we ended up at a great Burlington eatery: "Shanty On The Shore". The Shanty is located at 181 Battery Street in Burlington and is always a great choice. The atmosphere is very casual, there's a great view of Lake Champlain, prices are great and the food is scrumptious!

Today I started with a cup of clam chowder ($4.50) which comes with crackers, a roll and butter, and coleslaw. My main course was Shrimp sauteed with olive oil, garlic, scallions and mushrooms and served over linguine. It was fabulous!

So if you are ever in Burlington and need some good food at a great price, check out the "Shanty On The Shore" down on the waterfront!

My Great Nephew - Isn't He Adorable!

Mr. Owen Anderson

Last Sunday a bunch of us gathered at the Three Stallion Inn to celebrate birthdays. Rick was turning 50 and my mother was turning 75! Two important ones for sure. Dinner at the Inn was great, and we had a fabulous time.

Joining us was my Sister and her husband Gary, my niece Stacey and boyfriend Shawn, and my niece Megan, husband Clint and their adorable son Owen! Not yet 8 months old and he is such a happy baby. Starting to show some nice front teeth, and still a joy to be around.

Makes me feel kinda old - seems like just yesterday that this little ones mother was the one getting all the attention! Time does fly!

Happy Birthday, RICK!

RICK CARRIER Turns 50!

For anyone that missed it, Rick turned 50 on Saturday, October 17th!

REALTOR Annual Convention

Well, well....it's been a long time since I posted. Summer has been crazy busy and life just happens! I am going to make an attempt to update this blog at least twice a week...I think I can do it!

In November I am going to be attending the National Association of REALTORS annual convention and exposition. This year it's in San Diego. It should be fun, and it's always very informational.

Portuguese Bakery - Provincetown, MA

Ever heard of Malassada's? They happen to be one of my favorite treats! Malassada's are a Portuguese fried pasty dough that they roll in sugar - yummy! It all starts with a pasty dough conisisting of flour, sugar, egg's, milk and butter. Then the dough is fried, and then tossed in a bowl of sugar. They are best served still warm.

Provinvetown, MA has a stong Portuguese Heritage and the "Portuguese Bakery" is a must stop for visitors strolling along Commercial Street.

The contact information is: Portuguese Baker, 209 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657 Phone: (508) 487-1803

State House Food Garden

Roger Allbee, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture

(PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TIMES ARGUS)

I was delighted to see an article in "The WORLD" newspaper on May 27th entitled "Vermont Dedicates First State House Vegetable Garden".

It appears that a newly formed citizens group in Montpelier heard that the Vermont Statehouse had two large flower beds that were going to lay fallow for the year due to state budget cuts. So the group gathered support and planted 420 square feet of gardens with vegetables. In the gardens you will find chives, parsley, red cabbage, early bush peas, carrotts, scallions, swiss chard, beets, mustard greens and lettuce.

The garden will be tended by volunteer members of the citizens group, calling themselves APPLE, and all the food that is grown will be donated to the Montpelier Food Pantry.

This is just another awesome project that makes Vermont ahead of the curve on the "Green" movement, and shows that Vermonters really care about mother earth, and each other.

Read more about it here: http://vtstatehousegarden.wordpress.com/faqs/

Memorial Day Lunch

George & Barbara Bush - Monday, May 26, 2009

Monday morning, Memorial Day, Rick and I were watching the morning news. Rick suggested that since it was such a nice day that we take a drive to Maine and have lunch. So we did. We got in the car and headed out a bit before 9:00 AM. Our first stop in Maine was at Kittery Trading Post - not to spend any money, but to browse - it's a great store.

We then proceeded to Ogunquit and down to Perkins Cove. The thought was to have lunch at the "Oarweed" restaurant. We found a parking space and as we walked from the car we were suprised to see George & Barbara Bush who had just finished lunch at a nearby eatery. They were cordial and said hello to everyone as they made their way down to their boat. They waved to everyone as they got ready to leave, and Barbara actually took out her camera to get a picture of all the folks taking pictures of her!

Anyway, after visiting with some local folks about lunch, they suggested we go up to Mike's Clam Shack - some of the best food in town. So we did. The Lobster Pie was great, and the Clam Chowder wasn't bad either! We then drove up along the coast to Kennebunkport and got some pics of the Bush estate (and the boat was back home!) before heading into Portland. From there we decided to take Route 302 back to Vermont. A little diversion took us over the Kancamangus Highway, but we arrived back in Randolph around 9:00 PM. It was a great day trip. :)

Thinking "GREEN"!

The National Association of REALTORS now has a "green" designation. I just returned from taking the designation course in Washington, DC. It was amazing!

With a world population of 6,750,000,000 (yup - thats BILLION!) it has never been more important to conserve, reduce and reuse everything in our day to day lives. Take for example that the United States of America manufactures approximately 10,000,000,000 (yup - thats BILLION!) plastic water bottles per year, but we only recycle 1,000,000,000. Only 10 percent get recycled, the other 9 BILLION end up in the landfills.

There are MANY ways that each and every one of us can live a "Greener" life, and they are simple things to do. Try using a re-fillable water bottle just for starter. Use re-usable grocery bags and don't accept plastic at the store.

Here's a few interesting facts:

• 1 hour of lawn mowing omits as much polution as driving a car 350 miles!
• Americans spill 1 million gallons of gas each year filling gas cans!
• Food travels and average of 2,300 miles to reach your dinning room table!
• The oranges you eat in Florida usually come from California! (Florida oranges make juice)
• Running a clothes dryer takes 200 cubic feet of air per minute out of your home.
• Phantom Loads (power to TV's, VCR's) while appliances are turned off are energy hogs!
• Properly inflated car tires save $$ on the gas bill.
  
  

I hope to start including some "green" tips in my newsletters, so e-mail me to get on the list!

Great Camp or Weekend Getaway For Sale!

Anyone looking for a great weekend getaway? Rick and I are considering selling our camp!

It's located just off Route 12 in Brookfield on 15+/- acres of land. The first floor of the camp consists of a large open living room/dining room area, updated kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. The second level is one large open and unfinished room.

The entire property is off the grid - no power for about 8/10th's of a mile. There is gas heat, lights, water heater, stove and fridge - so most of the comforts of home! Water is a gravity fed spring, septic is an engineered system with septic tank and leachfield (all new in 2003).

It's a great place to relax on the weekends - we have had many family cookouts! Could also make a great hunting camp, or summer residence. E-mail us for more information and additional pictures. ( denrickvt@comcast.net )

OWNER IS A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER IN THE STATE OF VERMONT!

It Just Aint Right!

OK, have you ever seen something that just doesn't seem right!?!?! Well take a look at this photo. Yup, it's a lawn sale with a COFFIN! Maybe it's just me, but this seems a little spooky!

Montague Golf Club

Montague Golf Club, Randolph, Vermont

Yesterday afternoon I decided I need a break from sitting at my desk. It was the first day of 2009 to hit 70 degrees in Vermont, and I needed to get outside. I took a drive down to the Montague Golf Course which is under new ownership this year. It was a bright sunny day,and the parking lot was full. It appears that lots of others were looking to get out and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather as well as I.

There was lots of activity around the clubhouse. Golfers loading up carts, a worker cleaning up by the front steps, and another getting the barbaque grill ready for a Saturday cookout! The grounds look good, the clubhouse has been all shined up and they are ready for a new season!

According to Montague's website they are the second oldest operating golf club in Vermont!Check it out online at www.montaguegolf.com and maybe pay them a visit!

The Most Amazing Bookstore!

Powell's Bookstore - Portland, OR

I was recently on a business trip to Portland, Oregon. Two full days of meetings, and not a lot of time to take in the town, but I heard from my driver about "Powell's Books". So, Friday after my last meeting I had a couple hours to kill before heading to the airport for my red-eye flight to Vermont. The bookstore was within easy walking distance from my hotel, so I decided to go see for myself. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but this place was amazing!

I went in the front door and was greeted by the most friendly staff you could imagine. I asked if they carried "The Black Swan" and they immediately directed me to the "Orange" room, and said I would find it on the end-cap of row 534. It took me a few minutes to get to the "Orange" room, but there it was - several copies of the best seller!

I soon found out why people were talking about this bookstore. There is a entire area dedicated to walk in customers looking to sell their books. It was amazing to see the line of folks holding boxes of used books that they were waiting to sell to the store. The store covers an entire city block, and you could spend DAYS looking around the place.

The website is http://www.powells.com/ and here is how they describe the store on their site:

Powell's City of Books is a book lover's paradise, the largest used and new bookstore in the world. Located in downtown Portland, Oregon and occupying an entire city block, the City stocks more than a million new and used books. Nine color coded rooms house over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.

If you ever find yourself in Portland, don't miss it!

What An Amazing Voice!

Susan Boyle

Yup, Susan Boyle. I am sure you have all heard of her by now. She appeared on the hit British television reality show "Britians Got Talent" on Saturday, April 11th. Immediately judged for her looks and composure, she later "blew the audience away" with her sensational voice. She has now become a celebrity around the globe and has been appearing on television shows all week long, including Larry King just last evening where she sang again - amazing!

If you haven't seen the clip that has been circulating on youtube and others, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk Be sure to check it out if you haven't already.

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing Everyone A Happy Easter!

Vermont First To Legislate Same Sex Marriage

Senator John Campbell and House Speaker Shap Smith

Tuesday, April 7th will be a day in history for Vermont. This is the day that the Vermont Senate and the Vermont House of Representatives voted to override the Veto by Governor Jim Douglas of the Marriage Equality Bill.

The previous week both the Senate and House has voted by large margins to support Same Sex Marriage. However, as promised, Governor Jim Douglas's veto of the legislatio sent it back to the legislative bodies for a veto override - and they did it! The Senate voted 23-5 and the House voted 100-49. Same Sex marriage becomes law on September 01, 2009!

It took great courage and leadership in both legislative bodies to get this measure passed. We owe many thanks to our leadership in Montpelier for a job well done.

Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa have all allowed Same Sex Marriage, but in each of those cases it was done judicially. Vermont was the first in the nation institute full marriage equality legislatively. Once again I am proud to be a Vermonter and to be on the right side of history.

Governor Douglas To Veto Marriage Bill

Governor Jim Douglas at a press conference on Wednesday.

The Vermont Legislature appeared to be headed toward passage of a Same Sex Marriage bill this year. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 26 in favor, 4 opposed. There were more Republicans voting for the bill than against, proving that civil rights cross party lines.

The House of Representatives is set to take up the bill next week, but in a surprise move by Governor Jim Douglas, he held a press conference to announce that he will Veto any such bill that lands on his desk. This is a huge set back to Vermonters.

I was shocked to hear the Governor say that he would Veto the bill. I personally think that he is trying to interfere with the legislative process by intimidating legislators to split along party lines and to support his personal beliefs. This is wrong. Let the elected officials representing all Vermonters the right to have open honest debate, hear testimony and then pass bills as they see appropriate. Once it is on the Governor's desk, then he can act on it.

I was so disturbed by the Governor's actions that I wrote him a letter and hand delivered it to his office the very next day. It is beyond me how he can not see this as a civil rights issue, and I have told him such.

Who is in a better position to stand up for Vermonter's civil rights than the Governor? If you have strong beliefs about the Same Sex Marriage legislation, please contact Governor Douglas's office.

Governor Jim Douglas

109 State Street, Pavilion

Montpelier, VT 05609-0101

Phone: (802) 828-3333

In VT: 1-800-649-6825

E-Mail: http://governor.vermont.gov/contact.html

It's Springtime!

One of my favorite times of the year - springtime in Vermont!

Every year I seem to get excited knowing that spring has arrived. And today, March 20th, is the first day of Spring! After a long cold winter we are now enjoying longer daylight hours, more potent sunshine, temps in the 40's and above, and mud - a true sign of spring.

Town meeting has passed, maple producers are starting to boil, and people are in a good mood. There is such good energy this time of year. The snow will soon be gone from my yard, the crocus and daffodils will soon be popping up, and the trees that have been dormant all winter will begin to bud. Easter will be here soon. Sping always seems like a new beginning.

I really enjoy this time of year!

Gotta Love This Warm Weather!

Wow! What a beautiful run of weather we have had for the past 5 days! It has been beautiful here in Central Vermont. Lots of sunshine, high temps hitting the 50's, and everone is in a good mood! There certainly is a sense of hope and optimism when the seasons first start to tell us that spring is on the way!

Sugarmakers are boiling sap and producing that fabulous Maple Syrup, and soon the crocus and daffodils will be in bloom. A wonderful time of the year - getting to see everything come back to life!

A few rainy days in the forecast, and perhaps more weather in the 20's and 30's, but we have had a taste of warm weather and know now that spring and summer really are just around the corner!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

Wishing my friends and family all the luck

they could ask for!

Feeling A Little Blue!

It finally happened. I was sick. REALLY sick. There seems to have been a nasty flu/stomach bug going around, and I got it. I can't ever remember being so sick. Yuck! I was awake all night, very frequent trips to the facilities, and I had barely enough energy to stand up. I was feeling blue. It's been four days now and just starting to get my energy back.

I must admit, I'm not a very good sick person. I kind of like to whine about it. I don't like to have to get off the sofa or out of bed, and I really don't like to be told what to do to get better. My body tells me when it's time to eat, sleep and move. For a couple days I barely moved.

I was elected to the Selectboard!

I did it! Tuesday March 3, 2009 was Town Meeting Day in Vermont. I was on the ballot running for a seat on the Randolph Selectboard for a 3 year term. Although it was a cold blustery day, I stood outside the polling place from 7AM until 7PM, the hours that the polls were open, with the exception of the 2 hours for the town meeting itself. At the end of the day the residents of Randolph voted me into a seat on the board. The final vote count was 472 votes for myself and 281 votes for my challenger and incumbent, Ken Goss. Below is the article that was on the front page of "The Herald" on Thursday:

RANDOLPH BALLOT SURPRISE
Big Victories by Flint and Brown over Thompson, Goss

In a rare revolt against incumbents, Randolph voters tossed two sitting selectmen out of office Tuesday, perhaps reflecting a conviction that the selectboard had become too conservative.

At the same time, voters approved all town and school budgets by large margins, and they approved all of the requested "Special Appropriations."

Both Selectmen Del Thompson and Ken Goss were defeated for re-election, and by very similar - and very large - margins.

Carol Flint defeated Thompson by 465 votes to 291; and Dennis Brown defeated Goss 469 to 277.

Flint has been a member of the budget committee but has not held elective office in Randolph previously, though she narrowly missed being elected last year. Brown had been a selectman for four years in the 1990's and had been on both the Planning Commission and Development Review Board.

Speaking just after the results became known, Thompson said his impression was that voters felt the board had become too conservative. Both he and Goss pledged to continue working constructively with the town.

It was the second year in a row that two new selectboard members came aboard at one time. A year ago, the election of Stephen Webster and Joe Voci created a selectboard with a more conservative majority. The new board immediately took a different road than the previous one by electing Webster to be chairman instead of Jim Hutchinson, with Goss voting with the majority, and then by taking a different approach to improving the town offices.

The new majority block in the selectboard was solidified after the untimely death of Hutchinson, who was replaced by Thompson.

Carol Flint, who had been narrowly defeated by Voci at Town Meeting, asked to be appointed to Hutchinson's seat on the board, but she was never interviewed for the position.

This years turn out was far lower than last year - just 803 voters compared to 1380 last year. That 51% turnout was sparked partly by a hot controversy over where to build municipal offices. A 25-vote majority agreed to authorize moving to the former co-op building on Pleasant Street.

That sentiment, however, was set aside by the new selectboard, in an action that was much criticized at the time. Since then, good progress has been made to enlarge and renovate the town offices in the current site.

The various town and school budgets all passed by wide margins of two or three to one. That included the three budgets that had been removed from the main budget - the ambulance service, the library, and the cemetery department.

The special appropriations also passed, most of them easily, even though several were increased from last year and some were new requests.

The closest vote was for $5000 for the White River Craft Center. That vote was 392 in favor and 378 opposed.

The selectmen and Town Manager Gary Champy have predicted that, even with the approval of all appropriations, the town tax rate should not increase this year.

Note: The final vote count in "The Herald" was a preliminary number. The vote count that was certified for myself was 472 to 281 for Mr. Goss.

Nintendo Anyone?

6:00 PM on a snowy Sunday night in February - time for a serious game of SuperMario. OK, I admit, I am dating myself. Most of my younger friends and relatives probably don't even know what Nintendo is. Playstations and XBox are more in their age range. But for those of us that grew up when Atari (remember pong!) was the rage, Nintendo was a huge step! And I still have my trusted Nintendo as a winter time companion.

I decided tonight was night to take Mario, so I sat down and zipped right through the first 3 Worlds. I was on a roll. Then I got to the 4th world....oh no! I always get hung up on that damn phase 4.3 - and tonight was no different. Anyone familiar with this? Here is the phase:

There is one place near the beginning that you have to make Mario run super fast and jump at the same time....I am just not coordinated enough. I lost three men doing this. I quit. Mario went back in the tv cabinet and might just stay there until a snowy night next February!

Oh - and does anyone remember PacMan? I used to spend all my quarters (and my parents too) in a silly PacMan game. I was addicted.

OK, off to watch it snow some more.

Honored by Carolyn's Support.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

As I mentioned in an earlier posting, I have decided to run for a seat on the Randolph Selectboard. Elections are held on Town Meeting Day which is Tuesday, March 3rd.

I am honored to have the support of Carolyn Tonelli who was Chair of the Board for many years. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve the town as a Selectman under her leadership. I wanted to share with you a recent Letter to the Editor in this weeks "The Herald Of Randolph":

Dear Editor,

How delighted I was to learn that Dennis Brown is running for the Select Board.

Randolph is such a special community with so many dedicated citizens working to make it even better. I consider Dennis to be one of the most dedicated of those citizens. How lucky we are that he is willing to serve again on the Select Board. I think we all know what a difficult, time consuming (need I say thankless) job it is. And Dennis knows from experience, yet he is willing to serve again during these difficult times when our town needs wisdom and experience.

A life long resident of Randolph, Dennis is hardworking, compassionate and tireless, always giving back to our community by serving on countless committees and boards over the years. But he not only cares about our community, he did hands on work for the victims of Katrina and other disasters.

In addition to his long public service, he has the most essential quality needed to serve on the Select Board: he is an open minded, respectful listener. He doesn't have "agenda's"; his desire to serve comes from the purest place: making Randolph a better place to live for everyone.

I know this from a very personal place. When Dennis and I served together on the Select Board, I always knew he would listen to all points of view, think clearly and propose creative solutions. He was always completely respectful - of other board members, town employees, citizens - even when he disagreed with them. He always worked for consensus, and would be the first to volunteer for committees and extra work. And he got the work done.

Again I say how lucky we are that Dennis lives here and that he is willing to give back to our wonderful town. Please vote for him!

Respectfully,

Carolyn Tonelli

RUHS CLASS OF 1984!

RUHS CLASS OF '84 YEARBOOK

It seems hard to believe, and I almost don't want to think about it, but come June, 2009 I will have been been out of high school for twenty five years! Goodness, where did the years go!

I graduated on June 8, 1984 with a graduating class of 96 students. Many of my classmates have moved away from Vermont, and many remain - most of the ones that stayed in Vermont are in the greater Randolph area.

Late in 2003 with the help of our class Vice President, Barb Wiggett Baumann, I started to locate classmates and build a database in order to start planning our 20th class reunion. Unfortunately 3 graduates are deceased, but we managed to locate 79 of the remaining 93. We held two events for our 20th reunion - a semi-formal dinner and music, and then a family picnic day. It was great fun and was a blast to see everyone after 20 years.

Now we are in the planning stages for our 25th reunion this year. At least this time we just need to dust off the database and start making phone calls and sending e-mails. Many have kept in touch over the years, and others are chatting each other up on Facebook - what did we do before social networking?

I am looking forward to helping plan our events for later this year, and it's always fun to see folks after many years have passed. I just can't believe I am that old!

It's Race Day!

Today is the Daytona 500!

When I was in my teenage years I was a huge race fan. I loved to go to Thunder Road for the Thursday night weekly races in the summer. Some weekends would lead me to races around New England - Oxford, Maine was always fun. But one of my favorites for the American Canadian Tour (ACT) was Catamount Speedway in Milton, Vermont. Catamount has since closed and the property developed, but Thunder Road, the nations site of excitement, in Barre, Vermont still has weekly races. Although I haven't been for years, I am thinking that it might be time again. I do enjoy watching the Daytona 500 on television, and I am sitting here wondering if I should try to get tickets to next years race. I have been to Daytona, but never for a race. It is one of the things on my "to do" list, or is that my "bucket list". I do have family and friends in Daytona and around Florida, so maybe I should go. Humm, now I better start planning.

HAPPY VALENTNIES DAY!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

to all of our family, friends, and favorite people!

Dennis & Rick

Reality Television

Is it just me, or do Reality television shows help us get through the winter months? It seems as the years go by I become more and more content to cuddle up in the recliner with a blanket and watch these all-so-popular reality television shows. It helps pass the snowy cold nights!

Years ago I loved to watch the good old shows: All In The Family, Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, The Jeffersons, Hogans Hero's, Alice, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Dukes of Hazard, Dallas - You know the ones. I also loved the Golden Girls, then Will & Grace, and the list goes on. And for afternoon entertainment today you can't beat Ellen.

But there is something about "reality" television that keeps me watching. The folks on these shows are just like me, well some are. Perhaps I should try to get on one of these shows. After all, some of them pay $1,000,000 to the winner! Here are my thoughts on my favorites.

You certainly wouldn't see me on American Idol. My cat's don't even like to listen to my singing, say nothing about Paula, Randy, Simon and what's-her-name. It wouldn't be pretty. But maybe I could get on TV during the auditions and make a name for myself? I guess not.

Sometimes I think that Survivor would be the show for me. But there are a few problems: I could never eat bugs, I hate bathing in a lake, I haven't yet seen a Marriott on the show, I don't like bugs, I hate snakes, I don't like being cold at night, I like steak with my rice, I don't like to fish, I can't go more than two weeks without a haircut - well, you get the picture.

OK, I think that The Amazing Race might be more appropriate. After all, I love to travel, have done a fair amount of it, and I really love to see new places. They give you money, you get to sleep in beds, shower daily and you are always with a partner. The only problem is, who would I take with me? I would probably take Rick, but he doesn't like my driving. Maybe I should just stay home!

I never watched the biggest loser until this season - and now I am hooked. I need to lose 20 pounds and it seems like a lot, but these folks can lose that in a week! I would hate the diet they put you on, I hate structured exercise programs and I really love to eat. I guess I will pass on this one.

Well, it's 8:00 PM and now I have to get to my recliner. There is one piece of Cheesecake left in the fridge and I will have to watch the Biggest Loser while recording American Idol.

It's Time To Get In Shape!

I went for a walk today - only 2 miles, but it's a start.

I'm in that mood again. Like most people I know, my diet and exercise routine depends on my mood at the time. There are months of great exercise and a healthy diet followed by weeks on end of laziness and junk food binges.

My trip to Hawaii in November and December was a great start to the winter. I ate right, walked every day and felt great. Then it was back to Vermont and cold weather. Much easier to stay inside and cuddle up with a book or a good movie. And, of course, winter makes me crave comfort foods! I ate lots of "make me feel good" dishes & too many deserts. The fabulous food combined with the lack of exercise helped me pack on 18 pounds. They go on so easy.

So now I am praying for warmer weather so I can get back into my walking routine. I have a GREAT walk that has lots of challenging hills, and round trip from my house is just over 6 miles. It is a fantastic workout and if I stick to eating healthy I could drop the desired weight in three months or less. I guess it all depends on willpower. And I know I have the willpower.

OK, gotta run. I still have some Belgian Chocolate Cheesecake in the fridge!

OK, It's My Addiction!

How many of you have played Phase 10? OK, I admit it, I'm addicted! But what else is there to do on a cold or snowy Friday or Saturday night during the long Vermont winters?

This is one of the most fun card games on the market today. For those not in the know, this is what the game is all about: each player is dealt 10 cards numbered 1 through 12. You must then work your way through 10 phases of the game completing each phase before moving to the next. Each phase consists of a different grouping of cards that you must complete, such as "2 sets of three", "run of 8", etc. Each set is s certain number of cards of the same number, and a run is a series of cards in numerical order. There are also Wild cards that can be played as any number and Skip cards that allow you to skip another player for one turn - these are the mean cards! Once a player has used all of their cards in a round, the other players are scored on the value of cards that are left in their hands. Wild cards are the highest in value at 25 points each and it seems like I get stuck with plenty of them!

The object of the game is to be the first player to complete all 10 phases. If two or more players happen to complete the last phase (Phase 10) in the same round then the person with the lowest score wins. I used to play a similar card game using two regular decks of cards and we called it "Aggravation" - probably a better name for Phase 10.

Although the game takes a lot of strategy and attention to the other players, it also involves an awful lot of luck! A typical game with 4 players takes about and and hour, sometimes 90 minutes. Rick and I often play this game with my sister and her husband. It's really a fun game, a great way to pass some time and I would suggest that you all give it a try!

VT REALTORS LEGISLATIVE DAY

The Vermont Statehouse

Every year the Vermont Association of REALTORS (VAR) holds a one day Leadership Symposium followed by a Legislative Day for all Vermont REALTORS. I consider myself fortunate to be a member of the Board of Directors for the VAR and to be able to participate in such incredible events.

On Tuesday (02/03) the leadership of the VAR and all the local boards in Vermont gathered to learn about the dynamics of leadership, how to run meetings, and much more about the industry as a whole. After a day of speakers, education and networking we enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Main Street Grill in Montpelier. Following dinner we were entertained by the VERY funny comedian Jason Lorber (http://www.vermontcomedy.com/). Jason also serves as a Representative in the Vermont House of Representatives. This made the evening in the states Capital city even more eventful.

Today was the actual Legislative Day and members of the VAR gathered at the Vermont State House where we able to communicate directly with our Representatives. We were fortunate to have a representative of the VAR along with the Vermont Home Builders and the Vermont Bankers Association testify before the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs. Testimony was taken from the three organizations as to the current state of the housing market including home prices, inventory levels, new housing starts and the availability of financing. Following the session the REALTORS hosted a luncheon for our Legislators at the Capitol Plaza. A huge thank you goes out to my two Representatives in the House, Patsy French and Larry Townsend for joining us at this event and expressing great interest in the state of the housing market.

It is always exciting to visit the Statehouse and see our government at work. The Statehouse really is the peoples building and it is a fabulous place to visit.

I am lucky to live in a place where we know our Representatives on a first name basis, where I can work full time in a career that I love, and to be able to serve the REALTOR organization to help others have as fulfilling life as I do.

The Monday "Owl" Photos!

Today, Monday afternoon around 1:30, my next door neighbor called my office to report a new form of wildlife in the neighborhood. You must understand that although I live right in the village, we frequently have 20 or more turkeys, and a half dozen or so deer roaming around on the back lawn. Well, this time the neighbors spotted an Owl. I rushed to my house, got out the camera and went to the neighbors house. Sure enough, across the road and in another neighbors yard was an owl sitting on some kind of metal object in the back yard.

Equipped with a birding book the neighbors were pretty certain that it was a Great Horned Owl. I suggested that a Barred Owl would be more likely, but couldn't tell myself by looking at it with binoculars. So I went across the road to another neighbors driveway and got as close as I dared without spooking this amazing find.
It didn't appear frightened of my presence so I snap a couple of photos and retreated back to the house. Inside I mentioned that I thought I got a good shot as it was looking right at me.


After a little more discussion about what kind of owl it was, how long it had been there, and how still it was sitting, I decided to see if I could get even closer.
This time I went from a different angle. I was headed down the driveway of the house across the street when I spotted the homeowner. I asked him if he had seen the owl on the lawn of the property next door. He had not, so the two of us walked around the back of the house, past the garage to a spot where I would be sure to get a close up view of the bird. And I did. To my surprise, it was made of plastic! Yup,
that's right, plastic. It has been there for months. I laughed so hysterically that I didn't even bother taking a close up, but I did crop the decoy in my pics so we could get a closer look - here it is:


So the neighbors and I will likely just keep watching the deer and turkeys and not try to hard to spot new wildlife.

THE KIDS!

Over the years many of you have heard me talk about my two beloved cats, Alex and Isaac. They are basically like children to Rick and I and we love them dearly.

The first cat of my very own I got when I was 13. It was spring of 1980 and I was at a farm with my father to purchase seed potatoes for the garden. A big gust of wind blew and slammed a barn door shut, almost catching a tiny little barn kitten when it did. The old Vermont farmer picked up the little critter and tossed it to me saying "take this kit'n home 'fore it gets kilt".

I will never forget looking at my father to see if it was ok, but what was he supposed to say - the old gent had just givin it me! :) So, we headed home with this absolutely loving cat which I soon called "Tator", named for the Potato farm where he was recently born.

Tator was grayish in color with tiger kind of stripes and big double paws. He loved to sleep on my bed, drink milk, lay in sunny windows and wake me up promptly at 6AM every morning with a deep yawl. He would kneed the blankets if I didn't respond. He was determined to disallow morning sleep-ins!

On Christmas Eve in 1992 Tator had a seizure and was later diagnosed as diabetic. We started administering insulin shots on a daily basis and he lived a wonderful and happy life. We eventually lost Tator September 25, 1997.

So, eating lunch at Wendy's one Saturday afternoon the following year, Rick said "we need to get another cat". Oh my god, I was so excited! The search began and over the follow couple of weekends we logged 1,000 miles on my new car looking at kittens all over New England. We eventually discovered a breeder in Lempster, New Hampshire that raised kittens as a hobby. She was a full time nurse but had a great set up for her hobby at her house. Clean, neat and very healthy kittens. It was here that we found a handsome little kitten already named Alexander.

ALEX - Born June, 1998

Alexander, whom we now call Alex, is a Persian. His color is known as Shaded Silver, but he really looks almost completey white at first glance. He is certainly a lap cat and wants to be with you wherever you are. Try sitting in my recliner at night without him at your feet! He has big green eyes, a quiet little meow and he likes to watch the birds outside the living room window.

One early summer day in June, 2001 we received a note from the breeder that included some pictures of her newest litter of kittens. There was this adorable little blondie that had the brightest blue eyes at the time. Immediatly we could justify getting a "friend" for Alex. So we drove to Lempster and looked at the little guy in person. He was the sweetest kitten ever. So we agreed to adopt him and we returned in July to pick him up at 6 weeks old.

ISAAC - Born May, 2001

We named the newest addition to our family Isaac. He is an Exotic Longhair and he has a huge personality. He likes to be brushed, loves to follow you around the house and talks really loud. He doesn't like to be ignored, loves his treats and likes to lay on the table in the sunporch.

Now you know all about the little ones that we have at home. They really are our babies!

AM I CRAZY?

AM I CRAZY? My dear friend Carolyn Tonelli once ran a newspaper ad with that as the heading. Why? Because she was running for a seat on the Randolph Selectboard! Carolyn's ad obviously got some attention because she went on not only to win a seat, but severed for several years as the Chair of the board. I consider myself privileged to have been able to join the board during her chairmanship. I worked closely with Carolyn and I ended up serving the community for nearly 6 years as a Selectboard member.

Now, about 8 years after I left the Selectboard, I have decided that it is time to run for election once again. This year there are two positions on the board who's terms are ending. I have decided to run for a 3 year term. My decision to run isn't based as much on my unhappiness with our current town leaders as it is with my strong belief in community service, and the encouragement that I have received from friends over the past couple of years. I really do enjoy being able to help guide the town that I know as home. I was born in Randolph and have been here for all of my 42 years. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to serve in the past, and hope that the voters of Randolph will support my efforts once again.

Randolph is a great community. Small town with a big personality. We have the luxury of having a fabulous state college (http://www.vtc.edu/), a hospital (http://www.giffordmed.org/), excellent schools (http://orangesw.k12.vt.us/), Chandler Cultural Center (www.chandler-arts.org/) and an active town government (http://www.randolph.vt.us/). Oh, and they have one GREAT Realtor (http://www.randolphvtrealestate.com/) - That would be ME!

So Carolyn, if you are reading this, do you think I am CRAZY???

IT'S A BLIZZARD OUT THERE!

3:45 PM - Rick cleaning the first 8" from the deck.

4:30 PM - Clearing the paths, getting ready for 8" more!

WOW, what a storm this is turning into!


Winter in Vermont - and it sure looks it today. The weatherman forecasted 12" - 18" of snow for Central Vermont and it looks like we will get every bit of it. It started snowing in Randolph around 6AM and hasn't let up yet.

All this snow certainly is pretty, but it seems like a lot of hard work the older I get. It used to be fun when I was a teenager! Now I understand why we have family and friends that either winter in Florida or have moved there permanently. They are probably relaxing by the pool!


I haven't spoken to my sister today, but I am sure she just LOVES this snow. Not! I don't think I have ever seen anyone that hates snow more than her, yet like me, she is here in Central Vermont! Probably because most of our families are here.

Welcome To My Blog!

Rick Carrier & Dennis Brown

Welcome To My Blog! I finally got around to setting up a blog. This will be a great way to keep in touch with family, friends and business acquaintances, and to share my life experiences. I am fortunate to have such a wonderful life filled with the perfect balance of work, travel, family, friends and community service.

My career is important to me and you will read shortly about changes happening with my business. I am very excited to be making a change in the near future and will share this with all of you very soon. The real estate business is ever changing, and I think that we will see many changes in business models and practices over the next couple of years.

I will also be able to share with all of you the great trips that I get to take. Rick and I love to travel and I will try to post updates and photos of the places we visit.

Check back often as I hope to update this site at least weekly, and maybe even more frequently.