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In 1983, I was 13 years old, and each year I watched the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament with my dad every year.  My dad was really pulling for NC State, but we were very worried, when they were matched against the number 1 ranked Houston Cougars.  Houston’s team was so talented; they had a nickname of the “Phi Slamma Jamma”.  They had two players who became legendary in the NBA, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.  NC State led actually led at half time, but the Cougars went on a 17-2 run to start the second half, and took a 43 to 35 lead, but State fought back to get the score tied up at 52.  In what was the most thrilling play arguably in the history of college basketball, NC State heaved a 30 foot pass towards the basket that was actually deflected by Drexler, but caught in midair and turned into a made shot in one fail swoop by Lorenzo Charles.  This game winning play led to mayhem on the courts and the famous scene of Jimmy V. running across the court with his arms open wide.  Me and dad woke mom up and got in a little trouble, but it was worth it and I will never forget it.

My favorite basketball game ever was on June 9, 2009. I attended this game. It was the Orlando Magic versus Los Angeles Lakers. This game is the only finals win the Magic have ever had. This game was a Magic home game and our seats were about 10 rows back. The Lakers were winning the series 2-0 at this point. This game was so intense; the Magic didn’t win the game until around the last minute. They played an incredible game on defense and offense. The energy at the game was incredible and I am so grateful that I was able to attend.

Today was a very unique day. It started of normal, a day like any other day. I woke up next to my wonderful boyfriend. I gave him a big smooch and then headed off to the shower. After I showered and got dressed, we headed to work. While there we learned there was a shooting and a young boy from our neighborhood was shot and killed. It was very disturbing to find out he died alone so young. Needless to say we had very little business and the place was like a graveyard all day. Me and my boyfriend then decided to make plans for tomorrow and enjoy a nice activity.

Radon is the second greatest cause of lung cancer according to the Surgeon General and is a very real threat that exists in every area of the country. It is a radioactive gas that is invisible and cannot be detected without testing, so it is imperative that you have testing done. Radon is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is caused by the natural decay of uranium in the ground, rocks and water and naturally exists underneath the earths crust. Once formed it moves through the ground until it reaches the surface.

Radon gas decays until it becomes radioactive particles that can be breathed into your lungs. These particles can then break down further causing small bursts of energy that damage lung tissue and after prolonged exposure cause lung cancer. Not everyone that is exposed to radon gas will develop lung cancer and some may not develop this deadly disease until many years later. Studies conducted by the National Academy of Sciences suggests that more than 21 000 deaths occur each year by radon induced lung cancer. Research suggests that breathing in radon gas is not the only danger, as drinking water containing radon can also have devastating effects.

There is no level of radon exposure that is considered safe and yet one in fifteen homes in the United States is said to have an elevated level of Radon. I’ve seen some homes in the Firelight, Highlands Ranch neighborhood where one home tests with hardly any radon at all, and the home right next door has an extremely high reading.

Radon gets into homes from the soil and ground beneath them. There are many points of entry that allow gases to seep into a home such as the openings and spaces around sump pumps or drains, holes or spaces around utility fixtures such as pipes and wires, crawl spaces and cracks in the floors, walls and foundation of a home, and any other spot where air can get through.

Homes with well water are susceptible to high levels in their water supply, which can lead to elevated overall levels of gas in the home.

Any home, whether it is new or centuries old, air tight or filled with holes, whether it has or does not have a basement can potentially have high radon levels. There is no way to predict whether a home may have high levels of radon, there are no ways of knowing for sure whether there is radon in a home or area without testing for it.

The Surgeon General and EPA strongly suggest that every home be tested for this invisible but potentially deadly gas. It is recommended that the lowest levels (below the third floor) of every dwelling be tested to ensure that there are not elevated levels of radon present that will put occupants at risk.

If an initial short term test is conducted and levels of radon are below 4 pCi/L (picocuries per litre) than no further testing needs to be done at this time. It is wise to periodically retest a home as radon levels can change.

If the first short term test shows a level of 4pCi/L or higher (which means if there are 4 pCi/L there are an estimated 12 672 radioactive disintegrations in just one litre of air in a 24 hr cycle) than further testing should be done to verify the results. A second test showing high levels indicates that action should be taken to correct the problem. Some homes are constructed with a radon resistant design, others can have renovations done to make the home more radon resistant. This can include the installation of ventilation systems and fans that circulate and clean the air.

For the health of your entire family it is important to know that your home is safe from radon gas. Once testing is done you can breath a sigh of relief knowing that the air you breath is not dangerous.

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Here is what makes a walk out basement different from your usual underground basement. If you are building a home in Boulder Colorado & it is on a sloping piece of property, or on a hillside, you can create an extra living space where a cold dark storage area would be. A walk out basement sits on top of the ground, or out from a slope. It definitely takes a little more planning than just digging a hole in the ground, you have to excavate, then refill, and build up and around.

Every other aspect of building is the same, except where the front of the house is, at the higher point, the yard and drive may be short, because the property would open up from the back, where your walk out basement would be. It would open up to a porch or patio, and you could even have a balcony extend from the upper floor. The more work you were to put into it, the higher the value of your home would get. Put in a bathroom, and finish at least one bedroom, it could raise the value of your home thousands of dollars.

While it does raise the value of your home, it could also raise the property taxes as well. If you are considering adding this feature to your home, you may want to check ahead of time. You should also have a home inspection right after the excavation and resettlement of dirt, to make sure you have adequate support, and that the new landscape is compatible with other projects you have in mind.

With some careful planning, a walkout basement can be a welcome addition to your floor plan, and can open up space for things like guest bedrooms, an office or den, or even some kind of work area. If you are creative and put in a rudimentary kitchen area, you could even rent this space out to someone in a pinch, or a private in-law quarters. In these times when it is hard to know if you are going to be able to pay your bills, this could be a profitable idea.

You can find out much more detailed information about walkout basements, including floor plans, video, and pictures on the internet. You will need to talk you your realtor, and your lender about these ideas, and find out if it will fit in with your homeowner’s warranty; some adjustments may have to be made. Check with your local government agencies for a qualified inspector, and they can help you with other useful tips and information. You should also hire a contractor that is familiar with basements like this; they will be able to make something that will last a lifetime.

A walkout basement can provide you with much more use than an ordinary basement. It can be as bright and cheerful as any other part of the house, and you do things as a family, even if you are doing the laundry, or working from home. Often it will simple be more valuable as an office space, considering how many people are starting to work from home.

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My first was a successful date-nearly 10 years. Me, a sissy, the meeting called on his brother’s friend, classmate, became acquainted with the one party. Incidentally, we are almost even party not talking, just exchanged a few courtesy phrases.

But first we had a date-charming in Boulder CO. We wandered through town at night, looking at stars. Listened as he talked about the stars, their distribution and seeking a role that on the night they were so prominent. We even went on a nine-house roof, to be even closer to the stars. Then sat a grass and looking at each other’s eyes. By bringing together have the courage and lips.

There was also a second, third, tenth or even hundredth Dating – and for two years. Unfortunately, life is not limited to the stars and peep kiss in moonlight.

While the 2006 NBA playoffs will be remembered for Dwayne Wade’s heroics during the NBA Finals; my favorite series was the semifinals contest between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. Game seven was truly the ultimate showdown. Slowed by fatigue and old age and a long series, the Spurs were blown out in the first half while the younger Mavericks seized control. But the Spurs, like true champions, made a comeback. Relying on their stars Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, the Spurs roared back to take the leading going into the final minute of the fourth quarter. But then the unthinkable happened: a mental error. Ginobili followed Dirk Nowitzki, allowing the Mavericks to tie the game on a traditional three-point play. The Spurs lost in overtime, but those final moments in regulation of game seven were a microcosm of the entire series.

What is a Homeowner’s Warranty? A homeowner’s warranty is an insurance policy that covers many unforeseen circumstances when buying a home. It is basically a plan to cover costs like if your furnace breaks down right after you move in, or the plumbing backs up into your basement because a tree root broke through your pipes.

Homeowner’s warranties are ideal for many first time buyers, especially those who have little or no experience with all that owning a home entails. You have to do regular maintenance, keep up on things like changing filters on the heating and air conditioning, making sure your chimneys are clean, etc. Once all the closing costs are over, and you are in your house, you can’t call the seller about any more problems, so what are you going to do?

A homeowner’s warranty can cover the high costs of repairs, which many can’t afford soon after they have purchased a new residence. Many times a homeowner’s warranty costs much less than have to fix something on their own, and getting coverage is well worth it. Where you live will depend on whether you pay for it or the seller does, and in some cases, the Boulder Realtor may offer a short-term warranty as a closing gift.

While individual plans may vary, a homeowner’s warranty works basically this way. If something in your house breaks or stops working, like your furnace, or refrigerator for example, the homeowner would call the warranty agency and tell them the problem. They call would call a company that they work with that performs repairs, and the repairman makes arrangements with the owner to access the problem. They fix it if possible, and depending on coverage, the warranty company pays to replace and install the item. The only fees charged to the client would be any service charges, usually less than a hundred bucks.

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Continued…

There are some basic things that simply are not covered by homeowner’s warranties, unless specifically mentioned. Sprinklers and other outdoor items aren’t covered, permit fees, hiring people to haul away debris, and not all plans will cover things like a washer and drier, or a garage door opener.

There are reasons why you may be denied coverage, improper installation of appliances, or systems, unusual wear, and not doing regular maintenance. There are many things usually covered by homeowner’s warranties, anything from air conditioning, or heating, to electrical systems, and things like stoves, or telephone wiring. This coverage varies from state to state, so you should check with your local insurance agent.

If you have any problems with your homeowner’s warranty and can’t get it resolved through the insurance broker, your realtor may be able to smooth things over and get you what you want. You just have to make sure that if you feel something should have been covered, and you did everything you were supposed to do, make sure you don’t take no for an answer. If something was altered, and you didn’t do it, it may have been something the inspector missed that the previous owner had modified.

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Got my movie fix last night & rented a movie…

A nineteen year old boy becomes one of the most daring and outrageous con man in the U.S history, this was the story of the movie ‘catch me if you can’, which was based on a true story. I watched it last night and it was great movie. How could it not be when the star cast boasts of actors like Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and Christopher Walken. The movie showed the early life of Frank William Abagnale, who had cashed 4 million dollars in fraudulent checks before he was 19. The movie was fast paced, with some exciting chase sequences between Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio. It was hard to believe that the story of the movie could be real, a teenage boy traveling half the world, making millions and meeting gorgeous women. Steven Speilberg’s direction was spot on. Every scene was crafty. All in all an awesome movie.

When we lived out in California we loved going to the drive-in movie theater, especially if it was a nice night out.  Well, a couple of years ago we moved out to Las Vegas and just recently found out there is a drive-in theater out here.  Last month we decided to check it out.  This drive-in was a much cleaner place than the one we went to out in California.  Even the bathrooms were clean!  The price was $6.25 per person over 11yrs old and 10 yrs old and younger were only $1.00.  There is 5 of us, so we got in for $20.75 and got to see a double feature which is awesome and cheaper than going to the regular movie theater.  The movies we saw were just released.  We got to see GI Joe then after that was Transformers.  $20.75 to see these 2 movies!!!  What a deal!  We take our beach chairs and blankets and our own snacks and drinks.  It’s a cheaper way of seeing the movies and sitting outside in the nice air is good too.

It’s hard to find a good drive-in theater these days. Sometimes I wonder if it would be a good investment to buy an old one and fix it up (or even do a fix & flip). I think it could do really well.