Holtz Realty

As I’d expected, the City crews were not out yesterday to at least do a once over on the streets to remove the slush, so therefore we now have streets that look and feel like driving over endless washboards of ice.  I do hope our temperatures rise enough this coming week, which it looks like they won’t, or we’ll be doing our share of bouncing around on side streets until we have another thaw.

It gave me the shivers when seeing an SUV with a pull-behind trailer deep in the ditch at the bottom of N. Eisenhower hill at the 12^th St. NW intersection.  I hope there were no injuries.  Just as I drove past, there was the driver of a tow truck scratching his head and likely thinking, “How in the ‘H’ am I going to get them unhitched and out of this ditch!”  There was another vehicle across the intersection also in the ditch.  I’m sure they lost control of their vehicles last evening in that cold rain and heavy wind that was making for “greasy” road travel.

We sometimes find we need to have things happen more than once to make sure they’re hardcoded into our memory banks.  While I was getting my hair cut last week, my barber asked, “How did you get this cut on your scalp?”  “Well, I somehow forgot that when it’s very cold outside, the hydraulics on my vehicle’s back hatch doesn’t raise as high as normally, so I got another gash similar to one I received several years ago.” I replied.  He laughed and said he’d done nearly the same thing with his trunk lid, only he didn’t hit it hard enough to draw blood.  Yes, we can laugh later about the careless things we do, but they’re not so pleasant at the time.

Still having cracked corn at my office, I filled another pail and drove off to feed the “duckies” late this morning.  It sure didn’t take long for them to recognize me and my vehicle. Before I’d even stepped out of my car, some of the drakes were taking short flights to get to me first.  After I made another long line, I noticed another car pulling up behind mine and it appeared the driver was taking photos of them in their head-over-heels feeding frenzy.  Looking at his age, I’ll not be surprised if he’d posted it somewhere on Facebook today as I am with the above. Those ducks really do “quack” me up.  I’d forgotten the sound ducks make when they’re excited about something.  Audibles surely can send our memories racing back to the past.

For today still being part of our three day Holiday weekend, I was busier than expected with real estate.  There’ll be a very nice residence coming on the market the end of this week.   I suspect it won’t be on the market very long since it offers a three car garage. Those three stalls can make quite the difference with a home’s time on the market.

For some reason I’ve always remembered the 26^th as being Boxing Day, which really isn’t always the case should Christmas land on a Friday or Saturday, since it’s technically supposed be the first day after the weekend following.  Did you do any “boxing” today?

Waking up to this crazy weather this morning was an unexpected sight.  I do hope those who are traveling any great distances are being all the more careful on the roads.  If anyone with any possible understanding as well as memory, would certainly know global warming is having an impact on our weather patterns.

Just in the short drive I took today in the rain and wind, it reminded me of weather conditions we would rarely experience during March when Spring is trying to shed Winter’s frozen hold on North Iowa, but never to be expected at December’s end.  Not too many years ago we were starting to see ice storms, but now with the temperature so warm, we’re getting rain.  I read where it’s supposed to be 40 degrees today.  I do hope the City gets out and clears off some of the slushy side streets before it freezes again.

Having decided to take a break from Holiday festivities this year since my mother’s passing, I spent about as quiet a day as possible to simply remember and reflect.  My rarely played piano was growing weary of my nearly two hours of non-stop playing of random pieces of familiar music.  The bulk of them were Christmas songs.  I’ve discovered one thing for sure, and that’s getting my piano a long overdue tuning.  It’s just one more example of how we loose track of this supposed linear movement of time.

My next hour or so was spent on reading the last third of a book I’ve been working on in my spare time.  I purchased it at a book store about six months ago and now that I’m really into it,  I wish I’d taken several days off and read it from cover to cover.  Nearly all books that are based on scientific research can be daunting at times because they’re usually filled with references and footnotes, but after one grows accustomed to them, they become more readable.  This particular read has confirmed many suspicions I’ve had over the years as to why certain things happen which defy coincidence.  If the book ends as I believe it will, I’ll be ordering about ten of them to give as gifts to people who possess a far greater understanding than I do of why things are the way they are.

While coming back from my short trek out of town to deliver the absolute last of my Christmas gifts, I decided to drive the long way home by taking a few blacktops.  Without paying much attention, I found myself driving towards the Ventura Grade.  Fortunately I had my camera with me just in case I’d see something worth sharing with all of you.  Since I’ve not been over to the Grade during the Winter for many years, I didn’t realize the number of muskrat mounds there are dotting the Ventura Marsh.  After seeing them, I decided they’d be worth the above photo.  While driving back, I began to wonder if they’re even trapped anymore.  Their pelts were quite sought after back when I was young, but as you know, many tastes have changed since then.  With that said, “Merry Christmas 2016 from the muskrats enjoying their sleepy day deep in their mounds at Ventura Marsh.

Early this morning I delivered the last of my Christmas gifts and hope those to whom I’ve given are happy with my tokens of appreciation for simply being the people they are.  Not to worry for you all who’ve not received something from me in this time because I’ve been known to freely gift throughout the year.  I’m already on the hunt for an appropriate piece of glass or ceramic for one of my dear friends.

Since I still have that big bag of cracked corn at my office, I took another bucket of it over to East Park so to fatten the ducks and now the geese. The geese must have realized what they’d missed out on yesterday by keeping a safe distance from me. Today they were right in the thick of it all.  I was sure to take my camera with me this time so to get a few good shots that I’ll share with you all another day.

Most don’t realize how many of our foul, like chickens have a pecking order within their groups.  Today there were were ducks driving away the weaker just as the geese were.  Wild ducks and geese must be more aggressive towards each other than our common domesticated varieties.  When we raised ducks and geese on our farm, there was a hierarchal order in their flocks, but they rarely exhibited it aggressively.  The weaker ones always knew their place by not challenging the more dominant of their flock.  Yes, there was always that “oops” when one of them didn’t realize there was a king, queen, prince, or princess walking up behind them.  They’d get their little pinch and that was all it took for them to quickly bow and move away in submission.

A gentleman whom I hadn’t spoken with for many months caught me on the street and proceeded to relay quite a bit of gossip he’d likely been holding for me.  My biggest surprise was hearing about a man who died well over a year ago leaving his home to one of his neighbors.  I guess I’ll not wonder any longer why his house wasn’t listed for sale.  I suppose leaving his thoughtful neighbors his house was a drop in the bucket compared to the size of his estate.  I had a pretty good idea what his assets were after having listening to him brag about his holdings whenever he had an itch to go looking for newer and better living quarters. Like I’ve said before, there are those with far more coin in their pockets weaving in and out of our public’s eye without giving any of us even the slightest idea of their monetary wealth.  I shouldn’t have said to the gentleman today, “I was sorry to hear of his death, but I always found him to be overly bitter whenever I was around him.”  Oh well, he was who he was and I hope he’s found his happiness.

On a whim, I took a long drive to a North Iowa church so to attend their Christmas Eve Services.  Unfortunately I was about seven minutes late due to not realizing how far it was from Mason City.  As with many of our area communities, there’s a real shortage of organist who are able to play those historic organs remaining silent in our area.  When I turned and looked up to the choir, I could see a massive pipe organ that wasn’t being played today of all days, but rather someone typing on a digitalized keyboard with all of its orchestral sounds.  Unfortunately there’s a new generation growing up within our churches who have no idea what a true religious experience it is to hear a real pipe organ being played as an accompaniment to the hymns being sung by their general congregations. Hearing real organs, violins, or clarinets in churches create a far deeper and memorable musical/religious setting than those canned or digital musical instruments that are being installed in churches today.  Earlier this year, I had quite the musical experience while attending a historic church and listening to, as well as feeling the vibrations of its organ that was being played by their new twenty-something organist.

I wish you all a quiet and blessed night while celebrating Christmas Eve of 2016.

It certainly wasn’t a pleasant experience to be driving to work this morning with the sleet coming down.  I’ll never understand why people drive in weather like this thinking they’re in the midst of blue skies and dry pavements.  Around noontime someone mentioned there were already ten accidents reported in the area.  There was one particular guy riding my bumper just a bit too close this morning who was likely in a hurry to get to work after seeing him finally turning off at the hospital.  I wonder if he takes his job in the medical field as lightly as he does driving on dangerous roads.

My showings today were a little quirky with the snow, slippery steps, and un-shoveled sidewalks.  I wouldn’t say it was the most pleasant experiences for all of them, but at least they didn’t call and cancel at the last minute after I’d already left the office.

Another box of edibles arrived at my office just as I got back in from shoveling the sidewalk for the second time.  I do appreciate the thoughtfulness of those with whom I do business. It sure doesn’t seem like a whole year has gone by since last Christmas, yet in other ways for me this time around, seems years ago.

My computer was alerting me I had emails waiting to be read so I sat down and opened the in-box.  To my surprise I received a hilarious Christmas Greeting from a well known who can say some of the most wickedly funny things.  I almost fell off my chair in laughter after reading the last few lines.  I quickly replied, “Thank you immensely!   A good heaping tablespoon of organic wickedness does help to heat up our spirits.”  After reading it over again, I couldn’t help but giggle again and say to myself, “Somebody gave you more than a tablespoonful this morning.”

Since I was going to be in the East Park area today, I thought I’d take my camera along just in case there’d be something worth a photo shot since we were having such a heavy yet beautiful snowfall.  I took one that I thought was good, but then noticed ducks down near the river, so I turned and headed down the lane leading to the river.  To my surprise, the ducks were hurriedly heading right towards me.  For a moment I didn’t have a clue what they were doing until I realized they were hungry and believed I was bringing them something to eat.  I took a quick photo of them on the run before I turned around and drove off.  I could see their beaks drooping as they slowly waddled back towards the shoreline.

Their disappointment in me was soulfully bothersome for an hour or two until I finally caved and went over to Fareway looking for cracked corn where unfortunately there was none to be had.  Not giving up, I drove out to Tractor Supply where I knew they’d have a bag.  Well they did, but the smallest was a 50 lbs.  Still determined I’d feed those ducks, I drove back to the office, carried the bag of corn into the back and went searching for a five gallon pail.  I filled the pail, put it in my car, and off to East Park I went.  There they were again, but a little less eager to waddle my way until they saw me get out of my car with pail in hand.  Oh did they come running!  Like on the farm, I poured a long thick line of cracked corn in the snow so they wouldn’t be creating a pile of wings, feet, and butt feathers fighting to get their share as I hollered, “Merry Christmas!”

The only thing I wished I’d done, was to bring my camera with me.  Looking at them from a distance, they looked like a serpentine line of feathers in motion. At a glance you’d of thought some giant Parisian stage girl had dropped her feather boa in the snow.

Every so often when a sale is closed, there are those little extras that must be attended to before I can truly say the sale is finished.  I had a recent closing of a vacant home which went very well, but unfortunately the seller hadn’t rounded up all the keys.  After three or four phone calls, I did manage to get one set from a neighbor that I delivered yesterday, and the other from a relative which I delivered today.  I’m a little more particular about making sure keys are rounded up just for the sake of security for the new buyers.  With all the craziness that’s happening in our world, one can never be too careful about keys floating about.  I was finally able to say the file is closed.  For it being only 3 days before Christmas, I actually have appointments thru Friday.

In reading the recent national real estate news, it sounds like the serious buyers are still out there looking in spite of the recent hikes in mortgage interest rates.  I mentioned something to someone today about how we’ll be on a sort of maiden voyage of what to expect when our new President takes office.  I feel as though we’ve taken a huge step all the way back in time to when our Country was founded.  They were all playing it by ear back then, and I think we’ll be doing similarly in the foreseeable future.

I ran into someone Downtown today and had a quick chat about how our local media is sliding downwards into the pit of poor news reporting.  It’s almost as though they’re chasing each other to see how low they can get.  I was quick to mention how many people I’ve spoken with who really hate those online comment sections on news stories.  They’re nothing more than platforms for people with hidden agendas who’re looking for a way to tell the world what’s on their minds, and it’s usually always something very negative.

Even in my profession, there are people who’d rather tear someone else down in hopes they can make themselves seem “taller” like Putin.   About 10 years ago I sat in on a newspaper interview with a highly regarded person in our community.  Several days later when I read the article, I said, “Wow. What happened in that interview was certainly not reported in an unbiased manner.  The reporter created a negative “feel” of the person being interviewed.”  It was just that one incident that made a believer in how reporters can re-make stories into something that borders on being headliners on the fronts of those nasty magazines being sold in the aisles of check-out counters.

I continued on today with my surprise gift giving.  For some reason, I’ve always preferred giving than receiving. I think most of it comes from my childhood where gifts were not so freely given or received.  For years our household was a one gift per child affair.  I don’t think any of my siblings considered themselves lacking.  With the advent of commercialized Christmas, we’ve nearly forgotten what this time of year is all about. Shouldn’t we be focusing more on getting our friends and families together so to nurture and refresh those very bonds that’ve kept us together thru thick and thin?

The above photo is of the Christmas tree in my office window.  I consider it a beacon of hope during these long and dark nights.  I thought it appropriate since this night is our 2016 winter solstice.  Tomorrow, the sun will turn around and start marching itself back north again.  Thank Goodness!

Well, it looks like we all lived thru nearly 24 hours of very cold weather.  When I got up this morning, I was not surprised to see my outside temperature gauge reading -21 degrees.  Fortunately the wind subsided enough to where we didn’t have an even colder windchill effect.  It wasn’t fit outside for man nor beast and hopefully there weren’t any freeze kills of pheasants and wild turkeys.  I could have sworn I saw a quail under a bush which was likely trying to stay alive.  I have been noticing more of them these recent years.  I do hope this is the last of our arctic vortexes for the winter.

I’m not sure how others handle the extreme cold, but I’m of the stripe that gets noticeably crabby.  I think my crabbiness arrives when my feet and hands get so cold, they begin to grow numb. While in conversation with one of my clients today, I had to apologize for being a little on the sharp side.  I’m glad I did because it was very evident to him.

I actually managed to finish up a report today that I had promised to have submitted before Monday arrived.  Nothing like waiting until the last hour.  I’m normally not like that, but with the Christmas around the corner and this recent storm, it seemed to take a back seat to higher priorities.  I’m glad it’s finished so I can start the week out fresh tomorrow morning.

Today’s article about Alex Kuhn in the Globe Gazette made me very sad.  People who’ve never interacted with those who suffer from bouts of depression have absolutely no idea how crippling it can be.  I knew him well enough to say he was a visionary who wanted the absolute best for Mason City.  As with our most recent elections, the viscousness that took place out of the public’s eye certainly must’ve have weighed heavily on him.  People like him don’t come along often, and when they do, it’s our duty to commend them for their extra efforts.

There was something quite funny I read today about a man who was so much into himself that he penned in a comical fashion, his dubious abilities.  The following are some of his statements. “I’ve made extraordinary four-course meals using only vegetables and a tag sale toaster oven. I build large suspension bridges in my garden for  stray cats breeding under the porches of my neighbors. Using only a hoe and a glass of water, I single handedly defended a small village in northern Mexico from an army of ferocious fire ants. I breed prize-winning oysters.  I cook thirty minute meals in twenty. Years ago I discovered the meaning of life but forgot to write it down.”  I thought his into-himself comments were appropriately laughable for our cold winter’s night.

Believe it or not, I actually noticed children and adults on the East Park sledding hill this afternoon.  Yes, have our share of winter lovers in North Iowa.  Since I knew I’d be in the area of East Park, I made sure to take my camera with me in hopes to get a shot of something worth sharing with you all tonight.  I drove off the well-worn path towards the Winnebago River and noticed the water quickly freezing and giving off steam from the great difference between air and water temperatures, and there they were.  A flock of water birds clustered at the shore and likely while shivering, in unison wishing their river to remain their fluid realm.  It was quite the sight seeing those sub-zero quackers trying to stay warm in the midst of our second and more intense arctic vortex.

Quackers or not, we are experiencing first-hand the effects of global warming and it’s going to get worse before better.

It was written a number of years ago about how global warming will create more radical weather patterns, and I think we’re seeing it today with not only having it so terribly cold earlier than normal, but also the arctic air masses that have arrived twice already.  We haven’t even hit the official start date of Winter! I certainly got my workout with the shoveling this morning.  I couldn’t be out in it very long due to the extremely cold wind trying to freeze my hands and feet.  After hearing one of my clients tell me the wind chill is supposed to be -30 degrees tonight, I began worrying about people and animals. It never seems to fail when it’s so cold that there are furnaces going out and houses turning dangerously cold.  Let’s all hope for once there’ll be no outages in North Iowa during this extreme cold spell.

My public open house at 507 – 4^th St. SE was more of a success than I’d expected considering the weather. Everyone in attendance was surprised by all the updates.  The kitchen is what I think is the real selling point.  The half bath on the main floor is also a bonus since most turn-of-the-century homes only have water closets on their second floors.  Every time I’m in the home, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling about it.  I’m sure it’s because of all the light entering it as well as its room sizes. Of course the beautiful oak woodwork and floors are a bonus.  It’ll get sold, but I do hope whomever purchases it takes as good care of it as it has been since it was built.

One of my clients sent me an e-mail today regarding a book he’s been reading.  I thought the subject of his current read to be quite a coincidence since my words to you last night were about how reporters create discord by putting such nasty thoughts into the minds of their readers.  The book he’s reading is called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  He speaks about how everything you say, hear, and do, makes and imprint on you, as well as other other people, and in the end, going out into the entire universe.  We are supposed to already know it, but refuse to practice it all the time.  Interesting concept don’t you think?  I’ll have to do some of my own investigating on the author as well as his book.

Several of my customers stopped today to chat and during our conversation, his wife mentioned something about making dinner tonight.  I asked, “What’s for dinner?”  She said, “Lasagna.”  Instead of just letting it go, I continued on by asking how she makes it, what ingredients she uses, and how it’s baked.  The more we talked about it, the more I could see that aromatic lasagna in my mind to the point I could even smell it.  After they left, I suddenly realized why the multiple questions.  There’ve been numerous times when I’ve been invited to gatherings where lasagna was being served.  Believe me, I’ve seen some pretty scary attempts being made at creating one of America’s favorite casserole meals.  In remembering just a few, I’ve found the pasta overly dry from being in the oven too long. I’ve discovered it too mushy and soft to where it gets goopy and mushy.  I’ve even seen it with so few ingredients, it looked like pasta shells with a jar of spaghetti sauce poured over it.  Fortunately my visitor today makes everything from scratch with the exception of the pasta shells and meat.  She and I both agreed that Italian sausage is the best of meats to use. Isn’t it funny how just the mention of a familiar meal like lasagna can invoke all our senses when talking about it?  Do you think the Medici’s served lasagna at table?

I thought I’d share the above photo, so to remind us all what today’s weather was like when out sweltering under next summer’s sun.