Living the Good Life In Georgetown Texas

This morning at approximately 10 am, a small plane reported to be a Piper Cherokee crashed into the side of the Echelon I office building located at the intersection of Highway 183 and Mopac(Loop 1).  The 7 story building was engulfled in flames and smoke could be seen for miles.  The office complex included several buidlings including the headquarters for Keller Williams, howerver the KW offices are not believed to be located in the building that was hit by the plane.  You can follow the live feed from local station kxan.      photo from news report

Here we go again, just another day.  Had an inspection scheduled today for a house I have listed.  Actually it's a re-schedule, the house was a remodel and wasn't quite ready last week, so extended the option period another week to give the seller's contractor plenty of time to get the house ready.  You know the drill, always anticipate what can go wrong, so....... I spend an hour on my Sunday checking the house, find that the power isn't on , the HVAC thermostat isn't there, and not one, not ONE DAMN thing has been done all week.  Call seller, he calls contractor and excuse after excuse they promise that the house will be ready Monday afternoon.  Inspection is 3pm. 

Of course, I reschedule my Monday morning so I can check on the progress. Good sign, when I get there, there are 3 pickup trucks, a front end loader and 2 loads of dirt dumped in the driveway.  POWER IS ON! I check with contractor, everything will be done in plenty of time.  I bite my tongue and dont' comment on the fact that he had all week...

Come back an hour before inspection, trucks gone, dirt spread, so far so good.  Inside is a mess, but at least the 15 punchout items seem to be mostly done.  There's even a thermostat on the wall.  I notice it's off... turn it on... nothing.  Find manual.. try again... nothing.  Call contractor, he says he couldn't make it work either so he was gonna call manufactuer tomorrow!   I won't repeat my conversation at this point.

Call seller, tell him the situation, he's at work can't get away,, just take care of it he tells me.  No problemo, it's what we do.

So......I call the service company I normally use,. they rush over a HVAC tech, he fixes short in system caused by improper installation and I give my personal check to cover the bill.  I then call a makeready clean up team I've used, luck would have it they were finishing a job and could come over in 30 min.  

Inspector shows up just as HVAC is hooked up, cleaning is on going, and buyer is due to arrive in 30 min.  Sheesh....what we go through to get THE JOB DONE!

Georgetown's new transit station is a model of green building designed to leave a minimum carbon footprint and operate off the grid.  The new station scheduled to open in the spring of 2010 features solar panels, a rainwater collection system and an electric car charging station.

. 

A 60 ft wind turbine that generates electric power is visible from Interstate 35 .

The rainwater collection tank is artfully screened.  The station is part of the Capital Area Rural Transportation System or CARTS for short.

When the station opens this spring it will offer public transportation options that include bus, carpool, and van service to surrounding communities in the Austin Metro area.  For more information visit the CARTS web site

Showing the true spirit of giving this holiday season Sport Clips International headquartered in Georgetown Texas has made a donation of $250,000 to the Operation Uplink Free Call Day  program.  This generous donation has helped make it possible to expand the program to include one Free Call day a month to provide phone cards to  active duty service men deployed overseas and hospitalized veterans so that they may call home and remain in contact with their loved ones.  This is a great way for anyone to make a big difference in lifting the moral of our deployed service men and women who have sacrificed so much .  So check out the link and make a donation and help a soldier. 

In my case that song could be retitled "Oh Memory Tree, Oh Memory Tree" because  when December rolls around again and we start unpacking the ornament boxes to decorate the Christmas Tree I'm always flooded with memories from our Christmases past.   I admit that the actual process of putting up the tree can be a chore ( not so much now that we have a prelit fake tree, see previous post) but once the ornaments come out, all that changes.  Some people like to decorate sparingly, or decorate around specific themes each year.  Our theme has always been Christmas Chaos. I mean you can't have to many ornaments right? 

And speaking of ornaments.....unpacking the ornament box itself is like unwrapping presents on Christmas Morning.  Each ornament has it's own place and history on our tree.  The tree top star that we've had for 10 years is carefully packed on the top of the ornament box so that it can be placed on top of the tree first

Then as we go deeper into the ornaments we discover the plastic Noel that was bought at a dimestore and has always been front and center on our trees.

And then there is the 'First Christmas' ornament given to us back in 1977 by my dear grandmother to commerate our first year being married.  It's getting a little worn now, kinda cheesy looking actually, but then so are we. Nevertheless, it still has it's place of honor on our tree.

  Speaking of cheesy...as in photo's, there are the cute needlepoint  ornaments  that have our kids pictures in them made by my mother in law back when the kids were cute.  They have to go on the tree.

And then there are those handmade ornaments that the kids made in school.  Nothing brings back the memory of a kid rushing home to proudly place their own ornament on the tree.  They are grown now, but every year their ornaments have a special place on our tree.

   And to think little Scott now has an MBA from University of Texas...he's come a long way from when that ornament was made back in the 10th grade....just kidding!

So it all seems to come together each year, the fancy ornaments, the handmade ornaments, the flamingo ornament, the ornament from the cruise ship, the ornament from Hawaii, all the snowmen, the santas, the angels, birds, stars and bright sparkling icicles and lo and behold it looks beautiful!

  Another Tree is complete, Time  to turn down the lights get a brandy and bring back all those wonderful memories of Christmas Past, and Present.

As my son put it on his ornament years ago...'MARRY CHRIST  mas'  to all.  May your season be bright, filled with many happy memories .

Today, December 7th is the 68th anniversary of 'The Day of Infamy" the attack and resulting tradedy of over 2400 deaths when Pearl Harbor was attacked in the early morning by Japan.  Much has been written about the events of that day and the many acts of heroism to defend the base and save the wounded.  I had an opportunity to visit Oahu and Pearl Harbor in 2008 and was moved by what I saw and experienced.  Before the visit I had always thought of the Arizona Memorial as a nondescript modernistic structure with no visible link to the battle. 

   You have to visit the site to experience the reverance and awe of a monument to the massive loss of life and to fully understand that you are visiting a grave site.  The structure spans the Battleship Arizona that was sunk while it sat moored in the harbor.  The ship was torpedoed and her magazine exploded, sinking in 9 minutes with the loss of 1177 sailors.

  That alone is enough to make you pause and think of all those lost, their loved ones, and the pain and suffering of that day.  Names on a plaque.  No these are lives ended too soon.  The first emotional impact I received that day was when I was asked one of the Park Service personal why off to the left of the 1177 names there was a seperate smaller panel of names.  "Those are the sailors who survived the attack and who have rejoined thier shipmates by being buried on the Arizona."  He went on to tell me that week a surviving twin had been interred by a Navy dive team so that he could join his brother and his shipmates in death.  I can't begin to imagine the impact that day, Dec 7th had on that man's life, so much so that he never forgot, he lived with the loss of his twin for 66 years and his last wish was to rejoin his brothers.  He wasn't alone.. there were scores of names on that plaque.

The 2nd emotional shock I received was upon leaving the memorial room and proceeding to the middle of the monument which spans the ship's bridge.  Below the surface you can actually see the deck through the clear waters of Pearl Harbor. 

 Morever, you can see the remains of the huge gun turrets sticking out of the water, you begin to get a feel for the shape and scope of the ship that lies just a few feet below the water.       And then I looked down into the ship itself.  A ladder inside the ship's mast that led down directly to the bridge area of the Arizona.  And then it struck me.  The Memorial Building is a bridge, over the Arizona's bridge.  Bowing in the middle just as the Arizona was bowed when her keel was broken by the blast. I was looking down a ladder into the past.

  A ladder to the final resting place of so many sailors. Yet the ship still lives.  There is a constant oil sheen and air bubbles on the surface a reminder that the Arizona will not succumb or be forgotten.

So today, 68 years later let us rededicate ourselves not to forget those who have sacrificed to defend our freedom.  And let us remember those dedicated servicemen and women today who honor us with their sacrifice and service to our country.  There are so many  who are alone in some outpost of the world wondering when and if they will return, and wondering if we remember them. 

Today December 7th is also the LAST DAY to send a holiday card to a serviceman or woman through the American Red Cross's Holiday Mail for Hero's program.  Please visit their web site  www.redcross.org and send a card or care package and show them that America does not forget and will not ever forget our military men and women.

Well, I guess it had to happen sooner or later.  We  all watched the collapse of the real estate market in California, Nevada, Florida 2 yrs ago, and the big bubble of inflated values pulling the rest of the country down last year.  All the while here in Central Texas we were thinking, whew, we dodged that bullett.  Our area saw mild declines yes, but nothing like other harder hit areas.  After all, we still had people moving here and some job growth.  Well,, the $#@* finally hit the fan here.  The local Foreclosure Listing Service shows a dramatic 57% increase in year to date foreclosures for the Austin Metro area.  Travis County has a 58% increase year to date and Williamson County which includes Round Rock, Georgetown and Cedar Park has a shocking 61% increase in foreclosures year to date from 2008. 

 I suspect most of the foreclosures are not from crazy loans that made no sense, but more a reflection of job loss in the local high tech economy.  Another contributing factor in 1-4 family income property was the number of west coast investors snapping up anything on the market 2-3 yrs ago, now they are strapped and unloading their properties here.

Whatever the reason it's going to be putting a downward pressure on prices here for the next year.

It's a perfect fall day here in Central Texas.  Crisp cool air, sunny, nothing better  that putting the top down on the convertible and taking a drive.  What better place on Halloween than to go visit the departed neigbors in  the historic Oakwood Cemetery in Austin Texas.  The Oakwood Cemetery association was giving tours of the famous and infamous residents.  Here are a few pictures we took.

Our companions, it's Austin, home of the Weird!

Some of the residents had busted out

The Angel will protect us

Celtic Cross with beautiful carving

The sun hit the cross and the carved inscription glowed.."I am the Resurrection..."

This cozy crypt creeped us out.

A fun day, but as the sun was setting we headed home to welcome the trick or treaters.  Happy Halloween!

I'm often asked "What brought you to Georgetown?".  There are so many good reasons to relocate here, a great school disctrict, low taxes, mild climate, beautiful parks, proximity to Austin Tx but what always comes to  my mind is the historic downtown square.  Just picture one of Norman Rockwell's paintings of a simpler time and you have an idea of our guality of life here in Georgetown Texas.  Let's take a walking tour and you'll see what I mean.

Discover Georgetown Mural 

Georgetown is located 30 miles due north of Austin Texas and is the county seat of Williamson County. The Williamson County Courthouse was restored in 2007 and occupies the center of downtown.

Williamson County Texas Courthouse

The lawn surrounding the courthouse is a popular spot for local events, including Fair on the Square, Red Poppy Festival and the upcoming Christmas Stroll of Downtown. 

Courthouse Lawn Georgetown Texas

Austin Avenue(Highway 29) is on the west side of the square.  It was the major highway between Austin and Dallas until Interstate 35 was completed in the 1960's.  Before that it was part of the original Chisholm Cattle Trail.

Chisholm Trail Historic Marker

Georgetown was an important center for commerce in the 1880-1930 time period with banks, retail, restaurants, saloons, and theatres.

Austin Avenue (Highway 29) Georgetown Texas

7th Street Georgetown Texas

Corner of 7th and Main Georgetown Texas

Georgetown has promoted the revitalization of the historic downtown through the Downtown Georgetown Association, The Main Street Program, and through it's Historic Overlay District.  The restoration of the buildings and the placement of trees and benches add much to the charm and character.

8th and Main St. Georgetown Texas

Restoration of buildings continues.  This Building at the corner of 8th and Austin Avenue was modernized in the 1950's with a plaster overlay.  The removal has exposed the original window openings and the building detail.

8th and Austin Avenue Georgetown Texas

The art deco Palace Theatre is now owned and operated by a non profit group that stages regular theatre productions.

Palace Theatre Georgetown Texas

Downtown is home also to unique gift shops, clothing boutiques,bookstores, decorator shops jewelry, antique stores and restaurants. 

The Escape, Fine Crafts and Gifts

One of my favorite buildings is the Lockett Building with it's cupola windows.  I'd love to have my office here!

Lockett Building Georgetown Texas

All it takes is one stroll around Georgetown's square and you will also want to call this speciall place HOME!

I wonder if this house in historic Georgetown Texas was under a pest control program?  Proof positive I guess that yes in Texas everything is BIGGER including the bugs!