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What I want to know is how much of our national forest is being devastated so that each and every purchase in America can take place with the customer receiving, in return for their hard earned money, both merchandise and a two to three feet of register receipt?

Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. I pay for everything with my Visa card that subtracts immediately from my checking account. So I have to keep the receipts. Easier said than done when you stop at the local CVS for a pack of gum, deodorant and razors that cost $11.27 with tax and then you are presented with 18″ of coupons, advertisements, who the manager is, etc.

Pardon me, but where the hell is the amount I paid? Can’t I just get that?

I’ve taken to ripping off the top 3″-5″ with the important stuff like the amount paid and the date and company and just leaving the rest with the register person who ALWAYS looks at me dumbfounded.

Now, I realize this has nothing to do with real estate investing. But I’m telling you I’m not the only one that has noticed this disturbing trend that I am sure is going to bring down Western Civilization.

Sorry for the rant. But I do feel better. 🙂

I love it when I see real growth out of my clients. I had about a twenty minute conversation this evening with a gentleman I helped to buy his very first home three years ago. I said his first home. Not his first real estate investment property.

Today, he owns more property than I do. Seven to be exact. He had called for some advice regarding a particular concern he had. Hopefully I got him the answer he needed. But as we talked I asked him questions and gained insight to some things he was doing.

It seems I’m still his mentor in many ways. I’m about 16 years older. I’ve been working with real estate longer. And the advice of mine that he has followed has really provided him with some sweet, sweet equity positions. But I feel the relationship changing. Changing for the better.

It’s a lot like when I talk with my fifteen year old, now. There was a time when I told him everything he needed to know. I helped him get dressed. I helped him fight his fights. Now I sit back amazed at the path he is taking. The answers he comes up with himself. Amazed at the man he is becoming.

Sure, I’m still there to say “what about this” now and again. But my role isn’t so much to dictate as it is to advise. My boys, both literally and figuratively, are growing up.

A businessman met a beautiful girl and agreed to spend the night with her for $500. They did their thing, and, before he left, told her that he did not have any cash with him, but he would have his secretary write a cheque and mail it to her, calling the payment “RENT FOR APARTMENT.”

On the way to the office, he regretted what he had done, realizing that the whole event had not been worth the price. So he had his secretary send a cheque for $250 and enclose the following typed note:

Dear Madam,

Enclosed find a cheque for $250 for rent of your apartment. I am not sending the amount agreed upon, because when I rented the place, I was under the impression that:

• #1 – It had never been occupied;
• #2 – There was plenty of heat; and
• #3 – It was small enough to make me feel cosy and at home.

However, I found out that:

• #1 – It had been previously occupied,
• #2 – There wasn’t any heat, and
• #3 – It was entirely too large.

Upon receipt of the note, the girl immediately returned the cheque for $250 with the following note:

Dear Sir,

• #1 – I cannot understand how you could expect a beautiful apartment to remain unoccupied indefinitely.
• #2 – As for the heat, there is plenty of it, if you know how to turn it on.
• #3 – Regarding the space, the apartment is indeed of regular size, but if you don’t have enough furniture to fill it, please do not blame the management.

Please send the rent in full or we will be forced to contact your present landlady.

***

Thanks you to Al S. for sending this way.

On November 10th, 2007 I have been asked to teach a class on practical real estate investing here at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Communiversity. Communiversity is an adult outreach service of UMKC.

You are annoying the hell out of me with all your stupid “Great post! Have you thought about blah, blah, blah” followed by your stupid, un-asked for links.

Okay, so yesterday I wrote about how mad I was about the way tickets disappeared in 30 seconds or less. Check the time of my post and I think you will see that it was just minutes after 10:00 am. After having done so I made one last pathetic attempt to find tickets on Ticketmaster.

No such luck.

So imagine my surprise when I open the paper this morning and find that they sold out 9 shows. They must have made the announcements moments after I turned off the computer and went out to live the rest of my life. I didn’t know I had to hang around and monitor for more shows. I thought they would announce them later.

I’ve since tried again this morning hoping for a secretly announced 10th show. I must be destined to not see him this time around. Oh well, I’ll have fond memories of the show I saw in the Cap Center outside of Washington, DC. There all I had to do was make a phone call.