Had the swine flu yet?

One thing you will learn when you go in for the test, they never really say if you have it- just that you tested positive for influenza and that is one of the strands.  So we received an e-mail from Lucas school on Monday warning that many of the children at the birthday party that weekend were showing flu like symptoms.  Sure enough, Tuesday evening comes along and he has a temp of 104 deg.  Our pediatrician also gave a prescription for our 2 year old as a preventative measure.  Lucas had a tough 1st day of us quarantining him in the upstairs game room but then came to love the freedom he had over the remote and his toy choices, always good to not have to share with your younger brother.  All are well, healthy and awaiting the next new bug to hit the schools.

Golf for Habitat

Habitat for Humanity of South Collin County 4th Annual Golf Tournament. Wednesday, October 14. Shotgun starts at 8:30am Woodbridge Golf Club, Wylie, Texas. $100/person
$400/team, includes cart, lunch, raffle and prizes

Luke is standing guard, ready to be the strong big brother!

Why read me? Why listen to me? Why use my company? Why read anything that I write?

I graduated from Manhattan High School, Manhattan, KS in 1986 with no clear vision of what I wanted to do with my life—just that I wanted to be around family; I wanted to be happy and I wanted to have a little bit of fun! The amazing track racing in the 1984 Olympics was very inspiring to me. I decided that I wanted to try racing bicycles and that my graduation present should be a racing bike. My parents and I went to the Pathfinder Bike Shop in Manhattan for a real high-end racing bike but the salesman did a great job of talking us into a Fuji DelRay…just a step down from the higher end racing bicycle. It had a little bit wider tires and was a little more of a touring bike. The reason it was so good for me was that it was heavier duty and could take more abuse since I didn’t know anything about what I was doing!
 
When a friend asked me to do the Coors Light Biathlon (Run-Bike-Run), I quickly agreed as I had been a runner all through high school and had run intramurals in college and by then I had some experience on long-range bicycling. Well, I actually got just destroyed on the bicycle part by some really big guys and I thought to myself…’I'm a 5′9″ guy; I’m really lean and I can see my ribs. Those guys haven’t been able to see their ribs for years. Why are they passing me?’  After that I began to focus more intensely on the bicycle.
 
What I learned about myself at that point was that if I had something I really wanted to accomplish and it was something that I figured out for myself – nothing that anyone had told me I should do – but something that I wanted to achieve………get out of my way because I am going to achieve it! I am a goal-oriented person and I believe that is the reason I am good at what I do. A loan is very simple: get to the closing line with papers; have the money there to fund and have the clients be happy!
 
So I started to concentrate on bicycle racing and, the next thing you know, I became the best cyclist in my area. By that time we had moved to Lawrence where I started a cycling team and moved up to a Category 1 racer. At that time a Category 1 license through the United States Cycling Association was $35 a year; a pro license was $500, so why go Pro?  We raced the same races that the pros raced. Lance Armstrong and I raced against each other once or twice. He chose to stay near the front of the race and my ability kept me a bit nearer the middle of the race!
 
One of the reasons I left full time bicycle racing is attributable to a conversation I had at my older brother’s 40th birthday party in Houston years ago. My brother is in the oil business, as were many of those at the party. One of the gentlemen asked what I did and when I said that I raced bicycles he asked if there was good money in that. I said “Nope.” And he said, “Then get out.” While that was not the only reason, it did remind me that perhaps it was time to become a little more serious about making some money so I went to work for the bicycling industry. I was with Specialized Bicycles for a number of years and learned a great deal about the inner workings of corporate America. I learned that the sales department and the credit department and everybody has to get along and that sometimes if you hear the word ‘No’ from a department and you believe in the mission that you have, you need to find another avenue to get to the ‘Yes’. I continue to learn that there is a ‘right flow’ and a ‘wrong flow’ to who you go around but when I am working on behalf of a client, I want to make sure they get to the ‘Yes’ answers so I will go around a department if I need to.
 
When I became a lender, I recognized that it was the same corporate structure. If I got turned down by an underwriter and I knew that I was right, then I would get the sales manager or the underwriting supervisor involved and usually it would turn out well for my client. Just as I did when I became a bicycle racer, I have done a great deal of research on the mortgage industry and knew that I could do it well with good training. I have learned the value of the industry requirement for continuing education every year. As a lender, I must fulfill a certain number of hours each year to maintain my license. You can choose the type of education you would like to attend and for the last 7 years I have chosen to attend as many credit seminars as possible to learn the ins and outs of credit. The seminars have increased my confidence in my ability to advise people who are ready to purchase a home. Along with that I have studied the bond market and the credit market watching for curves and watching for new loan programs. What I have not done is waste my time with too many crazy salesman-type loans. I have always stuck with the standard 30 yr fixed or 15 yr fixed. I like Dave Ramsey’s principles – always do a 15 yr fixed loan with 20% down! Not all of us can do that (certainly Julie and I have not done that yet) but it is a great goal.
 
So I believe the reason you will listen to me or read what I write and give my company a chance to be your lender is that we are constantly learning and studying the intricacies of lending and that our advice to you comes from a firm understanding of our business. We are present with you from the first appointment to the closing, assisting you with whatever is needed throughout the entire process so that your loan goes smoothly and without undue stress.

Sky Fort

 
I sold out and got help for the new playset we bought the boys.  Anything called the Sky Fort was over my head so I brought in Big Andy!

Hoops in the Square

Hoops in the Square, September 26th.  3 on 3 basketball tournament

Frisco Family Fun Ride

Luke and I went to the Frisco Family Fun Ride this weekend at Frisco Square.  He and I set up the booth for the Frisco Cycling Club and then heading out for a ride.  Great event with only one scare.  My buddy’s son had a crash that saw him taken away in an ambulance but he is back at home and resting up with a few new Spiderman Action figures from the Frisco Cycling Club!

 

Quote by Nora Ephron

“If pregnancy were a book they would cut the last two chapters.” 

What is Fatherhood?

To the men of Tankard, I have been thinking a lot about Fatherhood recently.  In just a few days we will have child numbers 3 and 4 when the twin girls get here.  My wife is at 35 weeks now and our doc says be ready at any time.  I searched Wikipedia to see what it had to say and confirmed my suspicion.  Staying involved with our kids is the right way to go.  “children who experience significant father involvement tend to exhibit higher scores on assessments of cognitive development, enhanced social skills and fewer behavior problems”
 
But what to do with our kids aside from all the sports or music events we take them to.  How about a free bike ride around City Hall?  Below is what is going on this Saturday from 10am till noon at Frisco Square.  Load up the SUV with the bikes and come on over and join us.  Stop by the Frisco Cycling Club booth for a great coupon that you can use that day at a nice place called Lochrann’s right around the corner!
 
Don’t miss the biggest family event of the year!  Especially since it’s FREE!!!!!!
 
The 3rd Annual Frisco Family Fun Ride is THIS Saturday!!!  Bring your family and meet your friends and neighbors at Frisco Square on July 25, 2009, from 10am – Noon and ride your bike around a ½ mile loop that is closed to all vehicular traffic.  As in years past, the Frisco Family Fun Ride is a FREE event. 

 

Register on-line for your free goody-bag and ride number.  The event is for all skill levels – from trailers to tricycles and training wheels to advanced riders, the Frisco Family Fun Ride has something for everyone.  Enjoy the expo which will feature local family friendly businesses and don’t forget the silent auction that is always a huge hit and full of amazing items to bid on.  We have everything from autographed sports memorabilia to art pieces to family outings. 

 

This year the event will also host a BMX demo that will feature local BMX talent.  Don’t miss out on all the fun and remember its FREE!
 

Honor for a Fallen Soilder

Killed in action the week before, the body of Sergeant First Class John C. Beale was returned to Falcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia, just south of Atlanta, on June 11, 2009. The Henry County Police Department escorted the procession to the funeral home in McDonough, Georgia. Nowadays one can be led to believe that America no longer respects honor, and no longer honors sacrifice outside the military. Be it known that there are many places in this land where people still recognize the courage and impact of total self-sacrifice. The link is a short travelogue of that day’s remarkable and painful journey.