I love St Patty's day.  There is the green beer, kegs and eggs, but mostly because it is they day when the Mr and I officially became a couple!  It is 10 years today so how could I not talk about romance!!!  WOO HOO  St Patrick's Day's most famous symbol involving romance is the Blarney Stone – you gotta kiss it baby!!! 

Five miles north west of the small city of Cork is the village of Blarney. Near the village, standing almost 90 feet in height is the castle of Blarney with its world-famous Blarney Stone. More than 300,000 people come to kiss the Blarney Stone each year, in the hopes of gaining more eloquent speech.

Once upon a time, to kiss the Stone people were hung by their heels over the edge of the parapet.  Apparently someone fell to their death so the kissing technique has been revamped, now you sit with your back towards the stone and then someone sits upon your legs or firmly holds your feet. Next, leaning far back and downward into the abyss while grasping the iron rails, you lower yourself until your head is even with the stone to be kissed.  Sounds complicated.

For more details about the Blarney Stone,  click here.

I will admit, you will never catch me kissing the Blarney Stone, it is reported  to be the GERMIEST site in the WORLD!!!  NASTY!!!!!!

Know that I love to love you but also remember that  I will love your real estate even more!!!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day.

Love Cupid

It is NO secret that I am a HUGE Golden Girls fan.  I am also sure that this blog entry is stepping on someone toes but I don't care.  Betty White is petitioning, through her Facebook Fan Page, to host Saturday Night Live.  She has never hosted and would be the shows oldest host!   RIDIC  How is this possible.  She needs to host the show.

Click here to support Betty's cause.  She currently has 9,400 votes and counting.  What that – I am off to grab a cheesecake!

UPDATE (Thank you Chad):  Betty's fans have setup the FB page. But I hope that Betty and Lorne Michaels see it and go for it!

I completely forgot that London is hosting the 2012 Olympics.

Westfield's Stratford City development near the site of the 2012 London Olympics is gaining traction among retailers. Primark is eyeing a 70,000-square-foot unit at the mall, which is slated to open in Sept. 2011, while Forever 21 is reportedly looking at opening its first U.K. store there.

I was reading my "Euro Brief" this morning (it sounds so official HA) – in particular this little blurb below and was struck by two things;

1. How few American retailers are in Euro but yet there is a demand for their products. (ie: My cousins are all about us brining stuff from Vic Secret and Ambercrombie) They should GET ON IT YO!

2. I can't imagine one retailer taking over 70,000 SF of retail anywhere.  But – I suppose it is the same as a Macy's or Dillards.  (Summit Mall is 770,000 SF)

If $20.00 would save your home – would you spend it?   Absolutely!

I was reading around yesterday and found a great article about "Loan Modification for Dummies!"

According to Tara-Nicholle Nelson of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Loan Modification for Dummies!" is a thorough, realistic and useful tool and resource for homeowners hoping to convince their lenders to change the terms of their loan. Whether you are just looking to decide whether you're a good candidate for a loan mod, are trying to figure out whether to hire help with the project (and who to hire), or if you're looking for a soup-to-nuts Do-It-Yourself guide to loan modification, this book lives up to the For Dummies series slogan of "Making Everything Easier!"

Ms Nelson stresses that the books not only is understandable but the book offers a list of 10 loan-mod myths!  For her full article and book review, click here!

Title: "Loan Modification for Dummies"
Authors: Ralph R. Roberts and Lois Maljak
Publisher: Wiley, 2009; 288 pages; $19.99

Charlie 2

We inherited a pooch!! Charlie.  He is a Yorkshire Terrier who is about 3 lbs and full of “personality”.   I can't tell you how TOTALLY in love I am – all I do is want to hang out with my dog.  I am not that girl – I have never been into pets too hard core.   We had two gerbils growing up (Peanut Butter & Jelly) – I had to BEG my Dad to allow us to have them – by some miracle – he agreed.   We also had a bird – Peachy – she was a parakeet and MEAN!  LORD – the only person that bird liked was my mother (birds of a feather – HA)  BUT – Charlie has been a total trip!  I am constantly amazed at how smart, funny, and loving he is!  (The Mr. & I would have never picked a Yorkie as our dog of choice.  We are into bigger breeds; boxers,  Great Danes, mastiffs.  BUT now, we can't imagine life now without the little S***T.

Charlie is perfection.  (BTW: Charlie's neck is too little for a typical collar so he has a harness (the blue thing you see) vs a muscle shirt!  HA)

From your fellow Libra!

For all of out there who labor away – have a great day OFF!!!  WOO HOO

For those of you who know me – I have wanted a pot belly pig since I was 10.  The Mr is not as interested but lately I think I have him convinced.  I always search for  PPPs in the Akron area.  I FOUND ONE!!!!   See the picture of Orson or Noel below – I am not sure if he/she is a boy or a girl… Anyway – I am hopefully being introduced today!!!!  Keep you posted.

Crains is reporting:

A. Schulman Inc. (Nasdaq: SHLM) has reported higher earnings for its fiscal third quarter compared to the year-earlier period, when asset impairment charges and restructuring expenses pulled down results.  

The maker of plastic resins said its net income in the quarter that ended May 31 rose more than 4%, to $7.4 million from $7.1 million in last year’s third quarter. Per-share profits were up even more, increasing 11.5% to 29 cents from 26 cents, because of fewer shares outstanding this year.

A. Schulman reported that asset impairment charges and restructuring expenses totaled $1.3 million in the latest third quarter, down significantly from $7.3 million of those charges and expenses a year earlier. Also, A. Schulman’s provision for taxes fell to $2 million from $4 million.

The earnings improvement came even though sales at A. Schulman plunged 42%, to $297.7 million from $511.8 million.

In looking at the fourth quarter, A. Schulman chairman, president and CEO Joseph Gingo said while the company’s “ongoing reorganization activities and realignment of resources should further enhance our performance, we must temper our outlook somewhat because our markets in the fourth quarter are typically slower than in the third quarter.”

“We are convinced that we are moving in the right direction for improved performance in fiscal 2010 and for long-term profitable growth when the economy exhibits a sustainable recovery,” Mr. Gingo said. “We will continue to leverage our technology expertise by investing judiciously in high-value products targeted toward high-growth niche markets."