Mark Meader
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Mark Meader
News To Help You Save Time And Money
May 2016
“Because you have a lot riding on your Lender”
You Are What You Think
You Are
Personal Column
Many of you may remember in a recent issue of the Meader Reader that one of our
family dogs, Max, died. Max and Molly were sisters and grew up the best of friends.
Max was the scrawny curly haired one. It took over a year from Max’s departure for
Molly to die also. I think she died because she missed her best friend.
She appeared healthy in all respects until just before she died. She went down fast and
the vet told us if we do nothing she will die on her own with much discomfort.
So we had to make that awful decision that many families face and decided to put her
down.
It is hard to part with a family dog as they become one of the family.
It is too bad that they do not live longer than they do. Max was 15
when she went and Molly was 17. That is actually long for a dog so
we are fortunate that we had these two loving dogs that long.
One of my previous newsletters had this quote from a 6 year old boy
explaining why dogs do not live as long as humans:
“He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good
life - - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The 6
year old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they
don't have to stay as long.'“
“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.”
―M.K. Clinton, author
You've heard the expression, "What you see is what you get."
Psychologists tell us that nothing controls our lives more than our
self-image. We live like the person we think we are.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was not very famous in 1976 when he met
with a newspaper reporter. The reporter asked Schwarzenegger, "Now
that you've retired from bodybuilding, what do you plan to do next?"
Schwarzenegger answered confidently: "I'm going to be the #1 movie
star in Hollywood."
The reporter was amused. At that time, it was very hard to imagine
how this muscle-bound body builder, who was not a professional actor
and who spoke English with a strong Austrian accent, could ever hope to be Hollywood's #1 movie
star!
So the reporter asked him how he planned to make his dream come true. Schwarzenegger said, "I’ll
do it the same way I became the #1 body builder in the world. What I do is create a vision of who I
want to be, then I start living like that person in my mind as if it were already true."
Sounds almost childishly simple, doesn't it? But it worked! Schwarzenegger did become the #1
highest paid movie star in Hollywood. And after that, he set his mind on being the governor of a
major US state, and he succeeded at that, too!
Check out our website
In the words of Napoleon Hill, “Whatever the
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mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
What are you conceiving and believing about
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
yourself?
♦ Things We Don’t Clean Often Enough
♦ Signs You’re Getting Too Old To Drive
♦ What Did You Say Huh?
♦ More Q and A’s
According to a National Geographic article
♦ Bizarre News
(May 9, 2014), Mother’s Day was founded by ♦ Poorly Worded Real Newspaper Headlines
women to remember soldiers and to work for
peace, as well as to honor one’s own mother. It ♦ Twin Cities Housing Market Caught In A
Supply Crunch As Demand Intensifies
was not meant as a commercial holiday for
motherhood in general. According to founder ♦ May Is Military Appreciation Month
Anna Jarvis, the holiday was Mother’s Day
♦ Jerry Seinfeld Quotes
singular, not Mothers’ Day in the plural.
♦ Comedy Column
The idea was to go home to spend time with
your mother and thank her for all that she did. ♦ Personal Column
It was intended as an intimate appreciation, not
The Unsung History
Of Mother’s Day
Continued next page
(Continued from Page One)
a gift-giving celebration.
According to historian Katharine Antolini of West Virginia Wesleyan College, the day
was originated by Anna’s mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who first established mother’s day
work clubs to improve sanitary conditions and lower infant mortality by curbing milk
contamination. The work clubs also tended to wounded soldiers from both sides during
the US Civil War from 1861 to 1865.
In the postwar years, Ann Reeves Jarvis organized Mother's Friendship Day picnics and
pacifist events to unite former foes. But it was Ann’s daughter, Anna, who was
responsible for what we now call Mother's Day.
Anna Jarvis never had children of her own, but the 1905 death of her mother, Ann,
inspired her to organize the first modern Mother's Day observances on May 10, 1908, both to honor her mother’s
past efforts and to honor her mother.
Largely through Anna Jarvis's efforts, Mother's Day came to be observed in a growing number of cities and US
states, until in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson officially set aside the second Sunday in May for the holiday.
Since then, many other countries have adopted the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, too.
Anna Jarvis's idea of an intimate Mother's Day quickly became a commercial gold mine centering on the buying
and giving of flowers, candies, and greeting cards—a development that deeply disturbed Jarvis. She set about
dedicating herself and her sizable inheritance to an unsuccessful attempt to return Mother's Day to its reverent,
pacifist-oriented roots.
Mother’s day is celebrated on May 8, 2016 this year in both the US and Canada.
Things We Don't Clean Often Enough
Keyboards: A 2008 UK study found that a keyboard is dirtier than a toilet seat — seriously! The reasons? Not
washing your hands often enough, sneezing on your keyboard, eating near the computer, and more than one
person (especially children) using the same computer. Every month or so, clean your keyboard with compressed
air and lightly alcohol-soaked cotton swabs.
Clothes Dryers: You clean your dryer lint filter after each load, but every three or four weeks you should remove
the lint filter and use a vacuum cleaner attachment to vacuum out any stray lint. Also, at least annually, you should
inspect your dryer vent for built-up lint.
Mattresses: Mattresses can harbor spills, stains, dirt, dust, and dust mites, and no one ever cleans them! To deep
clean your mattress, you can hire a company that will clean it for you professionally, much like a carpet cleaning
company. But you can also do a lot on your own. First vacuum the mattress with a clean hand attachment. Then
sprinkle baking soda all over the mattress. Rub it in and let it sit for an hour or two. Vacuum again thoroughly
while banging lightly on the mattress to raise the baking soda. Spray lightly with natural clove oil to help kill
future dust mites.
Door Knobs & Light Switches: Next time you're doing the dusting, don't forget to wipe down the light switches
and door handles. They're rarely cleaned, but are touched by everyone in your home, including guests. Clean them
at least once per week, and daily when someone in the house is sick.
Phone & Remotes: Ever take your phone with you to the bathroom? A toilet can
spew bacteria widely around the bathroom. Disgusting! Even if you don't take your
phone to the bathroom, you use it constantly, rarely washing your hands between
uses. The same goes for your TV remote. Both of these collect all the bacteria you
pick up throughout the day on your hands. Clean often and carefully with a lightly
alcohol-soaked cloth.
Purses: Given all the stuff you keep in your purse, it's no surprise the inside gets
dirty. But the outside of a purse is far dirtier—collecting bacteria from your hands
and any surface it rests against. Consider the strap being hung on hooks in public
restrooms. Cloth purses can be washed, but you can use alcohol-free baby wipes to
clean leather bags (test on the material first) and a regular disinfecting wipe on vinyl or plastic purses.
Page 2
“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”
—Abraham Lincoln
Recently in Traffic Court, a man who received an expensive parking ticket testified that a uniformed Policeman had
given his OK for the man to park there.
The Judge asked the man if he would recognize the Officer if he ever saw him again, and the man replied that he
would.
The Judge then said, "Good. When you see the Officer again, tell him he owes you 57 dollars. Next..."
As I left the grocery store, I noticed two little kids, maybe six or seven years old, selling candy bars in front of the
store to raise money for their school band.
"I'll buy a chocolate bar on one condition," I said to the boys. "You eat it for me."
I bought one and handed the candy back to one of the boys. He shook his head. "I can't," he said.
"Why not?"
Looking me in the eye, he responded gravely, "I'm not supposed to take candy from strangers."
I was playing tooth fairy when my daughter suddenly woke up. Seeing the money in my hand, she cried out, "I caught
you!"
I froze and tried to think of an explanation for why I, instead of the tooth fairy, was putting the money under her
pillow--but her next words let me off the hook.
"You put that money back!" she said indignantly. "The tooth fairy left that for me!"
Father to son after exam: "Let me see your report card."
Son: "My friend just borrowed it. He wants to scare his parents."
Billy's father picked him up from school to take him to a dental appointment. Knowing the acting roles for the school
play were being posted that day, he asked Billy if he got a part.
Billy enthusiastically announced that he'd gotten a part. "I play a man who's been married for twenty years."
"That's great, son. Keep up the good work and before you know it they'll be giving you a speaking part."
My sister's dog had been deaf and blind for years. When she started to suffer painful tumors, it was time to put her
down. As I explained this to my seven-year-old son, he asked if Jazzy would go to heaven. I said I thought she would,
and that in dog heaven, she would be healthy again and able to do her favorite thing: chase squirrels.
Jacob thought about that for a minute, then said, "So dog heaven must be the same as squirrel hell."
When my brother-in-law was on leave from national service, he brought home a heavily tattooed friend. We all sat
down to Sunday lunch, and my four-year-old nephew couldn't take his eyes off the man's colorful arms.
Curiosity finally got the better off him. Politely, he asked the visitor, "Didn't your mother give you paper to write on?"
A father and son went fishing one day. After a couple hours in the boat, the boy
suddenly became curious about the world around him.
He asked his father, "How does this boat float?"
The father thought for a moment, then replied, "Don't rightly know, son."
The boy returned to his contemplation, then turned back to his father, "How do fish
breathe underwater?"
Once again the father replied, "Don't rightly know, son.
A little later the boy asked his father, "Why is the sky blue?"
Again, the father replied. "Don't rightly know, son."
Worried he was going to annoy his father, he says, "Dad, do you mind my asking you all
of these questions?"
"Of course not, son. If you don't ask questions, you'll never learn anything!"
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“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” —Socrates
Page 7
Twin Cities Housing Market Caught In A Supply Crunch
As Demand Intensifies.
By Sam Schaust —TwinCities Business Magazine
LAST NEWSLETTER QUIZ ANSWER
Question: How many head coaches have there been in Minnesota Vikings franchise history?
Answer: 9 or 10 (if you count Bud Grant twice)
The “all-too-familiar supply crunch” that Twin Cities realtors and homebuyers are
experiencing persisted into March with would-be sellers feeling apprehensive to enter
the market without certainty they can secure their next property.
Residential housing supply levels within the 13-county Twin Cities metro area hit a
13-year low in March, the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors (MAAR) said
Thursday. Inventory levels fell to 11,893 active properties, a 20.6 percent drop from
what was available a year ago. The months supply of inventory rate fell dramatically to two-and-a-half months,
which means if no new houses entered the market, current inventory would run dry by summertime. (Generally
speaking, five to six months of supply is considered a balanced market.)
Despite that, seller activity hurtled upward yet again as buyers signed 5,861 new purchase agreements, a 12.6
percent rise from March 2015. The median sales price increased 5.7 percent from a year ago to $222,000 and each
house on average received 96.7 percent of its original list price. Buyers were also scooping up houses at a faster
rate with the average house taking only 85 days to sell, 18 less days than last March’s timespan.
“Between new loan applications and anecdotal evidence, we knew this spring would be another big one for
buyers,” said Judy Shields, president of MAAR, in a release. “The small gain in seller activity [of only 0.5
percent] was nice, but it falls well short of the supply levels needed to sustain the demand we’re seeing. That
should be motivating for sellers, but it’s still important to understand that your home needs to be priced right.”
Single-family homes once again were the top selling type unit, although townhomes showed the largest percentage
closed sales increase compared to last March. North Oaks, Orono, Edina, Plymouth, Chanhassen and Minnetonka
were among the cities with the highest median home prices.
As a piece of advice to prospective homebuyers, MAAR president-elect Cotty Lowry said, “serious buyers should
be prepared to make their strongest offer right up front this spring.” He added that so far open house traffic this
season is the strongest he’s ever seen.
May Is Military Appreciation Month
It’s always appropriate – but especially during May – to honor, remember, recognize, and appreciate all military
personnel, those men and women who have served and those who now serve our country. It’s equally important to
honor military families by letting them know we’re grateful for their sacrifices.
The Military Appreciation Month Web site has a number of ideas for honoring our military; visit www.nmam.org.
Jerry Seinfeld Quotes
THIS MONTH’S QUIZ QUESTION
“My parents didn’t want to move to Florida,
but they turned 60 and that’s the law.”
Unlike many national holidays, Memorial Day wasn’t established by
“Why do they call it a "building"? It looks the President of the United States and it wasn’t called Memorial Day
like they're finished. Why isn't it a "built"? Question: What was it originally called?
“Men don't care what's on TV. They only
care what else is on TV.”
“There is no such thing as fun for the
whole family.”
Page 6
All correct answers will be placed in a hat and two names will be
drawn. Those names drawn will win a $30 gift card to the Olive
Garden Restaurant. Watch for your name in the newsletter next
month! 651-653-7667. [email protected]
Congratulations to: Barb Johnson and Dave Pizza for being this months quiz question winners.
They have each received a $30 gift card for Olive Garden Restaurant
Others who called or e-mailed in the correct answer included: Ryan Crouse, Rhonda Tillman,
Paula Herr, Eileen Ramse, Myron Rogers, Evie Miller, Jeff Carpenter, Jeff Hill, Sharon Kruse,
Ray Siebenaler, Mark Wenger, Margo King, LuAnn Stelter, Rebecca Potthoff, John Trenti, Ben Brand,
Mike McReynolds, Larry Valento, Jo Stahlecker, Dan & Sally Wenker, and Mike Wallace
Signs You're Getting
Too Old To Drive
More Q and A’s
You think an SUV might be too small to be
safe.
Q: What part of the car is the laziest?
A: The wheels, because they are always tired!
It takes more than four minutes to get out of
your car.
Q: What did the stamp say to the envelope?
A: Stick with me and we will go places!
When backing into a parking spot, you just
back up until you hear something.
Q: What dog keeps the best time?
A: A watch dog.
It scares you to drive the speed limit.
Q: Why did the skeleton play the piano?
The only thing you pass on the road anymore is A: Because he didn't have any organs!
the Amish.
Q: Why did the cat sit on the computer?
You use cruise control because your leg fell
A: To keep an eye on the mouse.
asleep.
Q: Why did Smokey the Bear never have children?
You use cruise control at 25 mph.
A: Because every time his wife got hot, he hit her with a
shovel.
You inquired if the dealership could install
magnifying glass for the windshield.
Your turn signal has been on since 2003.
Your bumper sticker endorses Eisenhower.
Q: How do you make a butterfly?
A: Flick it out of the butter dish with a knife!
Q: What do you call a man with a car on his head?
A: Jack.
What Did You Say Huh?
Three retirees, each with a hearing loss, were
playing golf one fine March day.
One remarked to the other, "Windy, isn't it?"
"No," the second man replied, "it's Thursday."
And the third man chimed in, "I'm thirsty too,
Let's have a beer."
Q: How does the man in the moon get his hair cut?
A: Eclipse it.
Q: What did the earthquake say to the volcano?
A: It's not my fault.
I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three. -ELAYNE BOOSLER
Nature abhors a vacuum, but not as much as a cat does.
Page 3
Bizarre News
DODGE CENTER, MN - Authorities in Minnesota said an 11-year-old boy took
a cement mixer truck on a joyride and led police in a chase at speeds of up to 71
mph. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office, the Minnesota State Patrol, Kasson
police and Dodge Center police said the incident began about 3 p.m. when the
boy stole the cement truck in Kasson and started driving it around town. Police
attempted to stop the truck for speeding, but the boy sped off and led authorities
on an hour-long chase reaching speeds of 71 mph. The boy collided with a
Minnesota State Patrol car and a Kasson police car during the pursuit, which also
saw one of the truck's tires popped with a spike strip. The young driver continued to flee on the rim of the
deflated tire, causing damage to roads and lawns, police said. The truck was stopped in Dodge Center and the
boy was taken into custody when he attempted to flee on foot, investigators said. Authorities said no injuries
were reported and investigators were still working to determine the extent of the damage caused by the boy. The
boy was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center in Rochester and is expected to be formally charged.
WAYNE, NJ - An armored truck in New Jersey dropped a bag full of money
on a local highway, stopping traffic as bills were strewn about the road. A
bag of cash fell out of a Guarda truck headed west on Route 46 in Wayne,
NJ. A passing truck then struck the bag, causing bills to fly into the air.
Witness Paul Redman said that the bills were spread all across the roadway
as traffic came to a stop. "Take a look up and I see massive amounts of
money flying down the highway," he said. "So I walk out a little further and
you can see it's just $20 bills all over the place." The driver and several civilians attempted to scoop up the loose
bills, but police said only some returned the money. It's unclear how much money was lost or how the bag fell
out of the truck, but Redman said it seemed the truck's back door flew open.
CHEEKTOWAGA, NY- Gerald Ruhland woke to a "big bang" about 2 in the
morning. He thought his furnace had blown up. Then he heard voices. "I could
hear someone talking, and there was a car in the basement," Ruhland said. The
Dodge Avenger with a driver and passenger had entered his house through the
living room and then sank into the basement. About five minutes later, firefighers and other emergency personnel arrived on the scene. The driver was able to
get out of the car on his own, emergency responders had to extricate the second
person. Speed was possibly a factor in the crash. Police are still investigating.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -A man was arrested on a charge of theft after allegedly
stealing a public transportation bus because he wanted to get to work, police in
Minnesota said. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office said that they have arrested
31-year-old Gregory John Jennrich, after being accused of taking the Metro
Transit bus that was parked at a gas station and driving it to work. Jennrich was
charged with theft. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up
to $10,000. According to the police investigation, the operator of the bus was on a
break at the Holiday gas station, when the bus was stolen.
PALOS VERDES, CA - A California driver's car landed on a roof after spinning
out of control near a residential area in Palos Verdes. Los Angeles County Fire
reported to the scene shortly after the incident occurred at 4 p.m. and shared
photos of the vehicle on the roof. Firefighters say the driver suffered from a
medical condition that caused him to lose control of the car, hitting two parked
vehicles before landing on the roof of the two-story home. Only the driver was
believed to be injured in the crash. A woman was home when the accident
occurred, but did not sustain any injuries and was not aware of the car's presence until she was shown by a
Page 4 neighbor. The woman's home sits below the busy Palos Verders.
Poorly Worded
Real Newspaper Headlines
1. Something Went Wrong In Jet Crash, Expert Says
2. Police Begin Campaign To Run Down Jaywalkers
3. Safety Experts Say School Bus Passengers Should Be
Belted
4. Survivor Of Siamese Twins Joins Parents
5. Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
6. Panda Mating Fails: Veterinarian Takes Over
7. Eye Drops Off Shelf
8. Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
9. Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim
10. Enraged Cow Injures Farmer With Ax
11. Plane Too Close To Ground, Crash Probe Told
12. Miners Refuse To Work After Death
13. Juvenile Court To Try Shooting Defendant
14. Stolen Painting Found By Tree
15. Two Soviet Ships Collide, One Dies
16. Two Sisters Reunited After 18 Years In Checkout
Counter
17. Killer Sentenced To Die For Second Time In Ten
Years
18. War Dims Hope For Peace
19. If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last a While
20. Cold Wave Linked To Temperatures
21. Red Tape Hold Up New Bridge
22. Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
23. Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
24. New Study On Obesity Looks For Larger Test Group
24. Astronaut Takes Blame For Gas In Spacecraft
25. Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
26. Chef Throws His Heart Into Helping Needy
27. Arson Suspect Is Held In Massachusetts Fire
28. Ban On Soliciting Dead in Trotwood
29. Lansing Residents Can Drop Off Trees
30. Local High School Dropouts Cut In Half
31. New Vaccine May Contain Rabies
32. Man Minus Ear Waives Hearing
33. Deaf College Opens Door To Hearing
34. Steals Clock, Faces Time
35. Prosecutor Releases Probe Into Undersheriff
36. Old School Pillars Are Replaced By Alumni
37. Bank Drive-In Window Blocked By Board
38. Hospitals Are Sued By 7 Foot Doctors
39. Some Pieces Of Rock Hudson Sold At Auction
40. Include Your Children When Baking Cookies
41. Man Accused of Killing Lawyer Receives a New
Attorney
42. Statistics Show That Teen Pregnancy Drops Off
Significantly After Age 25
43. One Armed Man Applauds the Kindness of Strangers
44. Homicide Victims Rarely Talk to Police
45. Utah Poison Control Center Reminds Everyone Not to
Take Poison
Thanks to the following folks for referring
our service recently!
Sylvia Maietta
Cathy Storey
John Mann
Matt Simmons
Eileen Quinn
Rick Estes
Chris Dubose
Don Joyce
Mike Lindgren
Lanny Kurysh
Mark Lentsch
Chai Xiong
Ken Haider
Terry Lang
Beth Herzog
Jay Chapman
Harry Forsythe
Sean Haller
Tom Kelly
Tyler Kurtz
John Wise
Adam Artz
Justin Anderson
Cindy Curren
Bob Boyce
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Nick and Liz Banovet John Lentsch
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Ryan Mann
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Ron Mikolai
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Eric Anderson
Mary Trapp
Mary Ann Buck
Brian Woodbury
Jacob Fisher
William Zimniewicz
Ed Rhodes
Sandy Espe Sorenson
Carissa & Eric Reynertson
Happy One Year Anniversary
The following folks have been in their
new home for one year!
Justin Anderson
Tom Costello
Matt & Jennifer French
Kristin Murch & Hunter Gordon
Steve & Ashley Haslach
Marcus & Elizabeth Hesting
Sue & Bill Johnston
Chris Knipping
Michelle Larson
Erik & Cheryl Lerfald
Marty & Kate Lightner
Simon Diep & Nissa Mattson
Kathy O'Malley
Luke Nierenhausen & Stephanie Rodenbeck
Bill & Char Rooney
Roger & Nancy Rousslang
Dominic & Melissa Stahley
Sammy & Linda Thompson
Jacki & Jerry Waltman
Andy & Linnea Ward
Sou Xiong
Mike Berg
Robin Bickford
Sara Gutierrez
Kyle Hoppe
Mike Hoppe
Stephanie Howe
Mike Keller
Josh Kelly
George Knox\
Matthew Lund
Linda Mevissen
Gabe Monsivais
Ashley Nave
Mike O'Neil
Lisa Reeck
Lynn Saunders
Pamela Sherrill
Mike Sullivan
Steven Taylor
Chai Xiong
Mark & Sharonlee Zack
Page 5