What's On My Mind?

Really, all you need to know are the numbers 6 and 5. Or the names Joe Flaco and Mark Sanchez.  The Colts lost the Super Bowl because the secondary could not stop the inside routes.  Sure, a little more pass rush might have helped, but we all started to think our rookie laden backfield was much better than they were because of the competition we had faced in the playoffs.  You can get excited about the low seeds the Colts beat to get to the Super Bowl, but do you think our secondary was as prepared to face Drew Brees and the Saints offense, as the Saints were to face Peyton Manning and crew?  The Saints beat Kurt Warner and Bret Farve (two future Hall of Famers) to get to the Super Bowl.  The teams they beat were seeded 4 and 2.  Their secondary was prepared much better by fact of actual combat.

In fact, I think many pundits missed this point.  Looking over the Colts schedule you truly have to go back to November 15 to find a top notch passing offense that the Colts faced (New England).  We could debate about Houston on November 29 but I think the playoff experience alone made the Saints ready for a faster tempo in the secondary than anything the Colts had faced.

So, congrats to the Saints.  They seem like a great group of guys and not surprizing the Colts felt like the road team yesterday.  Finally, how can I not say that it really hurt that an IU guy stuck the dagger in Colt nation's heart (Tracy Porter's TD interception).

No sense in reviewing the news of the last 24 hours.  Unless you have your head under a rock you know that the people of the state of Massachusetts (the state of Kennedy, Dukakis, Kerry) have spoken.  For the first time in almost 40 years they are sending a conservative and a Republican into the federal government with their new Senator Scott Brown.

Of course, what happened can be debated on both sides but I think the signal is clear.  People, the ordinary people of America, are tired of being laughed at, ignored, and made to feel inferior to the current crowd trying to ram all kinds of new laws and taxes down our throats.  This one single election does nothing but at least now provide a chance to have a debate on the issues.  Prior to last night (and actually until the leadership of the Senate actually seat Mr. Brown) the folks in charge had the ability to pass whatever legislation they felt supported their big government agenda...with no ability for there to be considered debate or even compromise.  The loss of a "filibuster proof" majority now means we can at least slow the wheels down and give a fair, and reasonable chance for oppostion voices to be considered.

I heard portions of Mr. Brown's acceptance speech and can see that he has hit a chord with people in a state not inclined to send conservatives into the federal government.  It is a road map for how conservatives should be thinking in the next few months and as we search for a leader to challenge Mr. Obama in 2012.

I will remember that while the honor is mine, this Senate seat belongs to no one person and no political party - and as I have said before, and you said loud and clear today, it is the people's seat.

I said at the very beginning, when I sat down at the dinner table with my family, that win or lose we would run a race which would make us all proud. I kept my word and we ran a clean, issues oriented, upbeat campaign - and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

If you have ever sold a home, or are in the process of selling a home, I would be very interested to hear what you loved and what you hated about the process.  I am working on a project that I believe will address a number of problems associated with the way selling a home is achieved in the United States.  I have my suspicions from my own experiences, and of course talking to many people over 20 years of being in this industry.  I would like to hear it directly though and not make any assumptions.

Please either contact me directly at joel@wilmothgroup.com or if you wish your comments to be seen publicly comment in whatever forum you are viewing this post.

Fascinating stuff to keep in mind as you hear this discussed in the mainstream media in the next few days.  Essentially, government hiring is the only hiring occurring.  Low paying jobs are disappearing (hurting economies in places heavily dependent on tourism and service business-ie Florida) and even the unemployment rate among college graduates stands at a record 5%.

Remember, you can spin these numbers lots of ways.  Take a few minutes to really understand what is occuring in the economy. 

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/economy/read-december-jobs-report/

By the way, I think the statute of limitations is up...they can't keep blaming this on George Bush!

Anytime the government creates an incentive that is related to the overall reduction of taxes, you can bet people will find a way to try and scam it.  This creates a whole new round of government hiring as new auditors are required, and attorneys who can subsequently prosecute the cases.  I often wonder if this is not part of the economic development plan when Congress creates these things.

I have been on the record since the beginning that I am not an advocate of the Home Buyer credit.  The reasons have been documented in this blog but basically, I believe in letting the markets correct themselves.  Additionally, and more importantly, I believe it takes us right back down the path we were on that brought us the housing bubble and the recession-the government creating incentives for people to buy homes who really probably had no business buying a home.  This simplifies my beliefs quite a bit and basically,  my argument is fruitless because this ship has left the harbor!  It has put me at odds with most of my Realtor friends.  I have been surprized at the number of Realtors, with a little experience behind them, who actually have agreed with me.  There is a minority of members of the National Association of Realtors who did not support the heavy campaign our trade group put forward in getting this credit extended last year.

Now the news comes out that the Treasury's Inspector General for Tax Administration estimates that 73,799 (how do you estimate a number like this) of taxpayers have incorrectly (ie fraudulently) claimed the first-time home buyer credit.  This number is only people who have filed for it before it was extended to a broader group of the population.  The IRS is not disputing this claim and said "it is studying the matter further."  Of course they are.  I bet it will take another 2000 new government workers to make sure the credit is properly filed by those who are eligible.

No wonder the entire Washington DC metropolitan area is the fastest job growth area (maybe one of the only) in the country. 

In the tradition of what everybody seems to do at the end of a year (or is this a decade?) I am compiling a list.  I digress for just a second.  Remember the big controversy at the turn of the century when calendar historians showed us the century really did not end until 12/31/2000 and not 12/31/1999?  So, they put this little damper on the idea of party like its 1999!  That no longer seems to be an issue as all I have seen this week is lists of the top things of this decade.  So, I guess the media decides that this is the end of a decade and who am I to argue?

Don't worry though, I have no list for the last ten years and doubt that I will ever take the time to try and remember all that happened during that time.  One year, known as 2009, well that is easier.

If you really do not know me, or care to know me, you should stop reading now as none of this will hold any interest or relevance.  For anybody still with me...here is what I will remember about 2009.

Claire and Morgan graduate from high school.  Big party with family friends on the most beautiful day Indiana can offer.

Claire and Morgan decide to attend Purdue.  Break my heart that nobody chooses IU!

The memory of moving the girls to Purdue in August, setting up theri dorm room, and then leaving them.

Sorority rush..you only can appreciate these two words if you have lived it from the perspective of a dad.

Max and Rebecca are both rewarded for months of training by obtaining drivers licenses.  Freedom for kids and parents translates into a whole new set of problems.

Fishers High School, led by Claire and Morgan, win the Dance Nationals in Orlando..and we are all there with a quick trip to Disney after.

Rebecca joins the Varsity Dance team and starts to make a name for herself with no big sisters to shadow her.

Max continues his incredible career as a hockey goalie.  Starting varsity goalie with great stats.  A sport I never played and have learned to appreciate. Crazy system though for how you advance after playing in high school.

An incredible week spent with my parents, kids, Jennifer, Mary and Scott and their kids and John on the Enchantress of the Seas in the Caribbean to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary.

Watching Gee and Papa take shots at Margaritaville in Georgetown Grand Cayman!

Watching Gee and Papa dance together on the actual night of their anniversary at an almost empty piano bar in downtown Indianapolis.

Watching Joey grow into a little boy I remember very well.  Sports crazy, knows and follows every team and plays any sport he can.

Seeing our almost 10 year old lab Jake start to suffer health issues that makes you realize how fast ten years really goes.

Thanking God for good health as all of my family had a good health year.

Enjoying endless evenings with neighbors sitting outside under the stars, next to a fire pit, or inside our homes, realizing the value in having a great community of friends.

Spending a few winter evenings with my in-laws Len and Sandy in Palmetto Florida while running back and forth between our Tampa and Fort Myers offices.

Being part of a relationsship that keeps working each and every day, despite the hurdles we face as part of a very unusual existence.  Just when I think we might have a few things figured out, a few new ones force us to work even harder! 

Days spent seeing, smelling, and existing at Fort Myers Beach. Who says work and relaxation can't mix?

I am sure I forgot something, but this is what comes to mind first about 2009. Oh yea..I turned 50..but we all know that because between friends and family the party went on for two weeks-no joke!  What could have been the worst birthday, turned into the best ever.

Enough about 2009...time to turn the page.  Have a safe happy New Years and lets all be a part of making 2010 full of a page of great memories.

I am about to try and walk away from my computer for what is probably the longest separation of the year. Likely not to get back on it again until Saturday morning.  Christmas is that important.  Will spend today wth family, tonight church, presents and more family tomorrow.  With all the kids at different ages we have a ongoing celebration- age specific!

If you have young ones, this site is a lot of fun.  Let them track Santa and his progress toward your home.  It is also a great motivator to get them to bed tonight.  Check out the Norad Radar Santa tracker. 

Finally, my best to you for this most imporant Christian holiday.  If you do not celebrate Christmas, best wishes to you for the season. Happy Holidays.   Christmas Light Show.wmv

Slightly stunned..I am reviewing the numerous news items I receive daily and just finished learning that defaulting homeowners just found another new hope..activist judges...

I have a Google Alert set up to track anything that comes up on the web with my last name (also our company name).  If you don't do this you might want to consider setting one up.   Interesting things might arrive in your inbox that otherwise you would have never known about.

Yesterday I received the following alert:

Google News Alert for: Wilmoth