Hidden Asbestos Dangers in Your Home?
A dear friend who bought her 1970’s-vintage La Costa home ten years ago recently experienced a flooded bathroom that required the removal of drywall.
Discovered behind that wall was the dreaded A-word:
Asbestos.
She will have to move out of her home so that the guys in white suits and masks can come in and remove the lethal substance. Chris is taking it in good stride, and looks forward to returning to a repaired home.
This asbestos issue disturbs me on several levels, primarily because I worry about the health of my friend and her daughter. Hopefully because it was hidden behind a wall for all these years, there will be no after effects. I am also concerned on a professional level, because I represented this friend when she bought the home. I’m not worried about liability, but rather the nagging thoughts about what I might have done to detect this latent problem ten years ago.
Probably not much, given that this elementary school teacher was not likely to have spent her down payment on hiring guys in white suits to measure home air quality. And because the asbestos was sealed behind a wall and Chris is moving out during its removal, she will hopefully suffer no suffer ill effects.
The key health danger of asbestos exposure is mesothelioma–and a mesothelioma prognosis is generally a dire one with 2,000 to 3,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. And though asbestos is a naturally-occurring substance (44 out of California’s 58 counties have it), it can be particularly lethal in the home and workplace, especially when disturbed.
As the illustration above shows (and courtesy of Mesothelioma Cancer Center) asbestos can be found lurking in textured (popcorn) ceilings, behind bathroom walls, around the home furnace and a number of different areas.
So what to do when buying a pre-1980 home or planning to remodel one? A good home inspector will be able to point out likely asbestos hiding spots, and if the surface is stable may recommend leaving it be until time to remodel or make repairs. At that time, it would be wise to call in expert asbestos removal experts–and plan on taking a short vacation.
And if you are going to replace asbestos insulation, consider replacing it with green alternatives such as cellulose, cotton fiber and other eco-friendly alternatives.
For additional research, you may wish to visit:
United Nations Environmental Program
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read comments (0)A Crash in Classified Ads?
Earlier today, a client emailed my husband Mike about a great deal on a red Mercedes 500 SL convertible available on eBay. It was a 2004 model with only 7000 miles and offered a three-year warranty to boot. Located in Florida, this two-seater beckoned with a red price tag of around $28,000.
Ever the bargain hunter, Mike grabbed the San Diego Union Tribune’s Sunday classified section for cars, expecting to search through at least three pages for comparable sales.
It turned out be to a very short search because there was less than a quarter-page for all used cars in San Diego.
I am not particularly interested in red convertibles, but the slim number of classified ads in San Diego’s daily newspaper DID catch my attention.
We have all heard that the Chicago Tribune, the Baltimore Sun, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and other august print publications are on the ropes. The cause could only be financial, and financial resources are provided primarily by (1) Advertisers and (2) Subscribers (the number of which determine what advertisers pay for advertising).
I’ve been following these stories because I have a natural interest (because of background and training) in journalistic business–and also have a keen and active interest in how information (and advertising) is transmitted via the internet.
And it seems the latter may have overtaken the former. E-Bay and Craigslist are trampling traditional media.
Yesterday morning, I had a call from a Nevada broker asking if we had an agent fluent in Chinese who could help some Chinese investors seeking property in La Jolla. Hmmm….we have agents who speak Spanish, Polish, Russian and Farsi, but none who were fluent in Chinese.
The solution was simple.
I clicked to Craigslist, immediately placed and paid for an ad for a Chinese-fluent real estate agent–and serendipity took over. Within hours, we had a perfect response.
This morning Shumei Tao, a very bright and talented real estate agent, joined our company, San Diego Previews Real Estate. She is fluent in not only Mandarin, but Taiwanese, Cantonese–and the Internet. She too thought it serendipitous to find an internet ad that addressed her specific qualifications.
And it was only this evening as I looked at the sparse classified ads in the newspaper that I realized yesterday morning’s instinctive reaction to a need: Head over to Craigslist and have the ad online within minutes. And then today, a Florida client sends not a classified ad, but an eBay listing for an automobile.
And then I stop to wonder: When was the last time I scanned the newspaper classified ads for…anything?
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Twittering a Really Twisted Wine
When not engaged in San Diego real estate, cooking, travel and other ventures, you just might find me twittering on Twitter. In fact, by keeping my Mac PowerBook close at hand, I just might be reporting on and following thoughts, ideas and friends via Twitter, that ubiquitous social networking site (just follow me @EveSieminski).
Six months ago, I would never have dreamed of discovering a favorite wine through a site like Twitter. But that’s just what happened when Jeff Stai (aka El Jefe) and other wine buddies started twittering and raving about Twisted Oak wine. I loved the twisted name, trusted the reviews–and winemaker Jeff suggested I try their 2007 Calaveras County Viognier and the 2005 Murgatroyd.
Murgatroyd?
Had to give it a try, and when it arrived in the mail, decided to wait and share it with Roberta and Mike Murphy over some wonderful Italian cuisine.
It was a memorable evening and wine tasting. We all drink lots of wine, and none of us had ever heard of anything close to a Murgatroyd blend. Try 24% Cabernet Sauvignon from Vallecito Vineyards, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Tanner Vineyards, 23% Petit Verdot from the Tanner Vineyards, 12% Tempranillo from Silvaspoons Vineyard, 10% Tempranillo from Rolleri Vineyard and 9% Grenache from the Boeger Vineyard. This exotic blend was then aged for 23 months in American, French and Hungarian oak barrels before bottling. Talk about twisted….
We let the wines breathe for an hour prior to the arrival of our guests–but immediately poured glasses of the Murgatroyd when they walked into the kitchen.
WOW! This was unlike any wine any of us had ever experienced. You really had to get your nose into it and let it float over your tongue a few times to appreciate all the complexities and flavors.
As most of you know, I generally review good wines under $20–and this Murgatroyd just makes it at $19.20 per bottle– because of the Twisted Few Wine Club. Outside the club, the price is still a very reasonable $24.
We also tasted the 2007 Calaveras County Viognier from Twisted Oak, and found it to be a light, refreshing a citrusy white–and one that is not too sweet. The taste of other fine fruits come through cleanly, without it being a fruit bomb. Not too dry, not too sweet–but just a perfect wine to begin your evening and enjoy into dinner. It’s another twisted winner with a club price of $17.60–and an outsider’s tag of $22.00.
I recommend a visit to their web-page www.TwistedOak.com as it is fun and the way they ferment wines is unique. Tell Jeff I sent you!
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Caribbean Luxury Resorts in Trouble?
For those who still haven’t made travel plans, there may be some surprising resort bargains to consider–while other large and super-luxurious resorts are stalled under construction and financing difficulties.
Crisis in Paradise via Breitbart shares some disturbing news:
- Cap Cana, a luxury resort under development in the Dominican Republic is now reportedly paralyzed. A mega resort with four luxury hotels, villas (with roof tiles on the ground), three golf courses and a large yacht marina, Cap Cana is just one of many luxury resort projects “affected by the economic tsunami that has paralyzed the global financial markets,” said Cap Cana President Ricardo Hazoury.
- Also stalled in the Ritz Carlton Molasses Reef Resort in West Caicos. This luxurious project with hotel, condos and marina is three-quarters complete.
- The massive Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas has laid off 800 workers, blaming low occupancy rates.
- The Wyndham Nassau Resort has laid off 40 employees–presumably for the same reasons.
- Puerto Rico’s Caribe Hilton is also laying off employees because of rising cost and those pesky occupancy issues.
If reasonable air fares can be snagged, this could be the year for luxury travel bargains!
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Grant Street Zinfandel: So Lovely
I received this Zin yesterday via UPS (yes you can order it online), opened it at 5 to breathe and took my first sip at 6. I immediately considered it a really nice Zin, not too heavy and one that can be used with many a meal.
My final pour did not even taste like my initial tasting! In this wine I found complexity, richness, fruit and full body without being heavy or leaving you wanting to pucker from those tannins.
Wine Tasting Tip:
Always begin with a clean clear glass and pour less than an inch into your glass. Always begin with the lightest wines first (white, sparkling, rose’ etc) and then work your way up to the heavy ones (Zins, Cabs, etc). The reason for this is that it helps keep taste buds sensitive so you can enjoy and appreciate each wine you taste. Nibble on a cracker, snack on some cheese–or simply have a sip of water between tastes in order to help preserve your palate.
Na zdrowia!
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