1050 Shillington Dr., Katy, TX | Powered by Postlets

1050 Shillington Dr., Katy, TX Powered by Postlets

For Sale: 4BR/2+1BA Single Family House in Katy, TX, $204,120

For Sale: 4BR/2+1BA Single Family House in Katy, TX, $204,120

Big Easy heading for the big time

Big Easy heading for the big time

Tyler Myers in action during the Buffalo Sabres' 7-2 defeat of the Phoenix Coyotes last week. Myers leads all Sabres and all NHL rookies in ice time.

Photograph by: Christian Petersen, Getty Images, The Province

From the exurb of Katy, Texas, via Calgary, Wilcox, Sask., and Kelowna, the Big Easy arrived in Buffalo all of 19 years old and 6 feet, 10 inches tall.

Tyler Myers digs the nickname, digs playing 23 minutes a game in the NHL, digs shutting down opponents' top lines.

What's not to dig?

"It's been a lot of fun, very exciting," Myers said. "You know, a 19-year-old playing in the NHL, you can't ask for much more."

Born in the outskirts of Houston, Myers moved with his family to Calgary when he was 10 and soon gave up hoop for hockey nets.

After a year playing midget Triple-A for the Notre Dame Hounds, he joined the Kelowna Rockets and went 12th in the defenceman-rich draft of 2008.

Today, Myers, who turns 20 on Feb. 1, is right up there with Matt Duchene and John Tavares as rookie-of-the-year front-runners.

"I honestly didn't know where I'd be at this point," he said. "I'm just trying to stay as consistent as I can."

Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff does a good job of keeping Myers' head screwed on right, not giving too glowing a report, pooh-poohing talk of future Norris trophies and down-playing a Calder.

But the coach has Myers paired with Henrik Tallinder as his top shut-down duo and Myers leads all Sabres, not to mention all rookies, in ice time with 23:22 (defenceman Chris Butler is next on the Sabres, 1½ minutes back).

Entering last night's game with the Canucks, Myers was fourth in rookie scoring, five points behind Duchene. "A rookie year is based on 80 games, we've got 30 games to go," Ruff said. "The season is a grind and we've got to get this kid through that grind."

Myers can seemingly do it all: He had three power-play goals, 29 points in 50 games, plays the PK and makes skating like the wind look effortless.

Just wait until he fills out to a Zdeno Chara-like 250 pounds or so.

"Earlier on I probably was surprised," Sabres goalie Ryan Miller said.

"Not any wmore I'm not. A few years down the line, I think teams will be awful scared of him. Already he gets lots of minutes, he's hard to get around, he's good on coverage.

"When he fills into his frame he's going to be scary."

gordshockey@hotmail.com

© Copyright (c) The Province

So you just started looking?

Find an agent

Interview three if you can and remember there are real estate companies that work for just sellers, some that work for sellers or buyers, some that try to work for both at the same time, and others that just work for buyers. The latter companies are called Exclusive Buyer Agent Companies (EBA), and it is worth making sure one of your interviews is with an EBA. Visit NAEBA.org for more info.

Obtain a preapproval

If you will be getting a mortgage, a preapproval will help make you more comfortable with what a mortgage payment would be like. A good agent will typically have recommendations for credible lenders. Choose a lender based on their proven ability to get the job done correctly first, then consider the costs. Be careful if the lender is associated with the real estate company; it sometimes creates a conflict of interest.

Start looking at homes

You can usually visit eight or ten homes in a well-planned day with a well-prepared real estate agent. Open houses typically are not the best use of time because they are only a small indication of the inventory of available homes.

Narrow down your choices

Start cutting down your list to a target group of two or three homes. Then make a second visit to do a “detailed” viewing. This way, you will always be aware of your best alternative if your top pick doesn’t work out.

Selling a Home? Avoid this Home Buyer Turnoff

Are you selling a home? Did you know that even though home buyers are all looking for something different, the majority of them will turn around and walk back out of your door if they notice a foul odor.

Odors

House odors are number one on the home selling uh-oh list. And narrowing it down, odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind.

If you smoke indoors--the house smells like cigarettes. If you have pets, the house might smell bad--even if you don't notice it. Ask someone who doesn't live there to take a sniff, and don't get angry when they tell you the truth.

Eradicate the odors so that you can present potential buyers with a clean, fresh atmosphere--not a house that's full of perfumes to cover up the odors.

How to save your Carpet for the Move

Cleaning Cat Urine

First, if it’s a fresh stain you’re dealing with, you’ll need to blot up as much of the cat urine as possible. Since we don’t want to waste a bunch of paper towels, gather up some old cloth towels, rags or unwearable clothes. Using one or two pieces at a time depending on thickness, lay them down on the wet spot and stand on ‘em. Wear some shoes or sandals, you won’t want the urine soaking through the rag and into your socks. Continue this with a fresh rag each time until you see little or no wetness on the used towel. If you’re worried about not being able to use your rags again, don't be, just put them in the wash with some detergent and about ¼ cup apple cider vinegar.

Saturate the stain with a water and vinegar solution. You will want to perform this step regardless of whether you’re dealing with an old or a new stain. Mix up just what you will need using three parts warm water to one part white vinegar. I usually do 1 ½ cups warm water to a ½ cup of vinegar. Poor the solution slowly over the stain and allow it to sit and soak for 3-5 minutes. Not only is vinegar a good natural solvent, it also kills bacteria.

Sprinkle the effected area with baking soda. After you get the spot good and dry again using the method mentioned in the first step, sprinkle the entire spot with baking soda. You don’t want to over do it, but you don’t be too shy about it either. Think glazed donut, not wedding cake.

Bring together some hydrogen peroxide and some dish detergent. It’s time for another concoction. In a large measuring cup mix together about ¾ cup 3% hydrogen peroxide (yes, it’s the same stuff you keep in your bathroom for cleaning cuts, lightening hair, and gargling) with about one teaspoon of dish detergent (preferably a brand like Seventh Generation that is not petroleum based).

Drizzle the hydrogen peroxide/dish detergent mixture over the baking soda. Again, don’t be too shy. You will want to saturate the spot pretty well without going beyond it if possible. Remember, peroxide can sometimes discolor or bleach fabrics which is the reason for first trying this in an inconspicuous spot. After you get it good and wet, use the tips of your fingers or a brush of some kind to really work that baking soda down into the carpet. Baking soda is highly absorptive so it plays an important part in the cat urine removal process.

Kick back and let it dry. Give the peroxide, baking soda and dish detergent a few hours to dry and work it’s magic. This is a great time to grab yourself a glass of tea. After all, you’ve earned it. Once the carpet has dried thoroughly, get out the vacuum cleaner, suck up the baking soda, stand back and admire your work. While it’s only happened to me a couple times, if you run across a particularly tough cat urine stain, it may require a second run through.

FREEZE WARNING!!

Texas Department of Insurance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 6, 2010
News Release

Avoid Home Damage from Frozen Pipes

Texas weather can change quickly, especially in the winter. A fast-moving cold front can cause temperatures to drop below freezing within hours. Outdoor pipes, pipes in unheated areas, and pipes that run along uninsulated exterior walls can burst if the water in them freezes and expands. This can shatter pipe seals or the pipes themselves, sending water pouring through your house. You can avoid thousands of dollars of damage to your walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture by taking a few simple measures to protect your home.

Before the Freeze

· Protect faucets, outdoor pipes, and exposed pipes in unheated areas by wrapping them with rags, newspaper, trash bags, or plastic foam.

· Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is on tight.

· Cover any vents around your home’s foundation.

· Drain and store water hoses indoors.

· Protect outdoor electrical pumps.

· Drain swimming pool circulation systems or keep the pump motor running. (Run the pump motor only in a short freeze. Running the motor for long periods could damage it.)

· Drain water sprinkler supply lines.

· Open the cabinets under sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated indoor air to circulate around the water pipes.

· Set your thermostat at a minimum temperature of 55 degrees, especially when you’re gone for the day or away for an extended period.

· Let indoor faucets drip; it isn't necessary to run a stream of water.

· Make sure you know where your home’s shut-off valve is and how to turn it on and off.

· If you leave town, consider turning off your water at the shut-off valve while faucets are running to drain your pipes. Make sure you turn the faucets off before you turn the shut-off valve back on.

· If you drain your pipes, contact your electric or gas utility company for instructions on protecting your water heater.

If Your Pipes Freeze

· If a pipe bursts and floods your home, turn the water off at the shut-off valve. Call a plumber for help if you can’t find the broken pipe or if it’s inaccessible. Don’t turn the water back on until the pipe has been repaired.

· If the pipe hasn’t burst, thaw it out with an electric heating pad, hair dryer, portable space heater, or towel soaked with hot water. Apply heat by slowly moving the heat source toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot because cracking ice can shatter a pipe. Turn the faucet on and let it run until the pipe is thawed and water pressure returns to normal.

· Don’t use a blowtorch or other open-flame device. They are fire risks and carbon monoxide exposure risks.

If You Have a Loss

· Contact your insurance agent or company promptly. Follow up as soon as possible with a written claim to protect your rights under Texas’ prompt-payment law.

· Review your coverage. Most homeowners and renters policies pay for property repair. In addition, most policies pay for debris removal and for additional living expenses if you have to move temporarily because of damage to your home. If you can’t find your policy, ask your agent or company for a copy.

· Homeowners policies may require you to make temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage. Your policy covers the cost of these repairs. Keep all receipts and damaged property for the adjuster to inspect. If possible, take photos or videos of the damage before making repairs. Don’t make permanent repairs. An insurance company may deny a claim if you make permanent repairs before an adjuster inspects the damage.

· Most homeowners policies do not cover loss caused by freezing pipes while your house is unoccupied unless you used reasonable care to maintain heat in the building; shut off the water supply; and drain water from plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems.

Questions?

If you have questions about insurance, call TDI’s Consumer Help Line toll-free: 1-800-252-3439

or visit the TDI website: www.tdi.state.tx.us. Assistance is available in both English and Spanish.