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What do you do to relax? TV used to be my 'mindlessness' - after working for too many hours in a row, I like to take a break and squeeze in some scripted television that lets my brain wander and decompress.
But my boyfriend thinks differently. He loves to watch educational programs - science and history especially. And even though I love to learn, he is forcing my brain to work instead of relax!
I especially enjoy watching shows about the cosmos and ancient Egypt and how the railroad system came to be in America but then I find that my mind never shuts down. It is constantly swirling with questions and trying to absorb all this new information. Truly enlightening, but also exhausting!
Of special interest to me is the concept of time. Since our company sells time, the efficiency of it is often on my mind and depending on who you talk to (or the science channel) time is represented through change as in the motion of the moon around the earth. It is generally defined as a measurement based on what a clock reads. Nearly everyone agrees that time is closely related to space and, at the risk of sending my brain into a tailspin, time and space together is mathematically interwoven into a continuum.
According to Einstein, time is relative and he said that the 'dividing line between past, present and future is an illusion'. I would agree as I believe time is an artificial construct. A concept man created to make sense of the world around him. But if so, how do we reconcile the fact memories create the feeling of a past? Or that our hopes and dreams are often based in some sense of future? And if time is an illusion, why do our body's age?
Time is one of the, if not the, most valuable commodities known to our species. Think about it: We can mine more precious metals or grow more food or drill for more oil, but when time is gone, it is gone. It cannot be manufactured, farmed or otherwise replenished.
Einstein posited that time is related to our movement; although we move so slowly on this planet that there is barely a ripple in the speed of time. Anticipation, though, can make it seem that time slows way down.
How often have you experienced the 'forever' it takes to go somewhere (are we there yet?) and yet take no time to get home? Or why, when we are a child, did the holidays take forever to arrive and as an adult they come all too fast? Anticipation!
I don't pretend to fully understand how time works, but I know that it is precious. I am proud that by selling time we are allowing others to accomplish more than they would without us.
There is a maxim that says we make time for that which we prioritize. And this is true, but unfortunately there is also a case to be made that there are duties we must do and there are pastimes that we want to enjoy. Trying to find a balance between those two things can be daunting. In this, our ever sped up, instant responses expected, not enough hours on the clock lives, something always seems to be left undone.
As I age, it seems that time moves faster and faster. I find I look back (even though 'back' is not real) and wish I had possessed the foresight to make more time for the fun and less for the work. These days it becomes increasingly difficult to find enough time to accomplish everything on my 'someday' list (and my 'someday' is ever shrinking! Egad!)
If we can afford another the time to do the things that bring them joy and/or allow them more time for loved ones, then we feel like we have made a difference in their lives. We didn't know, when this company first started, how truly important time was. But, as our society has evolved to outsource more and more of our 'to do' lists; the ability to take on those tasks for others has great value.
I may only rarely get to use television as a mindless activity now, but find I don't really miss it. Learning and growing and making a difference for people is way more fun and actually, truth be told, makes me feel like I'm a more active participant in my own life. Mindlessness is for zombies! Let's live our lives and enjoy them! And when you need more time to so, we are just an email or phone call away.
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PROTECTING YOUR CARS' BELTS & HOSES
Out here in the desert, where the outside temperature can soar to 120 in the summer, keeping the belts and hoses in your car from drying out and cracking over time is nearly impossible. In fact most of the rubber items in your car suffer -- tires, gaskets, windshield wipers, belts and hoses especially.
We've found a way to help protect your belts and hoses and it is a simple and cost effective solution! Tire foam, a cleaner and conditioner for tires, is perfect to spray on your engine! The foaming action helps clean away dirt and the conditioners help keep the hoses and belts supple and flexible.
There is no need to wash off the foam, just spray it all over and forget about it. And at around $5/can, there is no more cost effective way to protect your car's belts and hoses than that! We recommend doing this at least twice per year -- if you're a snowbird, once before you leave for summer and again when you get back. For those of us who live here year 'round, Spring and Fall, when we change smoke detector batteries and service HVAC systems is a good time to remember to spray the engine.
Desert climates are harsh in ways most people never realize. Take this simple step to help prolong the serviceable life of the belts and hoses in your car!
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REPAIR OR REPLACE?
When it comes to investments in furniture, wood items and other items around your home, there comes a time when we ask ourselves -- should we repair this or should we replace it?
Especially those items subjected to our harsh sun and intense heat. Patio furniture, front doors, screens and roofs all suffer greatly.
If you have wood items -- teak furniture, front doors or any type of outdoor wood -- we can refinish it rather than replace it. Included here are recent before and after photos of a door we just refinished.
Teak, a popular patio furniture wood, will change to a silver grey finish if left to age naturally. It is an oily wood so you can't varnish it, but if you want to preserve the brown color of new teak, you can use a teak sealer which may need to be reapplied every year or two depending on how much sun your furniture gets.
Teak furniture should be occasionally washed with mild detergent and lightly sanded to remove any lifted areas that could cause splinters. Or, it can be refinished completely and often returns to its former glory!
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Refinished Teak Doors -- Before and After
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We offer teak refinishing as well as all sorts of repairs for other types of patio furniture including new powder coat, re-strapping and new cushions.
Other wood items we repair/refinish include butcher block cutting boards, nicked and broken interior furniture, wooden garage doors, and cabinet door refinishes.
Screens can fatigue in this sun and heat, causing holes to open up unbidden. It is easy to rescreen and sometimes even warped frames can be salvaged. Our ever-present sand can cause slider doors - both screen and glass - to gall and stick. Typically they need new wheels and/or adjustments. They too can be easily repaired.
During all the rain of this past season, many homeowners discovered their roofs were in disrepair and endured leaks and other damages. Having a roof inspection is inexpensive and your roof will last longer if it has preventative maintenance including tile and shingle repairs/replacements, leak sealing, seal or closure of rodent access points and clearing away of debris that sometimes collects on the roof.
All of these and other services are available from us here at Executive Errands® and summer is the best time to effect these repairs so that your home is ready for your return. Call us to discuss your projects and/or to schedule repairs 760.898.9604
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EXECUTIVE ERRANDS TAKES GREAT CARE OF US!
"We have recently started using Executive Errands for both of our homes at the Reserve in Palm Springs and we couldn't be happier or more impressed. They are constantly monitoring the houses for normal maintenance issues and proactively recommending solutions with identified and trusted providers.
They are always ready, willing, and able to come to the house if we need them. No project too big, no detail too small. While we are only able to spend a few weeks of the year in the Desert, Executive Errands ensures that our homes are cleaned, stocked, and prepped prior to our arrival so we are able to enjoy every minute we are there without worrying about errands or upkeep. And, with their absentee home checks, we know that our homes are secure and being taken care of when we are gone. We could not recommend them more." -- J&H, Washington DC
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Summer Fare
One of the projects we do most often over the summer is tile cleaning and sealing. Our clients like it to be done while they are gone so there is little interruption of their lives. The two types of tile cleaning/sealing we do most are the floors and patios of your home and the tile in your pool.
For floors: Tile cleaning and sealing should be done every 3-5 years depending on the traffic in your home. Snowbird homes might even last longer than 5 years depending on how frequently they visit.
All too often, the tile in our homes and on our patios is far dirtier than we realize. That's because the dirt accumulates over time and, as with any gradual process, we simply get used to how the floor looks (or don't give much thought to it at all!)
One way to determine how dirty your floors are is to look for a section of tile that gets little to no traffic -- inside hall closets or in unused bathrooms. Compare the appearance of the grout to that in your kitchen or other high use area. See the difference? Yes, that's dirt!
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Before and After Cleaning Floor Tile
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Included here are before and after photos of tile we cleaned for a client. See the difference? The before picture doesn't even look that bad... until you see the after. Keeping your tile clean and sealed helps prolong its serviceable life as well. And when we clean your tile, we repair small holes and imperfections (when possible) so that your tile will look nearly like new.
When we do patio tile cleaning/sealing (including Saltillo tiles), the result is often even more dramatic.
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Before and After Cleaning Pool Tile
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For pools: The hard water here in the desert can leave white water deposits that can build up over time. How quickly it builds up depends on the hardness of your particular water which can vary from home to home in the same neighborhood. And the color of your tile also contributes to how obvious these deposits appear.
Again, it is easy to overlook these deposits as they appear gradually but one day you will see them and wonder -- when did that happen? Included here are before and after photos of pool tile cleaned recently for a client. Isn't the difference amazing?
Why shouldn't your home look its best? It's a big investment and keeping it maintained helps preserve its value. Call Executive Errands® today and we'll work with you to help your home shine! 760.898.9604
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Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd!
On April 22nd, take a minute to reflect on how amazing it is that we live on this beautiful planet. Every time I travel through Arizona or Utah or Colorado or Virginia and see the wide expanses of unpopulated areas, I am struck by how truly beautiful our country is and how lucky we are to live here. What can you do to help protect it? Every tiny action matters!
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In life, the bottom line is everything takes time whether our perception of it is real or not. None of us know for sure how much time we get so choosing how we utilize the time we're given is what matters most.
I tell the people I love that I love them, whether they want to hear it or not because we never know when (or if) we might get to say it again. I also do my best to do the things that bring me joy as often as possible because I don't want my life to be all about the drudgery.
And in an attempt to preempt problems, I proactively invest in maintaining my home and the things within it so as to keep them looking good and operating properly for as long as possible.
That's what we get to do -- we get to take on your chores and preventative maintenance and repairs so that you don't have to spend time doing them. We get to give you the time needed for your own joy. And we get to enhance the living experience for you here in the desert.
One of our taglines reads: With one simple call, we'll arrange anything you need.
It's true, this is no illusion -- we've gotcha covered...
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Until next time,
Leslie Spoor
Leslie Spoor
Executive Errands®
CL#944447
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For a list of our most popular services, please see our brochure here:
Last year, after traveling to Cuba (another beautiful country!), I wrote a travel guide! To download our
American in Cuba e-book travel guide, please
click here.
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