Welcome to SoundBiteBlog.com. This website focuses mainly on providing Real Estate, Mortgage, and Local Area information for consumers and residents in Western Puget Sound, we also share our passions, expertise, and practical insights on Internet marketing and technology, including social media/networking, SEO, website design, and custom web applications. SoundBiteBlog is an award-winning joint venture between Mark Flanders of Pastik Design and Rich Jacobson of Keller William West Sound.

Within the pages of SoundBite is an eclectic collection of articles covering a wide variety of topics we hope you'll find interesting, engaging, and helpful. Rich is committed to relentlessly representing his client's best interests and empowering them to make informed decisions. Mark finally decided what he wanted to do when he grew up and gets excited when the code he's written solves a customer's problem with blinding efficiency!

Random Thoughts for a New Year

January 1st, 2010 by Mark Flanders

The long roadJanuary 2007 …  A blog is born.

Way back then (seems like ages ago), Rich and I started this venture. We had plenty of ideas, tons of energy and just enough arrogance to believe that people would want to read our questionably erudite prattlings! In the intervening time many things have changed. I pulled away from the blogging crowd and social media, Rich immersed himself in it. Yet, through all the changes, our friendship and mutual respect has survived and grown. SoundBite has become a closet full of articles and memories.

I sit here on the morning of 01-01-10 thinking about what the new year will bring. I am sure I am not alone. The beginning of a new year always has a subtle flirtation to it. Thoughts of what might be in store beckon.

Between us, Rich and I have acquired over 100 years of living. We have yet to aquire 100 years of wisdom. Then again, 2060 is not that far off. When exactly do we become wise? And how do we know when we get there?

Thursday morning coffee this week included a conversation about our homes. We both find ourselves in a similar, somewhat bewildering  situation. The houses seem suddenly quiet. Both of us bought large homes years ago in which to raise families. Now our children are off to explore their lives, rendering the family home quiet. As we were talking, we noticed that each of us has only three people living at home; husband, wife and one child.

I can remember looking forward to some quiet in my life. I often felt that the schedules, appointments, meetings, sports practices and parent-teacher conferences consumed every available hour. Now that all those hectic responsibilities are in the past, I find myself with hours to fill and little idea how to fill them. Maybe it is finally time to discover Golf!

The new year beckons. I have decided that I will commit to only one New Years Resolution … I will enjoy my journey for the journey’s sake alone.

There will be 52 Coffee Thursdays before the next New Year. I look forward to each one. They are a part of my journey too.

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