In 1986, King County, where I reside, was renamed after Martin Luther King Jr.  Originally our county was named after William Rufus Devane King, a slaveowner and  once Vice President under Franklin Pierce, back in 1852.   The renaming of King County was official in 2005 and the new county logo, featuring Martin Luther King Jr replacing a "crown" followed in 2006.

Personally, I'm pleased to have our county to be named after Martin Luther King Jr. 

In observance of Martin Luther King Day, Mortgage Master will be closed.  We will reopen for business as usuals on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

Thank you to all who have made 2008 quite memorable!  It will be facinating to see what the New Year brings the mortgage industry. 

Mortgage Master is closed today and will reopen for business as usual on January 2, 2009.

From my home to yours, I hope you are surrounded by those you love most during this holiday season.

Mortgage Master will be closing early today at 1:00 p.m. in honor of Christmas and will be reopening for business as usual at 9:00 a.m. Friday, December 26, 2008.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Photo: Orson taking a Christmas break.

I just received this email from King County with a request to post this safety information on my blogs for our local community:

Are you prepared?  Steps to stay safe in this weekend's storm

With high winds forecast for this weekend and possible power outages, it's time to take steps to stay save and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide can kill you or cause serious injury.  Carbon monoxide gas comes from burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, oil, kerosene, natural gas, coal or wood.  Here are some steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Never use a gas or charcoal grill, hibachi, or portable propane heater to cook indoors or heat your home.

• During a power outage or at any other time, do not operate fuel-powered machinery such as a generator indoors, including in the garage.

• Avoid combustion "space heaters" unless there is an exhaust vent.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can strike suddenly and without warning.  In some cases, physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include splitting headache, nausea and vomiting, and lethargy and fatigue.  If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately.  Call for medical help from a neighbors home.  The fire department will tell you when it's safe to reenter the home.

For a full list of carbon monoxide prevention tips and other safety and disaster information in English and other languages, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/disaster

Other important safety tips

• Make sure you are wearing enough warm clothing before going outdoors.  Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low.
• If you think power will be out for several days, check with your city for location of warming shelters.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia-slurred speech, confusion, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less.  Get medical help immediately if you think someone has frostbite or hypothermia.
• Check on elderly friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are safe.
• If power goes out where you live, keep food safe by keeping the doors closed on your refrigerators and freezers as much as possible.  A full freezer can stay at freezing temperatures about two days'' a half-full freezer about 1 day.  Potentially hazardous foods, like meet and fish, should be discarded if thawed and warmer than 41 degrees.

Update: News Release from the City of Seattle

Mortgage Master is closed today in observance of Veteran’s Day to honor those who serve our Country to protect our freedom.

This photo is of Lady Liberty at Alki in West Seattle. A gift from the Boy Scouts in 1952, she was recently restored to her original beauty.

You can’t gripe about who ever’s in office if you don’t vote.  At least that’s how I feel about it.  Even if you feel hopeless, as if your vote won’t make a difference; voting is your one true right as an American.