1

Focus to Finish French novelist Georges Simenon wrote close to 200 novels. Many of them featured the detective Inspector Maigret, but he also produced numerous other stand-alone works among his 150 novels, 50 novellas, and scores of articles. The secret of Simenon’s success was his intense concentration and speed—he wrote many of his novels in just 11 days, often writing 60 to 80 pages a day.

Before beginning one of his marathon writing sessions, Simenon would go for a physical to make sure he was up for the task. Then he’d tackle the project with a fierce single-mindedness. He refused to take phone calls, spoke to no one, lived “like a monk.”

Legend has it that Alfred Hitchcock telephoned Simenon with a project proposal. When the novelist’s wife answered, she informed the famed director that her husband was writing and couldn’t be disturbed.

Hitchcock replied, “Let him finish his book. I’ll hang on.”

I wonder how much I could accomplish with such fanatical focus!

More words of wisdom ... A queen called her advisors together and asked them to come up with a motto for the nation that would help her people in times of distress.

“It must be short enough to be engraved on a ring. It must be as useful in prosperity as in adversity. It must be wise and true and endlessly enduring, words by which men and women could be guided all their lives.”

The motto they chose: “This, too, shall pass.”

v Moments in Marchv Why St. Patrick’s Day?v Cherry Blossoms in Historyv Prevent Lap Top Deathv Junk food with Defeat?v Peanut Butter and Alzheimer’sv How to Foster a Brain Stormv Katherine & William’s Corner

What is My House Worth?Fill out a simple 2 step form for a FREE Report on the

market value of your home. www.novahousevalue.net

Garcia GazetteNews & Views for Haymarket, Virginia & Beyond from Bryan Garcia

The Garcia Gazette is published monthly by Bryan Garcia,

Associate Brokerwww.EXITgarcia.com

Inside This Issue

EXIT HERITAGE REALTY

March 2014 Call or text Bryan at 703-517-2574

SHARE the latest issues of Garcia Gazette or

Haymarket Homeowner. Scan this code and scroll down to select a newsletter to share.

2

Moments in March“Luck? I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work—and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t.” ~ Lucille Ball

• March 5, 1963 - Noted country music vocalist and Virginia native, Patsy Cline, dies in an airplane crash in Tennessee. She is buried at Shenandoah Memorial Park in Winchester.

• March 23, 1775 - Patrick Henry delivers his famous speech “Give me liberty or give me death” at Henrico Parish, now named St. John’s Church, in Richmond.

• March 30, 1791 - President George Washington issues a proclamation to establish a permanent seat for the U.S. government on the Potomac River, on land ceded by both Virginia and Maryland. The nation’s new capital site is called the District of Columbia.

The average size of a new home has increased more than 300 square feet in the last five years, to 2,679 square feet in 2013 from 2,362 square feet in 2009.

Source: National Association of Home Builders census data report.

Did YouKnow?

Why St. Patrick’s Day?Monday, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. So what? Why do we bother to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day around the world? Obviously, you might say, the day is to honor Ireland’s patron saint, who introduced Catholicism to the Irish and rid their land of snakes.

But that’s not really what we’re celebrating, is it? We’re really using it as an excuse to wear green and throw a big party. Everyone knows the Irish love a good party. Our methods of celebrating might differ around the world, but the idea is the same. When you think about it, St. Patrick’s Day is just smart marketing.

Irish bars exist in every major city, Gaelic football and hurling teams are now all over the world. There are Irish people in every nook and cranny on this planet. When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day they are all ready-made brand ambassadors. They will celebrate wherever they are, highlighting just how much fun the Irish are and make more people aware of St. Patrick’s Day.

Of course, not all Irish people can be bothered to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Even so, to some extent all Irish people everywhere enjoy the fruits of the holiday, which bring a positive spin to all things Irish.

Here are some of the new clients who became

members of our “EXIT Heritage Family”

this past month. I’d like to welcome you!

Jim Reeder (Warrenton) Referred by Kevin Smith

of GainesvilleJimmy Psihas (Gainesville)

Referred by Melinda Koutsoupias of Bealeton

Robert Clark (Haymarket) Repeat Client

Cinthia & Oscar (Manassas) Referred by Ray Claus

of ManassasBrad Chester (Warrenton)

Repeat ClientWe love recognizing our new friends and existing

clients who are kind enough to introduce their friends, family & neighbors to us.

Welcome New Clients

3

Cherry Blossoms in HistoryEach year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC. The gift and annual celebration honor the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan and the continued close relationship between the two countries.

It took the coordination of many to ensure the arrival of the cherry trees. A first batch of 2,000 trees arrived diseased in 1910, but did not deter the parties. Between the governments of the two countries and other parties involved, more than 3,000 trees arrived in Washington in 1912. In a simple ceremony on March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees from Japan on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park.

Over the years, gifts have been exchanged between the two countries. In 1915, the United States Government reciprocated with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan. In 1981, the cycle of giving came full circle. Japanese horticulturists were given cuttings from the trees to replace some cherry trees in Japan which had been destroyed in a flood.

The National Park Service announced that peak bloom (defined as when 70% of the blossoms

are open) will be April 8th to 12th this year.

Since First Lady Taft’s involvement, the nation’s first ladies have been proponents of the Festival. All first ladies in recent years have served as Honorary Chair, many participating as well. In 1999, First Lady Hillary Clinton took part in a tree planting ceremony. In 2001, First Lady Laura Bush greeted guests with remarks at the Opening Ceremony. Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama was involved in 2012, planting a cherry tree in West Potomac Park among dignitaries and guests.

Today’s National Cherry Blossom Festival has grown from modest beginnings into the nation’s greatest springtime celebration. Today, more than 1.5 million people visit Washington, DC each year to admire the blossoming cherry trees and participate in diverse programming that heralds spring in the nation’s capital. (Source: Nationalcherryblossomfestival.org)

Our movie ticket giveaway continues into March!

I’ll send 2 free movie tickets to Regal Cinemas for:EACH new referral that is sent to me.

Just send me the name and contact information of

someone you know who is thinking about buying or selling a Haymarket area home and

I’ll send the tickets to you. It’s that simple.

Email: bryangarcia@exitheritage.comPlease include your name and address. Offer runs until 3/31.

Congratulations to Kevin Smith, Ray Claus and

Melinda Koutsoupias, for their February referrals!

Earth Day Parade and Spring Festival!

Saturday, April 13th 10 AM to 4 PM

Celebrate the planet we live on by patronizing

environmentally-friendly vendors and participating in a

wonderful parade. Downtown Haymarket

Vendor registration open until April 1st, 2014

Visit HaymarketFun.com

March Movie Madness

4

The Top 5 predicted remodeling trends for 2014 are:

1. Modern Kitchens (white and grey cabinetry, glossy finishes)

2. Brass Accents (rustic, dull hammered brass)

3. Updated bathrooms (large, walk-in showers with multiple heads, heated floors)

4. Bright colors (Lemon Zest, Nectarine and Rouge Red)

5. Sustainable materials (bamboo, energy efficient appliances)

Source: Realtor.com

Did YouKnow?

Prevent Lap Top DeathHeat is the “cause of death” for most laptops. The heat not only causes all components to expand and contract a little (as you turn it on and off), but will also reach dangerously high levels and make your laptop crash or shut down if the fan(s) and the heatsink(s) are clogged with dust.

All computers work a little bit like vacuum cleaners–sucking air from one side and blowing it out from the other. Unfortunately they don’t come with filter bags to catch all the dust and debris. After just a few months the fans and heatsinks are well coated with dust. If not cleaned, their effectiveness quickly drops

and eventually goes down to zero when the heatsinks get fully clogged. Here are a few of the unintended consequences:

• An overheated processor slows down and operates less efficiently.

• The efficiency and output of electrical current through hot copper wires gets reduced.

• Increased heat causes increased chemical reaction in batteries that reduces the battery life and amount of time they stay charged. With prolonged exposure to high heat, the battery may even become unusable.

To clean your laptop regularly, get a can of compressed air and blow the dust off the fan and heatsink. This has to be done every couple of months. The compressed air is quite handy for the keyboard too, blowing away all the debris from between the keys.

However if the heatsink has already been clogged, this won’t help. The compressed air will not be enough to unclog it. If you have never cleaned the heatsink and you had used your laptop for over a year, chances are that both the fan and the heatsink are clogged with dust and debris. The solution in this case is to remove the heatsink, clean it and install it back. This is best done in a laptop repair shop, as it takes quite a lot of experience and dexterity. One slip of the screwdriver may kill the laptop.

Prince William County Schools All County

Arts FestivalSaturday, March 29th

10 AM to 5 PM Patriot High School

Nokesville, VACome see the work of young

and aspiring artists at the 44th PWCS Fine Arts Festival, “Art Makes Connections”

AroundTown

A can of Dust Destroyer can

be found at Staples for about $7.00

5

Stone House and Cabin Branch Quilt Show

March 29 & 30 10 AM to 4 PM

PWC Fair Grounds 10624 Dumfries Road

Manassas, VA$5 admission; $4 seniors;

children under 12 freeOver 200 works from some of Virginia’s most talented

quilters plus quilting technique demos, awards & more!

AroundTown

Junk Food with Defeat?Researchers studying fans of U.S. football and French soccer found that many sports addicts turn to junk food to curb their disappointment when their favorite teams lose. The scientists looked at data from a nutrition study and found that the day after their teams lost, fans consumed 10 percent more calories and 16 percent more saturated fat than usual.

But when their teams triumphed, they ate somewhat less junk food than normal. And study participants who lived in communities without pro teams didn’t report any fluctuations in their eating habits the day after most football games are played. You may want to stock up on fruits and vegetables for the day after. Just in case.

Peanut Butter & Alzheimer’sThe sense of smell may be an important clue in a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Florida ran an experiment designed to test the ability of Alzheimer’s patients to detect odors, based on the fact that impaired smell is often one of the first effects of cognitive decline. The main ingredient in the test: peanut butter.

The scientists capped subjects’ nostrils one at a time and observed the distance at which each participant could smell a teaspoon of peanut butter, which was used because its odor doesn’t include any secondary effects like stinging or burning (as other smells generally do).

They found that in patients who had been previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the left nostril’s sense of smell was significantly more impaired than the right. Control subjects who either didn’t suffer from cognitive decline, or who had different kinds of cognitive disability, didn’t exhibit the same discrepancy. The finding could serve as a vital early warning of Alzheimer’s, a disease that’s difficult to detect in its early stages.

How accurate is a Zestimate on Zillow?

Zillow “Zestimates” are educated guesses, based

on public records and previous sales.However, their

algorithms fall weak with foreclosures,

renovations and homes in neighborhoods where

homes vary widely in type, style and size.

A Competitive Market Analysis (CMA), a closer

look at local market trends, the neighborhood

and the features of a home, are the most

accurate ways to price a home for sale.

Just Ask Bryan

6

How To Foster A Brainstorm

Brainstorming sessions are common when teams are looking for new ideas. And although they’re frequently useful, they can also actually inhibit creative thought unless leaders and participants manage them carefully. Before you call that meeting, be ready to guard against these common brainstorming pitfalls:

• Fear of criticism. Even though brainstorming meetings aren’t supposed to reject ideas no matter how far-fetched they are, participants may censor themselves, knowingly or unconsciously, for fear of embarrassment or criticism—especially if there’s a boss in the room. Address this up front and encourage everyone to speak as freely as possible. Maybe keep managers out of the session, at least in the beginning, to promote a free flow of ideas.

• Extroverts taking over. People who are more assertive and talkative may dominate the session with their ideas, even if they don’t mean to. Introverts may feel intimidated, or they may simply need more time to present their ideas. Make an effort to get everyone involved. Go around the room one by one, for example, instead of letting everyone shout out their thoughts wildly.

• Distrust of novelty. Despite our best efforts, our minds generally drift toward the tried and true. People may unintentionally shut down their imaginations in search of “practical” ideas, or ignore off-the-wall concepts because of the risk involved. Ask some questions that take the problem out of the realm of the concrete—what color would a solution look like, for example? Or, what kind of animal does this situation resemble?

EXIT HERITAGE REALTY

7

All You Have to Do is Ask Bryan...Simply complete this form and check which Free Reports and/or Information you’d like to receive.

Email this form or fax it to: 703-753-5828. You can also mail it to:Bryan Garcia, 15030 Washington Street, Haymarket, VA 20169

or just call or text me and I’ll send it right out.www.EXITgarcia.com • BryanGarcia@ExitHeritage.com • 703-517-2574

Name: ________________________________________ Phone: ______________________

Address: ______________________________________ City: ________________________

State: ______ Zip Code: __________ Email: ______________________________________

Please send me the requested free information selected below via (__) Mail (__) Email.

Free Reports(__) Protect Your Home From Burglars(__) Five Deadly Mistakes Home Sellers Make(__) Making The Move Easy On The Kids(__) How Sellers Price Their Homes(__) How To Stop Wasting Money On Rent(__) How To Sell Your House For The Most Money In The Shortest Possible Time(__) The 10 Dumbest Mistakes Smart People Make When Buying Or Selling A Home

Free Information(__) Send me information about your free, no-obligation Home Navigation Service(__) Send me your Service Directory with your recommended service providers.(__) Send me a computer report showing the features and sale prices of some of the most

recent home sales near the following address: ___________________________________________ City: _______________ or this area: ________________________________________________________________________ .(__) Please let me know the listing price and features of the home at the following address: ________________________________________________________________________ .(__) Please let me know the selling price of the home at the following address: ________________________________________________________________________ .(__) Please call me to arrange a free, no-obligation market valuation on my house.

Do you have a family member or friend who would enjoy a free subscription of The Garcia Gazette?

Name: _________________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________ City: ____________________________

State: _______ Zip Code: _____________ Email: ______________________________________

8

Bryan Garcia15030 Washington StreetHaymarket, VA 20169

www.EXITgarcia.comBryanGarcia@EXITheritage.com Call or Text: 703-517-2574

This newsletter is intended for entertain-ment purposes only. Credit is given to the authors of various articles that are reprinted when the original author is known. Any omission of credit to an author is purely unintentional and should not be construed as plagiarism or literary theft.

Copyright 2013 Bryan Garcia, Exit Heritage Realty. This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical, legal, financial or tax advice.

Search all homes for sale in your area by scanning

this EXIT QR Code.

LIKE Us on Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter for local market trends & more tidbids of fun.

HaymarketRealEstateGuyEXIT HERITAGE REALTY

@bgarciaexit

I Need Your Expert AdviceTo my friends who are small business owners or specialists in your field. I am looking for guest article contributors for Haymarket Homeowner—my new publication that is sent to over 3700 Haymarket area homeowners. If you are in any field that services homeowners—contracting, decorating, catering, child care or enrichment or any other kind of service—I’d love to hear from you!Not only will it help me provide expert content to our audience, it’s a great way to promote your business to potential customers! We are restricted to space so I can’t promise all submitted articles will get published, however any article submitted WILL be posted online as a guest blog on HaymarketHomeowner.com.And, if you are interested in advertising, we are taking reservations now for our May/June issue. It’s a great way to reach a highly targeted audience of local homeowners. Visit HaymarketHomeowner.com/advertise for information.