"Drive-in Real Estate Services"

"I ain't lyin'
If it wasn't for bad luck
I wouldn't have no kind-a luck
If it wasn't for real bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all"

Born Under A Bad Sign
Written by Booker T. Jones / William Bell
First recorded by Albert King (1967)

Also performed by: Cream, Booker T. & The M.G.'s, Rita Coolidge, Peter Green, The Pat Travers Band, Big Fat Mama, Paul Rodgers featuring Neal Schon, Jimi Hendrix, Sarasota Slim, Melvin Taylor & the Slack Band, Etta James, Tino Gonzales, and Albert Lee

I was mid-way through American Idol on Wednesday night with the family when the phone rang. Caller ID showed "City of Bellingham" and I thought, "At least it isn't a telemarketing call!"  I wish it had been!  The operator / dispatch asked whether I was the "call-out" for 8045 Birch Bay Drive (our Birch Bay office).

Straining to hear Tatiana in the background and her latest effort in front of Simon, Paula, Randy, and Kara, all mediated by Ryan Seacrest, I grudgingly admitted to being the designated call-out. "Don't worry," said the operator, "No one is hurt, but could you come out to your building and attend with the Sheriffs deputies as a car has hit your building."  She got my estimated ETA and quick as a flash, I was out of my lounging shorts and on with a coat and headed down to the office.

I came along Birch Bay Drive and saw a smoke haze as I approached the office. Although I was first apprehensive, I realized the smoke was from a beach fire from some hardy soul. There were no police or fire or ambulance flashers at our waterfront office, that's a good sign, I thought to myself.

I arrived and there were two Sheriff's department vehicles - and a slightly mangled Toyota leaking what looked to be radiator fluid. I was met by the driver of the Toyota who apologized profusely for hitting the building. Apparently, he had just passed a field sobriety test and was arranging with the two Whatcom County sheriffs on scene to have his car towed and removed from the property.

I believe he may have been adjusting his radio or something when he looked up and realized he just knocked down a stop sign and was imminently about to have an unfortunate contact with our real estate brokerage building. Poor fellow, I was glad he was unhurt - and there was no one in the building ... the silver lining!

There were material and equipment casualties however:

                        Ø     The stop sign

Ø     3 large plate glass windows

Ø     headers, posts, exterior wall, drywall, wiring for telephone, internet, and power along the wall that was struck are all damaged

Ø     advertising lettering on windows; �real estate on a higher level, estates, residential, land, lots, cottages, condos, farms, acreages, commercial, et cetera�

Ø     1 desk damaged

Ø     a ripped executive chair

Ø     several window boxes with miniature boxwoods

Ø     a desktop PC damaged to a no-boot state of condition

Ø     window blinds down and destroyed

Ø     hanging flyer displays down

Ø     miscellaneous items

I got a hold of the emergency line of our insurance carrier and arranged for a "button down" crew to come out ASAP to put plywood up over the opened up side of the building and clean up glass, et cetera. Hats off to Joel at SSK and to Jay at Northwest Professionals!  I was home by midnight. It will be several weeks to effect a complete repair. Like the 6 million dollar man, we'll be better, stronger, faster!