Last night I had a great time and thought that I would share it with AR. As parents and grand parents we have opportunities to witness different things that our children and grand children do. It is times like these that we really see just how talented they are and sometimes we learn life lessons.
Last night I had an opportunity to go to a local high school and see their production of “The Wizard of Oz”. Both of my grand children were in the production so I had a vested interest in it. Each of them were in different scenes and, of course, here is grandma and grandpa sitting there BEAMING along with their mom and dad. Let me say to those of you that have doubts about your younguns’, they can do just about anything they put their minds to. My two grandkids endured the long nights of practice and shows and still made it to school the next day with a smile.
In closing I would like to say that there are a whole lot of teens and pre-teens and even elementary school age kids that have a lot of talent and we should encourage them to follow their dreams not stifle them. I have learned much form both my kids and now grand kids and I am sure that I will learn lots more!
So what does this have to do with real estate-----nothing. But I will say this, I did have an opportunity to talk with the mayor of a local community so I guess you could say it was social networking!!

A client sent this to me and I thought that I would share this with you.

I think we need to quit saving our $2 bills and bring them out

in public.
The younger generation doesn't know they exist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STORY:
On my way home from work, I stopped at Taco Bell for a quick bite to eat.

In my billfold are a $50 bill and a $2 bill.
I figure that with a $2 bill, I can get something to eat and not have to worry about anyone getting irritated at me for trying to break a $50 bill.
Me:
"Hi, I'd like one seven-layer burrito please, to go "
Server:
"That'll be $1.04. Eat in?"
Me:
"No, it's to go." At this point, I open my billfold and hand him the $2 bill. He looks at it kind of funny.
Server:
"Uh, hang on a sec, I'll be right back."

He goes to talk to his manager, who is still within my earshot. The following conversation occurs between the two of them:
Server:
"Hey, you ever see a $2 bill?"
Manager:
"No.. A what?"
Server
"A $2 bill. This guy just gave it to me."
Manager:
"Ask for something else. There's no such thing as a $2 bill."
Server:
"Yeah, thought so."

He comes back to me and says, "We don't take these. Do you have anything else?"
Me:
"Just this fifty. You don't take $2 bills? Why?"
Server:
"I don't know."
Me:
"See here where it says legal tender?"
Server:
"Yeah."
Me:
"So, why won't you take it?"
Server:
"Well, hang on a sec."

He goes back to his manager, who has been watching me like I'm a shoplifter, and says to him, "He says I have to take it."
Manager:
"Doesn't he have anything else?"
Server:
"Yeah, a fifty. I'll get it and you can open the safe and get change "
Manager:
"I'm not opening the safe with him in here."
Server:
"What should I do?"
Manager:
"Tell him to come back later when he has real money."
Server:
"I can't tell him that! You tell him."
Manager:
"Just tell him."
Server:
"No way! This is weird. I'm going in back."

The manager approaches me and says, "I'm sorry, but we don't take big bills this time of night."
Me:
"It's only seven o'clock! Well then, here's a two dollar bill."
Manager:
"We don't take those, either."
Me:
"Why not?"
Manager:
"I think you know why."
Me:
"No really, tell me why."
Manager:
"Please leave before I call mall security."
Me:
"Excuse me?"
Manager:
"Please leave before I call mall security."
Me:
"What on earth for?"
Manager:
"Please, sir."
Me:
"Uh, go ahead, call them."
Manager:
"Would you please just leave?"
Me:
"No."
Manager:
"Fine -- have it your way then."
Me:
"Hey, that's Burger King, isn't it?"

At this point, he backs away from me and calls mall security on the phone around the corner. I have two people staring at me from the dining area, and I begin laughing out loud, just for effect. A few minutes later this 45-year-oldish guy Comes in.

   Guard:

"Yeah, Mike, what's up?"
Manager (whispering):
"This guy is trying to give me some (pause) funny money."
Guard:
"No kidding! What?"
Manager:
"Get this .. A two dollar bill."
Guard (incredulous):
"Why would a guy fake a two dollar bill?"
Manager:
"I don't know. He's kinda weird. He says the only other thing he has is a fifty."
Guard:
"Oh, so the fifty's fake!"
Manager:
"No, the two dollar bill is."
Guard:
"Why would he fake a two dollar bill?"
Manager:
"I don't know! Can you talk to him, and get him out of here?"
Guard:
"Yeah."

Security Guard walks over to me and......

   Guard:

"Mike here tells me you have some fake bills you're trying to use."
Me:
"Uh, no."
Guard:
"Lemme see 'em."
Me:
"Why?"
Guard:
"Do you want me to get the cops in here?"

At this point I am ready to say, "Sure, please!" but I want to eat, so I say "I'm just trying to buy a burrito and pay for it with this two dollar bill.

I put the bill up near his face, and he flinches like I'm taking a swing at him. He takes the bill, turns it over a few times in his hands, and says, "Hey, Mike, what's wrong with this bill?"

   Manager:

"It's fake."
Guard:
"It doesn't look fake to me."
Manager:
"But it's a two dollar bill."
Guard:
"Yeah?"
Manager:
"Well, there's no such thing, is there?"

The security guard and I both look at him like he's an idiot, and it dawns on the guy that he has no clue.

So, it turns out that my burrito was free, and he threw in a small drink and some of those cinnamon thingies, too.

Made me want to get a whole stack of two dollar bills just to see what happens when I try to buy stuff. If I got the right group of

people, I could probably end up in jail. You get free food there, too.

Just think....those two will be voting

soon.........................................

That's right there is such a thing as a two dollar bill and they are REAL! Back in the day we use to carry around and spend silver dollars and lest I forget, age thing, we also used fifty cent pieces too.

I wrote this article for our Association newsletter in April of last year. The years may not be this year or last year however, I think that there is still meat in the message. Let me know what you think.

The home buying and selling season……

Has started! Aren’t you glad? It seems as though it has been a long time coming but 2006 really wasn’t that bad. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2006 was the third best year in history. Now for some more good news, 2007 is slated to be the 4th best year. Personally, my feelings will not be hurt if it came in being the best year ever, and, I’m sure that you feel the same way. Right? We start the day before the sun comes up, ok, some of us do, and we are still going way after the sun goes down, ok some will.

Man oh man it is really good to be EMPLOYED again. We now have a buyer and/or seller under contract. We are attending office meetings, going on tour even hosting open houses. We are doing everything we can to get more business and stay busy. WOW we are feeling energized again, what a feeling! There are times the spouse or significant other has to set an appointment with you just to say, hello remember me, or re-introduce their loving and patient self to you. Sure beats the times they are asking, “When are you going to get a real job?” doesn’t it? Of course, I have NEVER (tsk, tsk) been asked that question but I understand that it has been asked of some. Please do not ask me to disclose any names.
So let me ask you this, what did you do when your business was slow? Did you rehearse all of those scripts & dialogues that we have been given over the years? Did you review or update your listing presentation? What about taking a designation class to improve your skills? Even the largest of agents are always looking for ways to improve. Let me also ask you this…if the old saying “Practice makes
Perfect” is true then shouldn’t we be practicing all of the time. What about the revised version of the old saying “Perfect Practice Makes Perfect”. Eric Lindros the hockey player once said “It’s not necessarily the amount of time you spend at practice that counts; it’s what you put into the practice.” Albert Pujols is quoted as saying “That’s why you practice for a month-and-a-half in spring training. To get ready for (days) like today.” Then Tiger Woods said “No matter how good you are you can always get better and that’s the exciting part.” Here are big names in different sports that see the importance of getting better, practice, even though they are at the top of their chosen profession. They don’t want to buy into their own press of how wonderful they are or were. They only want to get better. Albert Pujols is always taking batting practice and then during the game when time permits will double check his swing by checking the replay. Tiger Woods has hit thousands maybe millions of golf balls and still goes to the golf range to hit more so he is not surprised by the
weather or golf course.
So let me encourage you to become the absolute best that you can possibly be. We all reflect on each other, we are a team even though we are working for different companies. Our homerun, our goal or our
hole in one is when our clients reach their next level of homeownership. Let me leave you with just a one more great quote on being the best that you can be………Babe Ruth, one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and the first to hit over 50 home runs in one season said “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”

It is good to know that I work with a great group of individuals who never give up and give it all they have for everyone they serve.

This being my first post I am needing all kinds of help and I am sure that there are those that are soooo smart when it comes to adding content and changing the face of your site. I've seen them so I know that you are. Could someone help me in changing from plain vanilla to a customized site?

Thanking you in advance for your help. It has to be my age and state of mind. :-)

Don R.