Fort Worth Real Estate View

Who Wins the Active Rain Most Valuable Player Award? Who Is the Active Rain MVP?

Mon, 06 May 2013 19:11:01 -0700

A little over a week ago a post appeared on Active Rain. It was all about WHO was going to hit the Two Million Point goal First!

In this post... Lenn Harley was in the lead, with Todd Clark in Second Place, and Pat Kennedy in Third Place.

But... that begs the question: Does having the Most Points equate with being the Active Rain Most Valuable Player?

Just who IS the Active Rain Most Valuable Player? Just who IS the Active Rain MVP?

In baseball, we have the player with the highest batting average, the player who hits the most home runs, the player with the most hits, and also the player with the most runs driven in. Baseball then analyzes all these numbers, and comes up with Baseball's MVP.

So, how do you choose who is the Active Rain MVP?

Being a former math teacher a zillion years ago... I was playing with some of the numbers as far as the points totals, feature totals, the number of Featured Posts for every 100 Posts written... and how "productive" each post is... on the average. (I called that the "efficiency" category)

Here is what I came up with:

Here are some different ways of looking at this as far as who the TOP PRODUCERS are:

1st - The most obvious category is the Rainer with the Most Points. That's easy to figure out.

2nd - Then... there is the Rainer who has the Most Featured Posts... but I didn't leave it at that. It wouldn't be too hard to have the most Featured Posts if you wrote 20,000 blog posts. You just need a bigger shovel to pile up that many posts. LOL. So, I juggled this a bit and to even the playing field, I calculated this on the Most Featured Posts for Every 100 Posts Written.

3rd - and Thirdly, how "productive" is each post? Does the writer just write post after post after post, like someone who writes 50 Market Reports, or does tens and tens of Photo posts... or do they find some way to "give back..." like making comments to others, or replying to comments made on THEIR posts?

Here's what the numbers tell us in each of three categories:

Just points totals:

1st - Lenn Harley - 1,932,580. 2nd - Todd Clark - 1,917,711. 3rd - Pat Kennedy - 1,895,749.

Featured posts: # of Featured Posts for every 100 posts written:

1st - Jeff Dowler - 14.53. 2nd - Pat Kennedy - 13.65. 3rd - Katerina Gasset - 9.84

Efficiency: Points divided by number of posts written:

1st - Pat Kennedy - 679.24. 2nd - Katerina Gasset - 550.67. 3rd - Cindy Jones - 535.34

~ ~ ~

I then gave 3 Points for First Place in each category, 2 Points for Second Place in each category, and 1 Point for Third Place in each category.

All in all... Six Active Rainers scored in either First, Second or Third Place in at least One of the Above Categories.

The Results are In!

Pat Kennedy: 1 + 2 + 3 = 6 Total Points

Jeff Dowler: 0 + 3 + 0 = 3 Total Points

Katerina Gasset: 0 + 1 + 2 = 3 Total Points

Lenn Harley: 3 + 0 + 0 = 3 Total Points

Todd Clark: 2 + 0 + 0 = 2 Total Points

Cindy Jones: 0 + 0 + 1 = 1 Total Point

The Active Rain Most Valuable Player Award...The Active Rain MVP

... goes to Pat Kennedy.

Congratulations to these Six Active Rainers... and also Congratulations to all Active Rainers no matter how long you have been an Active Rainer.

~ ~ ~

Please NOTE: For the great majority of us Active Rainers... the POINTS and all of the information above are much less important than the RELATIONSHIPS we build, both personal and business. And... through Active Rain and their SEO... the BUILDING of OUR BUSINESSES is obviously extremely important.

This post is simply another way of looking at POINTS, for those who attach importance to them.

There is Much More to Active Rain than Points... etc!

~ ~ ~

It's Ash Wednesday. Did You Get Your Tree Up?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:48:00 -0800

Yes, today is Ash Wednesday. And yes, I just asked you if you "got your tree up yet?"

Yeah. I know. "What tree?" Now what is she talking about?

Well... I mean the "Ash Wednesday Tree." Think about it. The tree that just about everyone knows about... is the Christmas Tree. And oh, this year... I saw some really fine Christmas trees. So nicely decorated. Lights. Ornaments. Those lil icicles. Fun memento ornaments from Christmases past. Yes, some of them were sooo pretty.

But what about other "holidays?" I mean... is it fair to put up a Christmas Tree... and then forget other days?

Why NOT have trees for other occasions? Like a GroundHog Day Tree. Now... doesn't that sound like the perfect way to celebrate GroundHog Day?

Or... did you get your President's Day tree up? Prolly not. Just think. Lots of cute lil "presidential ornaments, and maybe here and there some ornaments in the shape of President Washington's wooden teeth?

(I must admit... I forgot to get mine up as well.) My Bad!

Now... this year, as far as Ash Wednesday is concerned... this presents a problem. I mean... today is Ash Wednesday, but at midnight tonight, Ash Wednesday is over, and Valentine's Day begins. What then?

Must we be there... ready and waiting as Midnight approaches... ready to scramble down the Ash Wednesday ornaments and all, and replace them with bunches of hearts, little Cupids, and other love-inspiring cutesy'ness ornaments? That sounds like a lot of work to me... but I mean... fair is fair.

Oh... that issue of fairness.

Another great day for a tree... would be Easter. Not sure when we would put that tree up. Prolly on Easter Saturday. We gotta be respectful of Good Friday and all.

But sure... this year, remember your Easter Tree. Lots of lil eggies... maybe the plastic ones with goodies inside. And of course, baby rabbits, and maybe at the very top, instead of the Christmas Angel, we could have a big, fuzzy, and festive Easter Rabbit. Oh, the thought just boggles the mind.

There are so many other occasions, and really, if you think about it... they don't just have to be on everyone's calendar.

They can be our own personal "events." Can you imagine the ornaments some of us girls might have on our "augmentation trees?" Again, it's mind-boggle time. Or, for the guys... (being fair now) perhaps a "hair transplant tree?" I mean... again... fair is fair.

I wonder. Might Hobby Lobby carry these kinds of ornaments?

My poor liberal, Progressive mind is really starting to hurt... trying to make sure I don't forget any deserving days. Yes, my lil head is on the verge of throbbing in pain. I think I need a few Advil Liqui-Gels... and then off to bed for a two hour nap.

So... how about you? Can you think of any days that you personally would feel are deserving of having their very own "Tree" put up? Please share...

~ ~ ~

And YOU Thought Chili and Blackened Catfish Didn't Mix !

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:34:51 -0800

OK. Try and follow along with me here. We're going on a journey... you and me.

I just put on my hip boots. My "waders" I guess you would call them. And then, in my imagination, I shrunk myself, and climbed into my own brain. Yes, I mean "inside" my brain.

I'm pretty small now. And I am sloshing around... trying to keep from slip'slidin' on those crevices that we see on pictures of the brain. I would hate to fall down and get all that gooey brain-stuff all over me, but that's the chance I guess I take, here.

I'm just lookin' around in here... trying to figure out what, if anything, is going with this gooey mess I call my brain... and why things happen like they do.

It's prolly a lost cause, but I just had to try.

Ya see... I just read another post a few minutes ago. It was short and sweet. About a Chili Cook-off.

And BOOM! Like a bolt of lightening, my brain grabs my attention, and yanks it away from the "chili"... and goes right straight to the last remaining catfish fillet I have sitting in the fridge.

I have this incredible urge, now. Almost unstoppable.

The powers of the universe are pulling me to get up from my computer, go to the fridge, and pan-fry my one last catish fillet. Blackened, Cajun catfish. Yum!

Why does my mind DO that to me? Gosh, I wish I knew.

OKAY! It's time for you to confess your inner thoughts. Choose one of these two. Either reach into your vast compendium of psychological and culinary knowledge... and tell me why this happened. Should I try and stop it, or should I encourage it further.

Or TWO... do YOU have times when something... something very innocent happens... and it acts as a stimulus, and zooms you away from whatever you were thinking... and plants your mind right in the middle something else totally unrelated?

I just shared my strange story. If you've had something similar happen to you... I invite you to please share yours.

~ ~ ~

Have You Ever Thought of Using Voice Dictation Software for Blogging?

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:32:36 -0800

I just read an interesting post by Bryan Robertson. His post is about using Voice Dictation Software to help him be more efficient in his blogging... both in writing posts and in commenting.

There have been times when I fleetingly thought about using Voice Dictation Software... but I quickly chased those thoughts out of my mind. For me, using that method just doesn't fit into what I do, and how I express myself.

I just really feel it is part of my blogging, my writing and creating, to be able to see my own printed word on the screen, and have those words appear on the screen after leaving my poor tired brain, and actually, physically traveling down my arms to my fingers and then to the keyboard.

I know this may be seen as a silly comparison, and I am in no way comparing myself to an Impressionist painter, but can you really see Claude Monet "dictating" where the brush should go while he "painted" one of his many masterpieces?

Noper. Me neither.

Efficiency is just not something that I am interested in when I am writing. For me, it takes away, or lessens the "feel" of writing, which for me, in turn lessens creativity.

There is just something in the "feel" coupled with the "visual" of it all. I can easily see how the efficiency of using something like Voice Dictation Software might appeal to some... but it just doesn't do it for me.

I think it's just that different people have different personalities, and what seems right for one would not seem so for the other.

Everyone has their preferences. Some are slower, some more creative, some are more into the nuts-and-bolts, and some just want to get it on the screen and be done with it. Some are into multi-tasking, some concentrate on one thing at at time.

So... what works for you in blogging? Writing the old-fashioned way, or might being more efficient and using Voice Dictation Software be more important to you?

~ ~ ~

How does the Electoral College work? Why do we Need It?

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:31:21 -0800

Over the last few days surrounding the Presidential Election, questions came up about the Electoral College. They come up every four years, like clockwork.

Most folks who wrote those comments were almost unanimous in saying that the Electoral College was out-dated, and that we no longer need it.

I think the Electoral College had many good points to it, and think it should be kept... so I will share a few ideas I have about it.

First of all, that fountain of knowledge Wikipedia can tell you all you would ever want to know, and more, about the Electoral College.

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the Electoral College. Here is another article about the Origin and History of The Electoral College.

And here is a great explanation by Mitchell Hall which appears as a comment on a recent post. Please read Mitchell's explanation... it is excellent!

And finally, here is my idea on the Electoral College... but given in the context of NFL Football. Yes, I know... it's another one of Karen Anne's "off the wall" explanations, but I think it may add a very basic "feel" of the intent of the Electoral College:

~ ~ ~

In comparing the Electoral College to NFL Football... it's not all that important as to how many points a team scores in a season, but how many games they win.

There are 16 games in a season in Football. I will use two NFL teams in my little anecdote... the Romney Patriots and the Obama Bears.

Let us imagine that during one season... the Romney Patriots... scored 300 total points and have a 10-6 record. In many of their games... they blow out the other team, and score lots of points. (more offense, less defense)

Let us also imagine that our other team... the Obama Bears... would score fewer points during that season... let's say they score 250 points... but they have a 12-4 record. (less offense, much better defense)

So... which team wins the division crown? The team that scores the most points (300), but their won/lost record (10-6), although good, is not the best, or the other team... which has not scored as many points (250)... but their won/lost record is better... (12-4).

The better record wins, not necessarily the team with the most points. I am suggesting that the record takes the place of the Electoral College votes, and the most points takes the place of having the greatest popular votes total.

Now comes the inevitable question: Does any of this make any sense to anyone else besides me? LOL !

~ ~ ~

What the Heck is Halloween, Anyway ?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:55:44 -0700

Happy Halloween! Yeppers... it's Halloween. There are many really cute posts floating around on Active Rain over the past few days.

So... what is this Halloween thing, anyway?

Lots of porch and front yard home decorations, lots of really cute little kids with their Halloween costumes on, and even a brand new Profile Picture of Anna Banana Kruchten with her new blonde hair-do. How absolutely and cool'ly festive!

Let's start with the name. Happy Halloween. ---> Hallow'een. ---> Hallow Eve ---> All Hallows Eve.

Hallow, and Hallowed means holy or sacred... as in "Hallowed be Thy Name" in the prayer "The Our Father. Or "hallow this ground" in the Gettysburg address.

Thursday, November 1st is the Catholic Feast of All Saints. Saints are "holy." Saints are "hallowed. One could call All Saints day... a remembrance and/or celebration of all the "saints"... of all those who are holy, or of those who are "All Hallowed."

Thus... Wednesday, tonight, Oct 31... is the Eve of All Saints day... which becomes All Hallowed or All Hallows Eve... which becomes Hallow'een.

Happy Halloween!

~ ~ ~

Her Husband Just Never Paid Any Attention To Her... (humor?)

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 08:43:15 -0700

I used to have this girlfriend whose husband just never paid any attention to her. It turns out the poor guy was hard of hearing.

So... wifey took him to a specialist, and ended up purchasing hearing aids for him. They were those special ones that needed to be implanted.

Well... one day her hubby, whose eyesight was also failing, went to the doctor to get the devices implanted. But... as bad luck would have it... he ran into a bit of a problem because of his eyesight.

When he got to the medical building, he mis-read the signs, and went into the dentist's office instead of visiting the ear specialist. The dentist... also being an older fellow whose skills were in decline... ended up taking the two hearing devices and implanted them in two of the gentleman's teeth.

So now... the wife thinks her husband can hear her, but unfortunately, he only hears her when he "chews" to. < ducking >

~ ~ ~

Is It Really Better To Have Loved and Lost... Then to Never Have Loved?

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 06:01:10 -0700

Earlier tonight I read a post by Karen Fiddler in which she talked about the recent death of her beloved husband David. The theme of her post was that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger... and that the love they had... still remains. Gosh, I wish I had her strength.

For me, it has been years... more years than I care to mention... since I lost the love of my life. And yes... there are days that I go through, and do not think of my sweetie... my "split-apart"as Demi Moore's character in "The Butcher's Wife" called the love of her life.

But... then there's last night. I woke up in the middle of the night. Just because. No Reason.

I always take my cell phone to bed with me... just in case my daughter calls... but also because I just have a problem with waking up and not knowing what time it is.

So, when I woke up... I clicked on my cell... and it was 3:27am. And guess whose birthday March 27th was? I saw it... the 3:27... and immediately broke down into tears.

I sobbed and sobbed... feeling the loss again. The affair... the betrayal... the divorce. Once again it was right there... four-square in the middle of my heart and soul... just like it had happened yesterday.

I remember going to a movie several years ago. The main point of the movie (the title of which I do not remember) was about being able to totally wipe away the memory of someone... usually a past love. Totally wipe it away, so there would be no more hurt. But there would also be no "other" memories of that love, either.

I don't remember how the movie turned out... but I do know I remember giving the idea sooo much thought... and then deciding that I just could not do it. I would choose to keep the memories... even though they would include (on some days) the crippling pain.

So... is it true that what doesn't kill us... makes us stronger? I don't know about that... but I do know that some days the hurt is so bad I would just rather not go through another day.

~ ~ ~

Mother Nature Returned The Favor

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 00:39:24 -0700

If you have never read any of the posts on Cherimie Crane's Blog, I suggest that you give this post of hers... Mother Nature Returned The Favor... a try.

I very rarely re-blog anything on Active Rain. Sure, there are many blog posts on Active Rain that deserve re-blogging, but rarely do they "move" me to do so.

This wonderful, moving post of Cherimie's does just that. Grab a Kleenex, read, and enjoy!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Via Cherimie Crane, www.BeaufortTime.com (Cherimie Crane & Associates, Ballenger Realty):

Everything happens for a reason, or so they say. I always assumed that saying was just a phrase thrown around like a dish towel in situations when nothing else seemed to fit. I stand corrected. The past two weeks have been an interwoven blanket of confusion sewn tightly with the thread of random ridiculousness. Fortunate for me, my days provide me with enough nonsense mixed with a subtle lack of common sense to fill my column. Otherwise, I suppose I would have very little to say.

Coming off of a very strange case of poison oak, at times I believed maybe it had spread to my brain, but no, it is all real as life itself. As I watch helplessly as Isaac approaches my family, my hometown and my down trodden home state of Mississippi, I spiraled down a path of pity and fear.

Only a category one is repeated by coworkers, friends and news anchors. My mind only hears seven years to the day of Katrina, a storm that forever changed my life. Flashbacks of terror, turmoil and uncertainty paralyzed me. No one could understand, not even me. Glued to the geographically challenged Weather Channel, focus and productivity were as far away as my hometown.

Constant communications with my family made the distance all too real. Isaac’s winds raced through my roots with no less force than the thoughts and memories of Katrina that filled my mind as sleep became an inconvenience. It’s only a category one. Those words are meaningless to a displaced Mississippi girl who knows that winds mixed with water, mixed with the mass media’s inability to differentiate my home town from a parish in New Orleans, equals destruction and chaos regardless of category. It is my family, my memories, my Mississippi.

Falling further and further into an abyss of fear and uncertainty, Isaac sends a message. It wasn’t email, letter or text, but a swift wind through Beaufort that delivered the tiniest of reminder. Mother Nature took a blow hundreds of miles away that left two orphans in my path.

Raised in an area where I had more animals than friends, more nature than neighbors I lack the ability to turn away from any suffering creature, great or small. Blessed with a heart and cursed with an over active impulse, I scooped up two badly bruised, ant covered, infant squirrels.

Walking into a dinner party, gala or overtly obvious gathering of importance, I lack any semblance of confidence. Proper dinner forks, small talk and political banter leave me bored and often in search of an elegant exit; however, let Mother Nature request my attendance and I will rise to the occasion. Two tiny orphans with no voice, no property and certainly no chance lay in my hands.

Years raising animals of all kinds, all deformities, all personalities and sizes were no match for this delicate dilemma. A sudden distraction from the destruction barreling towards my family pity turned proactive. No time for news, Cantore would have to wait. Luckily there are angels for even the smallest of souls.

Within moments, women of the not so wild came to my assistance. Power of experience, knowledge and the purest form of female intuition surrounded the victims of just a category one.

Isaac may have domain over my home state, my family but not here not now. These two squirrels will live. Jokes originate from those who have a way with the more civilized of creations. Why would anyone, especially several people stop their daily tasks to devote seemingly worthless effort into two tiny members of an overly populated species? Life is life is life, is it not?

Limp and fragile and highly dependent on the kindness of strangers, all the energy otherwise devoted to a storm I can’t control in an area I can’t reach turns toward the survival of Mother Nature’s delivery. Women, some I knew, some I didn’t gave no moment’s hesitation to the mission at hand. It was an orchestra of determination covered in a halo of hope.

After a dim diagnosis and affirmation of an untimely end, the otherwise unconnected lives of ordinary souls, tied together only by the winds of Isaac and the need to nurture, two of the tiniest of creatures were doused in care and nursed to survival.

Isaac blew through my hometown, my family and my state with repairable damage and recoverable loss. Winds reaching as far as Beaufort resulted in a reminder that even the wild requires a hand just as much as a hand requires the wild. Mother Nature spared my family, my friends and all that is familiar and I did my best to return the favor. Everything happens for a reason, after all.

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Beaufort South Carolina, We know Beaufort. Our little coastal town has something for everyone.

For more information visit our website today!

www.BeaufortTime.com

Wikipedia Brain Freeze Syndrome... Are You Afflicted ?

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 20:11:53 -0700

Please come with me as I descend into the insanity that is sometimes what my life consists of.

This afternoon I started, or at least I TRIED to start reading a post by Hank Miller titled Your Kid is Obnoxious and Your Dog isn’t Cute

And yes... I said that I "tried" to read the post. But something stopped me. The post was about sellers who remain in their home during showings, and try to "help" the Realtor showing their home to do a "better" job.

Yeah, right!

Well, anyway... in writing his post, Hank Miller got confused. He confused the term "fleur de lise" with the musical composition "Fur Elise."

I know... big deal! And yes, I agree. It happens. I get confused too. Actually, the older I get, the more I get confused... LOL. Again, it happens.

So... with the term "fleur de lise" sitting there... my brain starts to sputter. And wrangle. And other stuff too painful to mention. I end up totally distracted.

Then finally... my poor brain waddled over to Wikipedia.

Here is my response to poor, dear Mr Miller. I DO wonder if HE wonders how this "crazed person" (me) got to his post, and why is she writing this nutty comment.

~ ~ ~ ~

Hank: Sometimes I wonder if my brain was put in sideways at birth. I read the beginning of your excellent post... with the little boy playing the piano, and your remark about Billy Joel and Elton, and little Timmy playing what you called Fleur-de-lise. Actually, the "fleur-de-lis" is a French design/symbol. I believe some people feel it resembles a lily... which is what the French word "lis" means.

So... here my addled brain is trying to figure this all out, and then it hit me. You were thinking of the piano composition by Beethoven called "Für Elise."

~ ~ ~ ~

But here's my problem:

In going to Wikipedia to find the answer... I ended up trapped. Wikipedia, for me, is like a bottomless pit. Like the rabbit hole poor Alice in Wonderland fell into. Down and down into the land of Wikipedia I went.

Really... I was stuck. Yes, it finally got me to my answer to Hank... and cleared up all these "totally necessary questions" (HA!) that somehow my mind needed to know the answers for.

BUT... it was those doggone Wilipedia "links" that got me.

It seems that whenever I read an article on Wikipedia... on something I am interested in, along comes a "link." I click on it, start reading the "new" article... until I come to another, supposedly even MORE interesting "link..." which of course I click on.

On and on and on. For some reason, I could stay frozen inside Wikipedia for the entire day... or at least for a few hours until my fanny falls asleep. (not a pretty sight to imagine... sorry about the TMI.)

So, that's why I sat there.

Almost frozen in my quest to try and figure out what he meant... I concluded that I really, really think I need therapy!

Do YOU ever get STUCK in the Wikipedia Trap ? Or am I alone here in my obvious insanity?

~ ~ ~

Working With "Scared" Buyers...

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:39:46 -0700

I Think That Just About Every Realtor has had a Buyer Who was Concerned about Something, had Questions about Going Ahead with Her Purchase, or... Maybe She's Was Just Scared.

What do you do when a buyer is just plain "scared ?"

Try this:

Let's call our buyer "Michelle." She was thinking about making a commitment on a home. She had been looking for several months. Michelle had seen perhaps twenty homes so far. There had been two homes she has absolutely loved, but ended up not making an offer at first.

Of course, she hesitated. She had "concerns."

It is very natural to have concerns, but sometimes a buyer just comes up with whatever they can to "slow down the buying process."

By the time Michelle calmed her fears... by the time she decided there wasn't anything to be concerned about... by the time she finally called me to submit an offer... both of the homes were sold !

The next time she was hesitating about "going ahead" Michelle came up with another "fearful concern."

This time she thought that the back yard was too large for her to take care of. Michelle said to me... "Karen Anne... if only the back yard were just ten or fifteen feet shorter... I wouldn't be so afraid of it being too much work."

When I heard that... I knew it was finally time for me to use "Old Faithful." It was time for my "secret weapon."

It was time for "Feel, Felt, Found !"

So I said to Michelle... very slowly: "Michelle... I understand how you feel. I've known several other buyers who have felt the same way. But after they bought their home and moved in, ya know... they found... that having a slightly larger back yard was actually something they were really glad they had."

Michelle just sat for a minute. Actually, she sat for several minutes. She was thinking. So was I... but I kept quiet. <smile>

Then Michelle turned to me and said... "Karen Anne, I think you're right. I was just nervous. But in thinking about what you just said... I think I'm just making something out of nothing. Let do the paperwork, ok ?"

We "did the paperwork," I called the Listing Agent, faxed over the contract, and within eight hours, it was accepted... just as we wrote it.

This all happened a few years ago. I ran into Michelle a few days ago at the local Krogers. She was all smiles... just so happy with her home... and so glad it had "such a nice rear yard."

And honestly, she couldn't thank me enough! I felt so glad for her I almost started crying.

The Point: Sometimes Buyers just need to know they are not the only ones with fears. They need to know that they are not the only ones who were really scared to make the next move. Sometimes they just need to know... that they're not alone.

Now... I know the above example about the rear yard was kind of "small-ish." But that's what buyers sometimes do.

Seriously. Try this. Try the "Feel, Felt, Found" close. Practice it when you're driving in the car. Practice it with one of your friends. Try it on your dog or cat. You can even use it on your own children when they are afraid of something.

It really works !

~ ~ ~

Using the Homestead Exemption as a Closing Tool to Get More Sales.

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 05:57:49 -0700

The end of the year is coming ... and with it there is a Year End Bonus For Buyers out there to be had. The problem is there's only about four months left in the year to take advantage of it.

Actually... it's much less than that... depending on how long it takes you to go from having an accepted offer... to a closed and funded sale.

I am talking about The Homestead Exemption.

Texas as a state is one that very much encourages Individual Home Ownership. People who own their homes are more likely to take part in local area activities. They are more likely to vote, and more likely to run for offices like school boards, city council positions, mayors of their city, and even state-wide positions. This is something that is Good For Texas, and it's something that's Good For You.

The Homestead Exemption is something that many people who are renting homes or apartments may not be aware of. The net effect of the Homestead Exemption is sort of a "discount" on a property owner's real estate taxes... but it's only for a person's "homestead"... which is the home they own, and that they are personally living in.

A general explanation of how it works is as follows:

If you have the Homestead Exemption on your home, certain entities that "tax" an owners home will "exempt" a portion of the home's value from property taxes. For example, if that taxing entity is a local ISD or Independent School District, it may "exempt" a portion of the value of that home from being taxed. If that home is worth $140,000, and the portion of its value exempted is $20,000... it's like getting a 14% tax discount on that portion of a homeowner's yearly tax bill due the local ISD.

Sometimes the amount may be small, sometimes it may be larger, but nonetheless, it is a money-saving feature that owning your own home provides, and one that can very easily be taken advantage of.

The only "catch..." in Texas and in most states, is that a homeowner will only qualify if they actually OWN the property as of January First of the taxable year in question. That means... if a buyer closes on their home this year on December 28, 2012... they are "in title"... or they own that property as of January 1, 2013, and are then eligible for a tax break for the ENTIRE year of 2013.

IF you miss closing on your home in 2012... if even by only ONE day, you lose a full year of these tax benefits, and are not eligible again for the Homestead Exemption until January 1, 2014.

So... if you are sitting on the fence, wondering if buying a home in the next few months is a good idea, here is just one more reason why it is to your advantage to own your own home.

~ ~ ~

Some Girls Made the Cheerleader Squad. Me, I Hit a Bus...

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 10:22:13 -0700

Earlier this morning I read a post by Carie Shapiro. Apparently, Carie has been having some "issues" with some inconsiderate car drivers in her Dallas hometown... and shared some ideas.

Carie's post rang a bell in my brain... and brought back a memory to me from my own high school days.

I can remember very well taking Driver's Ed during my Junior Year in High School. Oh, yes... I can remember it well.

Why do I say this with such certainty ? Because one day... while driving, with the Catholic Nun... the Driver's Ed teacher... sitting right next to me (at the Catholic School I attended)... I actually hit the rear end of a city bus.

Yes... with the Instructor next to me, and three other students in the back seat. Now, I must admit, I didn't hit it very hard... just kinda sorta "nudged" it... but still... it was enough of a nudge to make me instantly famous throughout my entire high school.

Some girls made the cheerleader squad. Me, I hit a bus. Ah... those were the days.

~ ~ ~

My Current Problem with Active Rain New Comment Notifications... Help!

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:09:11 -0700

Dear Active Rainers. I need some help. It has to do with the email notification of "new comments" that Active Rain sends out to us.

Usually, when I make a comment on someone else's post... I check the box that will enable any additional comments to be emailed to me.

Also... when I write a post... I always get notification of new comments made on my post. They are sent to me through email.

I have been using Gmail for several years, and have not had a problem. But...

For about a week now... when I have been getting notifications from Active Rain showing me "new comments" that have been made on both my blog posts... and the posts on which I have commented on... I have been having problems.

I am using as an example a comment from my friend Gene Mundt... a fabulous lender up in Chicago-land.

-----------

Here is what it looks like in my Gmail email: [version 1]

<p>Sandy:  I hear ya ... sometimes it's hard to get people motivated to do the right things for themselves.  Give them my contact and I'll see what I can to nudge them ...  technology makes it possible ...</p> <p>Gene</p>

-----------

Here is what it looks like when I go to the post the comment was taken from: [version 2]

Sandy: I hear ya ... sometimes it's hard to get people motivated to do the right things for themselves. Give them my contact and I'll see what I can to nudge them ... technology makes it possible ...

Gene

-----------

I know that the first version of the comment is coming through in HTML, and the second version... is just plain text.

I am wondering if anyone else is having this happen.

Strangely... not all of my comments come through like "version one."

About half of them do, and sometimes... when there are multiple comments that come to me in email... they are NOT all either in HTML (version 1) or standard text (version 2) but a mixture... kind of like they alternate within the same email.

I don't think it is my computer or my software. I have tried it both through Firefox and Internet Explorer on my "desktop" computer... and also on both Firefox and Internet Explorer on my lap-top. All the same.

Again... it has been going on like this for about a week. I am wondering if once again, the dear folks at Active Rain have "fixed" something else having to do with "new comment notification"... and that in "fixing" it... it has resulted in this HTML and plain text confusion.

1) Is anyone else having this problem ?

2) Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do about it ?

Thanks so much in advance for any help you can give.

~ ~ ~

Attending a Women's Ordination Gave me Blogging Brain Freeze !

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 22:39:46 -0700

My Brain Seems Frozen.

Now I know that some of you might think that that's a good thing. In some respects... I might not blame you.

Here's my problem.

I have something I am just So Excited About... that I just cannot find the words to write a blog post about it.

Three weeks ago... on Saturday, June 9th... I packed up my porky little (HA) body and drove from Fort Worth to Lexington, Kentucky. Straight... on... through. 935 miles.

Oh, I stopped for a few "power naps" in some of the more safe-appearing rest areas... but basically drove straight on through.

So... what made me do a silly thing like that ? Well... Little Ol' Liberal/Progressive Me has always been a "rebel" of sorts. And, of course, it's got me into hot water more than once in my life.

And yes... I have written some posts about Politics and Religion... two subjects that most "sane" Active Rainers would not touch. And perhaps rightfully so.

But... to continue: I was "raised" Catholic. Grade School, High School, College, and if that was not enough... I actually taught seventh and eighth grade in the Catholic Schools in Cleveland, Ohio from 1965 to 1974 before getting into real estate.

I am one of those Catholic Women "Heretics" who thinks that Catholic Women are just as "holy" as the typical Male Catholic Priest... and just as capable, if not more so, of hearing the "calling" (to become a Catholic Priest) that comes from the part of the Trinity many religions call The Holy Spirit.

Well... always poking around on the Internet... it was about June 2 that I read about an Ordination that was going to take place in Lexington, KY. Not your ordinary ordination, but the Ordination of a Catholic Women Priest... administered by a Catholic Woman Bishop.

I have been a Realtor for the last 30 years... but for the last four years... I've had a heart condition that no longer allows me to physically "show" homes. So honestly... I just don't get out much, anymore.

But... after seeing and reading about this Woman's Priestly Ordination... the thought of attending it immediately shot up to the top of my own personal Bucket List. It was something I just had to do. So... after the very difficult task of packing and loading up my Honda CRV... up to Lexington I went.

The top picture above is that of Catholic Deacon Donna Rougeux lying prostrate in front of the altar as she awaits her Ordination, and for the "laying on of hands" by Bishop Meehan.

[In the above picture... the newly Ordained Rev Donna Rougeux is in the middle, flanked by Catholic Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan on the left, and Catholic Rev Janis Sevre-Duszynska on the right. Rev Donna Rougeux is 52 years old. Both of her daughters read one of the Epistles at the Ordination Mass, and Rev Rougeux's son played guitar in the liturgical musical group that accompanied the Ordination. There are currently 130 validly ordained Catholic Women Priests in the world... 93 of whom are either Priests or Bishops in the United States.]

It was so incredibly moving. The atmosphere of the Ordination was so hauntingly spiritual. The presence of the Holy Spirit... at least to those two hundred-fifty or so who were present... was so all-incompassing.

The Holy Spirit is at times referred to by many learned Biblical scholars as "the Feminine Aspect of The Divine." The mentions of that are "obscure"... but they are IN the bible, and also in many versions of the older biblical texts.

The Ordination was at three o'clock Saturday afternoon, June 9th... and the Reception/Dinner... to which I was invited... was from five to seven o'clock.

The Ordination, by the way, was a VALID Ordination. The fact that it was done even though ordaining women is currently forbidden by the Catholic Church... may have made it "illegal." However... the fact that it might be "illegal..." has NO bearing on the validity of the Ordination.

The Bishop who ordained Bishop Meehan (who is ordaining Rev Donna Rougeux) is currently a Male Bishop of the Catholic Church in Austria... with the full "apostolic succession" that "the Church" requires of those Bishops who ordain others.

If I may make a comparison... someone steals a chicken. That chicken lays an egg. Now... that egg surely is "stolen..." and is therefore "illegal..." but it is still very much an egg. (ahh... the simplicity of the workings of my seventh-grade mind.) Illegal does not equate with invalid.

Those in attendance were perhaps 250 or so in number. Mostly women... about 75 or 80% women, but a nice mixture of men, as well. Mostly older, "mature" women... (HA)... but actually, quite an encouraging mixture of folks of all ages.

After the ordination and Reception... and about an hour of conversation with Rev Rougeux, Bishop Meehan, and after making many new friends of those in attendance, I returned to my motel... anticipating driving back to Fort Worth on Sunday.

Of course... I was well aware that my hotel just might end up being surrounded by angry mobs with their pitchforks and torches... ready to burn me at the stake as one of the many Heretics who attended the Ordination.

Luckily, my fears were unfounded.

------------------------

NOTE: This is weird. My brain was so frozen about writing about Rev Rougeux's Ordination... that I could NOT find a place to start. I wanted to write the "Perfect Post." So I tried to settle inside my lil brain about just what to say. I wanted to do it so perfectly that I ended up not even being able to start. Brain Freeze set in.

It was only in actually writing this post... which was initially going to be about asking just HOW anyone of you gets past "brain freeze..." that I ended up thawing my frozen brain... and was able to write about the Ordination.

Funny how that happens.

~ ~ ~

Have You Given A ServiceMan or Woman a Personal Thank You Lately?

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:37:05 -0700

We all know how important it is to remember those ServiceMen and Women who have gone before us and paid the ultimate price to insure our freedoms.

Many of us Active Rainers have written posts about this weekend being Memorial Day Weekend, or, as my GrandMother used to call it, Decoration Day.

But... in addition to that... there is one suggestion I would love to make.

One thing I might add... is that each person reading this post... and all the rest of the Memorial Day posts... make a personal vow... that the next time we see someone whom we recognize as currently serving... how about if we go up to that person or persons and personally thank them for serving our country.

It could happen anywhere. At the local Dairy Queen, at the drug store, while shopping in Krogers, at the Ballpark watching a baseball game, or even at the Indy Five Hundred.

Just walk up to someone who appears to be in the Service, and ask them if they are on Active Duty. Then just a simple "I just wanted to say Thank You for serving our country, and helping to keep all of us free."

I have done this many times... and the look in the eyes of those I have thanked... is simply priceless.

~ ~ ~

Note: Decoration Day began after the Civil War. Mostly women's organizations "decorated" the graves of their Confederacy fallen heroes in and around Richmond, Virginia. In some ways it was done as a solemn commemoration of their deaths, and in some ways as a remembrance of their lives.

The same "decorating" of the graves of Union soldiers... with flowers and flags... was done as well. Gradually, the name "Decoration Day" was replaced by "Memorial Day"... but the custom of placing flowers and flags at the graves of our fallen heroes... is STILL done today in many cemeteries, as I am sure you know. The custom of putting flags at the grave sites, as seen in the picture, is an example of that "decorating."

A better, or more complete explanation of Memorial Day - Decoration Day can be found by reading the first five paragraphs at this link.

By the way... I am 68 years old, and the Grandmother I spoke of would have been telling me these stories in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Grammy was born in 1888... and had many, many stories to tell. Honestly, it was SO much better than cable.

~ ~ ~

North Carolina Denies the Right of Marriage Equality

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:57:02 -0700

Two days ago, on May 8th, the State of North Carolina voted on an amendment to their state constitution. As those of you who are regular readers of my blog probably know, I am not pleased with the fact that North Carolina has now written into their State Constitution the refusal to recognize Marriage Equality.

Yesterday, a friend of mine from North Carolina sent me an email. In it was a little graphic, which is pictured here.

I am thinking, or hoping that the sender of the graphic thought it was a cute way to present their opinion of the results of Tuesday's vote. I don't think it is cute. I think it is tragic.

How a state like the Great State of North Carolina can imbed into its Constitution what is simply and blatantly a "religious belief"... and make it law... and then require all of its citizens to follow its dictates... reeks of Theocracy.

What is a Theocracy ? Well, one of the many parts of the definition explains that this form of "government" takes its religious beliefs... which are simply "beliefs..." and "codifies" them. This means that it turns them into LAW... and then forces everyone in that Theocratic state to adhere and abide by that religious belief... which, as I said, is now considered a law.

Where else do they do that sort of thing ? Well, Iran comes to mind. So does Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. They call it Shari'a Law. [Now, you who do not agree with me, please don't take this mention of Shari'a Law and go crazy with it. I am using the concept of Shari'a Law here in a very, very narrow sense... and ONLY applying it to Marriage Equality. Nothing else.]

Religion can be a wonderful thing. But it should be a personal thing. And it should be a personal choice.

America... what the hell are we doing ?

* * *

Little Bunny Foo Foo... An Easter Memory from my Grade School Teaching Days...

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 07:18:44 -0700

As many of us Active Rainers celebrate this Joyous Easter Sunday, I was reminded yesterday of a post I first read just about four years ago.

The post was written by Active Rain's illustrious overall points leader... the esteemed Mr Todd Clark. Seeing one of Todd's posts yesterday, and remembering that post from about four years ago, I jumped into the Active Rain "search" function, to try and find it.

Oh... woe was me. I could not find it. But... Todd was gracious to go down into his wine seller (I am guessing) where he also has some space for some of his older posts.

Todd found the post... and graciously re-presented it on his blog yesterday. My Easter Dinner (1982) – And a look in to my sense of humor (A reblog for Karen Anne Stone).

As I was writing a comment to Todd about his Easter Dinner post... I found a part of my humorous mind... (in the "demented" section) traveled back to my nine years of grade school teaching before I entered the swirling, whirling world of Real Estate in 1973.

It reminded my of a song one of my former students sang for me... leading a chorus of her girlfriends... and using her cute facial expressions... including her cute little "bunny nose" and otherwise acting out all the parts in the video.

So... thanks to YouTube... I was able to find a video of "Little Bunny Foo Foo" . I caution you, however, that parts of this video get be little "iffy" if shared with some equally tender-hearted children on this Easter Sunday morning.

That young student... Lori Tamburino (younger sister of Mary Jo Tamburino (also a favorite)... was one of my many, many favorite students. And yes, I guess, in a way... ALL of my students, in some way or another, were my "favorites."

* * *

Who Would YOU Pick to Play the Active Rain Easter Bunny ?

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:35:15 -0700

Yesterday Active Rainer Gita Bantwal wrote a post titled Open House tip for this weekend.

In her post, Gita described several Easter'ish things she was going to do for that open house. She had some really cute ideas.

She was going to the Dollar Store, buy some Easter Baskets, some Easter grass, a bunch of pastel Easter eggs, and fill them with Hershey's kisses. Also... she's going to have some Jelly Beans there, too.

It sounds like a really fun thing to do, but it got me to thinking...

IF... Active Rain were to pick one of its Rainers to "play" the part of the Easter Bunny... who would it be?

Also... because Active Rain is an "equal opportunity" kinda place... we could have either a Mr Bunny, or a Ms Bunny, but actually... let's have both.

So... how about if we have some fun here ? How about if each of us... after putting much thought into it... how about if we PICK the Rainer we think would make the absolute Best Easter Bunny. Everyone is eligible.

I know exactly who I would choose... both for Mr Bunny and Ms Bunny... but I'm not gonna tell until much later... LOL.

So... tell us... my dear Rainers. Which two Active Rainers would YOU choose to play the part of Mr Easter Bunny and Ms Easter Bunny ? You can even put a SMALL picture of those Rainers you choose... in your comment.

Here we go. Time to let your imagination run wild. Who would YOU choose to play the Active Rain Easter Bunny ?

~ ~ ~

Women's Health Care... Will We Be Denied ?

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:53:41 -0700

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act... commonly called "ObamaCare"... is a law that has held a lot of promise for women. It has the potential of really helping many of us and many of our "sisters" get the care we have needed.

So why have the opponents of the law been fighting to take away these important benefits and common-sense protections? There are many, many reasons why... much too many to recite in this post.

This is a video from the National Women's Law Center, and it's campaign to tell opponents of affordable women's health care that "I Will NOT Be Denied."

It may be too late for some, or even many of us. The presentation of the case against Healthcare Equality for All just finished its third of three days before the Supreme Court a few days ago... on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. I fear Healthcare Equality will be cut to shreds.

I look at the national news, and the local news here in Texas... and see so many state legislatures simply pick apart at its roots many of the protections we as women have had as far as our own personal health care is concerned.

I just found this video last night. It says what I feel in so incredibly many ways better than I ever could. If the Affordable Care Act "goes down"... please... in honor of all of our female friends and family, and all our sisters in need... please remember this on Election Day... November 6, 2012.

How I Get Rid of Spam Callers...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:20:28 -0700

I work out of my "home office"... almost all the time. I don't know if it's just me.. but when I get a "spam phone call" at home... I get a little resentful of having my privacy invaded.

Sooo... let me share with you how I have handled the last few home spam calls. It's a method that seems to have worked... so you may want to borrow it... or not.

Spam Caller: Ring Ring...

Me: <in a very old, crotchety, gently mind-numbing voice... I answer and say> Hello ?

Spam Caller: Yes... Mrs Stone... I'm calling from Blah Blah Airlines. You have just won a free trip to...

Me: <using the same voice> Barbara... Barbara... is that you ?

Spam Caller: No, Ma'am... it's not Barbara... I'm calling from...

Me: <Before she finishes, I say> Barbara... is my prescription ready ?

Spam Caller: Ma'am... I'm not calling about a prescription. You've won a free trip to...

Me: Is this the lady from the pharmacy ? Is my prescription ready ?

Spam Caller: Ma'am... you have a nice day, now... bye bye...

And that's it. The Spam Caller disappears !

It is very rare that the same person ever calls me again. And if they do... they get the same elderly craggily voice asking if it's Barbara with my prescription.

It appears to work on just about everybody. Free trips, health club memberships, dating services, whatever...

I don't know if you are silly enough to do something like this... but if you are... you just might drastically cut down on the Spam Calls you receive.. and give you some silly fun while doing it. <impish grin>

~ ~ ~

Selling Your Own listing. Double Dipping ? What A Crock !

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:28:47 -0700

This post is dedicated to all of you "Double Dipper" crabby-pies:

There are a couple of posts currently on Active Rain that use the phrase "Leaving Money on the Table." That part was pretty-much talked to death.

But also in those posts... the use of a another phrase came up that I absolutely HATE.

"Double Dipping."

I am sorry... but I really, really do hate that phrase. And how it sounds. But also... what it MEANS. Or is supposed to mean.

First of all... about "Double Dipping."

What gets dipped ? And second of all... into what... is whatever it is... being dipped ?

Double dipping... getting both "halves" of a commission... does NOT get you any more commission.

Why not ? Because of the following:

Let's suppose you have a listing, and it sells. Not by you. So, you get one "side" of a transaction. And one commission.

Let's also suppose you have a buyer. You sell that buyer a home. Some "other" home. So again, you get one "side" of a transaction. And one commission. Two total "sides"... each of which brings a commission.

OR... you might take that buyer of yours... and sell them your own listing... (assuming in your state that you can do that) and you still get "2 sides." A listing side, and a selling side. Also two total "sides"... each of which brings a commission. There IS no difference.

So this talk of "oh, she sold her own listing... so she gets the FULL commission..." just serves to make it sound like you are a selfish greedy Realtor.

How silly. You closed a seller, you closed a buyer. There is NO windfall as far as commission in concerned.

~ ~ ~

Should the Senate Continue to Filibuster... stopping Up or Down Votes on Judicial Appointments ? Just ask Dr James Dobson.

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:57:11 -0800

There are currently 84 federal judgeships that are vacant - about one out of ten - and the courts have been struggling to handle their caseloads.

Senator Harry Reid, Majority Leader of the Senate... wants the entire Senate to simply vote on these appointments. Yes or no ? Up or Down ? Just vote !

Senate Republicans have been stalling... holding up simple Up or Down votes on these nominations. They have been using the Filibuster... which is a legal tool for them to use... but in doing so... they are causing a major log-jam in the Federal Courts.

So... what to do ?

OK... I am a "Progressive." Yeah... ok, I am a Liberal. But let's not even take my opinion, or the opinion of ANY Progressive or Democrat.

How about if we take the opinion of a conservative who is very well respected by Republicans. He is James Dobson... long-time former Head of, and Founder of the Family Research Council.

Dr Dobson, revered by the great majority of Conservative Christians... said that "judicial filibusters are a direct attack on the future of democracy and ordered liberty." If it sounds like he was saying that the Senate's use of the filibuster to hold up Up of Down votes on judicial nominations really ticked him off... well, it did.

Or... we could ask Pat Robertson... of the 700 Club... who is an far-right conservative.

Perhaps we could ask Rod Parsley, TV Televangelist ? Or Tony Perkins, or Gary Bauer, or Lou Sheldon or Frank Pavone ?

OK... let's ask ALL of them. Just to see what they have to say. Here's a video showing the opinions on using the filibuster to hold up Up or Down votes of federal judges...

These religious leaders made these claims when George W. Bush was president. But, of course, that doesn't matter because - in the words of Senator John Cornyn, Republican Senator from Texas... he said... "we need to treat all nominees exactly the same, regardless of whether they're nominated by a Democrat or a Republican president.

My Mollie T is gone...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:00:16 -0800

I thought it might hurt less by now. Or actually, I had hoped it would. I should have know better.

It doesn't. Nothing's changed. That's because everything's changed.

It's been thirteen days now since I bent over her little black and white furry face... bent down and kissed her forehead, and told her "Thank you for sharing your life with me."

Fifteen minutes later, Mollie T was gone. At least... she was gone "physically."

At times I think she is still here. I see something move out of the corner of my eye. I know it's Mollie. The fabric on my pants shifts... I know it's Mollie somehow brushing my leg.

The water that I left dripping in the sink for her... something breaks the dripping pattern, and I hear it. It's her.

It has been over thirteen years since I lost the kitty who owned me before Mollie T took over. Her name was Ally. She died in 1999. I thought I was a mess then. Well... it ain't nuttin' honey like it is now.

Yeah... this may sound silly to you... although if you've come to be a fan and friend of my Mollie T over the years of reading my blog... you know her, too... and you know exactly what I am feeling.

The night before she "crossed..." Mollie and I spent snuggling on my recliner... with Mollie mostly either asleep on my chest, or groggily awake and purring like there was "no tomorrow." Perhaps she really "knew" there would not BE a tomorrow.

Cats are like that. They know. Or at least Mollie T knew. She knew a lot more than I do. But, then again... I really don't "know" things. I mostly just feel stuff. Always have. It's been my blessing most of the time. But at other times... I didn't think "blessings" were supposed to hurt this much.

So... I'm still here. Alone. Without my Mollie T.

When I came home yesterday, it was automatic for me to look for her as I stepped inside the door. Was she still comfortably asleep somewhere... or would she come walking up to greet me ? Like she always did. Until February 10th.

I wasn't ready to write this before now. I don't know if I'm ready to, even now. But all I do know... is that this little ball of black and white furry, purring unconditional love... was somehow not here with me.

Mollie T... thank you for sharing your life with me.

~ ~ ~

I Get Lots of Comments on My Posts. Here is my Ultra-Sneaky, Top-Secret Secret.

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:54:56 -0800

Every once in awhile someone asks me... Karen Anne... how do you keep getting so many comments on your posts ? What's the deal ? What is your secret ? What can I do to get that many comments on MY posts ?

OK. I have shared this with those who have asked... by private email... but hey, why not just let the secret out ? What is my "secret weapon ?"

Alright... Here's the deal... <she said, laughing to herself about how totally dumb she thinks that phrase sounds... >

I... care. So... I not only reciprocate... I do more than that. I comment on things others skip over.

I have written 919 posts so far. [The 971 on the chart ---> includes 52 posts in draft mode.] About half of my posts are real-estate related. Perhaps the other half are split between social commentary stuff... like "marriage equality stuff, and women's rights stuff"... or some political posts... or just some plain ol' personal stuff about my life, my daughter, my sweet kitty Mollie T Cat, my old teaching days, my family, or even just about me.

So... it's a mixture. But... out of my 919 posts... I have only received 53 Featured Posts. Only 53 Gold Stars. Not bad, but not real good, either. That averages out to just a smidge under 7 Gold Stars for every 100 posts written. Still... nothing to write home about... so to speak. But that's ok.

The reason I am sharing this is... I average almost 30 comments per post... and very, very few of those posts are the "Featured Post kind"... the ones that really pile up the comments.

So why such a high average of comments on my posts ? My easy, Ultra-Sneaky, Top-Secret Secret is... because I care enough to not only write posts... but I go out of my way to make comments on the posts of others... especially Newbies.

As of today, just from the points I got from commenting on the posts of other Active Rainers... I hit 400,000 points. JUST from commenting.

Sure, I have received 26,918 comments, but I have made... 29,025 comments.

Give to other Rainers, share with other Rainers, even jump in and defend other Rainers when some smart aleck is attacking them in a post or a comment. Giving is the way to make it happen.

Do that enough, and people start subscribing to your blog. They start looking for your posts. They get to know you. And they start commenting on your posts.

Also... who and what you comment on can make a difference.

When it's time for me to make my "daily comments..." while many, many Active Rainers run straight to the Featured Posts Blogroll to read and comment on "all the good stuff..." or all those "Gold Star posts" that everybody else runs to comment on... I go to the Newbie Posts. Remember how you felt when you were a Newbie, you finally wrote a post, and nobody commented ? Well...

Or... I will pick out some of the Listings posts that almost NOBODY comments on... and very simply say something nice, something complimentary about that agent's listing.

It's a "help them feel good" kinda thing. Also, if a member of the public pulls up that post... it can really help that Listing Agent if the buyer who looks at it... instead of seeing a big BLANK for comments, they see something really complimentary about the Listed house. You have to help others here on Active Rain. You just gotta do it.

I'm not looking to be Number One. I just like to feel really good about what I am doing.

To quote the title of a really good recent book... You have to be a "Go-Giver." What goes around... really does come around.

~ ~ ~