I sell houses, not furniture! - 09/30/10 10:44 AM
I sell houses, not furniture!
Yesterday I took a couple to look at one of my listings.  It is a fabulous home, just across from the beach, priced well and in impeccable condition.  It fit all their criteria.  I was pumped!  This would be the one they'd buy! We walked in... Mrs. Potential Buyer gasped.  "Oh, my gosh.  What gorgeous furniture!  Will he let the furniture go with the house?"
"Well, Mrs. PB, the furniture is not part of the offering.  However, if you make a great offer and ask for him to include the furniture, perhaps, he might consider … (15 comments)

An Adult Fairy Tale. - 09/28/10 06:51 PM
An Adult Fairy Tale.

In the beginning there were no people and no frogs; no animals, no plants, houses or factories... nothing but God and the earth.  But over time, God made people and frogs; animals and plants and all sorts of things.  And the world turned and people came and lived and died and everything changed.
And there came to be a Princess.  She was a wonderful Princess, full of fun and adventure and life. She had made some stupid mistakes in her life and had suffered some great tragedies but she knew that all those things had … (14 comments)

Looking for a Dentist in Morehead City, North Carolina? - 09/28/10 07:19 AM
Amy Hahn has profiled her dentist, and mine in this great localism blog.  If you're looking for a great dentist with a great staff, call Dr. Kenneth Leigh Westbrook.  You'll find professionalism and warm southern hospitality.
Via Amy Hahn, REALTOR, Crystal Coast, NC (Pine Knoll Shores Realty):
 
 
Looking for a Dentist in Morehead City, North Carolina?  Let me introduce you to The Best (IMHO) and my favorite...Westbrook Family Dentistry.  There Motto is "We Cater to Cowards", and when it comes to dentistry...I am a total Coward.  I hate going to the dentist, but Dr. Kenneth L. Westbrook and His Staff … (0 comments)

Do you remember your first job? - 09/27/10 02:00 AM
 
Do you remember your first job? 
I’m always intrigued by the answers I get when I ask that question.  They usually begin something like this:
 
“I worked at the local donut shop part-time when I was 14” or, “Fresh out of college, I started as an assistant at…”
 
My answer is quite different.  I don’t remember ever not working.  What I remember is that before I started first grade and for many years after, I picked cotton.  Mama took an old pillow case and sewed strong straps onto it to make my very own cotton sack.  I … (72 comments)

SECRET SHIFTERS. - 09/26/10 08:40 AM
SECRET SHIFTERS. (Things that can change a bad mood into a good mood.) Everybody has a bad day from time to time, but we don't have to stay in a bad mood.  I have a list of "Secret Shifters" that I actually look at when I need to get myself in a better frame of mind.  Just pick one and think about it. Here's mine.  Make a list for yourself.  It works.
A hug from my husband.
My grandsons
My dog, Katie
Rainbows
Sunsets
Walking on the beach
Paris
Laughing
My husband on crutches at our wedding
Good music
Inspirational … (24 comments)

"How unprofessional can you BE!" - 09/25/10 08:35 AM
"How unprofessional can you BE!
 
 
 
After showing my prospective buyer 12 units in two days, I suggested that we go ahead and look at one unit in the complex next door to see if perhaps we might go ahead and eliminate that group.  She agreed, so with no notice at all I called the listing agent.
"No problem. That owner is a relative and very motivated.  I know he's at work, so go ahead and take the key from the lock box and show it.  In fact, bring me an offer!"
Don't I wish! "Wow, look at … (14 comments)

Times are tough...Free Things to Do on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina - 09/24/10 04:55 PM
Free is my favorite price and since I, too live on the Crystal Coast, I'm happy for the reminders of freebies.  Great blog by my great blogging daughter, Amy Hahn.
Via Amy Hahn, REALTOR, Crystal Coast, NC (Pine Knoll Shores Realty):
Times are tough...Free Things to Do on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina
 

So, it's all over the news, everyone is talking about it...the Recession ended in June of 2009!?  Well, whether the recession is over or not...Times are still tough.  Folks are still cutting costs, spending more quality time with family and friends, and most of us are … (1 comments)

Happy Fall Ya'll! - 09/24/10 04:54 PM
I see no reason to re-invent the wheel.  So Thanks to AMY HAHN, Happy Fall Ya'll.
A beautifil card to wish you all a special season by my beautiful daughter for my favorite season.
Via Amy Hahn, REALTOR, Crystal Coast, NC (Pine Knoll Shores Realty):
Happy Fall Ya'll!

 
Yesterday was officially the first day of Autumn!  I have been in fall mode for a couple of weeks now...ever since I saw a red leaf in my yard!  And it is finally here....WooHoo!!!!! 

 
Halloween & Costumes & Candy Corn (yum), caramel apples, Football Season (War Eagle), Thanksgiving & Pecan Pie, … (0 comments)

Do you take confidentiality seriously? - 09/24/10 07:44 AM
Shhhh..... don't tell. Do you take confidentiality seriously? If you don't.  STOP!  Right now and reevaluate.
I live in a small town in the middle of a small island.  It seems like everybody knows everybody's business, so they don't need me to tell them who's thinking of buying or selling.  They already know. However, they ask me.  How I respond is critical. Last evening I arrived at our little Country Club for Ladies' Night.  As I walked across the parking lot, I was accosted by an acquaintance.  "I hear my crazy friends are talking to you about selling their house." I … (42 comments)

Where do you go to escape the pressures of life? - 09/23/10 01:03 PM
Where do you go to escape the pressures of life?
Sometimes the stress gets to be …well, … stressful.  The house needs cleaning, the dog is acting sickly, I miss the grandchildren. I must get to work on time today because I have a trouble-shooting meeting with my staff; my most difficult client wants to see me…again; I notice on my calendar that I booked a meeting with my golf group and my church group at the same time; the dress I planned to wear needs ironing and my husband asks when will the economy turn around so that I can … (7 comments)

Being a Senior Real Estate Specialist can be a challenge and a blessing. - 09/21/10 03:17 AM
Being a Senior Real Estate Specialist can be a challenge and a blessing. Among the designations I have earned is the SRES.  Working in a retirement/second home market, it seemed prudent.  At sixty, I find myself still younger than most of my seller/clients.  The challenges and obstacles they deal with are definitely different than those of the younger market. There are living trusts, tax implications, illness, dwindling retirement dollars; assisted living; nursing homes; dementia; adult children trying (and usually succeeding) to help. 
The homes are often cluttered with a lifetime of memorabilia, too cherished to give up.  Often the yards … (19 comments)

If the surf roars in the Maritime Forest and there's no-one there to hear, does it still make a noise? - 09/20/10 12:20 PM
If the surf roars in the Maritime Forest and there's no-one there to hear, does it still make a noise?
I am so fortunate to be able to live at the beach.  I live right about the middle of Bogue Banks Island, in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina.  I live at the beach, in the woods. Most people don't think of the forest as part of the beach.  Here, it is a very big and important part.  Thankfully, when Pine Knoll Shores was being developed by the Theodore Roosevelt family, they were very environmentally aware and set up covenants to … (5 comments)

Where are your treasures? - 09/19/10 07:05 AM

Luke 12:34:  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  
"Jamma, come quick, we found a TREASURE!" What a treasure it was.  Two dried Katiedids just waiting for two little boys to find and carry carefully home to Jamma's house where they showed them eagerly to their Pa and then hid them in their secret hiding places known only to them and Jamma.  (Lucky Blessed me) They're not concerned about IRA's, fancy cars, bigger houses, or even college funds.  Yeah, I know, somebody needs to worry about these things, but not little boys and never Jamma … (9 comments)

Marian's Maddening, Manic, Maladjusted, Messed up day! - 09/18/10 08:51 AM
Marian's Maddening, Manic, Maladjusted, Messed up day! Some days I just need to vent!  Today was one of the most messed up days I've seen in a long time! First I woke up with a crick in my neck.  Yeah, a crick.  I don't know what you call it, but down here in the south, it's a d--- crick.  Since I'm on steroids for poison ivy (Yeah, another story there) I can't take my muscle relaxers, so I'll just have a stiff neck all day. Great! The coffee wasn't waiting because some idiot (ME) forgot to push the button on the … (13 comments)

Top Ten Reasons to live on the island of Bogue Banks, North Carolina - 09/16/10 05:24 AM
             Top Ten Reasons to live on the island of Bogue Banks, North Carolina

 
The beach The beach The beach The beach The beach The beach The beach The beach The beach The beach  
And then there are so many other things.  
The people.  The local people of Bogue Banks don't know how to be anything other than friendly and relaxed.  I don't know how that happened but it's true.  You can never "become" a local.  You are only a local if you were born here.  More of the residents, like me, are from "off" and we … (8 comments)

Bears in the Streets of New Bern... - 09/15/10 10:11 AM
Since Amy Hahn is a master of Localism blogs, I'm so glad she allows re-blogging.  New Bern is a beautiful town near the coast of North Carolina where we visit often and I'm proud to re-blog this highlight. 
Amy, thanks for letting the world know about our little corner of the world.
Via Amy Hahn, REALTOR, Crystal Coast, NC (Pine Knoll Shores Realty):
Bear Town Bears, by local artists can be found throughout the historical town of New Bern, NC. 

The Colorful and fun bears will be on display during 2010, while New Bern celebrates it's 300th Anniversary.

During … (2 comments)

Wordless Wednesday (Not quite) on the Crystal Coast - 09/15/10 07:31 AM
 
                 Introducing my special friend, Katie
 

 
This is my dog Katie.  (shhhh....My husband, Ted, thinks she's his dog.)  She is a Jack Russell Terrier about 15 years old.   We're not totally sure of her age because she's a rescue dog.  When she found us, we already had a little boy Jack Russell Terrier named Casey and an old yellow mutt, also a rescue dog, named Corey. We thought our family was complete.
But Katie needed a home and she didn't think three dogs was too many.   She earned a place in our hearts right away.  Both her … (7 comments)

It's time to fish or cut bait! - 09/13/10 12:32 AM
Living on an island off the coast of North Carolina, fishing and fishing phrases are a way of life.  I've heard "fish or cut bait" my entire life.  I know instinctively what it means to me but wondered where the phrase comes from and exactly what it meant originally.  Research found many different explanations.  One thing became clear to me.  Nobody really knows the answers to this one.
 
So..."Fish or cut bait"; according to Marian:  Get to work and do it well or get out of the way.  Simple enough?  It means the same thing to me as "p--- or … (12 comments)

911, What is your emergency? - 09/11/10 07:31 AM
Until 9/11/2001 when we heard "9-1-1" that's what we thought of.  On that day, nine years ago, that changed forever.Where were you?  What were you doing and what was the first thing you did when you heard the news that day?  Did you sit at first in shock and horror?  Did you close up your office as I did and go home to sit in front of the TV watching in shock?   I'll bet first you called the people you love most, just as I did, to make sure they were safe and to say "I love you."
 
Did you … (4 comments)

The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola - 09/09/10 05:01 PM
I can't believe everybody in the world (or at least North Carolina) didn't know that Pepsi was born right here in eastern Carolina.  Now, at least Amy Hahn's and my Active Rain followers will know.  Thanks for posting Amy.
Via Amy Hahn, REALTOR, Crystal Coast, NC (Pine Knoll Shores Realty):
The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola


Did you know that Pepsi-Cola was created on the East Coast of North Carolina?  Well...it was, and you can visit the Birthplace located at Bradham's Pharmacy in Downtown New Bern.  Here's a little history for you to ponder as you sip your next Pepsi-Cola or Mountain Dew.  … (2 comments)

6th Annual Lobster Fest - 09/09/10 04:57 PM
Thanks to Amy for highlighting this important fund-raiser for our church.  I love the lobster fest.  We usually sell out and I have the great privilege of helping serve lobster dinners.  Come on down.  We have tickets!
Via Amy Hahn, REALTOR, Crystal Coast, NC (Pine Knoll Shores Realty):
LOBSTER FEST

 

Saturday, October 9th, 2010
12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM
 
Live $17
Cooked  $18.00
Complete meal $22.00
(Complete meal includes sides such as cold slaw & potato salad, breads, drinks, and homemade desserts and is served at the church or packaged for take out)
 
St. Francis by … (0 comments)

Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina - 09/09/10 04:56 PM
Great blog about a wonderful, historic attraction near the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.  I hear it's fabulously decorated during the Christmas Season. Thanks Amy for posting this blog.
Via Amy Hahn, REALTOR, Crystal Coast, NC (Pine Knoll Shores Realty):
Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina
If you enjoy history, Tryon Palace takes you back to the 1700 & 1800's. If you don't enjoy history, but enjoy Beautiful gardens, Tryon Palace has plenty of those too.   My family and I visited Tryon Palace in New Bern a few days ago, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.  Most of the building and homes … (0 comments)

Happy Labor Day! - 09/06/10 08:24 AM

Labor day was first celebrated in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. Now, of course, we celebrate on the first Monday in September every year. 

This year I can't help but think about all the American workers who want to work but can't find a job.  If you have a job, celebrate that!  That is a blessing. 

Perhaps you have a job but it's not the job you want.  It's just a way to pay the bills?  Celebrate that!  But more than that, do a fantastic job with this position that is NOT the … (23 comments)

WHO AM I?! - 09/05/10 07:57 AM
This is the 6th day of my 30 blogs in 30 days commitment, and I'm working on some dynamite drafts to post each day.  But today's post will also put me over the 200,000 point mark and I want it to be really special.  What to write?  What picture should I post?  How can I make this blog the very best ever?I think I'll finally write that one I've been thinking of and putting off forever.  WHO AM I?  I am a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend.
 


When asked to describe myself the first thing that … (12 comments)

Snapperz Grill & Steam Bar, Morehead City, NC 28557 - 09/03/10 06:29 PM
Amy says it well in this post about a wonderful beach bar on the Crystal Coast.  I've visited and enjoyed the great food and casual, friendly atmospher.  Presented first by Amy Hahn.
Via Amy Hahn, REALTOR, Crystal Coast, NC (Pine Knoll Shores Realty):
Snapperz Grill & Steam Bar, Morehead City, NC 28557

I had the pleasure of attending a Women's Council of REALTORS social at Snapperz Grill & Steam Bar in Morehead City, NC. WOW...It was awesome! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was excellent.  A group of around thirty REALTORS, Mortgage Brokers and  Home Designers...not a single complaint … (0 comments)

Time to HUNKER DOWN - 09/02/10 12:10 PM
In case there's anybody out there who hasn't heard yet, there's a category IV hurricane bearing down on us.  We've decided to "hunker down" on the mainland this time.  We usually stay on the island and actually enjoy the excitement of the storm, but this one scares me enough that I've convinced my husband to get us off the island.  There's a mandatory evacuation order and we have until 5:00 pm to get across the bridge.  I've taken all my signs down so they can't become missiles in the wind.  The house and office are secured as best we can make … (34 comments)