Today I was treated to a superb lunch at the Parker House Restaurant in Olde Towne Ridgeland. The Parker House has an interesting history that you can read about on their website, but suffice it to say that it is fine dining in a old English style residence-turned-restaurant in the heart of Olde Towne.

The food was exquisitely prepared and served in a timely fashion. Our meal began with a serving of fried green tomatoes, some of the best I've ever had. It was difficult deciding what to order--everything looked so GOOD! Although I strongly considered the shrimp and grits, ultimately I selected the fried catfish topped with sauteed mushrooms and lump crab-meat. Delicious! And the side of garlic smashed potatoes were just as yummy.

They have a daily luncheon special at The Parker House. Fried quail with (I think) the smashed potatoes was today's choice. I'm sure it was good, but my dinner companion and I chose to order off the menu. And we were very pleased with our meal. We skipped dessert and instead munched on dinner rolls topped with sweet honey butter.

The atmosphere of The Parker House is something to experience. We sat in one of the private booths, complete with curtains that can be closed for a more intimate setting. The booth was private enough to carry on a conversation with few distractions.

There is a bar and lounge in the back of the restaurant, which overlooks their pool and three-tired fountain. There is outdoor seating, too, if you care to dine in their courtyard. At night it is lit with soft accent lighting, making it a truly enticing place to dine.

The Parker House has dining rooms that can accommodate groups, so keep that in mind when planning holiday parties.

The Parker House is located just off Highway 51 and West Jackson Street on SE Madison Drive in "Olde Towne" Ridgeland.

Written and Published by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC

It's been in the planning stage for a month, but today I finally addressed the postcards for my Thanksgiving mailout. Years ago, I attended a seminar that suggested any mass mailout be done AFTER the 15th of the month, but before the 25th for maximum effect.

My postcards were ordered from Color For Real Estate and look a little like this:

On the reverse, I have my photo and contact information. Most people don't send Thanksgiving cards, but I like to do it. It helps to get me in the holiday spirit. And postcards ARE a little less expensive to mail!

Let me be among the first to wish YOU a Happy Thanksgiving!

Written and Published by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC

Today is Veteran's Day, and I just heard a very appropriate way to "salute" or say Thank You to our military personnel.

When you come in contact with a veteran, someone you don't know personally but want to acknowledge,  place your right hand over your heart, then extend it toward them as if to say "thanks". THAT'S IT! Easy enough for us to do, but quickly and politely shows our respect and appreciation for their service and dedication to our country.

Thanks to all our military personnel for serving this nation. SALUTE!

Written by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC

The following message was in my e-mail's in-box this morning. I don't know the origin, but felt it worthy to be reprinted. Hope you enjoy. There is an important message if we take heed.

(Edited 11/11/08 to change the title.)

      No one can make you serve customers well. That's because great service is a choice.  Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

      He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport.  When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine.  Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey

      He handed my friend a laminated card and said, 'I'm Wally, your driver.. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'

      Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

      This blew Harvey away.  Especially when he noticed that the inside of  the cab matched the outside.  Spotlessly clean!

      As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee?  I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.'

      My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'

      Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.'

      Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'

      Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.'

      As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'

      And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him.  Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day.  He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

      'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'

 Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.

      He had just written a book called 'You'll See It When You Believe It'.  Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself.  He said, 'Stop complaining!  Differentiate yourself from your competition.  Don't be a duck.  Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain.  Eagles soar above the crowd.''

      'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally.  'Dyer was really talking about me.  I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle.  I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers.  The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy.  So I decided to make some changes.  I put in a few at a time.  When my customers responded well, I did more.'

      'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.

      'It sure has,' Wally replied.  'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it.  You were lucky to get me today.  I don't sit at cabstands anymore.  My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine.  If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'

      Wally was phenomenal.  He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.  I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it.  Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call.  The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.

      Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice.  He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

      How about us?

      Smile, and the whole world smiles with you.....The ball is in our hands!

Reprinted by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC

Thanks to Kris Wales for the following post. Pricing your home correctly is the most important step you can take to insure a timely sale. Although this article was written for Kris's market in Michigan, it is equally appropriate for the Jackson Metro market.

Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., Inc.

 The Fall Parade of Homes began this past weekend in Hinds, Rankin, and Madison Counties. If you missed it, you have one more opportunity to tour approximately 100 new homes throughout the Metro Jackson area. The Parade continues Saturday & Sunday, October 25-26 from 1-5 p.m.

The Parade of Homes is presented by Home Builders Association of Jackson. Plaques and Certificates of Merit Awards are given for Craftsmanship, Architectural Design, Kitchens, Interior Design/Décor, and Baths. The awards are prominently displayed throughout the homes on tour.

One Green Home received an Award of Excellence for Innovation in Building Practices this year. The award went to David Smith Builder, Inc. for his home in Farmington Station, a neighborhood in Brandon, MS. Smith is the current President of the local home builders association.

If you are in the market for a new home, or just want to check out the designs and features available in today's homes, be sure to put Saturday and Sunday, October 25-26 on your calendar. Grab a copy of the Clarion Ledger for the parade route.

Written and Published by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC

Regardless of where you live, you've likely heard the benefits of walking. Many people walk to lose weight, but there are many advantages to walking; it lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, improves your stamina, and elevates your mood. That's a good reason in and of itself. But for each hour spent walking, you add two hours to your life. Now that is an incentive!

The Let's Go Walkin' Mississippi campaign is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, and First Lady Marsha Barbour, wife of Gov. Haley Barbour, is the spokeswoman. Most Mississippians have seen the public service announcements encouraging walking to get people out from in front of their television sets and outdoors.

 There are numerous parks, lakes, and walking trails throughout our state where people can get outdoors and walk, but there are two opportunities coming up where you can walk for a cause.

The American Heart Association is hosting the Metro Jackson Heart Walk on Sunday, October 26 at the State Capitol. This is a three-mile walk beginning at the new Capitol Building at 400 High Street in downtown Jackson. Registration begins at noon and the walk begins at 1:00 p.m. Go to Metro Jackson Heart Walk to see more details.

 The following weekend, the American Lung Association will host the Lung Walk on Sunday, November 2. The walk will take place at Winner's Circle Park in Flowood, MS. The park is at the intersection of Flowood Drive and Old Fannin Road. Registration begins at 12:30, with the walk starting at 2:00 p.m. The American Lung Association is raising money to prevent asthma as well as all lung diseases.

 The Mississippi weather this time of year is perfect for being outdoors, so get out there and enjoy it!

If I can help you with any real estate needs, please let me know. Your referrals are always welcome!

Written and Published by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC (Reprinted for Rankin County, MS)

Regardless of where you live, you've likely heard the benefits of walking. Many people walk to lose weight, but there are many advantages to walking; it lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, improves your stamina, and elevates your mood. That's a good reason in and of itself. But for each hour spent walking, you add two hours to your life. Now that is an incentive!

The Let's Go Walkin' Mississippi campaign is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, and First Lady Marsha Barbour, wife of Gov. Haley Barbour, is the spokeswoman. Most Mississippians have seen the public service announcements encouraging walking to get people out from in front of their television sets and outdoors.

 There are numerous parks, lakes, and walking trails throughout our state where people can get outdoors and walk, but there are two opportunities coming up where you can walk for a cause.

The American Heart Association is hosting the Metro Jackson Heart Walk on Sunday, October 26 at the State Capitol. This is a three-mile walk beginning at the new Capitol Building at 400 High Street in downtown Jackson. Registration begins at noon and the walk begins at 1:00 p.m. Go to Metro Jackson Heart Walk to see more details.

 The following weekend, the American Lung Association will host the Lung Walk on Sunday, November 2. The walk will take place at Winner's Circle Park in Flowood, MS. The park is at the intersection of Flowood Drive and Old Fannin Road. Registration begins at 12:30, with the walk starting at 2:00 p.m. The American Lung Association is raising money to prevent asthma as well as all lung diseases.

 The Mississippi weather this time of year is perfect for being outdoors, so get out there and enjoy it!

If I can help you with any real estate needs, please let me know. Your referrals are always welcome!

Written and Published by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC