I am always an optimist. Every month is a great month, but this month is really going to be special.
Professionally I am rallying as much as I can for the last month of the year. I am working like crazy showing as many homes as possible. I have some decent settlements before the end of the year. My holiday cards are ALMOST ready to hit the mail box, I am just waiting on the magnetic calendars to put inside. I have my last "Client Appreciation" event of the year this weekend and I am almost caught up on my expense sheets.
But none of that stuff is important this year. I have an amazing two year old that for the first time really "Gets" Christmas.
He has a sparkle in his eye when he sees ANYTHING remotely festive. He has requested "Twas the night before Christmas" for his bed time story since before Thanksgiving.
At pre school they are making tree ornaments and he is so excited.
Just one catch!
Ask him what he wants for Christmas and he says. "I want a baby Brother Mummy".
Lets hope he finds something else to desire in the next 24 days that would be easier to fulfill!
On Saturday December 6th, Santa Clause and Mrs Clause will be stopping by for a delicious breakfast at Tersiguels French Country Restaurant in the heart of historic Ellicott City.
Enjoy some pancakes while you write your Christmas wish list. Then you get to have a special audience with the "Big Guy" to tell him in person what you would like him to bring you.
Make sure your parents bring their camera.
Seatings start at 9.30am
Call for reservations-410-465-4004- this is a very popular event
For all your Real Estate needs in Central Maryland.
Head down 695 tomorrow evening, Saturday November 29th to the Catonsville Fire Station on Frederick Road to enjoy the
15th Annual Catonsville Tree Lighting Ceremony
The fun starts at 6.30pm The tree will be decorated and the lights will be turned on. Santa will be arriving on a fire truck, I'm sure the Catonsville Fire Dept will be handing out hats again.
There will be free refreshments, seasonal music and then fireworks.
Last year we wrapped up warm and had a wonderful evening with friends and neighbors.
Donations of non-perishable pantry items will be accepted by the Catonsville Emergency Food Ministry.
Bring the entire family to welcome the holiday season of 2008
For all your Real Estate needs in Central Maryland.
It's difficult to turn on the news these days without reports of violence and attacks. It seems that they are coming closer to home. A Mothers group I belong to sent an e-mail recently about statistics at a local mall (15 minutes from my home) having a huge increase in parking lot muggings in broad daylight.
Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...
It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.
1 Tip from Tae Kwon Do : The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM Toss it away from you.... chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it . As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
5 A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage: A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat B..) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars. C..) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably ! in a zig -zag pattern!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
Say good morning to Dennis. That's what we named the turkey last night.
I'm not the most accomplished person in the kitchen so this day is always a culinary adventure. My dear Mother is overseas and totally oblivious to this holiday and unobtainable by phone. What's a "Challenged" girl to do.
I am at the part where I have cleaned out all the nasty internal parts (top and bottom), salted the cavity, stuck an onion in and now looking at my new friend Dennis.
Do I use the plastic thingy to seal him up? Won't it melt in the oven?
Do I put anything on the Turkey?
Do I turn the Turkey upside down to start the cooking? I think I remember my Mother doing that?
I finally convinced my friend George Kuda to accept my invitation to Active rain and join. He will be the first to admit that beyond work, he is not as ACTIVE as he could be on the internet.
Currently he does not have a Twitter or Facebook account and he has no idea how he even has a Linkedin account. We discovered it yesterday over a breakfast meeting.
George has been a good friend for many years. We play golf together. We were playing together when I scored my "Hole in One". He will be the first to tell you that I play like Happy Gilmore and that triumph was beyond a fluke! This year in the same tournament we all received trophies for the "Duffer Award". I got us lost on the way to the golf course and we missed 5 holes!!!!
George has always worked for Equitable Trust Mortgage as long as I have known him and he is excited to be opening a brand new location in Dundalk.
Stay tuned to his Blog when he finally finds his feet and wish him well here at Active Rain
For all your Real Estate needs in Howard County and Central Maryland.
In the middle of dinner this evening I did what I NEVER do. I answered my home phone. I think it was a knee jerk reaction.
I work long hours and I go to work early, but I am doing what I can to instill into my two year old that a family meal is an integral part of the day. As a child my family ALWAYS ate dinner as a group. If the phone ever rang we would just wait for it to stop. We didn't have caller ID or an answering machine, but still we didn't answer it. My Father would say that if it was important they would call back.
It was a big wake up call when I finished my call- it was quick, Purple Heart looking for a clothing donation. My young but wise son said. "No phone Mummy, we eat dinner together"
Sometimes the innocence of this little chap gives me a reality check. I do sometimes answer the phone during this time of the day but that needs to change. Real estate can wait for me to finish dinner with my favorite man.
I read a blog this evening written by June Piper-Brandon about giving gift cards this Holiday season. There seems to be an awful lot of stores and companies closing this year. Myself I am stuck holding a $200 Gift card for a local salon that closed without notice.
Outback Steakhouse is not closing their doors any time soon. What a great way to celebrate the holidays for friends and family and clients.
My dear friend Mike Noeller is the proprietor of the Ocean City, MD location. He would be more than happy to overnight you any gift cards you desire. A special promotion is an extra $20 gift card promotion for every $100 you purchase.
Call Mike at (410) 213-2595. Be sure to tell him I gave you all the info.
This morning was just an ordinary Friday in November. A little chilly, but tolerable; time for a warm coat and a hat.
As I drove to the office there were some minuscule snow flakes, but nothing to get excited about. The weatherman had mentioned a little precipitation.
I had a settlement this morning and the conference room is an internal room of the building. Imagine my surprise when I stepped outside to see this. Just a little dusting, but it's the first one of the season.
Not a lot to get excited about, but sadly the sniff of snow and folk in Maryland go a little crazy. Watch out on the roads today.
For all your Real Estate needs in Howard County and Central Maryland.
Ellie McIntire Real Estate in Howard County Maryland Ellicott City, MD More about me…
The McIntire Team of Long & Foster
Office Phone: (410) 480-3398
Cell Phone: (443) 418-7668
Email Me
A Maryland transplant from many other places, I have found my true home in the heart of this great State. I proudly help my clients find new homes in Howard County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Harford County.
Enjoying the process is my goal for my clients.
Ellie McIntire Real Estate in Howard County Maryland — Ellie McIntire knows Howard County
But none of that stuff is important this year. I have an amazing two year old that for the first time really "Gets" Christmas.
The fun starts at 6.30pm The tree will be decorated and the lights will be turned on. Santa will be arriving on a fire truck, I'm sure the Catonsville Fire Dept will be handing out hats again.
Say good morning to Dennis. That's what we named the turkey last night.
to accept my invitation to Active rain and join. He will be the first to admit that beyond work, he is not as ACTIVE as he could be on the internet.
;)
;)
