Life is just the way it is.

Life is not the way it's supposed to be, it's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference. -- Virginia Satir

Wow!  That I should get this quote in my daily Heartfelt Messages this week, when I have been asking why is just amazing.  I was trying to tell Max that while we did adopt a puppy and she got very sick right away, there was a reason.  I told him I really didn't know what the reason was, but that there must be one.  Through his tears he calmly told me he knew the reason.  The reason we got to adopt Maggie Moo and then have to give her up so the vet could attempt to save her life was for just that reason.  Max figures that if we hadn't adopted her, her breeder, negligent at best with the animals we saw there, would never have realized that Maggie was in such dire straights and would never have gotten her to the vet in time.   Max figures we saved her life.  You can see just how happy he was to finally have a puppy~

So, should Max have had the anguish of finally getting the puppy of his dreams and then losing it?  Is that the way it's supposed to be?  The answer is in the quote... it's the way it is.  We coped, with the help of friends, and with the love of a new puppy, JJ!  He's a love and I honestly don't know how I lived almost 49 years without a dog!

Just holding this little stubby guy in my arms makes me literally feel  my blood pressure go down.  Seeing Max with this puppy makes me so happy and grateful.

West Chester Realtor Discovers Scientific Cure

If you know me, you know that my family and I had a tough week.   We adopted a puppy this week, our family's first baby puppy.  We named her Maggie Moo and we had her exactly 17 hours when she became very sick.  The veterinarian thinks that she consumed some kind of toxin while at the breeders home just before we picked her up. 

If you have a heart at all, you'll understand that Max and I fell instantly in love with this little puppy.  To leave her at the emergency clinic and walk away for that very bad breeder was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.  Watching my 12 year old cry himself to sleep because he finally got his puppy and she was so sick she might die is something I hope not to do again.

My husband, Jack, who had been dead set against a dog for all of our 23 years of marriage was so upset by this turn of events, he called me to tell me we had to find another dog TODAY!!! 

My very best friend has a friend who immediately sprang into action.  He found an adorable puppy at a pet store and called me to tell me about it.  I was very reluctant to buy from a pet store because I have been told that they buy their puppies from puppy mills.  I simply couldn't take the chance of exposing Max to more heartache.  After learning of my fear, my friend's friend checked out the pet store, checked out the place where they got their puppies and made me comfortable enough to go look at the cockapoo puppies there.

Leann drove me down and her friend met Max, Leann and me at Monster Pets in South Philadelphia.  This has got to be the cleanest pet store that housed animals that I have ever been in.  There were 3 male cockapoos.  The first one out just licked me all over and when he got to Max he just started shaking his little stumpy tail like crazy.  Max wanted to be sure, so we trotted out the other two cockapoos.  One was very sweet but not nearly as affectionate.  The third shot out of the back room like a bat out of hell and looked like a wild thing.  Okay, maybe not that dog!  Max opted for dog number one.  I had always kidded Jack that if I ever got a male animal I would call it Jack Junior (Jack is not the animal lover that Max and I are).

Well, my friends, please welcome J.J. (Jack Junior) to the Mangigian family!!  He got a clean bill of health from our vet who actually unbuttoned his shirt, stuffed J.J. in there, buttoned back up and looked Max in the eye.  He deadpanned... "so, did you want me to check out an animal today or did you just stop in to say hello"!  He said that J.J. appears to be a great puppy and he was so happy for us after our harrowing day with Maggie Moo.

I discovered something so important, so earth shattering, I had to share it with you.  I have discovered that the cure for a broken heart is a lick on the cheek from a healthy baby puppy.  Yep, you heard it here.  The cure for a broken heart can be found in the love of a puppy for a little boy who desperately wanted him.

I am proud to introduce you to J.J.!  The newest member of our family!

Special thanks to Ed Angelo, Leann Murphy, Liz Facenda and Larry Wright.  Their friendship and help through this devastating day in our lives can never truly be repaid.  I owe them big time and I love them dearly. 

Some very bad news about Maggie Moo

I have always wanted a dog.  My dad did not allow a dog.  My husband did not want a dog.  My 12 year old who celebrated his birthday today wants a dog.  What's a girl to do??? I put my foot down at age 48 and 3/4 and said Jack... We've been married for 23 years, my first son is going off to college, my baby wants a dog and you are just going to have to get over it.  So yesterday, on Max's 12th birthday, we went to a backyard breeder and bought our very first dog. 

Max and I have a very sad story to tell you.  Sometime over the day that we had her, the vet thinks she started having seizures.  She didn't wake up at all last night to go potty and I woke her at 5:30 to see if she needed to go.  She started flopping around and walking into things.  She was extremely lethargic.  We had an appointment with my vet this morning to have her checked out.  When we got there she was almost non-responsive.  Her pupils were completely dilated and her heart rate was extremely low.  He suggested an emergency clinic.  The breeder met us over there.  The vets think that at some point in the last few days she either ate something poisonous to dogs, had a series of strokes, had a parasite work it's way to her brain or had a hematoma on the brain.  They are not sure if she will recover her health or her eyesight. 

Needless to say, Max's wonderful birthday gift has turned very sad and we are both heartbroken about it.  This was the puppy of our dreams.  The breeder has agreed to get her treated but in Max's best interest, I decided that we need to find another puppy.  The conditions of the breeders home were deplorable and it was my gut feeling that we should not get a dog from her, but we fell in love with Maggie and couldn't bear to leave her there.  The vet asked her if she had horses and she said yes.  He asked her if she recently gave them worm medicine and she said two days ago.  We don't know for sure and may never, but the vet thinks it's possible that she ate some horse manure with the medicine in it.

How do you say no?

I have a very difficult time saying no to people. 

I am a pleaser by nature and I tend to say yes to many things that I would rather not do.  I have been trying to learn to say no to anything that I will be grousing about doing later.  For example, I was just invited to a family member's baby shower.  I only see this particular branch of my husband's family when a gift is required.  Weddings, showers, etc.  When they decided to downsize, they listed their home with another RE/MAX company and kindly sent me a cute change of address card.  So, I called my sister-in-law, whom I love and said, "I'm not going".  She said "why, it will be fun".  I said, because I don't want to. 

Life is far too short to keep doing things because you have to. 

We have to do so many things.  As a mom, I have to cook.  I have to clean up after everyone.  I have to do laundry.  Now, I know that I don't HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS.  I just feel like I do.  I have to eat to stay healthy.  I have to exercise to stay sane and somewhat thin.  I have to grin and bear a lot of stuff with buyers and sellers.  I don't have to attend baby showers.  I do have to send a gift.

So I am practicing saying no. 

 No. 

I don't think so. 

No, I can't make it. 

No excuses. 

Thanks for asking, but I can't do it.

I saw a tee-shirt in a catalog that prompted this post. 

I like it!! 

Chester County in the Top Ten Counties to Raise a Family

According to Forbes magazine, as reported by Realtors Magazine, low cost of living, reasonably priced homes, and short commute times helps add to excellent schools making Chester County one of the top 10 communities as best places to raise a family.

To be considered, the communities had to have populations greater than 65,000 and most of the school funding had to come from property taxes. Average SAT and ACT scores must top 1,050 or 22, respectively. These factors reduced the number of counties under consideration to 51.

After that, the magazine considered cost of living, graduation rate, home prices, property tax rates as a percentage of median home prices, percentage of homes occupied by owners, per-capita income, air quality, crime rate and commute times.

To find out more about Chester County, go to:  http://dsf.chesco.org/chesco/site/default.asp

Reading on the Beach in Ocean City, NJ

I just got back from a great, relaxing (surprisingly) family vacation.  I read 7 books and started my 8th by the time I packed up the beach house and headed back home.  Here's a list of what I read. 

Very strange book, but strangely funny.  This book is, in my opinion, really a man's book.  It was crude but some parts were laugh out loud funny.

A J.P. Beaumont mystery by J.A. Jance.  I realized halfway into this one that I had read it before but since I couldn't remember who-done-it, I finished it.  I like J. A. Jance, although I like the Joanne Brady series more than I like J.P.

My son's best friend's mom gave this to me as a gift since we were taking her son on vacation with us.  I have a hard time reading these kind of books, and I am still working on it.  I find that I drift back to fiction.  Could it be that I find fiction easier to deal with than my own life??  Hmmm.

This was about a married woman who goes back to her hometown to attend a funeral and meets up with an old romance.  This was really a cautionary tale about how not to screw up your marriage.

I love this author and I love the main characters, Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky.  This was probably the best book I read while on vacation.  Dismas Hardy is an attorney, Abe Glitsky is the detective and the book centers around the Iraq war.  Very, very good.

This was one of John Grisham's departures from the law and thrillers.  It was a nice read but not his best book.  Great descriptions of Italy and the food there made it very worthwhile reading.

 I love this series.  It's a quick one day read for me and that is with me stalling so it won't end so quickly.  Madcap girl, handsome boyfriend and dangerous flirtation with a gorgeous other man.  Frolicking and fun. 

I am about halfway finished with this one.  I like this author, very English.  This is a very good read and I am enjoying it. It follows the lives of two women, one right after WWII, who is a happily married 40 something woman who finds herself attracted to a much younger other man, and a modern day woman in her 30's who is married to a man who desperately wants children and she doesn't think she does.  Their lives are supposed to intersect at some point but so far, they have not. 

I read one more, titled Innocence, that was so bad it really isn't worth mentioning.  One of the few books I tossed in the trash because I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Let me know what you've read so far this summer. 

Join the Realtors that Read group.  http://www.activerain.com/groups/realtorsthatread

People, People Who Need People

I was somewhat down yesterday.  Okay, I was really down yesterday.  I mean, I was I spitting mad at my kids, frustrated by work, overwhelmed with housework, saddened by the death of a child of a co-worker of mine, and mostly sick of myself for not counting my blessings....

I really didn't know where to go with all of these conflicting feelings.  So I wrote a post. 

Within minutes, my phone rang. 

This smart, lovely lady called to make me smile.  Amanda Hall and I have never spoken on the phone.  We've carried on in hijacked posts and had tons of fun doing it, but have never spoken to each other.  Until yesterday, when Amanda had the feeling she could help.  So she did. Amanda reached out and I am privileged to call her friend and to have her telephone number stored on my cell phone!

Later yesterday, I missed a telephone call.  When I checked my messages, it turns out that another rainer called to say hi.  Jason Crouch, a great man who happens to be #1 in his home state on Active Rain.  I have never spoken with Jason before.  We've commented on each other's posts and I really love to read his stuff, but we don't really know each other.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.

All through the day, I got encouragement via email from a man who I feel I have become very good friends with.  Gary Woltal and I have never spoken, but yesterday, more than ever, this man reached out to see how I was doing. 

If you haven't had the pleasure of getting to know Gary through his heartwarming posts, you don't know what you are missing.  First thing this morning, first email I read and Gary is checking in.

Today, I was out with clients and the telephone rang again.  Jason Crouch calling (another stored number in my phone).  By the time I was finished with my client, he was with his client, so we didn't get a chance to speak.  I truly want to thank him for his kindness.

I walked in the door this afternoon to my cell phone ringing again.  Jesse Clifton is just a wonderful human being.  He was calling today, on his way out of town for a few days, just to check in because I seemed a little down yesterday.  Jesse made me laugh, as always.  Not only is he a great realtor and a smart man, but he is just a great guy.  The third number stored in my phone in 24 hours, and all from my friends on Active Rain.

This is a public affirmation.  To the folks at Active Rain for creating this community.  To Amanda, Jason, Gary, and Jesse for really reaching out there.  To all the caring comments on this post and many others from wonderful people like TLW, Chris Fisher, Jason Sardi, Neal Bloom, Elaine Hanson, C. Tann-Starr, Sylvie, Pam, Sally Cheeseman, Irene Woodworth, Richard, Marc, Don, Andrew (come back), Jenn, Pat, Mara, Lisa, Mirela, Liz Carter, Paul S. ... and many others.  I can't thank you all enough for being people who I think of as friends.  Someday, I am going on a huge road trip.  I am going to stop by and visit a lot of you and raise a glass to your humanity.  I am touched by it and I am humbled.  Thank you.

East Goshen Township, Fireworks for July 4th!!

July 4th Concert & Fireworks
East Goshen Park

East Goshen residents and their guests are invited to the annual 7/4/ celebration at beautiful East Goshen Township Park.

Jellyroll has performed at the White House and our fireworks
are the best in Chester County.

Join the Fun!

Jellyroll plays at 7:30 PM & Fireworks start at 9:30 PM

Rain date is Sunday, July 6

How can the sun shine today?

The sun is shining beautifully in West Chester... which is great except we could really use a little rain.  Only June 25, and I am already tired of dragging the hose around my yard.  My boys are driving me nuts already, and for everyone who knows me, it's a short ride.  Shorter than normal for some reason today.  I am feeling particularly edgy and trapped here, although I've been out and about, here and there.  In trying to find the reason for my edginess, my mind keeps wandering back to the two young boys killed in a car accident not far from here on Monday.  One boy, Mikey, is the son of someone in our Newtown Square office.  His mom had taken the week off of work to plan her older daughter's high school graduation party.

http://www.dailylocal.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Daily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FDLN%2FHome&r21.content=%2FDLN%2FHome%2FContentTab_Feature_2252798

This poor woman, who has family coming in from all over to celebrate a milestone for her daughter, will instead be having a funeral for her only son.  How can the sun be shining here when such a senseless tragedy has occurred?  How can I be feeling so trapped when I know that this woman would give anything to have her son drive her crazy again. 

I look around at the mess that my boys are constantly leaving for me to clean up.  The constant demands of breakfast, lunch, dinner, laundry, refereeing their arguments and I want to feel gratitude today and I'm having trouble getting there.  I want to feel gratitude for the mess, because without the mess, I would be childless.  I want to feel gratitude that we have so many clothes to wash.  I want to feel gratitude that we have food and that my children are never hungry.  I want to feel gratitude that they can run around, scream and holler, turn on the sprinkler, jump in the pool. 

I want the certainty that comes with knowing that bad things can't happen here.  I want to live in a world where our children remember to buckle up.  Because that was the case.  Two 16 year old boys, no seat belts and what I hear was a head-on collision.  I don't want to worry that life can change on a dime.  That life for my co-worker isn't irrevocably shattered and changed forever.  I want to be able to bitch and moan about the embarrassment of riches we have. 

I guess today, I just don't know what I want. 

People That Make a Difference, Do You?

I had a test done at the hospital today.  You know the drill, take everything off but your underwear.  Put the gown on and tie it in the front.  You would think I would know better, but this morning, I put on high heeled sandals.

The test was done and I was heading back to the dressing room.  A very nice young orderly was standing in the hallway.  He was smiling and so I was smiling.  He looked at me, smiled again and said..."Not many people could wear those shoes with that gown but girlfriend, you wear it well"!

Now, this morning could have been just a drag...I mean who laughs when they get a test done at the hospital.  I do!  That young man made my day.  On the way out, now fully clothed, I saw him again and touched his arm and said thank you.  We both laughed again and I was on my way. 

I hope he knows that his smile and his sense of humor made my day.  I hope he knows that his pleasant smile made a difference to me today.

Did you make any one's day today?  Do you make a difference?

I hope I do!