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Rentals, Short Sales, Birthday Cakes and Oil Spills: The Tale of a LONG Day

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

It's been a long day.  The slight headache coming on right now is to be expected when you wake up at 2:30am, convinced that one of your furry babies is crying in pain.  Nope.  Checked all of  them.  The cats were sleeping soundly in places like the home office, by the front door, in the formal living room and in my closet.  Must be tomorrow's 40th birthday making me feel doomed and expecting the worst possible thing to happen.  I have a track record of bad birthdays.

So not being able to sleep a wink, I found myself channel surfing in the family room.  A Mel Gibson movie I'd seen too many times didn't have me nodding off as desired.   I turned on CNN.  The news was sure to knock me out.   Think again.  I was amazed by the new HD pictures of the oil spill in the Gulf.  At 6:30am I decided I just had to get some rest or pass out during my afternoon's appointments.  I swallowed two Benadryl and headed back to bed.   The sound of a ringing phone at 10:30am brought me back to life, feeling four hours refreshed. 

Today I met  with a client who was listing their home for rent with me.  It's a great townhouse in the gated, golf community of Piedmont in Haymarket.  More on that Friday.

The great thing about that appointment was my client, a former Gainesville Short Sale Seller, started beaming about me in earshot of my Broker.  Couldn't have been a better moment if I'd choreographed it.  My client said, "It's great to be working with you again.  We were so happy with you helping us on the Short Sale.  I give your name to anyone I meet considering a Short Sale." 

Of course  I graciously thanked her for the vote of confidence in referring me to other potential Short Sale Sellers.  Then I reminded her that I do regular sales as well.  My Broker smiled in her office.

Next up, a walkthrough inspection of another of my rental listings in Sterling's community of Woodstone.  I knew this one was coming up on June 9th and took advantage of the trip to Sterling the day before my birthday to pick up a cake from my favorite bakery.  Yes, I ordered and picked up my own birthday cake.  Hey, as a Northern Virginia Short Sale Listing Agent, I know that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.  For a landmark birthday like 40 I figured I deserved a special cake and not one from the nearest grocery store.

After the walkthrough and picking up my cake, I drove out to take photos of the new rental listing in Piedmont.  On the way, I listened to sports radio.  Being an ex radio geek, I love to hear talk radio of any kind, sports included.  Former Redskin  Lineback LaVar Arrington.  In the sixty minutes I heard Anderson Cooper try to put the oil spill into perspective, LaVar put it in perspective after an emotional ramble about the devastation with the words, "Man that's oil.  It's jackin' up the birds.  It's jackin' up the fish.  We have got to get off this oil based economy."  That's about the most succinct way to put it I've heard.

My workday ended with the vacating tenant of my upcoming Piedmont townhouse rental moving boxes to and fro so I could get photos.  We bonded over our love of furry critters as we went room to room.  It's always nice to meet a kindred spirit.  And I was thrilled to be able to put her in touch with the Northern Virginia Animal League who helped me fix four feral cats in my neighborhood.  Ending with a good deed like that will hopefully ease my restless mind tonight.  Of course it may be battling some sugar.  It's almost midnight when I can officially cut into that birthday cake and enjoy.  

 

 

Comments(5)

Stephanie Reynolds
Integrity First Financial Group, Inc. - Santee, CA
East County San Diego Homes 619-838-4408

Happy Birthday to you! My 40th was last year and trust me, I had anxiety over it! But really, 40 is the new 30 and I don't feel a day over 29 even though I now have a little one calling me Grandma! You will sleep once the big 4 0 has passed! Hope you have a terrific day!

Jun 09, 2010 06:07 PM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Now this is a great post Chris Ann! I have 4 years on you and know how you feel about turning 40. I went through the same thing like I told you :) Happy Birthday!

Jun 09, 2010 11:58 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Dedra:  The cake was wonderful, and will be wonderful again today.  Thanks.

Stephanie:  I slept like a rock last night.  Today, it's off to Old Town Alexandria for lunch with my husband.

Jackie:  Thank you very much for the birthday wishes.  Today is going to be great. 

Jun 10, 2010 03:00 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

What kind of cake is it, Chris Ann? The frosting looks scrumpdillyicious. Happy 40th. That's just a drop in the old proverbial bucket of life. Even 50 is not that big of a deal. Of course, I can say that because I'm staring down that gun barrel known as 60.

Jun 10, 2010 03:48 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Cake is chocolate with buttercream frosting...my favorite. I much food to write about.  That's what happens when you don't really want or need anything for your birthday.  People take you out to eat.  Mind you, I'm not complaining.

Jun 10, 2010 08:16 AM