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BOOM, Baby!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Estate Shows

OK, I still hate video.  That is unlikely to change anytime soon, even as cute and easy as my little Flip is.  (And I will tell you about the Flip, later.  I will.)

But I thought I’d never want to get in front of the camera again.  Why would I torture myself like that??  Seriously, people can stare at me and who knows what I’ll say or how it would sound?  I’m a frequently foolish girl, but doing video is just really beyond even my pale.

And then Laurie left me a comment.

"The video is GREAT- except,
you really should have worn a mother of the bride dress for drama."

B OOM, Baby!

Suddenly, I wanted to make a video with me in that dress.  Didn’t even matter what I was saying, I wanted to be in a gorgeous blue and gold sparkly mother of the bride dress, for drama.

See, Laurie and I go way back, in blogger-time.  She stopped in first to visit me on a post where I was in a rant – rare for me but when I have a reason I will let fly.  As this was the first she’d read from me, this is who she thought I was.  (This is a constant danger – any post you write could be someone’s first impression of you.)

Laurie called me on what I was saying, and she had a good point.  She was right about what she said.  And I had just slammed that post up there and gone to bed. 

Some friends here leapt to my defense (thank you, so much) and there was some back and forth, because … well, because Laurie is not a weak person, and she KNEW she had a point.  (She did!) 

I woke up to emails telling me not to worry, they were taking care of it.  (Taking care of what?!)  OH.  Well.  I guess if I’m going to rant, I’m going to have to be prepared to hear the other side of things, huh?  I left it all to stand.

Well, Laurie kept reading.  She realized that one post was NOT me.  (Do not expect locals to give you another chance in this case.  Not happening.)  She wrote me, and we hammered out our differences.

A while back Laurie sent me some nice gifts, just out of the blue, and among them was a dress she had meant to wear for her daughter’s wedding.  It is BEAUTIFUL, sparkly and swirly and ever so nice.  It is one of the prettiest things I have ever owned.  And it was from Laurie, just because. 

She told me to party in it, spill wine on it if I want, but just to have a great time and celebrate with my little Chickies Tall One and Little One.  She's my friend and she wanted share something beautiful with me, just because.  Just so I'd smile.  (You know I did!!)

Why am I telling you guys this?  Because sometimes the person who slams you is not your enemy, so don’t be so quick to slam back.  

And because sometimes all it takes to get to get over a silly fear is a sparkly blue dress. 

Comments(29)

Judy Tuscano
Prudential Verani Realty - Nottingham, NH
NH Real Estate Professional
Sarah - I am reading this and listening to a song that speaks about how when we have an opinion, someone is on our side and another is not but that no one is alone in their opinion. I'm glad to hear that you and Laurie made it right with one another. I'm waiting for the video now.
Mar 31, 2008 01:06 PM
Carol Smith
Casmi Photography - Mebane, NC

OK - now where is the video of you in the sparkly dress?  LOL  

Great story, Sarah, and so very true.  Sometimes we get too emotional about the topics we choose and we don't want to admit that there may be another side to the story.

Ummmm - will wait for video of sparkly dress......

 

Mar 31, 2008 01:13 PM
Anonymous
Matthew Rathbun
Um.... If I can get a video of you dancing in this dress, I could sell tickets.... You're too funny.
Mar 31, 2008 02:40 PM
#12
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker
While you are twirling around in your sparkly dress, I'm over here applauding the fact that you've pointed out what moms have been saying forever and what all bloggers need to remember...you only get one chance to make a good impression.
Mar 31, 2008 03:28 PM
Marlene Scheffer
Realty Station - Bremerton, WA
Realtor to Kitsap County, WA

I am absolutely DYING to see this dress!  Please, pretty please?

PS  Laurie is one of my AR heroes.  I am trying to learn from what and how she posts...

Mar 31, 2008 06:00 PM
April Hayden-Munson
Brookfield, WI
Brookfield Wisconsin Real Estate
Sarah - I love the title you picked.  And we are ALL waiting to see the sparkly dress!!
Mar 31, 2008 10:51 PM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN
Sarah - The best advise i will get this month was in this post. My management training always stressed this, but sometimes you forget. Don't shoot the messenger. If you do, the messages will stop.
Apr 01, 2008 01:02 AM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Oh my gosh....the baby pic' is so sweet!!!!    And, I know you hate the video thing (I can't imagine doing one), but you really did a great job!

Apr 01, 2008 01:31 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Sarah,

I guess some people need to lighten up a bit:)

Apr 01, 2008 01:52 AM
Laurie Mindnich
Centennial, CO
While confusion with an AR person of substance is a good thing (Laurie Manny), a BETTER THING is that, in returning my friendship, you didn't mention that I was TOO FAT to wear the sparkly dress for the wedding- and I, too, want to see you twirl around in it!  Thank you for being such an open minded person- your kindness must be coming back to you tenfold!
Apr 01, 2008 02:54 AM
Matthew Zgonc
Aksland Real Estate - Modesto, CA
Realtor, CFS, CVS
I agree with you. Sometimes your harshest critic can be your strongest friend. It just depends on how you view it.
Apr 01, 2008 03:04 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

It's all your fault!  I just went out and got a little Flipper.  It is so cute!  I'll be poring over Jeff Turner's blog to try to figure out how to post a video - or I may have to call Brian Block!

And I thought you looked gorgeous on your video.  We want to see a video twirl soon! 

Apr 01, 2008 10:55 AM
Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop
NextHome Experience - Chelan, WA
A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!
Sarah, you make a very important point. I think it's awesome you've made such great friends here in "the Rain". And the burning question is....will we see you in the blue dress?  ;-)
Apr 03, 2008 03:38 AM
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Keller Williams Realty - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Area Real Estate
Sarah, if I do another video I think I'll need mother of the bride dress too. 
Apr 05, 2008 01:02 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.
This video craze is becoming a big deal.  First, it was hair and makeup and now costumes!  Will voice overs be next? ;) Those days of still photos and stale ad copy are so over.....this could be fun!
Apr 05, 2008 01:20 AM
Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes

Sarah,

What a great  story - thanks for sharing. Laurie has been my unexpected guardian angel at times too - great reminder to not judge too quickly - can't wait to see the video in the blue dress :)  I predict you're going to be a "video godess" - you're too much of a natural 

Apr 05, 2008 05:41 AM
Laurie Manny
Long Beach CA Real Estate - Long Beach, CA
This is hilarious!  Sarah, perhaps you should explain that I am not the Laurie in the story.   
Apr 05, 2008 05:50 AM
Ray Nellum
Envision Real Estate Group, LLC. - Fort Smith, AR
Fort Smith Real Estate
Sarah, this is so true.  The impression I've always got from your post is someone that's witty and compassionate.  Boom Baby!
Apr 13, 2008 03:32 AM
Sarah Cooper
Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Ray - *Blush!*  Thank you!

Laurie - You are not the Laurie in the story!  :)  It's Laurie Mindnich, but I wasn't sure how much I should say.  

Cyndee - Not sure I'll be able to do the video in the dress, but as soon as Laurie mentioned it I suddenly wasn't quite as afraid -- I was ready to do one in the dress!!

Norma - Voice overs can be done in Mixpo!!  Still haven't played with that part yet.  :)

Karen - We could do them at the same time to encourage each other.  :)

Colleen - Probably not!  But maybe!!

Patricia - You got one!!!  They're so cute, and I take mine everywhere ... but I still have to make me USE it.  I need encouragement in a big way.  The twirl helps!!

Matthew - Many times when I've been blessed out, it really was a blessing.  Not ALWAYS, but many times.  :)  

Laurie - YOU were the kind one!!!  Very much so, and I appreciate your friendship so much!!  That comment you made went so far to helping me get over my fear of video -- suddenly I WANTED to do one, for the FLAIR!!  LOL!  Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Neal - :)

Kat - Try it!!  If you don't actually throw up, they get easier.  A little.  ;)

Larry - That's all I was saying.  :)  (Amazing how so many times in comments it can be said so much better than the post!!)

April - I've noticed I use BOOM in post titles kind of regularly.  Hope I'm not sending messages to myself!!

Marlene - I should at least include a picture of the dress, shouldn't I?

Lisa - And with a blog, you never know where in your timeline that first impression will be!!  Scary, huh?

Matt - If I make video, I'll be sure you see it, Sweetie.  :)

Carol - I almost always see the other side about as well as mine.  Mostly.  But when you're fired up, it's harder to do.

Judy - I'm glad Laurie and I made things right, too!  And if we could, I think nearly anyone could.  :)

Apr 13, 2008 04:09 AM
Nick Bastian
Realty Executives - Tempe, AZ
Real Estate Agent - Tempe

"She told me to party in it, spill wine on it if I want, but just to have a great time and celebrate"

Might be a perfect opportunity to wear the dress to the "Twit Fest" at Grazie tonight! :-)

Jun 06, 2008 01:08 AM