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What good is blogging anyhow?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

The other day I didn't write a blog and I actually felt guilty.  That's a strange feeling to have just because you didn't write a blog.  So I started wondering why I do any blogging in the first place.

My website already pulled up on the first page of Google.  My business was doing fine.  So when I started blogging over a year ago, I had no idea what I was getting into.  I had to learn.  I had to meet people.  I found people on the activerain blogsite that I really liked and hope to meet even more.

Looking back now I can see that being on this blog makes me more aware of everything.  If I'm driving around town and cut through a cemetery I think, "I sure like these graves over here with no plastic faded flowers a lot better than those I just drove through with awful flowers on them.  I wonder if my blogging friends would too.  Snap a picture.  It may be blog-fodder." 

Searcy Ar cemetery

White driving home I saw these shoes hanging from the power line.  In fact there were three pairs hanging from the power lines.  I blogged about them and someone replied that it was a sign of drug dealing, possibly!  I'd never heard of that.  My blogging friends supplied information that could be valuable.

shoes on power line

While going to convention I thought perhaps I should take a picture of my friends who were there with me and put on my blog. Look at my friend Larry clowning! 

convention

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So blogging gives me the opportunity to communicate with friends across the nation.  We can be silly, serious, educational, and sympathetic.  It has made me learn more about html, spellcheck, writing style, humor, home inspections, loans, and so many other things.  If I were to try to start a conversation at my office about a silly squirrel named Nutsy or the faded flowers in a cemetery they'd give me a strange look and walk away.  On this blog, folks just chime in if they're in the mood and we have fun.

If they're not interested, they can turn away and I never know it.

If I want to search for information I can find people on this blog who are experts.  I called a blogger named E Jeffrey Dolfinger the other day to ask him how to do REOTRANS.  He was way up in New York but took the time to help me.  If I want to rant and rave about business I can do so and I can listen to the other rants that may be similar and make me feel better about the whole thing.

In summary, I guess the blog is a great way to learn and make new friends and improve your internet power and perhaps the greatest of all is the friendship and awareness of life and our surroundings. 

One final picture which I found in Anita's picture album and which I found so adorable that I've always wanted to use it on a blog is below.  The expression is priceless.  He is definitely blog fodder.

Unknown boy expression

Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Elizabeth, that sounds like me!  Do you think that this is kinda like working crossword puzzles or that sudoku numbers thing that is supposed to keep your mind fresh and working.  Or is it more like a stressful thing that will put us in the grave early?  I'd better go see what you wrote today. 

James, I really missed you while you were on vacation from blogging.  I'm glad you're back with the flop-eared dog.  You should be helping Patricia with the inauguration!

Jan 15, 2009 07:20 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Barbara,


Checking in with you. I find it is fun too. That is a reason I am checking in from Oaxaca.

Jan 15, 2009 08:03 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Steven, thanks for checking in.  Keep having fun.  What you don't know won't hurt you.  oops!  Shouldna said that.

Jan 15, 2009 08:55 AM
Zane Coffin
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

Barbara, I am soooooo glad I found you on here I know there has not been any disappointmentsfor me when I read something you write.........you remind me of my aunt....( I loved her so much) every time I talked to her, I was amazed she always kept my attention no matter what she talked about..... and so do you!!!! peace zane

Jan 15, 2009 09:50 AM
Anonymous
Harold Gene Sullivan

You asked who the young fellow in the picture is.  It is Billy Fuller, Robert Scott Fuller's little brother and Anita's brother-in-law.  I do love the expression.  One wonders the occasion of the picture.  Maybe Anita can enlighten us when she gets to it.

Jan 15, 2009 09:56 AM
#22
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

That beautiful, precious little boy is my brother-in-law:  Bill(y) Fuller, 8 years Bob's jr.  Bob is 73 yrs.   He's as cute now as he was then.  Here's a great story involving Billy:  several years ago he was the music director of a posh restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida.  A group from the Weight Watcher's program had a reservation for 9:00 p.m.  Imagine Bill's delight when in came Sarah Ferguson, "Fergie" former wife of Prince Andrew, then a spokesperson for Weight Watchers.   She evidently liked Bill's piano playing for, after the meal, she and some of her group went up to the piano and began to sing along.  Bill asked her, "Should I play "God Save the Queen"?......she roared with laughter, turned to her friends and said in a loud voice, "He's wondering if he should play "God Save the Bitch"...

Bob says Bill's shirt (with the collar) was home made by his grandmother.  (probaby from a flour sack).....I had some of those shirts, I hated them.

 

Anita Fuller

Jan 15, 2009 10:07 AM
#23
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Barbara,

You have been such an incredible contributor to our community. It is exactly why I have chosen to be a part of this magnificent group...people such as yourself allow me to befriend them and learn from the best.

I've become so "constant" I can't tell you how comforting it is for me to see the smiling mugs each day that have become so important in my life. And, if you want to know more about REOTrans...call me.

You, my dear, are one of my faves....always.

 

Jan 15, 2009 10:21 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Zane, you make me feel very good.  I'd love to be loved as you loved your aunt!!    My blog about nothing turned out to be fun.

Harold Gene, I think it probably was  a school picture, don't you.  Looks like he had on three layers of clothing and he may have been uncomfortable.  But the expression is priceless!

Anita, you have set us straight as I hoped you would.  The story about  Fergie and the queen is wonderful.  Evidently she didn't like her mother-in-law!!  I hope Billy doesn't mind his face on this blog!  My mother made lots of clothes for me and my sister from feed sacks too!  Thanks for adding to our "nothing" blog.

Deb, thank you so much, both for the compliment and for offering to help with Reotrans.  Reotrans is driving me to another glass of wine a day.  It is so difficult and so impersonal and there are so many different people involved.  Expect my call, probably! 

Jan 15, 2009 12:01 PM
Ron Spanton
RE/MAX Real Estate Associates - Gilbertsville, KY
Kentucky Lake Area

Ohhhhh! So that's what it's about! I think I finally get it!

Jan 15, 2009 12:16 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Ron, at least it is one good thing about blogging.  Did you see Deb offer to help me with a problem?  She's a friend in the rain for sure.

Jan 15, 2009 01:42 PM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Barbara - I would say that blogging now makes me more alert to situations. How many times before blogging did you wish you had somebody to share with? Now, when something comes up I'm always thinking - BLOG??? 

Jan 16, 2009 03:00 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Carol, you said the same thing I did, only better, because you're a better writer.  Thanks!!

Jan 16, 2009 04:34 AM
Anonymous
Billy Fuller

Barbara, Anita phoned me about the picture on your blog...and yes, indeed, c'est moi!!  Who dressed that child???  I think it was rather "fashion forward" to have all those stripes going every which way and to add a plaid shirt with it.  But the collar?!?  If my grandmother did indeed make that shirt, looks as if she got a little carried away with the collar.  Wish I had that much hair these days...just to bring it to that jaunty little point on my forehead.  I do enjoy your blog, especially all the Searcy stuff.  Really like it when Don, Harold Gene and Anita get at odds over where something is located or who lived there.  Doesn't happen often, however.  Harold Gene's mother, Marie Sullivan, was my second grade teacher...one of the best I ever had.  She taught me to write.

Billy

Jan 16, 2009 05:36 AM
#30
Anonymous
Harold Gene Sullivan

Anita talking about Billy's home made shirt reminded me:  Even though we lived in town, 1212 W. Race, we had cows, hogs and chickens when I was growing up.  Dad owned a whole city block+.  Anyway, it required lots of trips to Kelso's Feed Store.  Mom always had to go along to pick out the pattern on the feed sack so she could make what she wanted out of it or match something she already had.  I, too, hated the feed sack shirts, they always seemed sort rough to the touch.  Flour sacks, also, came with patterns and the material seems a little smoother. 

Jan 16, 2009 05:58 AM
#31
Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR - Searcy, AR

Great post and you are right, blogging does stay on your mind!  That was the cutest little boy.  I wonder who put the shoes on the power line?

Jan 16, 2009 06:34 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Billy, you were so cute!  Forget the clothes and try to remember what you were thinking.  The expression is priceless!  I wouldn't be surprised if someone steals it and uses it for advertisements. Of course, you could have been thinking about the clothes and how kids would make fun of you in all that fancy clothing and wondering whether you were going to have to fight someone over the remarks!  I'm glad you like the blog and want you to comment often.

Harold Gene, you must have been wealthy!  Hogs and cows and chickens and a city block!!  All moms must have made things out of feed sacks.  They all had the old treadle sewing machines.  I have always thought they sell cheap now but it's because there were so many of the sewing machines!  I have one just for looks and still like the oak and metal look.  Keep commenting!

Mary, see above and you'll meet the boy!

Jan 16, 2009 07:56 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Barbara, This is great. You made me aware of the many aspects of blogging. It's fun, informational, emotional, conversational, good for business and maybe even your sanity.

Jan 16, 2009 11:08 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

James, having met you and all of Nutsy's other friends and enemies alone would be worth the time we spend. : )

Jan 16, 2009 11:25 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

I saw some comments on here about Nutsy. If anybody hears from him, find out where in the dickens he is hanging out. He is not answering the office phone.

Jan 19, 2009 02:08 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Steven, isn't your vacation over yet?????  Goodness.....we miss you!

Jan 19, 2009 04:30 AM