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Live, Love and Laugh from Me, Myself and Moi-Même

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Education & Training

Face picture of Debbie Hutchins

Debbie Hutchins tagged me for this MeMe.  Here are the rules based on Debbie's post...

 

 

 

 

Here are all of the ground rules that need to be followed:

1.  Create a blog post with a link to the person who so happily tagged you.  See above!

2.  List all of these rules in the post. Feel free to cut and paste this.

3.  Share seven things that others may not know about you.  Do I or have I HAD a life outside of real estate?  

4.  Identify seven friends, contacts or near enemies in which to adorn this MEME. Tag them at the end of the post and give a link to their blog.

 
5.  Contact each of the tagged members and let them know that you were indeed fast enough to catch them and that you did indeed tag them...no matter how much they say you missed them!  No schoolyard rules in this MEME, nope you gotta do it if you are tagged.  Sorry guys! 

 

Before becoming a Realtor, I worked 14 years as an Actuarial Analyst for life insurance and for retirement plan benefits consulting companies.  I have the ASA designation which stands for Associate of the Society of Actuaries .  I love working with numbers but I discovered that what I love even more is helping and working with people.

 Heart people

 

I always loved animals and nature.  I have two Australian Shepherds: Kylie (Brown Merle) and Barkley (Blue Merle).  Kylie came from the Atlanta Humane Society and Barkley came from a county shelter in Fresno, California.  They love their new surroundings in Red Lodge, Montana as you can see from the following picture (on the left is Barkley and and on the right is Kylie).  If you are interested to adopt a pet, please visit Petfinder .  

Kylie and Barkley (Australian Shepherds) in Red Lodge, M

Update: In the summer of 2009, I adopted a third dog (Australian Shepherd mix) from the Beartooth Humane Alliance.  His name is Jester.  Click on the following link to see his puppy photo: Pawsitevily Puppy Love.

I have a passion for mineral collecting.  My favorite store for buying quality minerals is Kristalle in Laguna Beach, California.  My favorite mineral is Rhodochrosite from the Sweet Home Mine.  Rhodochrosite is considered to be a stone of love and balance.  The following is a photo of a Rhodochrosite that is part of my collection.

 Rhodochrosite (Sweet Home Mine) from the Gerry Khatchikian collection

 

Volleyball is one of my favorite sports.  I have been playing volleyball since high school.  I played in both competitive and social leagues, both indoor and on the beach.  I even played on the sand in an indoor volleyball league during those cold winter months. 

 Gerry playing indoor volleyball (spiking the ball) in Montreal

 

I love to devote some of my spare time volunteering and helping out my community.  I regularly lend a hand as a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club .  I participated in the recent Habitat for Humanity project in Red Lodge and I recently joined the Board.

Logo of Boys & Girls Club of Carbon County (Montana)         Habitat for Humanity logo

 

 

Smiley face with a camera on a tripodI am an avid photographer.  Since I moved to Red Lodge, I usually take my digital camera with me wherever I go as I love to take pictures of my beautiful surroundings and share them with my friends across the US and Canada and with my family in Montreal, Canada.   You can see a sample of my best pictures of Red Lodge on Localism.  See Red Lodge Through Pictures!

 

 

 

 

My motto in life is to live, love and laugh.  Carpe diem  .    

Rock on which are engraved the words "Cape Diem"

 

Alright, I feel much better now that I am done with my Meme and the info about moi-même ("myself" in French).

I don't like this part but I have to do it to adhere to the rules (see #4).  So don't get mad at me but laugh about it if you are tagged below.  Please note:

  • I took the time to check the list (Alphabetical Index of all Memes on Active Rain) to make sure you have not had a Meme post before (that is up to May 2008 as I don't think this list has been updated since, Debbie you may get tagged for another Meme!).  
  • I also used the Search engine in AR to verify that you have not been tagged for a Meme about you (sorry but "bookworm Meme" does not count).   
  • I also verified that you have not yet joined the Meme's group (if you did, it most likely means that you have posted a Meme and are aware of the Meme tagging going around in AR). 

The following are the 7 lucky AR members to share 7 things about themselves:

Robert W. May Lethbridge Mortgage & Real Estate Info : Robert W. May's Blog

David Stevens : Victoria, BC, Canada David Stevens Real Estate

Sasha Dear : Sasha's Blog

Lou Ludwig CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC, e-PRO, : Lou Ludwig Blog

Paula Swayne, Realtor Older Classic Homes Specialist : Paula's Land Park Blog

Marian Gregor ~ Ann Arbor area Real Estate ~ : Marian's Blog

Re:Fresh Re:Design review,refresh,results! : Delivered Fresh (Almost ) Daily!(Cheryl Marantino)

Show All Comments
Sherry Scales
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Leander, TX
Realtor, for Austin, TX and surrounding areas

Gerry-Nice to know more about you! I know folks hate these things...but it is nice to know a little more about someone. Thanks!

Jan 28, 2009 01:26 PM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

Interesting stuff, but I expected as much!  It takes a "special breed" to live in small towns like Red Lodge. I always felt like I was in some sort of very special secret society, living in Leadville and Westcliffe.  Until a person has experienced it, there is no explaining it!  I sent you an e-mail, because for some reason, your search did not pick up my previous Me-Me, and it's not that old, so I didn't want to bore people!  =o)

Jan 28, 2009 01:46 PM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Sherry,

I agree that some folks would hate to write these things but I am pretty sure, the majority of them would enjoy reading them.   I took my time to think about what to write but at the end, I am glad I participated in this "get to know more about your friends, associates and other members of AR" game.  I think of this as a small investment that can only help with building stronger relationships.

Jan 29, 2009 05:00 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Cheryl,

Thank you so much for your kind words!   You said it right when you mentioned it is difficult to explain and understand small town living till you actually experience it.   I will do my best in the future months to try and explain my love for Red Lodge through stories and photos on AR but nothing can beat a visit to Red Lodge for a person or family to experience what I was trying to show and tell.  I lived in many big cities in both Canada and the US but it took me one visit to Red Lodge to get hooked.  I enjoyed reading your MeMe.       

Jan 29, 2009 05:14 AM
Sheldon Neal
Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Maywood, NJ
That British Agent Bergen County NJ

Hi Gerry !

Oh I KNOW that people enjoy reading these ! - and yours is a very entertaining one too !

Sounds like you live a pretty full life, with so many different facets !

... and carpe diem, cant go wrong there :o)

Cheers

Sheldon

Jan 30, 2009 04:08 AM
R.E. Renée Hoover, Salesperson
Century 21 Geba Realty, Milford, PA; Licensed in PA & NYS - Milford, PA
Poconos, Pike, Wayne, Monroe Counties, PA; PA/NYS

Terrific post - way to have fun.  Love the shot of the Australian Shepherds.  They are one of the best breeds, so smart and obedient.

Jan 30, 2009 07:44 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Sheldon,

Thank you.  I sure am multifaceted and I like to stay busy at work as well as outside work.  Cheers!

Jan 30, 2009 09:47 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Renee,

Thank you for the positive feedback.   The male Australian Shepherd (Barkley) is full of energy and can be quite a challenge to handle from time to time but you are correct that they are smart and obedient.  I just wish Barlkley could learn to behave more like her sister Kylie which is the quieter and less demanding of the two dogs. 

Jan 30, 2009 09:55 AM
Gwenn Tanvas
NEXA Mortgage LLC an Equal Housing Lender NMLS # 1660690 - Appleton, WI
The Mortgage Gal, 920.267.7891~ SMART - INNOVATIVE

Gerry - Kylie and Barkley are adorable - Aussie's are great dogs. They are ofter mis-understood. How wonderful that you adopted them and brought them home to Montana. Looks like they have a great home. My Saffy is gentle, smart, but not so obedient. If she wants to be she is. Sound familiar? I would not trade her for anything. Thanks for peeling back to curtain of your life to us.

Feb 01, 2009 10:10 PM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Gween,

You are welcome!  I like how you used the term "peeling back the curtain".  I thank you for all your kind words.   Kylie and Barkley are enjoying every minute of it living in Montana.

 

Feb 04, 2009 05:52 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Gerry, I enjoyed your meme.  We just recently lost our dog and I have been spendng a lot of time on petfinder.  Our son who is currently in Iraq was the one who told me about Petfinder.  It was so hard to tell him on instant messenger that we had lost our Abby.  We just put a deposit down on a Golden from one of our local Golden rescues.  We will be getting him on Saturday so he will be here in a month when our son gets home from Iraq.

Feb 05, 2009 01:50 PM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Gerry, This was such a good MeMe, and it's nice to learn more about you,  Because up until now I just knew you as the number cruncher guy LOL!! No offense Gerry! I loved the photos you added, and although I have never had an Austrlian Shepherd, our very good friend had two, and they were the smartest dogs I have ever met!

Also Rhodochrosite! Has got to be the biggest new word I learned today, and very beautiful, too. Thanks for the post Gerry, I enjoyed learning more about you, and can see you follow your motto very well!

Feb 08, 2009 12:03 PM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Marchel,

I am sorry to read about the passing away of Abby.  I am happy that you are getting a new dog through your local Golden rescue and that you will soon be reunited with your son.  I wish you and your family lots of love and happiness to share with your new dog and lots more upon the safe return of your son.   Let me know what you named the new dog and how he is getting used to his new home.

Feb 10, 2009 06:23 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Mary,

Thank you so much for your kind words.   I am glad you enjoyed reading my Meme and that you learned about my passions other than the one for numbers.   I am also glad that you liked learning about the Rhodochrosite, my favorite mineral.  It just happens to be the State mineral of Colorado (your State!). 

If you look closely at my newly created signature (here below) on AR, you can see that the 3 "L"s of my motto (Live, Love and Laugh) are also found in my signature.   Thanks again.  You made my day!

Gerry's AR signature

Feb 10, 2009 06:37 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

No kidding ? That beautiful mineral Rhodochrosite is the State Mineral of Colorado??!! I guess I did not know we even had a State Mineral! Bird- yes, Flower- got it, Tree- sure ...but a mineral!!?? I want to go find it! It is truly gorgeous! Thanks for the information Gerry, and I love your new signature! Very Cool!

Feb 10, 2009 11:02 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Mary,

You can actually see the largest rhodochrosite crystal found on Earth (from the Sweet Home Mine in Alma, Co) at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (it is appropriately called Alma King).  I hope to some day visit this museum.   Here is a link with additional rhodochrosite photos, info on Colorado's state mineral (as of 2002, Colorado was the 20th state to have an official state mineral) as well as some other fun facts (CO state gem, state rock, state fossil, etc.): Colorado State Mineral - Rhodochrosite 

Feb 22, 2009 04:47 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Thanks friend ! I will follow your links.  I'm always learning something!  I was just at the museum, last year-- now I will have to go back and look for the Alma King!!

Feb 22, 2009 05:47 AM
Debbie Hutchins
Birmingham, AL

Hurray!  Thanks for letting me know so that I did not miss it!

Using the words retirement, insurance, love of numbers...in the same sentence....in this day and time could lead to countless requests for advice on what to do with retirement accounts that are dwindling away....so....any advice?   :-)

Ah hah...we are both dog lovers!  I have a maltipoo named Bimbo!  Your dogs are beautiful and what a great photo capturing the rainbow!

You are the first person I ever knew that collects minerals!  I have some arrowheads!

LOVE your photos!

 

 

Feb 22, 2009 06:30 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Debbie,

Since I am now a Realtor Associate, I would be happy to pass on your question to an expert currently working in the retirement and insurance field.   :-)

Bimbo is an interesting name you gave to your maltipoo.  I had a chuckle when I read the two consecutive sentences quickly and realized that Bimbo and rainbow rhymed (I don't think it was intentional but it was funny to read).

Collecting minerals is like collecting art except Mother Nature is the sole artist for everything in my collection.

Thank you for tagging me.  It was a fun post to do.

Feb 22, 2009 07:01 AM
LYDIA LAMOREUX
ZipRealty - Volente, TX

Gerry,

Your MeMe is great. I didn't realize (still a newbie) that you're not supposed to tag the friends who are already tagged. I just thought if you like your friends in AR, you can tag them. Looks like you got tagged with a MeMe that is more formal.

I enjoyed reading about you. Sounds like you're very attuned to nature. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your beautiful world with us.

Mar 23, 2009 03:03 AM
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