abilene: Clearly Speaking Toastmasters
- 11/07/12 01:50 PM
The Clearly Speaking Toastmasters Club meets every Wednesday Noon for one hour at the Southwest United Methodist Church in Abilene, TX. This local club is part of the international organization of Toastmasters International and is a nonprofit educational organization to help people overcome a fear of public speaking.
Today was an exceptional meeting, with recognition of Toastmaster achievement presented to Jonna Chambers, local Realtor, for completion of her Competent Communicator award and to Mittie Blackburn, local professional accountant for completion of the Distinquished Toastmaster award. The Distinquished Toastmaster is the highest educational achievement in Toastmasters.
A farewell and congratulatory certificate was … (4 comments)
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abilene: It's a Slow Walk in the Park...
- 11/05/12 02:05 PM
This is about a walk in the park, and a slow walk at that. Rose Park is the best place for a lazy stroll in town. I would say stop and smell the roses but there aren't any roses, go figure!
I used to walk and listen to inspirational tapes when I walked. Now I just walk. One could say I'm an inspirational tape dropout. Oh, Well! You can only listen to Jim Rohn's "The Art of Exceptional Living" so many times before you give it a rest.
I have finally figured out it is EXCEPTIONAL simply to … (4 comments)
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abilene: For Sale or For Rent - They Gotta Be Clean!
- 10/31/12 04:45 PM
Anybody who has ever had rental property has had that sinking feeling as you walk in the apt or house after the tenants have moved out, and discovered that their MOVE OUT clean looks nothing like their MOVE IN Clean. Sometimes this is the same rental where the tenant assures you that they always leave their places cleaner than they found them.I have never seen that happen, but hope does spring eternal!
I was walking around a track this evening and a gentlemen stopped to chat and generously shared with me his SECRET OF STAYING YOUNG and that is to lie about your age! Well no matter how you spin … (2 comments)
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abilene: These cats are never Stressed!
- 09/04/12 02:13 PM
My cat, known only as "KITTY," knows how to enjoy life.
This cat is never stressed. The glass of the coffee table is a cool spot to stretch out during a warm summer afternoon.
She doesn't worry about her diet, her exercise, or her health!
When she needs a change of pace, she just moves to the chair!
Life is good. Taking a nap solves everything. I need to remember these lessons from the cat.
Here is a shot of a "working" cat I snapped at Rose Park, Abilene, TX Here the … (7 comments)
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abilene: Summer Staging Vignettes for Vacant Homes!
- 06/24/12 12:59 AM
Sumer Staging Vignettes for Vacant Homes have to be NON-PERISHABLE. IN VACANT HOMES, FAKE FRUIT WORKS!
HOWEVER, WHEN THE HOUSE IS OCCUPIED SET FRESH FRUIT OUT. THE FAKE FRUIT TASTES FUNNY - WELL LIKE PLASTIC,
I EVEN HAVE SOME FAKE ICE CUBES AND I CAN'T WAIT TO USE THEM. THEY REALLY MAKE THE DRINK LOOK REAL.
Summer Staging Vignettes need to remind the buyer of the JOY of homeownership SUCH AS COOK OUTS, GRILLED HAMBURGERS, AND ALL THE FIXINS,
ICE COLD DRINKS, AND ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN THE SUN
HERE IS … (4 comments)
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abilene: Staging Decor Adds Pop & Spirit to Patio Home!
- 12/09/11 05:38 PM
Here are the photos of decor added to this patio home to add some pop and spirt to the fireplace, kitchen, and baths,
Fireplace and Living Before:
and AFTER STAGING DECOR TO FIRE PLACE.
Kitchen Before:
KITCHEN AFTER ADDING A LITTLE DECOR.
CLOSE UP OF BEVERAGE SINK AND COUNTER WITH PASS THROUGH TO LIVING - GREAT FOR ENTERTAINING!
MASTER BATH BEFORE
MASTER BATH WITH SOME SPA ACCESSORIES.
AND THE HALL BATH
… (5 comments)
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abilene: 24 Cherry Hills E - Fairway Oaks - You Will Love Living Here!
- 10/20/11 06:22 PM
24 Cherry Hills E - Fairway Oaks - You Will Love Living Here!
BEAUTIFUL FAIR WAY OAKS CLOSE to Country Club and Golf Course. Home is located in very private CUL DE SAC. LOVELY LANDSCAPING!
Exquisite OPEN floor plan with both formal and informal dining and living. DOWNSTAIRS HOME OFFICE IN PHOTO AS SHOWN ABOVE.
THE FORMAL DINING HAS GORGEOUS PARQUET FLOORS AND GETS GREAT SOUTH SUN!
THE LIVING ROOM IS OPEN TO THE BREAKFAST AND KITCHEN AREA AND OPEN TO FOYER AND STAIRS AND OPEN TO COVERED PATIO.
… (5 comments)
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abilene: Abilene Sundown at Rose Park
- 09/28/11 03:57 PM
As the SUN dimmed over the park and the park lights lit up the the wrangly tree limbs half hidden in shadows -
THERE WAS A GHOULISH FEEL TO MY EVENING WALK.
ROSE PARK looks different at NIGHT!
More Shadows!
AMONG THE SHADOWS, HIDDEN SHADDOWS, AND BRAMBLY SHADOWS AS NIGHT TIME DESCENDS.
… (2 comments)
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abilene: Abilene's N 1st Sculptures!
- 09/27/11 01:18 PM
Abilene's N 1st Scultpures.
You just never know what you are going to find in Abilene sculpture wise, that is. There is something for everyone, including a statue with many arms, a gigantic insect, and a row of rocks or stones.
Now of course my favorite is still the pink flamingo!!!
This sculpture has MANY arms!
HERE IS ONE GIGANTIC INSECT!
AND REALLY JUST A ROW OF BIG STONE BLOCKS, BUT LOOKS NICE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING.
… (2 comments)
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abilene: What you don't know about carrying costs can hurt you!
- 09/23/11 05:50 PM
What you don't know about carrying costs can hurt you!
WHAT ARE CARRYING COSTS?
CARRYING COSTS ARE THE COST OF KEEPING YOUR HOUSE ON THE MARKET
AND READY TO SHOW WHILE IT IS FOR SALE.
CARRYING COSTS INCLUDE:
THE BIG THREE! NO WIGGLE ROOM!
1. MORTGAGE
2. TAXES
3. INSURANCE
SURELY THAT IS ENOUGH!
BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE?
4. ELECTRICITY
5. GAS
6. WATER
DON'T EVEN THINK OF SKIPPING THE UTILITIES WHEN YOUR HOUSE IS ON THE MARKET, UNLESS YOU LOVE MISERY!!!
SURELY THAT'S IT -
NO THERE'S MORE -
7. LANDSCAPING UPKEEP. (WHEN YOU DON'T … (6 comments)
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abilene: Warning, what you are about to hear will shock you!
- 09/21/11 02:58 PM
Warning, what you are about to hear will shock you. You may be thinking that this has nothing to do with you, but check your ELECTRIC BILL anyway!
In July, I turned on the electricity at a rental for 6.9 cents per kilowat hour and paid $57 for the first bill partial month of July.
Imagine the shock I received when the very next bill was $290! for an empty house set on 78 degrees cooling only a few days of that period. Upon closer examination, of this 2nd bill, I noted that the charge per kilowat hour was:
… (2 comments)
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abilene: How long is too long to keep customers waiting?
- 09/19/11 05:14 PM
How long is too long to keep customers on hold?
I once worked in an office and waa expected to pick up the phone before the 3rd ring.
Now it seems that an electric provider that I called today hasn't gotten the same phone etiquette instructions.
After being on hold for 15 minutes for customer service, I hung up and redialed and waited for 5 minutes hung up again and now it is 6 pm.
When I dialed the number the 3rd time, the recording stated they closed at 6 pm. Interesting they are … (4 comments)
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abilene: Abilene Downtown Photos 09/16/11
- 09/16/11 05:27 PM
Downtown Photos taken 9/16/2011.
The Paramount is on the left just past N 3rd and Cypress.
The Grace Musuem is on the corner of the N lst and Cypress and is an Abilene Historical Landmark.
The musuem is the previous Grace Hotel. The Grace could be Abilene's best attraction. There is something for everyone, Art, Abilene history displays, and really fun for kids - a children's musuem!
What is life without some CHOCOLATE? Here it is right downtown!
and
Wouldn't you know it? Another sculpture...
NOW THE pink … (0 comments)
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abilene: Need to Rent or Lease - Carlson Properties can Help You!
- 09/15/11 04:44 PM
NEED TO RENT OR LEASE - CARLSON PROPERTIES CAN HELP YOU!
Today, all my properties are leased; HOWEVER, as some of my units are month-to-month, it never hurts to check in with me from time to time. I have several nice homes that I manage from modest to executive-sized, so it never hurts to check with me about current availability. I also cooperate with other property managers in town. I can help you find a rental property.
A sign of a good property manager is that their own properties stay rented!
Examples of Carlson Properties … (3 comments)
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abilene: West Texas Day Trip to San Angelo From Abilene
- 09/09/11 03:36 PM
SAN ANGELO makes a great quick getaway day trip if you live in Abilene, and that is what a friend and I did today!
We both had San Angelo errands to run, but even if you don't have a reason, San Angelo makes a great day trip, and don't tell anybody, but the Mexican food is just better in San Angelo than Abilene.
Only 90 miles a way, SAN ANGELO MAKES a perfect outing for lunch and some antique shopping.
We ate at Fuentes, a Mexican restaurant at the corner of Chadbourne and Beauregard.
I had the cheese enchiladas special for … (2 comments)
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abilene: Does Suze Orman Know Something I don't Know?
- 09/05/11 06:22 AM
Today on the Nate Berkus television show, Suze Orman, a financial planner, advised not buying a house unless you were going to live there 7 years, put 20 percent down, and have an eight month emergency fund.
Im thinking hmmm, maybe Suze might as well add ...... make sure you win the lottery first! .....
This may be a no risk financial plan, but does it help prospective homeowners to get into their first home?
Who really knows for sure that one is going to stay in a place for seven years! What about the time value … (8 comments)
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abilene: Abilene Surprises & One Pink Flamingo!
- 09/02/11 04:56 PM
EVERY TIME I SEE THIS BIG BIRD, THIS BIG PINK FLAMINGO CARRYING HER SUNGLASSES IN HER BEAK, I CRACK A SMILE AS I AM STILL SURPRISED THAT THE BIRD IS STILL THERE.
I think this heat has been hard on the bird as it seems she is not quite as hot pink as I recall her being last summer. Do birds ever need a paint job?? Maybe so, if you are NOT REAL!
CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF. The big GIRL is on the right just past Everman Park which is just past T&P depot on N 1st and … (6 comments)
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abilene: STAGING THEM ALL BIG OR SMALL FOR SALE OR RENT!
- 08/31/11 02:44 PM
Here are the some before and afters of my three bedroom rental in Abilene.
AND NOW THE
LIVING AFTER STAGING!
AND ANOTHER VIEW OF LIVING
AND CONVERSATION GROUP OPPOSITE FIREPLACE.
KITCHEN BEFORE STAGING
AND AFTER STAGING!!!
The kitchen cabinets have been freshly painted in both the before and after and the handles were spray painted silver since the previous tenant.
For information on home staging in Abilene, call me at 325-721-2429.
… (0 comments)
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abilene: Have a Happy Springtime Saturday in Abilene TX!
- 03/26/11 03:24 AM
Today is a beautiful sunny day in Abilene and Spring is HERE! Here's the redbud tree from Redbud Park that I talkd about in my Pretty in Pink Blog.
Sometimes I have an idea for a blog and them sometimes I just talk. That is what a blog is just some talk hopefully something fun, or useful, or insightful and a maybe a tad of hot air! Blogging is more fun when Spring is in the air! Enjoy your Saturday! I am having a happy Satuday even though the spring cleaning fever bug has … (0 comments)
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abilene: DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY! STAGING APTS ENHANCES RENTER APPEAL!
- 03/21/11 11:05 AM
iT'S THE DIFFERENCE between night and day in this apt between vacant and NOW STAGED.
A prospective tenant just walked through THIS APT and upon arriving at the bedroom ecitedly exclaimed,
"Oh, this is so pretty," and I have to agree with her!
HERE"S the Living Room before: Although freshly painted ,it is still hard to see where to place furnishings.
NOW HERE'S THE SAME ROOM WITH WINDOW PANELS AND A SITTING AREA.
HERE'S THE BEDROOM BEFORE STAGING AND BEFORE FRESH PAINT
BEDROOM AFTER … (10 comments)
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The Clearly Speaking Toastmasters Club meets every Wednesday Noon for one hour at the Southwest United Methodist Church in Abilene, TX. This local club is part of the international organization of Toastmasters International and is a nonprofit educational organization to help people overcome a fear of public speaking.
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