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Preparing For My Trip To Italy Includes Writing Blog Posts And Using The "Draft" Option

Real Estate Agent with Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 BRE# 01494165

August 21, 2010 07:25 AM

On Labor Day I'm heading to Italy for 3 weeks. My mom and I are treating my daughter and new daughter-in-law to a trip to Rome, Florence and Venice for 10 days. Then mom and I will stay for an extra week to "recuperate" (mostly kidding....they have school and work).

I'm sure many readers just cringed...the very idea of leaving the business for so long and relatively "out of touch" is horrifying. While, I'm obviously looking forward to it, I'm also nervous about my business.

My open escrows, buyers, listings and short sales are one thing, but I have agents to cover those. But what about Active Rain and my other blogs. Who is going to be able to recreate my clever commentary and keep my Internet presence high? :) I will....and I'll get it done now.

There was a post awhile ago...can't find it now, but it really got me thinking about the "Draft" option. I had never really noticed it before. But when you choose "Visibility" below your post, one of the options is Draft. I've been using this ever since. It saves me the trouble of copy and paste to a Word Doc and allows me to develop my ideas more fully sometimes.

Now...I'm going to create Draft posts for Localism and let my assistant go in and post them while I'm gone.

Isn't that a great idea? :)

So....in addition to new clothes and breaking in my walking shoes, I will also write blog posts for use while I'm enjoying Compari and Soda on the Grand Canal in Venice....works for me? Ciao

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Kathy Opatka

RE/MAX CROSSROADS - Ocean City, MD

Serving Ocean City, MD, & The Delaware Beaches

Great planning!!! But aren't you taking your Netbook with you????

Aug 22, 2010 07:45 AM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

You people crack me up :) No...no work, no laptops, no Internet Cafes....just special time with my girls.

Aug 22, 2010 07:55 AM

Aaron Vaughn 830-358-0455

Conifer Builders LLC - Canyon Lake, TX

Karen: Funny you bring this up -- I just started using the draft option a few weeks ago. When I get an idea, I'll write as a headline, or a quick sentence, then come back later. I don't always turn these ideas into blogs, but it's a great way to nudge you to do it.

Writing ahead for posting later? That's a terrific plan.

Aug 22, 2010 08:27 AM

Mary Sheridan

Keller Willliams - 1033 Hamilton Place,Johnson City TN 37604 - Johnson City, TN

Creative Marketing, Buyer Agency 423-943-7655

Florence is my all-time favorite city. You can't help but have a wonderful time there.

I have a wonderful real estate memory of our last trip there. My brother-in-law, a wonderful trip planner, found us a lovely old hotel very near the Duomo. The first level of our apartment was up 72 (I counted) marble steps. Mike and I climbed an additional 22 steps. From the balcony, we had an eye-level view of the top windows of the Duomo. The picture you see most frequently in travel books might have been taken from that balcony.

I hadn't thought of using drafts as you are doing. Very clever. This will be very useful not just for trips but for all those times I have "brain storms" but don't have time to develop them. Thank you.

Aug 22, 2010 09:19 AM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

I love Florence also...and the hotel we stay in is about 2 blocks from the Duomo, so we can run over to wander around at any time of day.....it's so beautiful.

Aug 22, 2010 09:24 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Alan...I know, my pithy comments will be missed :( but can't be helped!
~~~~~~~

Karen... you're too hard on yourself... and when did you develop a lisp? (jk).

Aug 22, 2010 09:32 AM

Valorie Stover, Realtor for Casta del Sol

Casta del Sol Real Estate / HomeSmart Everygreen Realty - Mission Viejo, CA

Mission Viejo,CA, Active Adult Community!

Hi Karen, can't wait to hear how it went. I'd say I'm jealous but I'm going to the Isle of Carpi next summer, so keep me informed. You know if you need anything done, let me know as a friend not a competitor.

Aug 22, 2010 10:03 AM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Touche Alan.....

Aug 22, 2010 10:21 AM

Marte Cliff

Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID

Your real estate writer

Good for you! Time with your mom and your daughter - and a new daughter-in-law - sounds perfect. You'll make some fantastic memories.

I had never considered the draft posting option... so thanks for that information as well.

And... how smart of you to break in your walking shoes ahead of time.

I recall a trip to the NAR convention when one of my travel-mates had sore feet. She ended up borrowing a pair of my (old) shoes to get her by without getting blisters. Lucky for her we both have big feet!

Aug 22, 2010 10:29 AM

Dana Wilkinson

Connect Realty, The Woodlands, TX - The Woodlands, TX

Broker-Your TX agent for The Woodlands-Spring-Conr

Hey!

What a great trip you have planned! I am with you, leave the work to someone else and enjoy your family...and might I add, you look too young to have a daughter-in-law! Child brides all around? Have a great time!

Aug 22, 2010 12:06 PM

Kathryn Acciari

Central One Federal Credit Union - Shrewsbury, MA

Mortgage Loan Originator

Karen, how wonderful to take 3 whole weeks for yourself! Please blog about your trip - I hope to travel to Italy soon. Great idea about writing your blog posts in draft ahead of time - you are quite a planner.

Aug 22, 2010 02:17 PM

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, ePRO, GRI

Keller Williams Indianapolis Metro NE - Carmel, IN

Carmel, Fishers, Westfield IN Real Estate Expert

Italy......how wonderful! It would be amazing for one week---but three? Thanks so much for the draft info. I start a blog and assumed it would be saved since it is always autosaving, but when I logged in today, could not find it----unless it is under drafts! Guess I will go check it out! Thanks Karen!!

Aug 22, 2010 02:46 PM

Ty Lacroix

Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc - London, ON

Karen, thanks for the heads up, I am off to Ireland for most of September and now I know what to do.

Aug 23, 2010 08:16 AM

Carrie Sampron

Home Smart Realty Group - Highlands Ranch, CO

ABR SFR & Kathy Sampron (303) 931-3629 Highlands R

Karen: Have a great time on your trip. My dad went to Italy two years ago and loved it. You know what would be great, if AR would add a "scheduling" option for these drafts. My sis and I don't have an assistant so we wouldn't have someone to post for us, but if we had the ability to draft blogs and schedule them to go live that would be fantastic. Hope AR is listening! Carrie

Aug 23, 2010 11:06 AM

Chris and Maria Jeantet

Shasta Living Real Estate - Redding, CA

Top Realtors in Redding CA

Oh a vacation to ROME sounds so fantastic right now...how exciting for you all! Have a great time. Forget work, forget blogging, just go relax and unplug!

Maria

Aug 23, 2010 12:21 PM

Simon Westfall-Kwong

LuxeLife Group of eXp Realty - Chatham, NJ

The LuxeLife Group of eXp

I learned about the DRAFT option not long ago and LOVE it! I begin drafts on my ideas and go to them when I am at a loss for a post. Yep, that's what I'm probably doing next!

Meanwhile, enjoy your trip. I am Italian and was there two years ago. A really nice seafood restaurant in Venice is Ristorante Alla Modonna http://www.ristoranteallamadonna.com/locale.htm. Near the famous bridge with the market on it (sorry, blanking out at this late hour) and very good. I found not one of the restaurants with multilingual menus to be decent except for this one! Get off the beaten track for a good meal!

Enjoy your trip, time off and family! Buon appetito e buon viaggio! Ciao,

Patrizia "Trish"

Aug 23, 2010 03:46 PM

Simon Westfall-Kwong

LuxeLife Group of eXp Realty - Chatham, NJ

The LuxeLife Group of eXp

PS: I forgot to recommend to try a Negroni - has Campari in it but much more interesting! LOL!

Aug 23, 2010 03:47 PM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Thanks Patrizia....we found this restaurant on our last trip to Venice (mom and I got every few years). It was convient for us after an evening opera. And Negroni is my favorite drink....I even order it here and have all the components in my cuboard....we must think alike. :) Ciao

Aug 23, 2010 04:33 PM

Chris Smith

Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON

South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Karen, cannot wait to see your posts of your trip. As a history buff, it is a place I want to visit... someday =)

Aug 24, 2010 10:22 AM

Valerie Duncan Stewart

(Metro First Realty) - Oklahoma City, OK

Real Estate Agent-Broker, OKC, OK

Karen,

Have a wonderful time! What a great vacation. Thanks for teaching us the option of the "draft" button to save future posts while away. I would've never thought of that, but then I am just learning. :)

Aug 25, 2010 08:37 AM