Just for Fun

This past week was not only busy trying to negotiate an inspection objection, as well as a low appraisal, but decided I better participate in the neighborhood garage sale.   Afterall, I need to get rid of A LOT before next year!   So, Thursday, brought lots up from the basement, including one metal shelf that I could not get completely apart.  Of course, coming up the stairs it scraped the ceiling, now have paint repair.Going to a Seller's home tomorrow to finish our listing presentation and go over the contracts, as professional photography will be done on Thursday, and going on the market Friday.Are you ready for some laughs? I am VERY thankful of this, but I definitely take the 5th!This is still why I don't like broccoli and asparagus out of the can! Hope you had a GREAT Sunday!  05/04/2025

Once again a fellow Rainmaker has inspired me to write and share a short story of revenge. Debbie Sagorin's recent post featured in Kathy Streib's  "Weekly Roundup" is a fun story - although a bummer because an HOA had to muscle her about an Elephant Bush removal. Sad, because they are pretty succulents and can be great for either potted or in the garden. Check out her story here: The Case of the Elephant Bush Portulacaria afra aka Elephant Bush   Back in 2007, my new HOA—yeah, those wonderful neighborhood snoops—sent me a letter about four months after I moved into my townhouse at La Jolla Mesa Estates. The message? I gotta remove the Ficus Tree in my yard.    This was the actual MLS photo from when I purchased this townhome in 2007 Now, I got to tell you—this was not a tiny Ficus. We'... 05/04/2025

Sometimes you just need a really big cup of #coffee... Need marketing or freelance writing / producing this summer? Contact R. Michael Brown Mike@RMichaelBrown.com Content Portfolios:          Multimedia             Writing Author of New eBook – You Are the Media Now: 8-Step Content Marketing System to Boost Sales 05/04/2025

Sometimes you just need a really big cup of #coffee...Need marketing or freelance writing / producing this summer? Contact R. Michael Brown Mike@RMichaelBrown.comContent Portfolios:          Multimedia             WritingAuthor of New eBook – You Are the Media Now: 8-Step Content Marketing System to Boost Sales 05/04/2025

 The information below was provided by History.com on October 23, 2009. Mexico celebrates two Independence Days: one on September 16, the other one on May 5th.Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Monday, May 5 in 2025, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican American populations.Cinco de Mayo HistoryCinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, a popular misconception. Instead, it commemorates a single battle. In 1861, Benito Juár... 05/05/2025

Trivia question answers for Saturday May 3, 20251. In Star Trek, what planet is Spock from? Vulcan2. Whistle pig is another name for what animal? Groundhog3. In ancient times, what were professional writers called? Scribes4. What pop group sang "Stayin Alive"? Bee GeesTrivia questions for Sunday May 4, 20251. What two airlines flew the Concorde? 2. Which is the smallest planet in our solar System?3. Which comet is visible every 74 to 79 years?4. What is the only US state with a single syllable name?Enjoy your day.  05/04/2025

Every year on May 4th, and this year on Sunday, May 4, 2025, we celebrate National Self-Employed Day to honor dedicated individuals that bravely venture out to create their own business to support themselves, their families, and their community.Self-employed business owners are amongst the hardest working individuals continuously strive to meet their goals to be successful. The self employed business owner never quits and faces every obstacles they encounter head on. In fact, there is very little that can stop a self employed business owner from succeeding.We can celebrate the National Self Employment Day by learning about how to become self employed, take a class about owning a business, support the local self employed business owners in your community, and many other self employed act... 05/04/2025

Photo Journalism 5/3/2025 Anything You Think Is Useless Can Be Useful Creative people are very specialWho would have guessedthis old chaircould one day stand aloneon its own pedestalinside a galleryfor others to admireAnd so, I ponder---Patricia Feager  Legs in Furniture: Chairs and TablesYou would expect to see a chair and chair legs in a home or a restaurant, but have you ever seen one in an Art Gallery? I saw one in a Gallery in Denton, Texas. This got me to thinking. Legs are not only fundamental to human anatomy but also crucial components of furniture such as chairs and tables. The legs of a chair or table provide stability, ensuring that the furniture stands firm and can support weight without tipping over. This structural integrity is vital for the usability and safety of the fu... 05/03/2025

"Life is a series of chisels, each event shaping us into who we are meant to be."  - Unknown Dear Michelle,I chose the word Xylography for today’s letter. It’s not a word you hear often (or ever), but it carries a meaningful lesson. Xylography is the art of engraving on wood. Each mark, is made with intention. And just as a piece of wood reveals its natural beauty through its grain and grooves, so does your life, shaped by each moment, every joy, and every challenge.Life has a way of engraving itself into us. Some of those marks feel like mistakes or painful experiences that leave us wondering why. But this is when you can shift the question. Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?”, ask “What can I learn from this?” That change in perspective holds a lot of power. It turns pain ... 05/19/2025

May 4th Puzzle - National Star Wars Day:Enjoy your day!Directions: Click on the link below.  Your puzzle will open in a new window.To locate a word, please hold down the left side of your mouse while dragging your cursor over the letters of that word. Release your hold when all of the letters of the word have been selected. If your response is correct, the word will change color on the word list.Please check back for future daily puzzles.Enjoy and have a great day!Click Here To PlayIf you are looking to purchase a property or home on Long Island, New York, I hope you think of me, Linda Blumenthal. 05/04/2025

This is continuation of additional information I found on the National Today media platform on the topic of National Paranormal Day.Do you know that 80% of Americans Believe in Ghosts? Do you believe in ghosts?45 % of Americans say they believe in ghosts but they have never seen one.35% of Americans say the have seen a ghost.19% of Americans say they don't believe in ghosts. FASCINATING INSIGHTS ABOUT GHOSTS90% of Americans are scared of the paranormal.15% of Americans like to watch ghosts shows on TV.12% of Americans thinks the government knows more about aliens than it's letting on.    10% of Americans have had a paranormal experience.4% of Americans think their house in haunted. 5 Myths About the Paranormal1.  Ghosts only come out at night. Ghosts can also be seen during the day.2. B... 05/03/2025

Have you ever experienced something beyond the norm or inexplicable, something that you would get a response, "your weird, what drug are you on?" Well, if you have, today you can celebrate NATIONAL PARANORMAL DAY. I was unaware that Paranormal Day is celebrated around the world. It sounds like Halloween. The difference between Paranormal Day and Halloween is that Paranormal Day seems to be more intense and does not require giving out candy. Both holidays are "spooky."  Many tv channels are celebrating  May 3rd  with documentaries, movies, and science fiction that deal with this subject. The information below was taken from National Today, a media platform that tracks fun holiday and special moments on the culture calendar.HISTORY OF NATIONAL PARANORMAL DAYJust like any paranormal activi... 05/03/2025

This Week…Celebrating WORDS When I learned that today is Wordsmith Day, I couldn’t help but think of our friend and master of wordsmithery… Michael Jacobs “This day recognizes the importance of words and the skill of those who use them effectively.” Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don’t mean much to you may stick with someone else for a lifetime. Rachel WolchinWe use words daily, and like people, some are good and some..not so much.  In writing our posts, we’re torn between choosing words our readers will understand and trying to up our game by using words we enjoy using.  Words are free. It’s how you use them that may cost you.KushandWizdomWhere people may forgive a transgression, words are often less forgiving. My high school principal was always remindin... 05/03/2025

In 2025 the month of May presents an interesting Challenge. Out of curiosity, Carol Williams and Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 asked if "You could rewind time and start your real estate career again," what would you do differently or "What would your do-over look like?"Ever since I was a young girl, there were two movies and songs that made a lasting impression on me. They were: 1) Sound of Music, and 2) Born Free. So, to answer the question about going back in time, I would have to start from the very beginning, such as, "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start..." Street Sign in Flower Mound, TexasREFLECTIONSSurvey after survey, one of the biggest struggles any business owner encounter begins with communication. Therefore, I reflect on what was then and wh... 05/02/2025

It seems that people need a laugh – especially on Friday. So, we dig back in to classic comedy scenes from a much better age of television. Some clips I found from past TV comedy when TV comedy meant something far different from today. A more innocent time and a time of real quality. Hope you enjoy the clips. Due to the length, there is just 1 clip per week. Enjoy! 05/16/2025

It seems that people need a laugh – especially on Friday. So, we dig back in to classic comedy scenes from a much better age of television. Some clips I found from past TV comedy when TV comedy meant something far different from today. A more innocent time and a time of real quality. Hope you enjoy the clips. Due to the length, there is just 1 clip per week. Enjoy! 05/09/2025

It seems that people need a laugh – especially on Friday. So, we dig back in to classic comedy scenes from a much better age of television. Some clips I found from past TV comedy when TV comedy meant something far different from today. A more innocent time and a time of real quality. Hope you enjoy the clips. Due to the length, there is just 1 clip per week. Enjoy! 05/02/2025

The second of our 3 amaryllis bulbs opened yesterday. The red and white striped blossom is quite striking, especially on this very May Gray day. The white amaryllis opened a little over a week ago and I shared that post last Friday...but here is the photo.  There is one more amaryllis bulb that is getting close to blooming that appears to be a red one...something to look forward to, perhaps in the next week! 05/02/2025

May 3rd Puzzle- National Two Different Colored Shoes Day:Enjoy your day!Directions: Click on the link below.  Your puzzle will open in a new window.To locate a word, please hold down the left side of your mouse while dragging your cursor over the letters of that word. Release your hold when all of the letters of the word have been selected. If your response is correct, the word will change color on the word list.Please check back for future daily puzzles.Enjoy and have a great day!Click Here To PlayIf you are looking to purchase a property or home on Long Island, New York, I hope you think of me, Linda Blumenthal. 05/03/2025

May 2nd Puzzle- National Truffle Day:Enjoy your day!Directions: Click on the link below.  Your puzzle will open in a new window.To locate a word, please hold down the left side of your mouse while dragging your cursor over the letters of that word. Release your hold when all of the letters of the word have been selected. If your response is correct, the word will change color on the word list.Please check back for future daily puzzles.Enjoy and have a great day!Click Here To PlayIf you are looking to purchase a property or home on Long Island, New York, I hope you think of me, Linda Blumenthal. 05/02/2025