Random Thoughts  

Snow is beautiful - from the inside, looking out. If you're dressed warmly enough, it's not so bad outside either. When the windchill threatens to be below ZERO - it is then, I dream of Arizona winters.

I could have shown this picture first, but hey - if you're sitting in your home in Indianapolis, this is your view today. Have a great day and enjoy the view of the sunset.

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Real Estate sales is a highly competitive business. REALTORS® don't usually recommend or praise their competition. Granted, we work together  to accomplish the goal of our respective client; but we don't generally have celebratory cocktails afterwards. 

Heck, we may even offend or irritate the other agent.  I've been known to buck tradition, so I'll start the year with a praise for the agent team who represented the sellers on a recent transaction. When you work with truly professional agents, who share the same philosophy of client care as you do, you understand and respect their position for their client. While you may not always agree, each agent knows the other is doing the job they were hired to do.

Many thanks for a job well done to Kate and Mike MacGill at FC Tucker. May 2010 bring you blessings multiplied!

Insults should be written in sand ~ Praises; carved in stone!  Author unknown.

There are lessons to be learned in every breathing moment, should we take time to stop and look around. Sometimes the profound smacks us upside the head and says, “Pay attention”; other times the soft whisper of the wind and the sunset teaches us the beauty of a quiet evening. Life is an ever evolving lesson.She made her way into this world in April, 2008, with a cry to let us know she had arrived. One look and I could see her mothers face looking back at me. It’s quite remarkable when you see the face of your child in the eyes of your grandbaby.

There’s something so sweet and innocent about a newborn. It was love at first site. She grew, as babies do, so fast it seems – where did the time go. I should have cuddled her more because now she has no time. She is exploring...

Vacations are made for getting away; a time of refreshment and relaxation. I usually take time away around the Holidays as a time of reflection, also. Looking back on the previous year without a calendar contolling my time gives me fresh eyes to review my accomplishments. Sometimes, though, vacations remind you of home.

Vacations are about memories too! This year we are in Phoenix – although I moved back home to Indianapolis, from Phoenix –  you can’t beat Phoenix in the wintertime.

This year Chihuly has a handblown glass display at the Desert Botanical Gardens, which is absolutely beautiful. We decided to go for a tour on New Year’s Day.  It was a gorgeous sunny day. With the sun dancing off the glass sculptures, it really added color and...

Nothing brings life to the Christmas season like a child’s wonderment as the tree is put up, the lights strung and the ornaments hung. Nothing, that is, except this Mimi watching her grandchildren taking in the moment.

This is our first year in our new home, which made it special to have the whole family together to start the season.

This little one could not get enough of the thrill and excitement of having the chance to help decorate and play a bit of hide and seek. Of course all the ornaments ended up on the bottom half of the tree.

What fun we had – another memory created.

I love the month of November! One of the things I missed about Indiana while I lived in the Southwest was Fall. We decided to move back to Indianapolis a few years ago and fall has always been my favorite time of year. By fall, I actually mean the part where the leaves start turning color and each days color is a bit more magnificent than the previous day.

By November, most all of the trees have lost their leaves. By mid November to the end of the month, the trees are bare, we have experienced our first frost; sometimes even our first snowfall. The air is a bit more chilly. It’s a crisp chill though which leaves you refreshed, not chilled to the bone Still, November is my favorite.

It’s the month I was married, it is my birthday month and Thanksgiving. It’s one holiday after another. Once nature has stopped decorating the outdoors, we start decorating the indoors for the holidays. This year is especially magnificent.

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My 22 year old daughter said to me at 12:15 this morning, 'Mom, it's September 11' . And suddenly, there is not another thought in my mind. I remember..................... we all remember.

I want to take one moment to say Thank You to the men and women who defend our country everyday; to say God Bless You and your families. Come Home Safely!

This Father’s Day is a bit more special than any previous Father’s Day. I grew up the oldest of seven children and my Dad was my hero.

He always had a way of making everything okay – from skinned knees to fights with my siblings. He loved each of us enough to allow us to grow and make our own mistakes, while also providing a home we could always feel comforted in. Being close to family is one of the reasons I moved back to Indianapolis.

My dad is a quiet man – a hard worker, who finds joy in just living and takes one day at a time. I have learned a lot from him in that respect. I’ve always thought he was the best. This year, though, I have an even greater reason to be thankful for my father.

Last month, on Mother’s Day, my dad went to the hospital with a heaviness in his chest. They ran some test, couldn’t find anything wrong, but decided to keep him overnight. At 5:30, the next morning, he had a heart attack. We...

We have finished the remodel of the bathrooms in our home. I don’t recommend people remodel when selling their home. In our case, it was necessary.

We have loved this home in it’s prior condition; now, it is even more beautiful! It isn’t the granite or tile floors, the pool or covered patio, although they are great features; It is the memories and family time spent here which have made it home.

It has taken us longer than anticipated to complete everything and in the mean time, I have had a few opportunities to go back to Phoenix and visit.

This week, while I was here, my daughter and grandchildren from Columbus, Ohio, came out for a visit, so we have captured a few more memories…….to last a lifetime. It’s been a lot of fun and sometimes frustrating getting everything in place; finally, we are ready. Our home is staged and ready to sell.

If you are looking for a great home in Phoenix – I know...

M&M’s…………….or chocolate in any form. He did have cereal and blackberries first.

To the brave men and women who have given their all to serve our great country. I thank you and remember your bravery and sacrifice!

This was recorded at the Verizon Center in Noblesville, Indiana.

When people find out I moved back to Indianapolis from sunny Arizona, they always ask Why?

Here’s one of four reasons – the fourth grandchild. There’s also brothers, sisters, my Dad, lifelong friends, family cookouts, celebrations and get togethers.

But….the grandbabies, they get preferential treatment. And, do they know it!

A Rant!  This week I am in Arizona while we have new carpet and tile installed in preparation for listing our home next week. Another goal was to get estimates for moving when we do sell.

I called a couple of different companies we have used before, Mayflower and United Van Lines to set appointments.

While speaking to them, they understood we would be listing our home next week. I had one appointment set for today and one for tomorrow.

Rose Mary, from United Van Lines came by today. She was professional, efficient, very pleasant and fun. Since we are paying our own move, she was very helpful with suggestions about...

Indianapolis will host the 2012 Super Bowl. :)

Have you ever been in a position where you couldn’t find the words you wanted to say? Or what you want to say isn’t coming out in a clear concise fashion? Maybe you said something you wish you had never said. It happens to us all.

This happened to my three year old granddaughter the other day.

She had just awaken from her nap and she couldn’t find her blanket, or at least the blanket she wanted. After my daughter told her to look in her room and the entertainment room, then the living room, she became very frustrated at her inability to find her blanket.

As three year olds do – she began displaying her emotions by whining. She started to tell her mom she looked in all those places and she couldn’t find her blanket. 

She actually speaks very well,...

Scott Saghirian over at TopTechAgent, has meme’d me. I have gone 10 months without being meme’d. They have caught up to me; my luck has run out and now, I must disclose 5 things about myself.

*I am MiMi to these beautiful grandchildren and enjoy every minute with them. In April we will add another grandchild, a girl.

*I have been married to my husband, Don, for 28 years. He still calls me “His Bride”. I am the lucky one.

*We have four adult children, who have made every moment in life a cherished one. Okay, maybe not every moment, but when they finally grow up – you forget all the trying times. Seriously!

*Besides Indiana, I...

This is not specifically about real estate or Indianapolis. I know my readers can see the obvious connection of good client care practice regardless of the business or city.

In search of new communication devices to keep me accessible wherever I am, I went online to find a new phone and wireless card. The wireless company I have used since 1998 had a great offer for a Blackberry and the price of their wireless card was not too bad. I went through the online process only to discover I could not take advantage of the offer since I am an existing customer.

For a new customer, the price was $149. For me, who has been a long term customer, the price for the Blackberry was $489. and an additional two year renewal period. Then there was the cost of a wireless card.

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