Wow I've forgotten to blog all summer

I'm sorry about that.
I've been busy, and it hasn't been easy.
Back at work, with a great company, and I have been hitting the pavement (literally), trying to find clients interested in buying/selling real estate.


Real estate is filled with highs and lows, for all parties involved.  I feel sometimes like I am on a roller coaster of a ride, yesterday I was worried, today the worry got worse, but now I'm at a point that we had some small happy bumps and that it will work out.  The feelings as an agent are ridiculous.  I know I shouldn't take it to heart, but I can't.  I work so hard and want my clients to get their best deal/home/sale that it becomes too emotional for me.  Maybe men have it easier in real estate in that aspect, I don't know.  I am so emotional for my clients it really isn't good for me.
However, typing this and getting my feelings out is helping.  This five minutes today of venting that I'm worried and want everything to go smoothly and that I need more clients is actually helping me get through the rest of the day.  Gosh, I love real estate, but when you were forced to take a break, you kinda forget the highs and lows that come with the job.  I need to keep it a bit less emotional, though.


I can work on that, I think.

Trying to get back to living

Yep, I'm trying to get back to the grind of blogging about living again.  I've been so depressed, hateful and resentful about food and the ridiculous allergies and itchy skin that yesterday I realized its not helping.  The attitude has got to go, because I am alive, working, and I have my family, dog, and the love of my life with me.  I won't give up on wheat totally, though.  I decided to indulge a small amount once a week until I am no longer allergic!  I will train my body to resist the release of histamines after wheat!  (big smile here).


Life is too short, right?  I'm just happy to be alive and share my world with anyone that wants to read it.  I have big plans and I'm not going to let another illness or health issue get in my way.  I will heal and I will be better soon.  God has big plans for me.


Today is a day I have been looking forward to all week.  I get to have lunch with an old dear friend, Sonda.  We both worked at the same real estate office many years back.  She is just who I need to help give me strength today.  I can't wait to see her, and I even have a lunch meal plan in place on what to order! 
Then, this afternoon, my sister K and I are meeting with some people at our church about forming a cancer support group/ministry.  I feel like this is part of the plan.  I know I say this a lot to people and probably on here, but I promised God the day I found out I had leukemia that I would make a difference.  I made a promise and I plan to keep it.  I've been trying, but sometimes I let lazy get in the way, and I cannot do that anymore.  Today, K and I make a difference together!

I can take no more SNOW and Frigid Temperatures! That's it, I'm done with winter!

That’s it, winter is over!  I can take NO MORE!

I am determined to will spring here soon!  I know I am early, but the negative temps today clashed with the extreme brightness and sunny factor out in Crown Point, Indiana today. 

I’m just fed up with winter--- isn’t anyone else?  I am happy to have experienced it, but I am so ready for spring, its not funny.  I want to feel the warmth, smell the flowers and even can’t wait for fresh cut grass! (gasp).

I’m looking forward to not wearing long johns under my clothes for all showings, making sure my extra handwarmers and all emergency packs are in the car I have--- the water in my bottle is not frozen.  Although I love an excuse to get a hot tea at Speedway or even splurge on a Hot Chocolate at Starbucks, I am finding my warm drink middle of the day excuse to become a bit pricey at this point, because I am driving by homes for bpos or meeting clients at showings almost daily.  Hey, its my job, but I just want it warmer.  I’m not picky—maybe start with a 30 degree day?

Everybody asks me, "What do you do in the winter?"

Sure, the past couple years I have been "off", but that was the same old question, time after time.
Everyone would ask me how I spend my free time in the winter.  Free time?

Isn't real estate dead in the winter in Northwest Indiana?

Um, well, yes and NO.  Here's the thing:  Many people don't want to put their house on the market during winter.  Its a mess.  You always have to keep the house presentable, and then a blizzard hits and your buyer doesn't show up...or, shows up and leaves a trail of wet snow all over your clean floor because they didn't want to take their boots off.  You packed everyone up, including the dog, and went to McDonalds for an hour...and now you are tired and upset.  Wow, I just went on a rampage, didn't I?

However, I have found that people who are serious buyers do still look in the winter...because they have to.  They have to find something.  Trust me, they would rather be making a french bread pizza and snuggling up with a blanket on their day off in the winter, too, just like you!  On the downside, not everyone who sees your house will want to buy it.  It doesn't mean they aren't serious buyers, they just know what they want...and for whatever reason, your house may not be it.  Don't take it personally or be offended.

So, am I off with free time?  Heck no!  I have a couple listings right now, a serious buyer that needs to find a home to be in before March, general potential client leads to answer to each day, and all my end of the year stuff to do, plus working on my marketing plan for 2015.  That has kept me very busy...what about you?  Even though I don't have a closing this month does not mean I'm not busy.  Realtors and real estate professionals don't just put in their hours and collect a paycheck every two weeks.  It works differently...we might work a file for 3 months before we see a check pertaining to that file.  Sometimes, the file never gets to closing...and we never get paid :(

But, with great risk comes great reward.  Again, I wonder why people take their homes off the market when the most serious buyers are looking, and usually pressed to make a decision.  Its a risk, but will it give you the reward you want?  Think about it.