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?

Don't take for granted the power of a vaccine...or the Virus!

It has been all over the news and web:  There is a measles outbreak in the US.  Over 100 confirmed cases (spread out over the country). 
Today, I had a doctors appointment.  Of course, the first question I had was, "Do I need to get a measles vaccine?"  Having leukemia, I know my cells were wiped.  She relaxed me and told me because I did not get a transplant, I am not at risk for measles.  Whoo! 


Should we have a measles outbreak in today's America?  No.  It should be almost non existent in my opinion.  However, when people lax and ignore getting vaccinated, this should not surprise us.  It really shouldn't.  Because of vaccines, our mortality rate is very different than what it was in the 1800s, 1900s, 1930s, and even 1950s.  If I understand it correctly (and I'm just a non medical person here...selling real estate and writing, not a nurse, MD, etc) vaccines help our bodies learn to fight off diseases that otherwise could impair, spread rampant, or even kill us.  Listen, I had shingles.  It sucks.  Who would have thought a 36 year old would have shingles?  I didn't even have it bad.  I was already on meds to treat it while undergoing chemo.  I had a small, burning rash that lasted 2 weeks.  Others have it much worse...and I never want it again.  I will be getting a shingles vaccine as soon as I can! 


Should you get your children vaccinated?  That's currently a personal decision you as an educated, adult parent need to make for your children.  I don't have children, and I don't want to be around children that aren't vaccinated.  Its too much of a risk for me as an immune suppressed cancer patient.  Before vaccines, a child got polio and it was not only a financial burden, it was hell for the child, the parents, and family.  Don't take for granted the power of the vaccine.  Don't take for granted the power of the virus, either.


Measles can be spread very easily in the air with as little as one cough.  An outbreak could mean potential deaths to newborns and toddlers who are too young to get the vaccination.  This scares me greatly.  I have a beautiful one year old niece that likes to go with her mommy to the mall and other public places.  Should she be careful and avoid these places now until the fear of an outbreak is over? 


I'm just confused.  And Stunned.  I'm in awe that we are going to have an outbreak of measles in a country where you should not go to work or public places if you are sick.  There are too many people that depend on their jobs, and when threatened to be "written up" (whatever that means), come in sick and then serve people in the food/hospitality industry and spread infectious disease.  This happens all the time (I know, I used to be a bartender and waitress), and it should not happen at all.  Nowadays, I would feel such remorse knowing a baby got the flu because my manager needed me to come into work when I was sick.  The store or restaurant just couldn't survive without me...Bologna!


People, please go out there and gain some common sense.  Make sure you are healthy if your are going to work, traveling or just even going to the store.  Please get your children vaccinated.  Please don't send them to school sick. 


And that is my public service announcement for the day.   Thanks for reading!

Recipe: Easy Magic Bars

I couldn’t think of anything better to do yesterday, while watching the snow fall (heavily at that!) than to make some fresh bread and good ol’ fashioned magic bars.
Magic Bars are easy, and there are variations on every can of sweetened condensed milk and box of graham crackers out there.  Easily search on allrecipes.com or your favorite recipe site, or just look here.  You can mix and match practically any ingredients your heart desires…I used butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, leftover cashew pieces and sweetened coconut.

Magic Bars (adapted from Eagle Brand Condensed Milk Recipe)

Recipe: Easy Cream of Potato Soup

This recipe is super easy, and really perfect for winter weather.  It uses stuff you probably have lying around your house so you don't have to go to the store when its cold and nasty and wet outside!  Enjoy!

Easy Cream of Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons Butter (or bacon grease)
• 3 Tablespoons Flour
• 1 small yellow or sweet onion, diced small
• 1-2 russet potatoes or 3-4 small red potatoes, cooked and cut in 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 can reduced sodium chicken broth, homemade broth or veg. broth
• 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste.

Total Time: about 30 minutes
Directions:
Melt butter (or bacon grease) in medium sauce pan over low heat.  Add onions and sauté until translucent.
Add a pinch of salt and the 3 T flour.  Combine and mix well.  Cook about 2 minutes to really cook the flour.  The color should be a golden hue. Don't let it get too brown.
Add broth slowly, turn heat up to achieve a simmer, and constantly stir to incorporate the broth into the flour/butter/onion mixture.  As it starts to bubble and simmer, it will begin to thicken.  Add milk, stir, and let it continue to cook until a simmer is reached.  Add cooked potatoes, and salt and pepper to taste.  Reduce heat to low and continue to cook for about 5 more minutes. You don't want to boil the soup after adding the milk.  After you get that initial simmer--reduce the heat to just help warm the potatoes.  Soup will thicken as it cooks.
Variations:  try adding cooked carrots or cooked crumbled bacon with potatoes for different flavors.  Also, you can add 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese with potatoes for a cheesy potato soup!  Possibilities are endless.  Enjoy!

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.

Just Finished: Debbie Macomber Starting Now

This was my first Debbie Macomber book.  Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel. 


If you aren't familiar with Debbie Macomber, just turn on the Hallmark Channel.  I learned about Debbie Macomber from the Hallmark Channel.  Then, one nurse at Rush mentioned she was a good author...easy to read, feel good books.  And, this is no different.  It was a feel good book I didn't want to stop reading. 


I enjoyed reading this book because it wasn't a nail biter-- vampire-- sex filled--intense murder mystery-- look up every other word in the dictionary---book.  It was a nice, sweet story with a few twists and turns but nothing major.  Nothing outrageous.  Nothing that gave me nightmares.


Instead, this story made me think about my life.  It prompted me to write on this blog today.  It initiated a review of this past year...looking back to see if I am working toward any of my goals.  Where could I improve?  How can I be more effective in what I do?  Because of this book, I am going to try to be more organized and time efficient---so I can live life and do everything  I want to do.  Today, for instance, I am going to try to create a schedule to follow to accomplish more.


Check it out! 

Blowing off my blogging duties

I've been busy.  I went back to work in June, and even though only part time, it has made a difference.  I am ridiculously tired all the time.  Yet, I want to work more if I can.  The fear of relapsing is scary and real. 


Then, the past few nights, I've been lying in bed telling myself I am going to be okay and I need to start living and stop fearing.  I will die one day, but I don't know when that will be.


So, the last part of the year??  Nothing but living, even if I am dying.


Please join me in living.  Its the new movement...because we are all dying anyways.