Remembering Those Who Have Fallen

Today, on Memorial Day, I thought I'd share something of interest to myself, which involves a photo of an historic event that is of interest to us all.

This photograph (one of the most famous photos of all time) of Marines raising the American flag at the summit of Mt. Suribachi during the battle for Iwo Jima has become an enduring image of bravery and heroism.

My mother once told me when I was younger that my Uncle Orville, yes, I said Orville, was on the hill that day when this took place. He supposedly died on that hill with many other soldiers. He was my father's brother.

I never knew this uncle of mine because he died before I was even born. But I do think of him everytime I see this photograph, and I feel somewhat proud that I had a relative who may have stood side-by-side with these famous soldiers.

Regardless of what your personal or political views are surrounding the current or past wars that United States has been a part of, it is our responsibility to honor the men and women who have given their lives in the pursuit of defending our freedom, our honor, and our great country.

Randy

Closing Out the Week With an Open House

Hello to all, and thank you to everyone who attended my Open House today at 10316 Boulder Ridge Ct.

What a week it was! We all know the saying..."Thank God it's Friday!", but for me it's..."Thank God we survived!"

Ciara decided to chase after her brother Tristen with a sharp object, suggesting she was going to hurt him I assume. To turn the tides, Tristen decided to grab his bicycle helmut and crack Ciara in the nose with it to slow her down. It not only slowed her down, it stopped her in her tracks. Kids will be kids, but CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!? :-)

I went to dinner this evening with my good friend Greg, and his brother Jeff, and his son. We went to Wing Stop off Eight Mile Rd in Stockton. If you haven't eaten there, and you like chicken wings, then this is the place to go. Several flavors to entertain your taste buds. We opted for the Spicy, Mild, and the Honey BBQ. Good friends and wings...Life is Good!

Randy

The Party's Over

Well, it's been a few days now and I think I'm still deaf in one ear.

Ciara, one of our new kids, turned 8 years old on Tuesday. One of her wishes was to have a slumber party. Who would've thought that 5 little girls could make SO MUCH NOISE!? :-)

Around 9:30pm Friday evening we had a surprise "who can scream the loudest" contest. I still hear a buzzing in my left ear. I think Ciara's friend Carsen was the clear winner. I didn't announce that to any of them because I didn't think our windows, or neighbors, could handle a rematch.

It was a fun evening though. The girls got to play Bingo, have a hoola-hoop contest, limbo to Jamaican music, make beaded necklaces and bracelets, eat pizza, and of course the Tinker Bell cake and Neopolitan ice cream was a big hit.

The next morning all the guests were up at 7:30am! They went downstairs to find something to eat. Barb woke up and offered to make pancakes for them, but they gracefully declined in favor of the multitude of cold cereals on display in the pantry. Ciara, being the nightowl that she is, like us, was off in lala land still for quite sometime.

When she finally awoke, Barb then proceeded to make the promised pancakes for all. With full bellies for all, it was the end of an era. The Twilight Zone era of five 7 & 8 year old girls in one house and having a great birthday sleepover. Fun times for all!

Ciara had a wonderful time, and Barb and I appreciate the parents who allowed their girls to come into our home for a fun celebration. Thank you!

Happy Birthday Ciara! I'm glad you're in my life and have made it possible for me to understand the true meaning of "a girl's night out". :-)

Randy

Windy Days and Mondays

Wow, what a windy day it was today. I guess that would be yesterday since it's passed midnight now. I blame my late night hours on Barb because she's always up late getting anything and everything done that she can before getting ready for bed. She says that I've always been a night person too, but then I reply with "yes, but not an ALL night person!" :-) You'd think I was part BAT or something. Oooh, dare I say it? (Inside joke for those of you that know me)



Monday was a good day. I know that most people seem to dread it because it starts the work week. Fortunately for me I love what I do. I really enjoy helping people with their real estate needs. It's exciting to be on the "hunt" for just the right home to match with a person or family. It's personal for me. I like to get to know my clients. What they like and dislike. They're wants vs. their needs, and then scour the MLS to uncover the perfect home for them. I know this'll sound weird, but when that happens, the hairs on my left arm stand on end. It's been accurate probably at least 80% of the time.



I also really enjoy helping someone sell their home. I love helping a seller "design to sell" their home. Their's a difference between decorating and designing, or better known as "staging" a home. When you decorate you're usually doing so to suit your own needs and personal taste. But when staging, you are making the home look pretty much impersonal so that you appeal to the taste of the masses. One of the hardest parts of helping a seller prepare their home to put on the market is getting them to understand that we're not selling THEM the house. Let myself and Barb, who helps me a lot in this area, do what we do best, and that's dress up their home as best as possible to accentuate it's positives.



Barb and I have a service called Stage Rite Designs. We mostly will use our combined talents and love of decorating to help real estate clients prepare to sell, but we have on occassion also helped people decorate and design their interiors to give them a sense of moving into a new home without having to pack. Here's an example of Before and After photos of a home I currently have listed for sale on Boulder Ridge Ct.



Before:















After:


















Wow! What a difference! This home seller was very trusting to take our advice and change the carpet to a more neutral color, rearrange the furniture, get a custom mantel installed, different pictures, etc, and Voila! You see a home that is beautiful and ready for new owners.

Now, if you, or someone you know is looking to move, or even buy a great investment property, then please forward their name and number to me and I'll take great care of them.

I'm never too busy for any of YOUR referrals!

Thanks for stopping by,

Randy

Let Me Try This Again!

Hello everyone!

I had every good intention of starting a consistant "blog", but unfortuantely I let myself get too busy with everything else going on in my life, that I initiated the blog with a "Grand Opening", but never let it get fully underway.

Well, I'm back to get this going in full swing, in hopes of staying more in constant contact with all of my friends, family, and clients. And of course, anyone else who would like to join in.

By all means, feel free to pass along my blogsite to anyone you'd like. The more the merrier.

I plan to keep you informed of many things...The local real estate market, which of course is what my main function is, along with local and even national news of interest.

I might even throw in a joke or two. For those of you that know me, that'll be business as usual. ha!

I hope this blog becomes a place for everyone to check in on from time to time to see what's going on in my life, as much as I hope to see what's going on in yours.

See you next time,

Randy