2015 - Day 134/231 - Thursday...

Let me be clear; it is not ALWAYS the business of the various associations that are accomplished with our elected leadership during the DC Hill Visits that are most important. Very often it is the connecting that is done outside the business day that is more important. The camaraderie that is achieved in private interaction with our colleagues is sometimes the most important achievements that are accomplished during our professional visits, whether it is to our nations capitol, our state capitol, or to the city halls across our state, to make sure our interests are expressed with logical and coherent rationale. Case in point: Today I was privileged to meet Mrs. South-Central Kentucky outside the hearing room where Chris Polychron, President of the National Association of REALTORS® was testifying before a House Subcommittee on issues that affect REALTORS® and property owners across our country. Mrs. South-Central Kentucky (her first name is Amanda) was very kind to me and let me wear her tiara and pose for a photo. True advocacy at work!

Today was a busy day, tomorrow will not be too busy, and I will be returning home to Jody and Texas on Saturday.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TIARAS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 13/232 - Wednesday...

So, I had a really quick meeting today with Flat Stanley. This particular Flat Stanley is the property of Giselle, daughter of my friend Leslie. It seems Flat Stanley is a class project for Giselle, a first grader in Round Rock. Always happy to help, and from what I have seen, Flat Stanley has made quite an impression in Washington, DC!

It was a really busy day, but really rewarding as well. Federal Priorities Issues Briefing, Broker Involvement Council, State and Local Issues Mobilization Support Committee, PAC Fundraising Forum, a quick walk through the trade show,
a couple other meetings with folks about our particular local issues and finally a dinner tonight downtown. I am back in my room, ready to call it a day, and looking forward to tomorrow.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FLAT STANLEY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 132/233 - Tuesday...

Let me be clear; I know who I am but I have no idea who this other guy is. I bought some red noses the other day at Walgreen's before I left on this trip. Who knows in advance how many red noses you could possibly need, but they only had five (and I went to three Walgreen's), and I carried two of them around in my pocket today and took advantage of getting everyone (and anyone in this case) I knew to pose for a photo with the red nose. Who knows how I can use these photos in the future. I am pretty darned confident that I will not be able to use this particular one to my advantage in the future, but (so far) I have 29 others and there are still four days of opportunity left!

It was a long day at the conference today, and tomorrow will be an earlier start and a longer day. Gonna be a busy one. First meeting is at 7AM, and I will get back to the room at about 10 tomorrow night.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CLOWN NOSES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 131/234 - Monday...

Well, since I am CDO, the TSA really does not need to put these notices in my luggage when they go through it. I KNOW it has been gone through, I just know. They went through both my checked bags today and only left a notice in one of them. Does anyone know what that little black thing is? Is it the thing they use to wipe for gun powder? They left that in the bag as well, maybe by mistake, maybe not.

I almost outsmarted myself on this trip. I intentionally left my little soldiers at home so as not to carry a bunch of stuff to DC. After I got checked in and settled, I went over to the CVS to purchase my soldiers, and was told they do not sell wine at CVS in DC. But, there was a liquor store down the street, so I got some little black boxes of Merlot, and all is right with the world!

Business gets started in the morning, and I expect it will be a long, busy, hectic day. I really enjoy these meetings, and learn A LOT.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TSA, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 130/35 - Sunday...

Okay, I will be heading out of town tomorrow for most of the week, and this is a first for me. Even though I am OCD (CDO for those in the know), I usually get in the A boarding group, but usually in the 20's or 30's.  I was REALLY surprised when this came up this afternoon, I blame it on all the Mothers being asleep on the couch and all the Fathers washing the dishes. Mother's Day should fall the before every trip I take, just saying'.

I do admit that my 'To Done' list was rather modest today, but I still managed to get everything crossed off it. Replace some batteries, move some rocks, transplant some four o'clocks, and a few more this-and-thats. No matter, I will take it.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FIRST ON, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 129/236 - Saturday...

We got about an inch-and-a-half of rain last night (well it really all came down about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon). The girls were all wet when I put them to bed last night, and we got a little more than a trace of rain throughout the day today. I was really happy to see we have three morning glories blooming out around the glory trellis. There are lots of things in life that I am infatuated with, and morning glories are one of them. There is also Jody, the girl dog, Barney the Cat, the girls, my car, four o'clocks (how much time do you have? Here is a photo of one of the glories, all three of them that are blooming are this hot pink color.

We took a flower bed out around the garage side of the front porch last year, nothing much seemed to grow there. We have a lovely stand of four o'clocks coming up where the bed used to be, where there is now an extension of the crushed granite path. Crazy. When you water and care for them, they will not grow, when you cover them up with granite, they thrive.

I did get a few things done around the house today, including a nap or two. There are (were) some heavy limbs hanging over the driveway that I trimmed back. I drove the truck out and stood in the bed of the truck to trim them, I thought that was a better idea than to try to stand up on a ladder to do. It worked out perfectly.

It is supposed to rain some more tomorrow, so we shall see what gets accomplished. Might just be a really good day for napping!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GLORIES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 128/237 - Friday...

I know, it's late, but I can only do what I can do. I was about to crawl into bed and I realized I had not done my journal entry for the day. I do not expect you could survive without an update on the canine coiffure that was completed yesterday. It came complete with a bow on one ear, that lasted for about two seconds. She was glad to be liberated from that bastion of four-legged fashion, and here is the proof!  She is a sweet little girl dog.

Today was a good day overall, but it was a busy day. Started with an 8:30 meeting that lasted until 1 o'clock, then to the office for some power real estate. I also suffered from some indigestion as a result of a little quiche I had at the morning meeting, and that was with me most of the afternoon. Then it was off to show a couple houses in the late afternoon. Not bad for an old-guy.

We got over an inch of rain this afternoon, the official reading will not be made until the morning. I think that will clearly put us over three inches for the month so far, and every day of the seven week forecast has at lease a 50% chance of rain, some up to 70%. I hope some of it will fall on the water shed!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GIRLY DOG, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!