Volume 14 - Day 322/43, 2022 - Friday

If it's Friday, I had my usual (usually unusual) 8:30 zoom call this morning. I always like it when I get to raise my voice. It went on longer than usual (unusually long), and I did not leave for town until after 10 o'clock. I got in to the office and did some power real estate, and then it was off to the Sine Die Smokers 2022 Cookin' for a Cause. This year is the 20th year they have done the event, and it benefits No Hunger, Inc., and the Central Texas Food Bank. Mace (see photo, when did he get so tall, and his mom Holly in the middle) started No Hunger, Inc. several years ago, and he is now a High School Freshman. I was late to this game, and have been attending a couple years, and this year Carrie and I became sponsors. There are so many great causes! Back to the office after a really good lunch, and then went to preview a property, and then I got my hair cut. Hairs. Then home, and I am in for the night. Tomorrow will be kind of busy, and so will Sunday Tomorrow will be estate sales (4) and tomorrow night is the Preview Party for the Austin Empty Bowl Project. On Sunday, I will be the trash man for empty bowl, and later that evening I will have a meeting with a prospective client. Life is good.

Volume 14 - Day 321/44, 2022 - Thursday

It appears that we are in for a period of grey days and biting cold. Cold for us in central Texas is a lot different than cold in places where it really gets cold. Don't judge. AND...is is supposed to be cold AND raining on Saturday. Ugh. I fully expect we will survive this latest first world inconvenience, although it will be worth at least a few days of whining. Bring it on! It was chilly when the walk started this morning, and then I think it became even colder by the time we were finished. I went to a TREPAC luncheon this afternoon, and I swear it was colder after lunch than before lunch. The thermometer in my car said it was about 60 degrees on the way home, but I did not really feel it. The luncheon was very nice, and once again, it was really nice to see friends and colleagues that have been out of pocket since COVID. The photo accompanying this journal entry includes Owen (South Carolina), me, Cathy (Austin), and Ben (Beaumont). It was fun, food was good, and I was served the biggest carrot I have ever seen. 

Volume 14 - Day 321/44, 2022 - Wednesday

Thank good ness for the Glucosamine-Chondroitin! If Costco had not changed the location of that over the counter miracle, I would have been long gone before I was. No food sampling for me, I have a mission. But, because I was delayed in my search, I, on the way to the check-out, was hailed by a good friend that I have not seen in five or six years. Paul called out to me, and I was so very glad to see him. We chatted for just a few minutes, but it was really good to see him. He offered his condolences about Jody, and told me he was sure Nancy would want him to say hello for her. It was very nice, and it was so very good to see him. Otherwise, it was a good day, a good walk, a good couple of appointments, a good series of phone calls to prospective clients, a good day looking at new listings and then the visit to Costco. The only down part of the day was attending the annual HOA meeting of the subdivision. There are still some homes to be built out, and there are currently close to 350 homes sold. There were less than 30 people that attended the meeting, but it could have been worse. It could have gone in to overtime, but it didn't! A perfect ending.

Volume 14 - Day 319/46, 2022 - Tuesday

Well, I think the lemons are just about done. There is still just a bare hint of green on them, so if you are a lemon authority, please let me know your thoughts. I had no idea how long lemons took to ripen, but it seems like these have been eight or nine months, at least. There are about a dozen of them on this Meyer lemon plant, so there will be plenty to share. I just checked with Mrs. Google, and she said they can stay on the tree as long as I want and they will remain fresh, but I need to remove them before a big freeze. We have had a couple chilly mornings, but the bush is relatively well protected from the worst part of the heat and cold. I got back in to the office today after being out of town for six days. Everything was pretty well under control, and I even took an on-line class this afternoon. I did get most everything cleared off my desk, and I can start fresh tomorrow. 

Volume 14 - Day 318/47, 2022 - Monday

I am having a difficult time realizing that today is Monday, because I was not supposed to come home until tomorrow, so, I think it is Tuesday. I changed my flight the other day to return early, and I am glad to get home. We have had a few days right at the freezing mark, I think most of the plants made it, but I am not too sure about the plumeria. It might be touch and go until spring. Dammit. I went and picked up the girls, and I think they are happy to be home, it is kind of hard to tell. They had a good time with Paulina, Val and Oliver, so that is good. I attended my final NAR BOD meeting this morning, I roll off as a NAR Director at the end of this year, but at the beginning of the year, I will take a seat as a Texas Director. It is good to be home, and I will be calling it an early night. The photo accompanying this entry was taken this morning of me with my two wicked step sisters, Deborah and Nancy. They are wicked and evil, but I love them both. And they tolerate me!

Volume 14 - Day 317/48, 2022 - Sunday

Okay, this is my penultimate day of this NAR NXT Conference. It started with a Texas REALTOR® Pre-Caucus breakfast at 8 o'clock this morning, and that was full of information needed to be reviewed before our Board of Directors meeting tomorrow morning. After that meeting, we went back over to the trade show for a while, and then there was a session with Venus Williams (which I did not attend), and then our Region 10 (Texas and Louisiana) Caucus. The caucus ended on time at 6, and then we were off to dinner at a Greek restaurant called The Taverna. Lots (and I mean LOTS) of good food, and hanging out with my PAC peeps and Marty and Debbie. THe perfect ending to the next to the last day here in Orlando.

Volume 14 - Day 316/49, 2022 - Saturday

Okay, another long and great day of governance and meeting up with colleagues from across the country at the NAR NXTConference in Orlando. The opening session was at 8:30 this morning on one end of Orlando, and my 10:30 Public Policy Coordinating Committee meeting was at the other end of Orlando. Kidding. The meetings were just at polar opposites of the Orange County Convention Center and the Hyatt. After those meetings (and lunch), I went down for a nap. Then it was up to get ready for the night's events: SeaWorld and a concert with John Mellencamp. John Mellencamp was the winner, hands down. The concert was not just a simple, outdoor concert. They shut the Icon Center (Icon Park? Icon Something) down for us, and it was food, drink, fun and concert. We all had a really great time. Shuttle bus back to the hotel, and then a little while in the hotel bar where we watched the last pitiful minutes of the UT/TCU game. BUT...overall it was a really good day!