Apparently domain names can be big money.  I was of course completely shocked since the domain I had just paid for cost me all of $10.00 for the year.   Yet, believe it or not, I actually began to consider it.  The domain name the company was offering was EXACTLY the name I wanted but when I registered it was taken (now I know by whom).   So, my mind began to race and paranoia began to set in.  I really did want that domain name; I mean it is part of my brand. What if someone else buys it and my whole online identity is stripped from me?   Okay so you can see where my mind is heading.  Totally paranoid! 

This went on for about two weeks, each email I received was more urgent than the last and my deadline for making the decision was coming to a close.  It seems since I had a domain name that was close to the one they were offering, I was able to get first crack at it…providing I met the minimum bid of $397.00 (BTW, I did my research, and yes they were legit).

I was actually torn on this decision, every fibre of my being said “If you buy this for $397.00 you are an idiot”.  Yet I wanted it…I for some reason felt I needed this domain or something catastrophic was going to happen.   

Luckily for me, I have Laura.  Laura my right hand at MJVA, is also my voice of reason.   After weighing the pros and cons with her, it became quite clear that these thoughts running through my brain was exactly what this company was hoping for.  I, of course couldn’t give them the satisfaction and hand over $397.00 for one silly domain.    The bottom line was the domain was only valuable if someone was willing to pay that much for it. My guess is there would only be a handful of people who had some attachment to this domain name.  I got my answer the next week when a representative called me on the phone and said they would be able to give it to me for $99.00.  Ha, I told him I have never paid more than $30.00 for a domain and I wouldn’t be willing to pay more than that for this one.  At this point forget the paranoia, I was just mad.

Of course, there was no way he could sell me it for less than $99.00…and that’s fine, I walked away feeling good about my decision and never heard from them again.  My guess is, in two months from now when they are still trying to off load it, I’ll be approached again, but I’ll stick to my guns.

I do have to say, it was a learning experience, up until this point I didn’t really know how much a domain name would really affect me.  But, for a while it did.   

Apparently I’m not the only one. I read an article once that business.com sold for 7.5 million back in 1999, and sex.com raked in 14 million in 2006.  Can you imagine 14 million dollars for one domain name!  Do you know how many mouths 14 million would feed?  Unbelievable!

My $397.00 seems like a few pennies in the pot compared to what others have actually paid for a domain name.  However I paid for two weeks of groceries with that $397.00, money well spent in my family.

So, I wonder what domain will end up garnering the next big lump sum….

“Do I hear a 100 million for: 

lets-stop-being-stupid-and-do-something-useful-with-our-millions.com?

Here’s a question for you – Have you ever thought about what the perfect life would entail?

The reason I ask this is due to a conversation I had recently.  I came across an old high school classmate on Facebook.  It has to be about 20 + years since I had been in touch with this person, so I thought I would connect with him.   Of course I asked how he was and what he’s been up to and I got the response – “Great to hear from you, things are wonderful, life is perfect!”   Really?   Life is perfect…hmmm.

What exactly does that mean, to have a perfect life?   I mean, I have a good life; I wake up looking forward to my day, I have a supportive husband, two great kids, my bills are paid.  But would I say it’s perfect?  I don’t know about that!   I wish I could have responded back and said “Hey me too, my life is completely perfect” but I’m not sure that would be entirely truthful.

So I started taking inventory of my life:

House – Border on bathroom wall still not ripped down, kitchen counter still has that awful burn mark where hubby placed the hot frying pan, little stain on the carpet that just won’t come out, and of course the rip that is starting to appear on the couch. – Okay – nope no perfection here.

Family – Hubby is great, but sometimes I have to repeat myself, okay I am constantly repeating myself. My 17 year old son who has a big heart, needs to remember Mama doesn’t have a big wallet and yes, you actually have to work for money.  My loving 4 year old daughter may look like an angel with her blue eyes and curly blonde hair, but sometimes, I swear I’ve seen her head spin around 360 degrees when she doesn’t get another chocolate Popsicle.  Munckin, my cute as a button Jack Russell is adorable to anyone with two legs – add two more and she’s a vicious bitch ready to pluck their eyes out.  No kidding. –so, well I love them all, not perfect.

Myself – I could lose about 20 lbs, my hair definitely needs a dye job, I sometimes lose my cool when I have to repeat myself, I’m a recluse which is often mistaken as snobby or not social, I am intensely protective which my son especially has issues with.  I’m a good wife, but not perfect.  I’m a good mother, but again I wouldn’t say I’m perfect. I’m a good friend…but definitely not perfect.  – So again, no perfection here, in fact I would be the first to say –far from it.

For me, a perfect life seems to be impossible to reach…or is it? Let me think about this…sure, my house isn’t a palace, my family is not the brady bunch and I definitely need a little work myself, but really would I have it any other way? No, I wouldn’t. “AHA.”  So I guess in essence that means I do have a perfect life after all —at least perfect in my eyes!

So….really… I could have responded “Yah, same here, life is pretty darn perfect for ME, too!”

Maybe a perfect life isn’t that impossible

Of course as always I returned to the never-ending spam and I went right to work on some new projects that I can’t wait to share with you….just not now, but soon!  

I’m also being extremely brave this summer….I’ve decided to go day care free for the entire summer.  I know….what is she thinking right?  Well, I figured since my daughter is now 4 years old, there would be a little less maintenance and I’d find that balance pretty quickly.  

HA…okay, so it’s been one week and already I’m beginning to question my decision.

I have to give her credit though; for the most part she has been finding things to occupy herself while I’m working.  The problem is the way she keeps herself occupied. She doesn’t have the nickname “Hurricane Hannah” for nothing.  My house is open season for her and by the time I am done work, my living space looks like a disaster zone.   The only thing missing is the yellow tape with “Danger, keep out”.   Seriously, no joke, you cannot walk two feet without stepping on Barbie’s head, or getting a piece of lego stuck to the bottom of your foot.   It can literally take me hours to pick up after her…. but it does allow me to work, so maybe the clean up time isn’t that bad.  

The one thing I have really been noticing is how well spent that $200.00/month for Speech Therapy is. Boy, oh boy….does she talk, and talk, and talk, I’ll have to thank her speech therapist for doing such a bang up job! Being that I am the sole focus of her attention all day now, I get her full verbal talents.  My daughter is on continuous play and there is absolutely no mute button.   She’ll talk about just about anything and everything, and she’s always got loads of questions.  

“Mommy are you working on the puter?”  -hasn’t quite got the word computer yet, we’re working on it.

“Mommy is that your paper?” pointing to the paper in the printer.

“Mommy what colour is it?”

“Mommy is Dad at work?”

“Does Mommy start with M?”

 “Mommy, is the sky blue?”

 And those questions were delivered in about 3 minutes flat….so you get the picture!   

 Don’t get me wrong, I am not completely bald yet, there have been some very nice moments through it all such as eating our lunch together, curling up on the couch during breaks and just being more “there” for her.  Something I wasn’t when daycare was present.

 All in all, the first week has been a bit of a challenge and an adjustment, but I guess being brave hasn’t been so bad after all. There are plenty rewards that come along with it.

Starting this Thursday I will be enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation.  It comes at a fantastic time, the end of my year long temporary position as Coordinator for the Virtual Assistant Certificate program at Red Deer College.  This week I will officially hand back the “reigns” to Bev McCrostie, and I have to admit, I’m happy to do so.   Although I really enjoyed the experience, I learned a bunch and had the opportunity to interact with individuals I may not have had the chance to do outside this position, I am happy to get back to focusing on strictly being an instructor and developing some new kick butt curriculum.

It’s amazing what you learn about yourself when you take on something that’s totally outside your comfort zone.  For instance, I learned that the best opportunities are the ones that make you shake in your boots a little.  Those one’s that make you ask yourself “Can I pull this off, really?”  The bottom line is you can, and you will.  

 Don’t get me wrong, this position did not go off without a few glitches here and there, it was by no means smooth sailing, but for each bump in the road, I learned something new and for me that makes it a success. 

So, for the next two weeks, it’s time to ask that question again, “okay Michelle, what’s next?”  That’s really why I love these vacations, because it helps me look at things with a new set of eyes, a new perspective.   I finally have the time to really sit back and reflect on that question, and see what new opportunities are out there for me.  

Don’t get me wrong, I have no intention of giving up anything I am currently doing, I’m simply just looking at the new possibilities that are waiting, and yes even those that I may be “shaking in my boots about.”   It’s very exciting to have the space to explore this.

For me it’s about re-defining what it is I love to do, and ensure that I am doing it.  It’s a way of getting back to basics, stripping away all the “have to’s” and getting right to the “want to’s.”  

I’m not saying you have to take a two week vacation to have the ability to evaluate where you are in life; in fact I encourage you to take some time to do this wherever you are. 

Sometimes we all need a little time to get rid of all the “fluff” and simply get back to the basics. So, that’s what I’ll be doing for the next few week, I’ll let you all know how it turns out!

The event is being held on Thursday, June 24^th, a full day of fun-filled activities, engaging speakers, giveaways and networking opportunities.   All Virtual Assistants or anyone who is interested in the VA profession is invited.  I hope those of you reading this will come out and join us.

The event takes place entirely online, so you won’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to enjoy the experience.  Gotta love that virtual thing!  Also, it’s entirely FREE too…you especially have to love that.

If you are interested in finding out more about the event or to register, please visit: http://virtuallyanythingispossible.eventbrite.com/