Bricks, Mortar and Cheesesteaks

Well, I felt like I had run out of topics to write about, and see that I stopped writing nearly a year ago. I am back, and I am going to venture to write about an entirely new topic.

One of my FACEBOOK FRIENDS suggested I check out 365Project.org, and I did. The website offers one free album, which promotes one to put a new photo up every day. The site works like Twitter in that you can follow people, mark photos as "favorites", and communicate with the other folks doing the same thing. So far, I have seen quite a few beautiful images.

The site provides a new challenge, which is intriguing. It sets up a calendar like view to post your photos. Thus, you can and others can view your progression over a 365 period. I think it will force me to try to make an interesting image every day out of something mundane that I just come across. I may not be successful every day, but I will try to meet this challenge.

I decided to try and do the entirety of the photography on my IPhone and use the free apps for editing. I think using this camera versus one that is more sophisticated will present a whole new set of challenges. There are definitely technical limitations, but hopefully the eye and brain will still be able to do something with this camera phone.

Yesterday, I took and posted my first picture. It is of the flowers, which sit at the base of the sign of the gas station sign down the street from me.

If You Have a Blog in Philadelphia, You Need to know this!

2010-08-23T12:02:00.000-04:00

SEE ARTICLE.

Philadelphia Requiring Bloggers to Pay $300 for Business License

Vroom, Vroom, Vroom.... Beep, Beep, Beep!!!!!!!!!!!!! PART ONE

2010-08-12T11:33:00.001-04:00

WOW! Everyone is in such a hurry these days... I guess if I were speaking to a psychologist they would tell me people are overworked and stressed out etc.. blah, blah, blah.

I have tried to write this in several ways, but it seemed like I was blathering on. So below, I am going to list my pet peeves and suggestions:

"EXCUSE ME" has become synonymous for "GET OUT OF THE WAY". THEY DON'T MEAN THE SAME THING! When you say, "Excuse me", you have to let the other party actually move.
Get out of the way for FIRE ENGINES AND AMBULANCES. They will hold you up about 30 seconds to 1 minute. They could be in a hurry some day for you!
When everyone does pull over for an ambulance or fire engine, let the cars ahead of you back out in traffic.
Be aware of your surroundings. You are not in the aisle of the store or on the sidewalk by yourself. It is probably a good safety measure as well.
When walking your DOG on the neighbor's walk, CLEAN UP AFTER THEM. Picking up after the dog was part of the deal when you got the dog (15 seconds and a bag).
Say PLEASE AND THANK YOU (3-4 seconds).
BICYCLES.... STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS APPLY. Yes, you can cheat them a bit, but I see too many of you giving drivers and pedestrians heart attacks.
When someone puts on their blinker to change lanes, come one, let them in! Will it change your whole day if you don't?
When someone stops in the middle of the street to jump a car or do something else, give them a few minutes. Your "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP" is only aggravating and not helpful.
If there are parking spots available, don't stop in the middle of the street, PULL OVER!!!!!!!!
Zig zagging through traffic is just bad form and dangerous.
SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOTS.... If some jerk is waiting with their blinker on to pull into a spot someone is vacating, don't pull in ahead of them.
SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOTS... they are not speedways. There is a lot going on and you cannot see it all.
SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOTS... when someone is pulling out of their spot, let them out!
JAY WALKING... Philly has the world champions of jay walking. Don't cross at the red while there is a lot of traffic, don't stand in the street in a traffic lane. I grabbed one of my clients the other day by her back pack back onto the curb. The car stopped when he crossed the intersection and said, "Thank you." It must happen to that guy as much as it does to me.
STEPPING OFF THE CURB BEHIND MY CAR AS I AM BACKING INTO THE SAME SPOT ... HELLO!!!!!!
WALKING DOGS AND PUSHING STROLLERS...they are in front of you. Don't put them in traffic! You people scare me!
EMPLOYEES IN STORES.... maybe you hate your job, but it is not my fault! Also, don't want to hear how you got really messed up last night, etc..
CURSING... Yes, I know all of the words, and use them, but there are places it is not appropriate.... people censor yourselves.
LOUD PEOPLE... You hurt my ears! Why do I have to listen to all of your crap on the bus, in a restaurant, and anywhere else in public. DON'T YOU HAVE AN INSIDE VOICE?

I know that there is more for this list and I will return to it at some point in time and is the reason for naming it PART ONE.

Shopping for Mascara is More Difficult than Finding the Perfect Pair of Pumps!

2010-08-09T18:19:00.004-04:00

So, I stopped at CVS today to buy NEW MASCARA. Not a thrilling chore, but one I keep forgetting to do. My tube had been getting dryer and dryer, and it was getting harder and harder to coax anymore of the goo out of the tube and onto my lashes. I walked to the cosmetic aisle, I stood before the Maybelline Mascara display, became dizzy and wanted to cry. I hate to think I am so old that I long for the OLD DAYS, but I guess, I have arrived!!!

Rounded Brush

I remember the days when your choice was Black, Black/Brown or Brown/Black, Brown, and Blue. There was also waterproof or not. Then, I think it was Cover Girl that came out with a fancy rounded brush that was supposed to, I guess, curl your eyelashes. It looked like the one pictured to the right, but was a dark blue tube.

Now standing there today, staring at the mascaras covering the wall, only one looked vaguely familiar and that was the GREAT LASH. The packaging has changed, but I still recognize it. Yes, this is the one I should buy, but I was mesmerized and intrigued by the promises the other packages make!

OK, I start with the XXL PRO. Obviously from its name, it must be the best.; it has a couple of X's and says that it is professional. The design is attractive and modern. The eye appeal is very good. I can buy the XXL with:

Extensions, or
Curl, or
Volume, or
24 hour Bold

XXL PRO EXTENSIONS

XXL PRO CURL

XXL PRO VOLUME

XXL PRO 24 HOUR BOLD

Okay, so I stand there like and idiot and think, "Well, I want my mascara to lengthen, thicken and curl my lashes. I don't think I need 24 hour mascara although 16 hour mascara would be nice." So, choosing between these mascara, I pick the one giving me volume. I can curl them with the old fashioned eyelash curler, but if I buy the curling mascara, I have no other tricks to add volume. So, yes, I will buy the volume mascara. The problem with these mascaras, however, is the price. I have a hard time paying the premium and there are sooooooo many more choices at which to look.

So, I move on to Volum' Express 3X. Is 3X better than XXL PRO? There is an extra "X. It must be better. So, I will cross the XXL PRO off of my list.

Volum' Express 3X

Next, there is Classic Volum' Express. Well, I don't want this one, because Classic must not be as good as 3X. 3X must be a NEW and IMPROVED of the CLASSIC. And what has happened to the "E" at the end of volume? What kind of marketing ploy is this one?

Volum' Express CLASSIC

Next, I move on to Volum' Express 7X. Well, this is great. It must mean I can put on half to achieve the same volume as 3X and who knows how much more than Classic. I want this one!

Volum' Express 7X

Now, as I writing the above, I had missed my photo of..... hold on now... Colossal Volum' Express 9X.... I WANT IT, I WANT IT, I WANT IT!

Volum' Express COLOSSAL 9X

Now, I wish it were this easy, because there are still more pretty packages with intriguing options. Still hanging on the wall are the following choices:

Full N Soft: Full and Healthy. I want healthy!
Lash Discovery: Lengthen and Defines. Okay, this one does not sound so interesting.
Define A Lash: Lengthening or Volume with Zero Clumps. This one makes you make a choice. There are too many choices and the choices are stressing me out.
Pulse Perfection: 7 MUST HAVES of Lash Perfection. PERFECTION! I want perfection. I must pay up for perfection!
Great Lash: Thickens as it conditions; no clumps; no globs. Sounds simple, but good. This one sounds friendly. It is also close to the old packaging and seems like an old friend and comfortable.
Great Lash BIG: Bigger Brush; Bigger Lashes; Buildable Volume. This is the New and Improved old friend. I can work with this one too.

FULL N SOFT


LASH DISCOVERY

DEFINE-A-LASH -VOLUME

DEFINE-A-LASH -LENGTHENING

PULSE PERFECTION


GREAT LASH

GREAT LASH BIG

When I got home, I wanted to make sure that CVS gave me all of my options so I Googled Maybelline. And as I expected, yes, there are more options... stilettos, more X's, falsies, turbos, etc.. How does one decide?

I think at the drug store, I usually buy the Cover Girl Mascara, but I came upon this wall first, and was so overwhelmed that I could not go to yet another display. So, I dug in to make the purchase. I went for the old friend GREAT LASH in the two pack for $7.99.

So, from now on, I will stick to the Great Lash and avert my eyes from the other choices when I go to purchase mascara as long as I am happy with the purchase I made today. And I will continue to buy this until they discontinue it and they will, because they always discontinue what I like!

Pups on East Passyunk

2010-08-02T15:59:00.002-04:00

I am a Handicapped Speller - Thank Goodness There is a Thing Called Spell Check

2010-08-01T00:12:00.004-04:00

In my school, there were the 3 classes of each grade. So, like many other parents, my parents requested that I be put into Mrs. Dunwoody's class. She was a great teacher in many, many memorable ways. However, being in her class meant that I would be in a two year program for the first and second grade. In first grade, I had ITA.

Now, until I just Google it, I did not know that it stood for The Initial Teaching Alphabet. We had an alphabet with 44 letters and special books.

THE ALPHABET

We learned how to read and write very quickly; everything was phonetic. In second grade, we were switched over to regular English and 26 letters. I have been a terrible speller since the 2nd grade.

My re-interest in this subject came from a REALTOR® friend on FB, who made comments today about listings. The discussion came from another agent using ALL CAPITAL LETTERS in a listing, but the discussion grew into spelling errors. I think I have another BLOG in me to discuss grammar and spelling, but it made me think back on my own failing in this same realm. I am definitely a poor speller.

So, I went home and Googled this program I was in when I was 6 years old. I knew that it was a program that came from the UK. It, apparently, made it to the USA and Australia as well. The billboards on the web were all the same. It seems we all have become poor, life long spellers. We all learned to read and write quickly with 44 letters, but all seemed to have struggled beyond that. It seems the program was more widely used in The UK as most of the comments came from there.

To give you an idea of what we wrote and read, here are two examples:


Initial Teaching Alphabet

The ice angel gave the owl a ring.

WIKIPEDIA ON THE INITIAL TEACHING ALPHABET

SCRAPPLE!!!!! YUM!!!!!!

2010-07-31T17:32:00.002-04:00

I have often been asked about SCRAPPLE by out of towners, who are more interested in having a Cheesesteak than some scrapple, but they have heard about it, and think that perhaps they should try it.

I find people here are pretty split on it: they like it, don't like it or would never try it. Of course there are always the fear mongers out there that tell everyone else that it is made from pigs lips and tails. Of course, it is made from "spare" parts, but more than lip and tails plus corn meal, flour and seasoning.


The package at the super market

It has a texture like a country pate with a light pork flavor; I prefer the ones that have less black pepper. Habbersett is definitely my favorite supermarket brand. I like the overall texture and seasoning best. Then, there is the issue of cooking. I prefer for it to be pan fried. Many diners, however, deep fry it. It is okay deep fried as long as they do not overdue it.

There are many ways to eat it. Many people like it with ketchup, some with syrup and I like it with poached eggs on top.


scrapple with poached eggs on my plate at my diner

Don't let the naysayers frighten you! When in Philadelphia, give it a try!

WIKIPEDIA ON SCRAPPLE

I Got My IMAC Back! Arrivederci PC!

2010-07-31T16:59:00.003-04:00

I have been away from my Blog for sometime.... my IMac died. Well, RIP no more!

I love my IMac!

I love Apple Computers. Unless, you are really, really, really techie, it is the way to go and well worth the money. I am not horrible with computers, but this latest version of Windows just did me in. My MLS required, until recently, the use of Explorer. Thus, I was forced to keep a windows computer to do my real estate work.

The last one I purchased has Windows 7..... Ugh... what an awful experience! I was freezing and rebooting more than getting anything done. And although almost everything I was doing on the web, I was constantly taxing the CPU. Productivity became very difficult. Even opening and email was time consuming.

My Cat, Birdie AKA Albert P Birdman

So, I decided to face the music and spend some money. So, I took my IMac to the Apple store. I had assumed, and was correct, that it was the hard drive. I cannot really blame Apple for this failure. I believe the failure was due to my cat leaping from a shelf and knocking the IMac and himself to the floor. I believe that was when the computer failed.

It is an entirely different conversation, but the way the Apple store treated me was incredible. What an awesome company! If anyone has any doubts about spending the extra money, don't! It is worth it!

So, now that I can be productive again and easily, I can blog more often. I may be out of strict real estate topics, but will try to keep writing.

Newsletter February 14, 2010 (Link)

2010-02-14T07:49:00.004-05:00

Happy President's Day!

2010-02-13T16:59:00.002-05:00

Presidents' Day

"Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day(sometimes spelled as Presidents' Day or President's Day). As Washington's Birthday or Presidents Day, it is also the official name of a concurrent state holiday celebrated on the same day in a number of states." Wikipedia (more)

If you are off on Monday,
Things to do!!

George Washington Carver

Academy of Natural Sciences

November 14, 2009-February 28, 2010

Body Worlds 2 & The Brain
The Franklin Institute

October 17, 2009-April 18, 2010

Coming Up!!

Philadelphia International Flower Show

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

February 28-March 7, 2010

Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris
Philadelphia Museum of Art

February 24-April 25, 2010

Ancient Rome & America
National Constitution Center

February 19-August 1, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T16:53:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day

"Saint Valentine's Day (commonly shortened to Valentine's Day) is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished." Wikipedia (More)

5 QUICK & EASY VALENTINE'S DAY DESSERTS
TOP TEN LAST MINUTE VALENTINE'S GIFT IDEAS

Groundhog Day

2010-01-31T13:36:00.009-05:00

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL PICTURED HERE

"According to folklore, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks." WIKIPEDIA

GROUNDHOG DAY: The Official Website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency

2010-01-26T13:47:00.008-05:00

What is included in the Federal Tax Credit?

How do I apply for the tax credit?

Home Buyer Tax Credits

2010-01-26T13:16:00.008-05:00

Tax Credits Provide Outstanding Opportunities for Home Buyers

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions About the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Frequently Asked Questions About the Move-Up/Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit

Buyer Resources

IRS

Special Rules for Members of the Military, the Foreign Serviceand the Intelligence Community

Key Information

Bricks, Mortar and Cheesesteaks

Day #12 365Project.org

Day #11 365Project.org

Day #10 365Project.org

Day #9 365Project.org

Day #8 365Project.org

Day#7 365Project.org

Day#6 365Project.org

Day#5 365Project.org

Day#4 365Project.org

Day#3 365Project.org

Day #2 365PROJECT.ORG

365PROJECT.ORG