WHO SAID WE CAN'T HAVE SOME FUN HERE ~ HUMOR IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH I don't know about you but I love jokes ~ Humor is part of my nature ~ Being a blonde and of Polish Descent, I was the brunt of many a jokes ~ here are a few good Senior Moments    Garage Door  The boss walked into the office one morning not knowing his zipper was down and his fly area wide open. His assistant walked up to him and said, 'This morning when you left your house, did you close your garage door?' The boss told her he knew he'd closed the garage door, and walked into his office puzzled by the question. As he finished his paperwork, he suddenly noticed his fly was open, and zipped it up. He then understood his assistant's question about his 'garage door.' He headed out for a cup of coffee and paused by her de... 01/16/2011

SALUTATION AND VALEDICTION, WHICH TO USE AND WHY Does it matter who the email is going to when you decide your salutation?  Do you start with "Dear" because it is the most commonly used salutation?  Do you decide on "To Whom It May Concern" for lack of knowledge of the gender, or to convey to the appropriate reader? Is "Dear" to formal a salutation for an email?  Should it be the informal salutation "Hello"?  Is "Hello" too familiar a salutation?  Is "Hello" only for people you know?  What about "Hi"?  Is that too abrupt for a salutation?  Is it even more familiar than "Hello"?  What about leaving out the salutation? When we comment on posts quite often there is no salutation, is this the new set phrase for email greetings? Do we leave it out because we know the person? What is your rea... 01/14/2011

SUCCESS WITH CRS For those who are unaware, CRS ( Certified Residential Specialist) is a Realtor specific designation, earned by completing an arduous course of advance training and by meeting significant experience requirements.  Less than 4% of all licensed Realtors earn the prestigious designation of Certified Residential Specialists. By earning the CRS designation, you have many resources available to you as well as a strong referral network of more than 38,000 CRS members. Today, while attending an update seminar on my contact management system, I received a phone call and voice mail from a CRS member located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. With only a little over a month as a CRS designee, I received my first referral for a buyer looking to purchase a home on the beach in Sunset B... 01/14/2011

PARK SITE IN SUNSET BEACH NC VOTED ON ~ PROPOSED PARK Monday evening January 10, 2011, the Sunset Beach Town Council by a 3 - 2 vote approved the contract to buy a 5.22 acre  Intracoastal Waterway site for a future park for 3.4 million. The vote is contingent on the town being able to secure a grant for $900,000. The remaining 2.5 million will be obtained from town funds. The vote was taken during a closed Town Council meeting. Controversey exists with the purchase of the site. Some residents of Sunset Beach wanted the site to be the retirement home of the old pontoon bridge. Members of the Old Bridge Preservation Society wanted to save the the old pontoon bridge and turn it into a museum. The non profit society hopes to raise money in order to open the museum by tourist season. A one a... 01/13/2011

Proposed Park Plans For Sunset Beach, NC                                                                                   The town of Sunset Beach, NC  has been dedicated to preserving the small town character since becoming incorporated in 1963 with a goal to preserve it's coastal environment. There is a proposal to acquire along the Intracoastal Waterway a 5.2 acre plat of land to develop a public park, the first ever in the town. The park is proposed to include fishing piers, kayak/canoe launching, walking trail, picnic shelter and overlook facilities. The 5.2 acre plat of land includes 1200 feet of waterfront on the Intracoastal Waterway and Mary's Creek which in the plan will be utilized for the fishing pier. The site is located on an impressive point along the Intracoastal Waterw... 01/11/2011

Mom and Dad get to see "The Bling" ~ Thanks to Technology ~ December 18, 2010 was one of the happiest days for two women ~ A girlfriend and a mom ~ Thanks to the world of technology, something we take for granted every single day, a son was able to text his Mom and say "Are you still up? We're engaged!" "Yes", the Mom said. How happy she was to hear her son and his girlfriend became engaged that evening. Dad texted the son, "We want proof" "Send us a picture of the ring on her hand". The Mom is anxiously awaits a picture to come to her phone. She can hardly believe her son is going to be married to the most wonderful girl her son has been dating for six years. Suddenly her phone announces another text. "She's on the phone with her parents, I'll send a picture soon". Memories rush back t... 01/10/2011

I've decided no more excuses ~ the time is now ~ I've allowed my thoughts to control my behavior for too long ~ Thoughts can either make or break your life ~It's time for a new direction ~ I'm changing the road to follow a new path ~ I am the only one that knows what I want from life, so I am the one to choose the right path ~ I am the only one who can fulfill my dreams, aspirations and goals ~ I don't expect others to be responsible for my happiness or success ~ It's time for me to take control and be in charge of my destiny ~ Advice is free for the taking and I will listen to what others have to say ~ I like hearing other points of view and have learned to appreciate what others have accomplished here on Active Rain ~ The Active Rain community has taught me to focus on my own strength... 01/08/2011

The beginning of a new year always signals a time for new opportunities.This year, fine opportunities that you've never experienced before will be available to you.The energy of 2011 is one of building your foundation for the future. If you are diligent and take care of the details, by autumn you will be reaping great rewards. Just know that all is well and you are safe.Every day I say to myself, ''Life loves me.'' You might want to try doing this, too ! Let's Affirm : I know this will be a happy year ! I easily release any old habits that are keeping me tied to the past . In the beginning of this new year,I want to move slowly and carefully, making sure that all my choices support the new pathways I want to take. I choose thoughts that make me feel good about myself, as well as others ... 12/31/2010

Merry Christmas... (edit/delete) Today is a blessed day....I am sitting calmly with Jimmy resting after the children and the grandchildren came over to open their Christmas presents... There has been a  lovely hum of excitement all thru the house all day long. For Dinner, we set the table with nibble foods....I baked a ham and made rolls.  Then pimento cheese, chicken salad, tuna salad, potato salad, deviled eggs we enjoyed by all. Then fudge, peppermint sticks, candied almonds, peanut butter balls, M&M's and a variety of other christmas candies. It present, we are listening to the Messiah and resting from the events of the day. Nap would be good...maybe in a bit.. Merry Christmas to all.....and to all  a good day..   Ginger of Southport 12/25/2010

Say it isn't so ~ not here ~ it's not suppose to snow here in Sunset Beach, on the southern most tip of North Carolina ~ Temps heading for the 50's ~ what are those weather people, crazy?                                                         It's always beautiful here ~ We play golf all year round ~ Please, don't snow ~                         Christmas morning here in the community of Sea Trail we get to play golf for FREE ~ oops ~ I meant to say the courses are closed ~ and there are those of us ~ (not that I will mention any names) ~ ~  that walk the course and get a free round of golf, or two, or three ~                                                                                  There I said it ~ too late ~ and what are you going to do about it ~ absolutely nothing ~ Those wh... 12/24/2010

Please take the time to read this story from a positive source for those who wish to remain positive..... When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.The professor next pi... 12/15/2010

  As any change that occurs there is also a recovery period from the change. The rising interest rates may help to speed up the process. The KCM Blog resent this blog from yesterday to us again today. We all need to get the word out that the demand for housing will increase in 2011 Over 3,000 people have already read our blog post from yesterday! We know you receive the KCM Blog daily via email, but we just wanted to make sure you got a chance to check it out and see why there's a growing feeling that demand for housing has begun to increase. Feel free to share this information with all your clients and colleagues by retweeting it, sharing it on Facebook, and even reposting it right on your own blog! The last Pending Home Sales Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showe... 12/14/2010

To those in AR still shopping for family, friends, relatives or clients, this Friday, December 17th is the 3rd annual National Free Shipping Day with over 1,300 retailers taking part. The online gift orders if ordered on Friday will be able to arrive in time for Christmas Eve if sent within the continental U.S. To learn more, including which retailers are participating, visit www.freeshippingday.com     Happy Holidays Everyone and Free Shipping To All..... 12/13/2010

For those who watch the sky...now you see it...now you don't.. Watch the moon this month and you will see it disappear before your very eyes.  No special effects or camera tricks are needed. It is just Earth blocking the sun's light from reaching the moon. The name given to this full moon is the Full Cold Moon, and during the night of this particular moon, there will be a total lunar eclipse for everyone to enjoy. December's full moon has two more names. One is the Full Long Night Moon, which is a great title because this moon tracks higher across the sky than any other moon. December 21, the winter solstice, is the longest night of the year. On the other hand, you could call this moon the moon before Yule, it is the last moon before Christmas. At 4:40pm, East Coast time, we will experi... 12/12/2010

South of historic Wilmington, North Carolina, and just north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, lies the beautiful coastal village of Sunset Beach. Officially incorporated in 1963, Sunset Beach has been a quietly kept secret of residents and dedicated beach lovers. Over the decades, it has remained a wholesome, family-oriented community and was ranked as the #1 barrier island on the North Carolina coast by Duke University. Rankings were based on natural characteristics, quality of management, anticipated development and physical changes, and lastly, potential danger to people. Only 3 miles in length, Sunset Beach had North Carolina's last floating bridge in operation across the Intracoastal Waterway.   The new high rise bridge is open with absolutely no delays to Sunset Beach from the mai... 12/12/2010

Aren't we all sick of the Media splashing across the newspaper how the Real Estate Industry is doing this or that... Enough already!! They constantly make everything worst with their HUGE BLACK FONT BLARING REAL ESTATE SALES SLIDE    Grand Strand real estate sales slid again in November, a possible cause for concern, but single family-home prices continue to rise, according to data released Friday. So why didn't the media write in BLACK HUGE FONT----->>  SINGLE FAMILY HOME PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE?? Always writing negative instead of positive...D** THEM In the article some realtors were not concerned about the drop in sales and didn't see it as an indication of more troubles ahead. OF COURSE NOT  WE WANT TO BE POSITIVE YOU DUMMIES!!! The number of single family homes on the market was do... 12/11/2010

Yes, we said all the naughty dogs of the world... You know who they are and so do they.. Santa wants to put something under the tree for them this year just for being naughty.. You say naughty....get a present...just doesn't sound right Santa... Okay Santa..whatever.... Why are naughty dogs getting presents anyway?? Santa what could you possibly give a naughty dog?? Santa wants all the naughty dogs to get CRAZY CRITTERS for CHRISTMAS !!          These are STUFFING FREE TOYS so dogs can stop being naughty.. That's right no more dog toy stuffing around the house and no more naughty dogs!! THANKS SANTA ENJOY THE COOKIES WE LEFT FOR YOU!!     http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Critters-Stuffing-Free-Toy/dp/B003DKEB90 We found our stuffing free toys in Walgreens... 12/10/2010

"A smile doesn't cost anything, but can create many things. It can enrich those who receive it, without impoverishing those who give. It can happen in a flash and the memory of it can last forever. None are so rich they can get along without it, and none so poor but are richer for its benefits. It can create happiness in the home, foster good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends. It can be the rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and Nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away. And if in the last-minute rush of Christmas buying some of our salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave on... 12/06/2010

Sunset Beach is a very popular destination for familes, couples, and retirees looking to live a peaceful lifestyle at the beach.  You can enjoy breath taking views of the ocean or prsitine wilderness, the area offers it all.  With Sunset Beach NC real estate you can enjoy the best of both worlds from vacation areas to wilderness retreats. Sunset Beach NC real estate is very popular among potential residents because these condos and homes are very affordable for just about anyone.  You get the luxurious lifestyle without the ridiculous vacation area prices.  They offer property from oceanfront, close to the ocean, in gated communities, and in the country side. 12/06/2010

As I browsed the world of activerain to attain my daily doses of knowledge and wisdom it suddenly occurred to me how special this world has become because of computers and the internet. The reason being my son Travis, who lives in Boston is able to take a picture of his First Christmas Tree in his New Home and share this moment with us by emailing us a picture. How cool is that!!    We may not be able to see it in person right now but it really is special that we can see it this way. Sometimes we take life for granted but when special moments like this happen we need to realize how lucky we are to be able to do this when only a few years ago we weren't. Take some time to reflect on what we have now and be thankful .... We are!! 12/05/2010