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The Social Media “Village Green” is the Place for Local Businesses to Meet
Social media is creating the online villages, towns and cities of the future. Instead of a geographic center of town, each is centered around common interests.
Our new virtual realtionships can be broken down into 3 types of communities:
Cities hold millions of people, and so do large social media platforms. Belonging to a [...]
20Dec2008 | Pat | 1 comment | Continued
How Do You Remember Our Veterans?
Today is Veteran’s Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada. No matter what country or Holiday Title, it’s a day both countries have set aside to remember those who have fought for our individual rights and the freedom we enjoy as citizens of North America.
I am thankful to each and every [...]
Learning to Learn in an EmpowerMind Workshop
Yesterday I took my son to an EmpowerMind Workshop in Oakland County, Michigan. EmpowerMind is an educational workshop offered by Kim Kassner. She teaches preteens, teens and adults how to determine their learning style and then process information by capitalizing on their personal strengths.
I realized my children learned differently than what was expected [...]
The Results are Still Positive 15 Years Later
It feels like yesterday when I arrived at the hospital 2 weeks overdue with a planned inducement. I was no longer afraid of going through labor; the discomfort of being huge had remedied the fear quickly. After hours of the “drip,” labor contractions were still glaringly absent and the doctors informed me that [...]
21Oct2008 | Pat | 6 comments | Continued
Not My Typical Weekend
Typically on the weekend I wake up, work until noon, go for a run, bike ride, kayak or boat ride, make dinner, eat and play a little World of Warcraft. (Horde Rocks!)
This weekend was different. Instead of fighting murlocks I was fighting blight.
Recently I joined a networking group called Motor City Connect to learn [...]
Detroit on Foot: 10th Annual DAC - ULI Downtown Walking Tour
Last night I had the pleasure of seeing a new Detroit, a Detroit I didn’t know existed. I’ve lived in Michigan nearly three years and have only traveled downtown a handful of times. Each visit was enjoyable and made me appreciate the Motor City a tiny bit more than I had before the visit.
Last night [...]
Good Real Estate Sense from Gary Keller founder of Keller Williams International Realty
I had the good fortune to hear Gary Keller founder of Keller Williams International Realty speak in Livonia Michigan yesterday thanks to an internet invitation from Michael Simko of the Keller Williams Woodward Market Center in Royal Oak.
“Shift Happens. Always has, always will.”
Gary Keller spent over three hours providing an overview of some of the [...]
Catch a Wave with Tofino’s Pacific Surf School
Recently I saw a movie called The Bucket List. Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman are two terminally ill patients that complete their “to do” lists before they “kick the bucket”.
Although not facing impending death, I too have a very long bucket list. I recently got to check one of the items off my list when [...]
Tortoise and the Hare
I have just recently started running on populated paths so I am finding myself evaluating other runners I pass - rather, that pass me - on my treks. Mostly they are shirtless males, that run like the wind and make it look easy. (How many of you women are considering running now?)
Last week on the [...]
Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler
I just finished reading Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler.
I love to read but finding time to sit down and enjoy a novel is scarce so Oracle Bones was the perfect read for me. I found it an easy book to pick up and put down as time allowed and I am ashamed to announce that [...]
Head Games Run Rampant
“Just til the end of this song.”
“Okay, I can make it til the end of the mile.”
“Run another 5 minutes and see how you feel.”
“Well there’s no sense in walking the whole way back so I may as well run it.”
I wonder, does this self-talk happen to all runners? Am I the only one who [...]
My Empty Canvas
Well here it is. My Blog. An empty canvas.
I can create whatever I want. Hmmmm… what do I want?
Apparently a blogger needs to determine a purpose for the blog:
to share real estate related information as it pertains to being a Virtual Assistant.
to share real estate related information as it pertains to having or wanting a [...]
Do Built-ins Add Value to Home Sales?
My absolute favorite part of being a Virtual Assistant is seeing pictures of homes that my Realtor clients list.
It doesn’t matter whether the house is selling for $100,000 or $1,000,000, I find the process of sifting through the pictures, adjusting them for a variety of mediums enjoyable. The fact that I earn money while doing [...]
Feeling Lucky in the Storm Aftermath
I spent a fun-filled birthday weekend in Southern Ontario and Buffalo, but came home on June 8th to storms, chaos and no electricity.
As I drove north along M5, I was serenaded by tornado sirens and found myself spending more time keeping an eye of the sky instead of the road.
We were fortunate, no home or property [...]
Hello World! I’m Having a Mid-Life Crisis!
So how is it that I ended up with a blog instead of a cute little sports car?
How is it that I ended up a work-at-home mom instead of the globe trotting individual I wanted to be?
Therein lies my mid-life crisis! How does one with global dreams end up leading a life of practicality?
There are [...]
Rip Van Runner
I started running in April of 2007. After walking around in a state of exhaustion for 12 years, I suddenly felt like Rip Van Winkle; I had awoken from a long sleep and I had more energy than I could expend! So, I began running.
I’ve always wanted to run but never felt “fit” enough to [...]
That was AWESOME!! THANK YOU!!!! 
Pat,
This is such an inspiring tribute to your son Brett! Life is good.
Jeanne 
My favorite photo is the one with both boys and the christmas trees.... :) 
Yeah, me too. As long as RobotJames doesn't start intruding into my life and suddenly I hear "I'm sorry Robin, ...
HEEEEY! this is absolutely adorable. I can't say I know what you're talking about, but I know that no matter ...
I'm pretty sure that somewhere in all of the things we've collected over the years, Christine and I each have ...
Hi Pat - Thanks for sharing this! Great to catch up with you and your family this summer. Glad we're ...
Pat,
I remember reading this article back then and thinking it was profound then but in reading it again now that ...
I= Income
R= Rate
V= Value
Income/ Rate = Value
So, $84,000 is your net income after expenses. Do not include Mortgage payments as ...
