11 years old and wants to Blog...now what do I do?

Jay and I are babysitting our 11 year old grandson Mikey tonight. Out of the blue he asks me to help him set up a Blog? He wants his own Blog!

He is only 11 and I really didn't know what to say. 

I asked him if he knows what a Blog is. He said yes of course he did and asked didn't I know all about Blogs???

Have you been reading my Blogs I asked? Yes, I have, he told me.  He particularly enjoyed the ski blog since it had his photo in it!  

So here he is wanting to Blog... I'm not sure how to let him have the feel for a Blog while keeping him off the web.  I suggested he write something and I'll post it on my blog...after all I'm always looking for guest bloggers. No thank you he said, he really wants his own blog.  I asked what will you write about? He said he'd write about things that he was thinking about...very simple he said!

He has had his own laptop for about a year now and truth be told he probably knows more about technology than I do.  For Easter he got a real Microscope and uses it all the time.

So maybe one of these days Michael will write something on my blog or maybe on Jay's blog.  Or maybe he'll start up some kids blog somewhere...I'd really not be surprised!

BTW...If you haven't been to Jay's blog you ought to check it out...he's doing awesome things posting videos of our listings! For a self taught Boomer he has really come a long way!  Click here to visit Jay's Blog.

By Monika McGillicuddy

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago as a  true humorous story  about a day in the life of a real estate agent...guess who the agent is? Me...thats right and my knee is still bruised and sore! Have a good chuckle...we all need a laugh now and then.

Some days you work nights....or better yet some days you just shouldn't work at all.
I've had a pretty interesting week...first there was my encounter with the lovely biker chick and then my encounter with Mr. closing dates aren't important.
I think I should have known enough to pack it in for the rest of the week.

Today we awoke to freezing rain...the dreaded black ice...there are few things in life I fear more than the dreaded black ice! Not a problem as I figured I'd just stay home and enjoy the big game ...which in my household is a big event.

Then...I got a call from a client wanting to take a look at a house I discussed with him yesterday...the house was empty and in need of total rehab. I knew that I could just go show and leave a voice message letting the listing agent know, as I had spoken with her yesterday.

I told my client that I don't do black ice...and if he really wanted to see it he'd have to come pick me up at my house and drive us.  He said okay and came and got me.
The roads were icy and he drove slow.

We arrived safely and walked about the outside very carefully due to the ice. This is a 200 year old home with 14 rooms and really should be torn down. Armed with flashlights we entered the home very carefully...there was no power, wood rot and un-level floors made for slow going. 

The first floor was pretty bad but when we found the formal stairway leading to the second floor it was a sight to behold. You could just imagine how it must have looked in its glory days...just awesome. The second floor was very intriguing...the workmanship and attention to detail just incredible but all in major disrepair...long neglected and looking for love!

After going through several rooms on the second floor we followed a long hallway with wood floors to the back end of house, stepped up 3 good sized steps and entered another level of the home...two rooms and attic access.  In the second room there was this funky round hole cut into the floor...right in the center of the room.
It was pretty dark up there...so I walked up to the hole and looked down and couldn't see anything at all. I said “I wonder what this hole is for?" at the same time my client walked up behind me and shinned his flashlight down the hole.

I'm embarrassed to tell you that when I saw what was looking up at me with it's eyes open...I freaked and let out a loud scream...my listing package flew out of my hands as I turned I pushed my client aside and ran hollering like a blubbering idiot out of the room...through the other room and you guessed it.....I forgot about the stairs so of course I fell down them whacked my head on the wall...still screaming now only harder as my body was as out of control as my mouth was!!!

 I landed on my knees...my body sliding down the hall way... I could hear my lock box ricocheting off the wall and my client yelling..."It's dead...it's dead...it's dead" ...I'm on all fours and could feel the warm blood pouring down my leg! I'm trying hard not to cry and praying that I didn't break my ankle again!

My client...he's freaking out trying to help me up...I'm okay but my leg is bleeding but he can't see that as I have on long pants...thank god.  Anyway I get up compose myself and tell him that I am breaking a cardinal rule in real estate but he would need to do the attic and the rest of the house without me as I’m done in the house and would wait for him outside...

The ride home was interesting and my client thank god he knows me well and likes me because I'm sure anyone else would have thought I was a nut case.  Did I tell you he was my ex brother in law...he tells everyone he kept me in the divorce because he likes me better than he does his brother!


Did I tell you what I fear more than black ice??  Mice...alive or dead it doesn't matter! 

I should have just stayed home today! 

My knee... it's okay it just looks like my thigh.

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH 

Make Memories...The Lasting Holiday Gift

By Monika McGillicuddy

Happy Holidays To All 


                      
 Make Memories this Holiday because those are gifts that last a lifetime...

Seems like just yesterday when we moved into our new home in New Hampshire...we didn't have much. My mom and dad packed us up..wasn't all that much to pack. They took us on a voyage that would bring us many miles across the sea... away from the only home they ever knew.

I can't imagine what that must have felt like. Taking your very young family, leaving your own family..mother, father, siblings and everything you knew and loved behind.
 
Leaving your comfort zone all in the hopes and dreams of a better life for your own children. Imagine arriving in the United States of America...not knowing the language and only knowing one person! Imagine how lonely and scary that must have been..to only know...one person!

My parents struggled and my dad worked two jobs..they scrimped and saved and eventually bought some land in southern NH. We all worked to clear that land...build a house and finally we were able to leave behind that small apartment and move into our new home...and what a home it was. 

I'll never forget that first Christmas..it was so magical..so special!!

This is really for my mom and dad...they are my hero's...I don't think I can ever really tell them how much their sacrifice means to me and how much I love them.  For anyone reading this.... Make Memories this year and have a Wonderful Extra Special Holiday!

Voting For The First Time In Salem New Hampshire!

Today my mom and dad voted for the first time!   How very exciting it was!!!

They became citizens on January 18 2006. They were sworn in by US district Chief Judge Steven McAuliffe (husband of Christa our NH teacher in space who died when the Challenger blew up), they were amongst 369 newly selected citizens of the USA.  It was indeed a proud moment as you can see by the beaming faces of Hans and Elfriede. The ceremony was very special ...... which will not be forgotten by those of us watching them that day.

Today as they went to vote they were a little bit nervous- the whole ballot thing but the directions were clear and they cast their votes. I am so very proud of them...I just had to share.

                                                                                   Don't they look cute??? 

Pretty Little flower photo by Jay McGilllicuddy