Kids are always thinking, When our kids were younger, much younger, we would never know what would come out of their mouth when we ask them a question.  Now with them in their 30's & 40's it still isn't much different.  When they were younger this little story reminded me of my middle child.  Now that they are older it sounds more like my youngest. An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?"  the boy thought it over and finally said, "Well, I'll run in and out and in and out and slamming the door until St. Peter says, "For Heaven's sake Dylan, come in or stay out!" All I can say is watch out St. Peter!! 01/23/2011

Are you ready for some Football? This is probably just one of many posts today talking about playoff football.  I am sure all of them will have something to say and the writers probably have a lot more knowledge than I.  But that is alright I at least know the four teams that are playing today and the times they will be playing.  And I will be in front of the one eyed monster watching!! These four teams are the cream of the crop; they have risen to the top of their divisions and are playing for the AFC and NFC championships so they will be able to play in the Super Bowl. So here is the lineup for today and times (all times are eastern time):                          vs.                           At 3pm it is the Packers vs da Bears                                        vs.             ... 01/23/2011

Have you lost your enthusiasm for the job? "Enthusiasm glows, radiates, permeates and immediately captures everyone's interest."  ~Paul J. Meyer I have a friend that, in my opinion after several talks, has lost his enthusiasm for the job.  A past Broker/Owner that just a few short years ago was full of excitement and love for the real estate industry.  You could see and feel that enthusiasm every day.  As Paul Meyer says he would capture everyone's interest with his enthusiasm and the energy that came from his excitement. If you have ever watched someone lose their excitement or enthusiasm about their job you know what I am talking about.    They will start by shutting down.  They will not be as interested in their job and stop doing what it takes to get the job even half done.  For a B... 01/22/2011

Serenity Valley Winery formally known as Vintners Cellar in OFallon MO is having a ribbon cutting....... Serenity Valley Winery formally known as Vintners Cellar in OFallon MO has won numerous medals in different competitions for their world class wines is having a ribbon cutting.   They are located at 973 Waterbury Falls Dr., O'Fallon MO 63368.  They will still be making the wines that have made them successful in the past. So why the name change?  Well as Vintners Cellar they were a franchise and now they are striking out and moving away from the franchise umbrella and going it by themselves.  With the quality wines that this small winery produces I do not think that Serenity Valley Winery formally Vintners Cellar will have any problems.  They will be having two ribbon cuttings: Janua... 01/20/2011

OFallon MO is preparing for round 3 of the "S" word..... "The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches." - E.E. Cummings  This has been an interesting winter in OFallon MO as we prepare for round 3 of the "S" word.  I can tell you that I am not ready for it and as I sit here thinking about it I honestly hope that it would go around us.  But, alas those guys that get paid BIG bucks for being wrong more than they are right, the weather prognosticators, are saying that we could get as much as 8" of the stuff!! That's alright "S" word; I am one step ahead of you.  I brought home work to do so I won't miss a step in the New Year.  Hey, I can even practice some more with Dragon Speaking Naturally and get rid of some more of the nerves. Have a GREAT day all even if you are in the sn... 01/19/2011

You are kidding right?  Stealth in OFallon MO? Alright who are you trying to fool?  The giant redwoods?  Aliens? Our political enemies?  The citizens of OFallon MO?  I have seen some tall trees BUT, nothing like this!   If you have not seen this stealth in OFallon MO you will find it at the corner of Mexico Rd and Sonderen.  Trust me you will not be able to miss this stealth in OFallon MO! The designers, of this 115 foot stealth tree in OFallon MO are trying to make it more appealing and help it blend with the terrain.  And it even went through the approval process of the city government.  Wait a minute how many other 100 foot trees do you see in this picture?  Well there are some other pines close by maybe that will confuse people enough to believe that this is a real tree and not draw... 01/16/2011

How is your year going? Here we are two weeks into the New Year.  We have our resolutions written, goals planned (both personal and business), and a whole litany of other items. Goals and resolutions are always fun to write and then walk away from.  Why is that I wonder? Is it easy because we are not committed to what we have written down?  Is it because we just copied and pasted last year's goals and resolutions to a new sheet of paper?   Could it be that we didn't share our goals with someone that could hold us accountable?  I did that one year and she looked at me and said "why aren't you out trying to get all that business".  We have all be hampered with bad weather, it seems as though there is only one state that hasn't had any snow, maybe.  Let's not get caught up in all that bad ... 01/15/2011

OHHH Please, Tell Me That You Didn't Ask Me That........ Let me say this is a rant right up front and I am sure that there will be some that will disagree and that's ok. Not too long ago I received a phone call from a fellow REALTOR®, at least I think she was, asking about one of my listings.  She asked if it was still available.  I answered Yes it is. She then asked if it was a foreclosure.  Again I answered Yes it is.  She then asked if she could schedule it to show and I said SURE.  I asked her when she would like to show it and she asked me if it was on a combo lockbox and my answer to her was No ma'am I have it on an electronic lockbox.  She then asked me why I had it on the electronic lockbox.......I almost fell out of my seat in surprise that she would ask that question. I told h... 01/13/2011

OFallon MO Real Estate Year over Year Statistics 2010 vs 2009 I have had the opportunity to call OFallon MO home since 1993.  During that time O Fallon Missouri has grown by leaps and bounds with a strong city government.  We have a semi pro baseball team, Rascals, that offers those in attendance the feel of  the old time baseball park and is very family friendly.  We also have a great school system, wonderful restaurants, and a business climate that encourages new business to locate to OFallon MO.  We have good access to two major highways which allow for quick travel into St. Louis and points East or to travel West to Kansas City or North to Hannibal MO.  We are also close to Wine Country where you could take a short trip to a winery and have a pleasant day enjoying some of Missouri's... 01/12/2011

SOS DD 1.11.11 IN OFALLON MO....... No this is not the post that you may be expecting about the date 1/11/11.  However that will be mentioned at some point in the post. Some of you may be wondering what SOS DD means and for those that think that they know let me clear up the confusion for you.  In this post the SOS DD stands for Same Old Snow Different Day in OFallon MO.  Thank heavens Snow starts with a ‘S' or I would really be up a creek without the proverbial paddle.  Last night when I went to bed there was a real grainy sleet type of snow falling.  So I didn't really think too much about it.  Then when I woke up this morning about 5am, that was a sleep in for me, this is what I saw out of my OFallon MO back door........ And this is what I say out of my OFallon MO  front door....... ... 01/11/2011

Monday Morning Motivation........1.10.2011 "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." Author Unknown There have been many times that I would just like to go back to the beginning and start over fresh when things haven't gone the way I had them planned.  Ever been there? Well we may not be able to go back BUT, we can start fresh right now.  And according to the unknown author start making a new ending.  That is even better!! So if things are not going as planned now is the time to make a brand new ending.  What better time than now? 01/09/2011

Motivational thought of the day...... I think that Henry Ford has captured the essence of happiness. "There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something."Henry Ford Think about it; your first win playing on a sports team in school (accomplishment = Happiness), your first date (accomplishment = Happiness), your first kiss (accomplishment = Happiness), your first car (accomplishment = Happiness), your proposal ACCEPTED (Accomplishment = Much Happiness), your wedding day (ACCOMPLISHMENT = MORE HAPPINESS).  You get the picture, right? Set a goal to accomplish one thing a day, every day, and watch the happiness increase in your life. 01/08/2011

Turtle Creek Subdivision in OFallon MO 2009 vs. 2010 Real Estate Update Located in the city of O'Fallon MO Turtle Creek Subdivision is a golf course community made up of different lifestyles.  Those lifestyles include Villas and Single Family Homes.  There is something for everyone.  I have had the opportunity to play the golf course a number of times and have never had a bad day of golf.  Now as far as my scores that is a whole other post. Turtle Creek Subdivision is close to schools, shopping, restaurants, places of worship, driving range, mini-golf, batting cages, Highway 70 and more. In looking at the year over year sales Turtle Creek subdivision is holding its own.  In 2009 there was nineteen(19) homes* sold and in 2010 there was seventeen(17) homes* sold. The days on market* for 2... 01/06/2011

So Where Have You Been, Glad To See You Back I have been asked that question by several folks lately.  And I think that I owe it to those that have been following me since 2008 when I joined ActiveRain.  For almost 18 months I was very active, writing blog posts, reading and commenting on my favorite writer's posts and occasionally surprise some of them with a phone call, even meet one of them for coffee while they were on vacation in Branson, MO.  Then all of a sudden I stopped.  Why?  What happened to make me stop all of this activity? The short answer for me was a detached retina.  On December 7, 2009 I was diagnosed with a detached retina and then 2 day later I underwent the first of 6 surgeries and being told to remove as much stress in my life as possible to aid the healing proces... 01/03/2011

Motivational Monday.....Words, Words and More Words T.S Eliot is quoted saying "For last year's words belong to last year's language.  And next year's words await another voice.  And to make an end is to make a beginning." Think about it for a minute, negative self-talk can be dangerous to our business.  We need to leave the negative talk from last year in last year. Last year is in the past, we have been given another chance in the new year to do things better.  A do-over so to speak! What voice will be given to this year's words?  The do-over that we have been given can either help or hinder.  Let's put some positive in our words and leave the negative in 2010. Our words, negative or positive, are our choice.  Remember "to make an end is to make a beginning." 31 Day Challenge for Janu... 01/02/2011

I love Football and........... .........I can sit and watch it all day long.  This is a good thing ‘cause that is all that is on the one eyed monster in my living room.  Bowl Game after Bowl Game since I don't know when.  Now here it is Sunday and we have the pros on the tube playing!  Geeeeez, enuf is enuf I am hanging up my cleats and getting out of the house and getting some fresh air.  I am turning off the TV, and heading to Mid Rivers Mall after putting a pot roast in the slow cooker for dinner.  I will do some people watching, have a late breakfast or an early lunch then take in a movie with the wife.  I know I haven't seen all 35 bowl games but I think I can do without another 4th and 1.  With the time I have spent in front of the TV this weekend I could have driven to Nashville,... 01/02/2011

Resolutions and Goals are they the same? I have come to the conclusion that YES they are.  They are just different names for the same thing. Stop and think about it:  We sit down and write out our goals, well some of us do, for our business for the coming year.  Then about a month into the new year we have forgotten where we put that sheet with the goals.  I at least try to remember where the goal sheet is but that is getting harder due to age. We sit down and write out our New Year's resolutions, some do, and then 92% of folks will stop following what they wrote down.  I quit doing new year resolutions many years ago.  What's the sense in it if I am just going to walk away from them anyway? Peter Drucker is quoted as saying, "Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degen... 01/01/2011

Happy New Year... "Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past." ~ Henry Ward Beecher 2011 will have plenty of opportunities for success if we let go of those things that held us back in 2010.  Keep looking ahead in this New Year. Happy New Year and may you be Happy and Healthy all year long. 12/31/2010

Some encouragement for 2011..... Just in case this old year has left you less than encouraged about the coming year.  Here are some thought about the New Year: Happiness depends upon your outlook on life. Attitude is just as important as ability. Passion find yours in 2011! Positive thoughts make everything easier. You are unique, with special gifts, use them.   New beginnings with a new year. Enthusiasm, a true secret of success. Wishes may they turn into goals.   Years go by to quickly, enjoy them. Energy may you have lots of it. Appreciation of life, don't take it for granted. Relax take the time to relax in this coming year. Countdown-Clocks  12/29/2010

Saying good bye to the old year and saying hello to the New Year........... Countdown-Clocks  We are nearing warp speed as we move ever closer to the end of this year.  It will soon be a memory and then at some point in time a very distant memory.  For some it has been a difficult year but we have all gotten through it.  That is the good news.  Let us carry with us the experience and knowledge of 2010 as well as our hopes and dreams for the future.  Let's resolve to leave any negative behind and continue the work that needs to be done.  Let's not cry because it is over, but smile because it happened. Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year!! 12/29/2010