Nothing is ever perfect is it? I walked outside on Wednesday to hop in my car and drive to the swap meet. (Yes, more orchid plants for $5 each) I sat in the drivers seat and reached over to close the door but something got in the way.

 A picture perfect cloudless sky.

Too lazy to get out of the car to get a picture perfect view for the snapshot, I sat right there and took the picture to find that the bark on the palm was peeling off.  

As we always say in Real Estate, "There are no two transactions that are ever alike".  We cross bridges galore and take care of the bumps and grinds behind the scenes so our client's home purchase or sale will be less stress free. And then we say, "What a smooth transaction we had".

There are just things that we seem to get accustomed to or work through and try not o sweat the small stuff. We evern learn to not sweat the big stuff because it's usually things that we cannot control.

No matter what....we work through it and deal with it.

I looked at this picture for the last two days and realized that it is as good as it gets. It will depend on the mind frame, time and space I'm in for any situation to take it's course and for any result to happen in a positive or negative manner.  

I'm choosing to look at this picture as a positive as I do with everything in life.

There are ALWAYS learning lessons.

It's not 'picture perfect' but it's good enough for me.

Why stay stuck when I can just move on? 

Have a great weekend!

TGIF.....

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© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved

Waking up this morning to ActiveRain (like every morning) brought me wonderful greetings for my birthday ...thanks to all!  But that's not what I want to write about. Kathy McGraw wrote a Monday Morning Gifts....Happy Birthday Sally but that's not what I want to write about either.

You see, ActiveRain Friends that I have made along my journey on ActiveRain is surely a bizarre way to meet people in our industry. But yes, I have made a few that have come to know me and who I am through my writing, talking with me and actually meeting me.

I met Kathy McGraw  in November of 2007 when she came to Hawaii and we have been close friends since. So close that she knows me and my antics. So, my birthday is coming up and last week she tells me I'll receive a package in the mail any day...and...DO NOT OPEN IT UNTIL MY BIRTHDAY.

It comes and I call her to let her know and ask if I can open it. NOPE. I can't believe she said no! lol! I don't open it. The next morning I finally open it and I read the note. I took the picture with the pens over a couple of words but it says, "HA! I told you not to open this early, but just like a little kid you couldn't wait".

I couldn't stop laughing and Gary is cracking up (he knows me too) saying HA HA, Kathy got you good!

Whatever...

I called Kathy cracking up and she knew I'd opened it.

That's probably the best present I have ever gotten. I love laughing (even though my mom calls it boisterous...I call it hearty :) and having friends who chime in with antics of their own.

In any event...another package comes a couple of days later and like I said...we come to know each other through this online and meeting with peers thing.

My other present from Kathy is the fairy card holder. I am an avid collector of fairies and I believe...there's a fairy (or angel or whatever you want to call it) in everyone. So, I'm going to have a wonderful day...thinking of the wonderful ActiveRain Friends I have come to know since joining ActiveRain in March of 2007. (thanks marti for the wonderful addition to your post too!)

My REAL present is all of you!

Mahalo to all!

We all have opinions because we're all human and all have different thinking. That's why we're all unique. BUT (that dreaded 'but') sometimes we need to take a step back and be quiet for a moment and think before we pound the keyboard.

I was waiting at the Chiropractor for my husband to get finished and picked up the Honolulu Advertiser. I read about Obama visits Hawaii and I saw that on the news last night as well so I moved on. Obama connects with the plate lunch spirit on Hawaii vacation and then I saw a picture of Obama jogging on Kailua Beach too.

I skimmed through more of yesterday's paper (you'd think they'd have todays) and then I was about to pass the Horoscopes and then flipped back. I read mine first ...it said the usual girlie stuff.....love and blah blah.  Then I read my husband, Gary's horoscope.  It said, "We all have opinions but sometime you have to learn that sometimes you have to keep quiet and not voice them".

Now, my husband argues with the news people on tv (and I miss half of what they're saying because he has his opinion lol). Anyway, I told him about it when we got in the car and he repeated what I just told him back to me. Hmmm.

I stopped to think about how so often we all are adamant about our opinions and feel the need to voice them. Sometimes I watch comment streams go back and forth and notice that sometimes someone can comment just to stick it to someone as well.

I had a grand learning lesson many years ago.

Being "honest" with others and expressing my opinions meant that I did not tell someone my opinon with the ulterior motive to hurt them. At that time in my life I wanted to be totally honest. I ended up hurting many people thinking I was doing the right thing. Be still my friend.

I'm glad I learned that lesson before blogging came into my life becaues I am still adamant about that lesson when it comes to blogging online.  

• There is that demeaning way some 'talk' to each other here that can break that connection with our purpose here. 
• And then there is that awesome professional and humane way we 'talk' to each other on ActiveRain that will strenthen our connection.

I think I will stick to the latter.

I love the friends I have made here.

Well, if you could just see Hawaii Randy running...yes, literally running to his car to beat me to blogging about our meeting with Cyndee & Jack Haydon along with their two wonderful boys!

Here's his story:  I Met the Haydens and Then Beat Celeste "WooHoo Sally" Cheeseman to Post About it

Yes, the Haydon Family made that LONG trip to Honolulu, Hawaii (unike Neal Bloom; who keeps saying the trip is too long) and have been surfing, snorkeling, sunning and funning for the last two weeks.

We met today at Zippy's Restaurant in Waipio Gentry around 11:15 and it was NON STOP talking with Randy and Jack LOL!  Actually, we all had a nice meal and joked, and laughed and shared stories. Some real estate and some just life stuff. I knew it would be like this....wonderful couple...wonderful family.

I 'met' Cyndee on ActiveRain towards the beginning of my blogging days. It was from her that I watched and learned how to do some Localism posts and evolved into what I'm doing today. It's with those early memories and that connection that brought us together to meet at this very moment in time. No matter how many members strong ActiveRain gets....it's the connections that matter.  Isn't this the meaning of success on ActiveRain? Professionals at their best for sure.

I have to say this. Cyndee and Jack's boys were two wonderful guys who had such personality too!  Usually, you'll see kids just messing around or just acting like being around grown ups was boring. Nope..not these guys. Telling me stories from fishing to catching crabs. At one point I looked up to see them by the hostess and putting their change into a machine. They came back with the mother load of toys in little capsules!  They went back up a little later and came back with more!  They said the gals gave them some free ones too.....and they emptied the machine!  Kids. Give us adults a couple of smiles and you just gotta melt. :)

Cyndee just called...I gave them directions to go see the Honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles) at Laniakea Beach and she just wanted to let me know they found them and thanked me. I'm sure she'll have plenty of stories to come after this!

The ActiveRain meeting with Peers strikes again...and I will forever cherish the pictures I have of the whole family and remember our little meeting....that meant so much.

Other past ActiveRain Gathering stories:

• 2008 First Hawaii ActiveRain Gathering a HUGE Success!
• Breeding Friends Through a REAL Estate Network: ActiveRain
• "Traveling the Road of Aloha....The ActiveRain MEETING with Peers"

 More Pictures:

I had to show this one...Randy trying to give that sexy wink LOL!

What a team LOL....

(I ate....and now it's time to go take a nap LOL)

Thanks for joining us in another sequel to Hawaii Meeting of Peers from ActiveRain!

A Hui Hou (goodbye..until we meet again) Cyndee, Jack & boys!

Back in April I wrote a post about a successful transaction from relocation clients in:  LIVE on VIDEO: A Hawaii Military Relocation Story Comes to Life

At the end I paid tribute to a wonderful escrow officer: Katrina Dangleman and following is the exerpt.

Note:  Katrina Dangleman, Escrow Officer with Title Guaranty Escrow in Mililani informed me yesterday that she is moving to Caifornia. She has been part of the driving force of the meaning behind "teamwork" and for many years....an important part of Title Guaranty in Mililani, Hawaii. Aloha O'e Katrina!  (Also, all of you out there keep a lookout. Katrina is going to be taking her Real Estate License test out there)

Well, she moved to Ventura County, CA. just a little over a month ago and I am pleased to inform you that she accepted my invitation to join ActiveRain and she also just passed her Real Estate test!

Please welcome a wonderful gal, an outstanding former escrow officer and soon to be successful Real Estate Agent and Realtor® in our Industry. WooHoo!!!!!

She wrote her first post here:  I Passed! and definitely is a successful gal who is striving to accomplish all her endeavors!

WooHooooo and welcome to Katrina!!!!

Back in November of 2007 I wrote about my meeting with Kathy McGraw  and it was called "Traveling the Road of Aloha....The ActiveRain MEETING with Peers"

She came to Hawaii with her daughter and five grandchildren, we spent time on the North Shore and sightseeing and well....we just clicked.

Since then we have kept in contact as if the friendship transpired many years ago and something to continue cherishing.

There are always instances when two paths cross...never to meet again. This is not one of those times.

There are times when people come into our life for a reason. This is one of those times.

There are times when two people meet.. their personalities like night and day. But yet, they click.

Kathy McGraw and I communicated since that meeting and over time we gained trust that only friends share. Through trials and tribulations, mistakes, errors in judgement on AR as well as knowing that emotions surely get in the way of blogging ...especially when we can't see the expressions; we survived as dedicated bloggers do.  I admire her dedication to keep the e-PRO Internet Technology group going...and having her own group SO CAL Pass Area Communities and other Interests going while dedicating herself to the POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul group and helping us to keep it clean from advertising and keeping the theme of the group just that. Positive.

Kathy sent me the mouse pad (in the picture) she had made for me .... and wouldn't ya know. She made sure to include a saying I often say.... "sleep well at night".

A friendship started through ActiveRain....that stretched across the Pacific Ocean and back but one thing is for certain.

I laugh. We laugh. A Friendship from past to present and future.

Blogging for Business....More Importantly....Bonding through and through. Thanks Kathy!

This ActiveRain blogger arises each day and repeats the same routine EVERY morning since March of 2007. She gets up and showers and gets ready to start the day. Bright eyed, bushy tailed and energized she trots to her desk.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is in the air. Ah, her husband has already made the coffee and has her pc up and ready to go. She logs in and takes her first sip of coffee and checks her email. Nope...the automatic emails from ActiveRain are still not on....but hey, she's thinking about turning it off anyway.

She focuses on her emails first and after responding to all she moves them to the appropriate client folder. Now, for the excitement that has been building up while getting through the emails.

She clicks on the internet knowing it is set to automatically go to ActiveRain....and ...and....and.... NOTHING but a "internal server error" and the rest white screen!

Oh, no! The cha cha is messed up now!

Now what?

• Click on Twitter and enter a few comments.
• Email seller's agent C-51 Home Inspection - Request for Repairs
• Check to see if AR is back up...nope
• Enter a new listing into Postlets
• Check to see if AR is back up...nope
• Decide to put the Postlets listing into Craigslist for Open House today
• Make copies of Roof Warranty, POA and Seller's Disclosure to give to seller
• Check to see if AR is back up....nope
• Fold clothes that just came out of the dryer
• Check Twitter to see if anyone responded
• Check to see if AR is back up...nope
• Update my www.hawaiihomesmarket.com website
• Update my www.hawaiihomesmarket.com/blog site (I just made this one)
• Check to see if AR is back up....yup!
• Go back to Twitter to see if anyone responded while writing this post. YUP. Answer ...
• Continue writing this post.

I found out one thing today. It can get very lonely if I have only ONE place to go blog and socialize. I now know why Twitter is a good thing. Everyone was over there twittering this morning.

 Jeff Turner told me to not trip on the why about Twitter...... and now I know why.

Our fellow ActiveRain member Kathi Frank first introduced us to Would you like to co-author a book? .  She asked ActiveRain members, "Who would like to contribute to writing this book?" After much thought a few of us wrote a chapter and we finally finished and it was sent to the publisher. The title (after much thought by all) is   "PROFIT FROM TECHNOLOGY - A Guide for Today's Real Estate Agent".

The Chapter I contributed is "Social Media and Blogging" and though I have written consistantly on ActiveRain for the past year, I found it hard to write a whole chapter! I finally finished with the minimum and stand true to what I write about, my loyalty to ActiveRain and all that I have learned here. 

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Following is the prologue to my chapter (which is what I write about all the time anyway):

"In early 2007 I joined an online network for the Real Estate Industry called ActiveRain Real Estate Network.  They said it was a blogging platform for peers in the Real Estate Industry to share information, knowledge, ideas, and well....to socialize.  How does one socialize without "talking" to someone face to face?

Commenting and responding to others posts is how it started for me. A new found way of marketing takes place with writing and releasing and sharing my thoughts, feelings, ideas and information with others. It becomes a give and take situation just like interacting in real life.

On occasion, I have had the pleasure of not only communicating through blogging but spoken on the phone with some of my peers. What really has been rewarding is actually meeting some of these industry related individuals...face to face.

In the following chapter I'll discuss my trials and tribulations as well as what I deem to be pertinent topics with social media and blogging for success in marketing and networking with peers, the public and the consumers relating to the Real Estate Industry....................................... " 

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It may have been edited some but you get my drift. 

Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain  just wrote "What is a Social Network?" .  I spoke to Rich a couple of weeks ago and asked him about "Twitter". Although I had joined that social network, I also joined a couple of other REAL ESTATE related sites as well as opened up a couple of outside blogs BUT I still come back to ActiveRain. Why? The blogging and social media all rolled into one. Everyone has their own idea why they are here and I believe there is no correct answer because of each individuals preference in business and writing and what it 'should' look like.

Thank you Kathi Frank! This was a great opportunity to express my view on 'Social Media and Blogging'. There are no separates for me and both are intertwined just as we do in real life with our clients.

Blogging and Social Media.....what a concept!   Balance is key to my success.

It all starts with an idea to do something great for the new member of ActiveRain. Melissa Grant started a "Hidden Gems in the Rain" to give back to the community and help out a member who may be writing and going unnoticed.  Our dashboard is huge and it is not as easy for me to look at the same writer continuously like I used to when I first started to "get to know them" and their writing without subscribing. My subscribed list became too large to continue doing that so now I peruse a couple of my favorite groups.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul group was founded  in June of 2007. Since I love Industry members who have wonderful positive attitudes that I can see in their writing I am going to pick a member who has contributed to the group and does not get noticed much on our dashboard but ought to be in the spotlight if not just for the following:

Mirela "m&m" Monte!!!     

Her Meme I've Been Meme'd. Should I Disclose That I Was Born In Transylvania?  will give you a bit more information about this writer who was grew up in Romania and above all believes in 'serendipty'. Quote:  "I believe in serendipity and my life is a series of random events that are beautifully orchestrated to mean something". 

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It is without a doubt that I believe we can pay it forward by helping a newer or even an older member who has not gotten noticed with their writing by contributing to this Hidden Gem series. When I became a member on March 10, 2007 there were about 19,000 members. Now there are almost 70,000 members and though not all are active there are many who post MANY a day and the good posts get passed by.

So, in order to keep this going I picked the following two members ......to find the next hidden gems.  These members have come a long way since they started and surely will contribute more by paying it forward to find the next hidden gems as much as they have supported the community throughout their membership. 

Diane Aurit  who founded the Newbies Again group for anyone starting over with another career, relocated to a new area or just plain starting over in life....this is a great group to tell your story. Diane has contributed a lot to this community and has become active in participating, paying it forward and just supporting other members. With a very positive outlook on her business and personal life too she has gone above and beyond in her quest for more knowledge and "starting over" in her real estate profession!

Marlene Bridges  who founded the Adventures in Real Estate group in December of 2007 to tell our real estate stories...interesting, entertaining and regardless if it happened to us or someone else...this is the place to tell your stories. Marlene has been outstanding support for me and others in the ActiveRain Community and I had the pleasure to finally meet her in person last week at the 2008 First Hawaii ActiveRain Gathering that was a HUGE Success!  After all this time blogging, talking on the phone and so forth....we finally met face to face.

So, take it away gals...and pay it forward! 

My Friday at the office was dragging by slowly and by the afternoon I was looking for things to do when another agent (who knows I'm an ActiveRain member) comes up to me with this Real Estate Executive Magazine and points to a picture, Underneath the picture there is a caption.

Quote:  "There is a fundamental strategic shift that is taking place in online real estate marketing. "Smart marketers no longer focus their online marketing campaigns on building one comprehensive website. Instead, they are working to cast their reach as wide as possible through social networkds and blogs," says ActiveRain's Jon Washburn.

Wow. That was pretty cool. This man here (I explain to the agent) is the President and Co-Founder of ActiveRain. So I read the whole article (just because Jon was in that section) and the whole article focused on "Stand Out from the Online Crowd". Turns out Jonathan had a section on "Get Connected With a Social Network" anyway, but the whole reading proved pretty valuable and will remain in that memory bank of my mind.

As we all know, websites never took off as blogging and social networking did. The Real Estate Industry has also turned to social networking and blogging for their businesses and wouldn't you know..... it has taken off like you wouldn't believe. We all have or will experience the benefits of our participation on ActiveRain.

BOB STEWART!   How many people were members on March 10th of this year? I asked him that somewhere before so now I'll ask MATT, JON, BEN, COREY, NICOLE....okay...that was all of them....but hey...maybe I'll get an answer now.  Anyway, that's when I joined ActiveRain and I believe it was somewhere around 18k or so at that time and look at us now!

In any case, this magazine was published way back when (because it says AR has 35,000 members) but Jon also talked about ActiveRain and how he compares it to an "Italian Piazza". He goes on to say....quote: "At the piazza, the local community gathers for camaraderie after the workday, and now, blog communites are online social hubs where people of similar interests gather to share and exchange ideas, as well as form relationships".

Everything I believe ActiveRain stands for was quoted by Jonathan in this article including and not limited to only the popularity of social networks and blogs but also the importance of reaching the consumer through a wide range of other social networks.

One thing is for sure. The support we give and get from our peers on ActiveRain is just as it would be offline and in our business. Teamwork and support right? It's not just about putting up an ad but getting our information out there for the consumer. From there the consumer will read and becomes part of this chain called networking.

I reread the ActiveRain's Weltanschauung and if you have not read it it is an enlightening part of Active Rain and their guiding principles and philosophy and a must read. What a concept for networking with our peers and giving invaluable information to the consumer.

I'll leave you with something to ponder. In this article another gentleman discussed the content of websites and blogs and why it is crucial to your website or blogs' success to put in or leave out certain things. 

**Do you promote yourself or real estate related material on your website/blog and what are you going to be remembered for when the public visits them?**

The Land of Aloha- The 50th State" Lend us your ear and give your "Spirit of Aloha" to help support a good cause! Active Rain Real Estate Network is an online community run by real estate professionals (Realtor®, Loan Officers, Escrow Officers, Stagers, Home Inspectors, Surveyors etc.) nationwide to provide valuable information as well as connect with our peers.

We ALL support each other in one way or another and the commaraderie I have seen and experienced on this network leaves me astounded every day as I read and write! 

Along our journey of writing for our network we come across many who are in need of support as well as a little helping hand regardless of the state we are in.

One of our members of Active Rain, Nick the Appraiser  is trying to raise money for the non-profit agency Hugs for Kids. Hugs for Kids has a common goal. To prevent child neglect and abuse by teaching expectant mothers the skills to prepare them for the birth of their children as well as teaching them to care for their child after birth. It will also help provide the basic necessities of formula, diapers and clothers for these newborns and will surely help give these young mother's a running start.

Read Nick's article to see what he's going to do for this cause:   Shave your Head for Charity - Nick's fund raiser  by Nick the Appraiser.  Here is the website wish list for this fundraiser with info and a running totat to date: www.shaveyourheadforcharity.com

Other articles to support his cause:

Ruth & Jim Jacobs Nicolas, Our Hero, Shaving His Head for "Hugs for Kids"
Rick & Ines Shave your head for charity - Let's help Nick's fund raiser
Fran White Bald in the Rain
Maggie Dokic - Will You Give Up 1 Dinner Out To Help A Child? 
Sarah Cooper - Time to Strap On Your Wings!   
Sarah Cooper - Is That All You Got?! 
Shane Leady - Apella's Friday Community Connection - Active Rain Members Support Their Communities

Nick the Appraiser......Update/New Story -Hugs For Kids

FOR DONATIONS:
        Make checks out to: Hugs for Kids
        in the memo put:  Healthy Families - client's incentive

        MAIL TO:
        ATTN: Nick the Appraiser
        Quantum One Realty
        3307 Northlake Blvd, Suite #103
        Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33403

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Also, one of our members, Karen George is fighting breast cancer and any contributions (gift cards.monetary)would be appreciated. Read the following article for more information.

Contributions For Karen George: Response To What You Can Do To Help

Please send your contributions to:

Karen George

C/O Calie Waterhouse

1900 W. Chandler Blvd. #15-282

Chandler, AZ 85224       

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Kokua means: The caring and kindness with the desire to be of help.

Aloha Spirit means:  Even in a stressful situation or environment, we as a people have a sense of caring and kindness to those around us.

Your kokua and aloha spirit would be very much appreciated!     

Mahalo nui loa! (Thank you very much!)

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Mililani Hawaii Real Estate Blog 2007

I am posting this mainly for members like me who are not all that "blogger literate" in the outside Active Rain world of blogging.  This is more of an encouraging post for first time blogger's because there are many "new" members who feel "less than" compared to the "pro bloggers" (or even the new members who are actually "pro bloggers" on the outside anyway) This is for all of us still learning.

I joined Active Rain on March 10th of this year and did not write a post until the 20th of March. I had no clue what to write about or what this was all about! Over the months I made a decision that I would produce "CONTENT" and also what "type" of writing I was comfortable with. The ONLY way I could really write was to have variety and just write what came from the depths of my soul. I know this sounds kind of corney but hey! That's okay because I'm one of those people who has to give a little personal side of myself to the member, the public, the consumer and my client's! (So they can "see" me)

Searching around for great writers on Active Rain or outside blogs appears to me like this:

• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: We will always have different opinions on what a good blogger/writer looks like. We're human. No two people think the same and we will ALWAYS have different preferences for reading.
• Hard core Real Estate or Mortgage Information:  I'm not talking strictly advertising. I really doubt any of you like to read advertisements either. (I personally start surfing television channels to get away from advertisements so you know what I do here. Click.) I'm talking REAL real estate or mortgage information about the industry.
• Entertaining/Creative/Inspirational/Internal: It depends on the kind of content each reader is interested in. If they want to read all "business" type of articles, business mixed with a personal side of the writer, variety (including hilarious or plain nonsense to lighten ones day) or flat out downright very personal. The whole thing about this is CONTENT.

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The three bloggers (Actually, the first one has three inside of hers as well) and posts I chose are as follows:

Laurie Manny Challenge - 3 Posts I Think You Should Read by Lenn Harley :  She not only has posted three great bloggers  (Bryant Tutas, Linda Davis and Jeff Turner) in her post but she is one great writer of