One That Got Away

(3^rd in series “Real Life...in Real Estate”)

NARRATOR:     Referrals are the Life-blood of our Real Estate Business!

             These come from past customers/clients.

             They come from business organizations to which we belong.

             They come from community endeavours in which we participate.

             They come from neighbours or friends.

             They come from other Realtors we know from out-of-town...

             with whom we reciprocate business (referral fee agreed upon).

             The foregoing are Our Eyes and Ears for anyone considering

             to Buy or Sell. We cannot be omnipresent, although we try.

             This story began in early February 1996.

The players are:       Linda The referring Sales Representative

                                 Kimberly and James The Buyers (Purchasers)

                                 Cathy The Buyer Sales Representative

LINDA : Cathy, I have a really good referral for you! Kimberly and James 

have a home on Lake Erie which I have just sold, and conditional  only on              financing and they want to move to Burlington; they both work and have good      incomes, no children but 2 friendly dogs that go with them everywhere (except work). Maximum purchase price is probably about $180,000 and the closing date will be May 31^st. Here is their telephone number; they will be expecting your call. Good Luck...and keep me posted.

CATHY: Thank you so much, Linda. Sounds like a wonderful couple to work with.

Shall we assume the usual “referral fee”?

NARRATOR: On February 14^th,Cathy met with James in her office to show 
him a few properties on the computer which would satisfy their needs, interests and lifestyle. Conversation was generated in order to develop a good rapport

...including their dogs which constitute their family. She gave him picture print-outs so he could show them to Kimberly that evening.

JAMES: Cathy, I would like to drive by these addresses first, so if you can give me

a map and mark a “drive route” for me, I'll take time to do this today

to eliminate some...and see only those of interest to us.

CATHY: James, give me a call on the weekend so we can arrange appointments

next week for you to see these.

JAMES: That'll be Great! It's easier for me to preview these, then select 4 or 5

for Kim to see with me. She really trusts my judgement!

CATHY: James, I'd like to discuss Purchaser Agency Agreement with you which

ensures that I am working on Your behalf and will solely represent You in the purchase of your home. It also commits you to work directly with me. Would 

you please read through this Agreement with me and we can sign it together?

JAMES: I'm really more than satisfied with you, and I can see that you are keen to

find us a home. I'm totally dependent on you since you know the area So Well and I assure you that we will deal strictly with you. I really don't see the need to sign this. You have My Good Word!

NARRATOR: Cathy and James began an exchange of information on suggested properties by telephone and fax. They met again on February 20 and 24 to view

further homes of interest (approximately 5 or 6 each time).

CATHY: James, would you consider Waterdown? I suggest this because I can meet most of your home requirements within your price range; Waterdown is 

also a little closer for Kim's drive to Cambridge daily.

JAMES: We don't want to go to a small town. We feel we've been isolated long enough and want to return to normality and Enjoy City Life!!!

NARRATOR: Kim came with James on March 2 (Saturday) to view 4 homes he had selected form his previous times out.

CATHY: Kim, we've saved this one home until the last because it's located 

near  Highway 5 and nestled in Brant Hills on a quiet street. The lower level

is beautifully finished and includes a workshop for James. He is certain

you will Love It!

KIMBERLY: Cathy, I do love the house! It's perfect INSIDE and the back yard is gorgeous with its immense deck and gardens, but somehow I don't care for the OUTSIDE look of the house from the street. I'll need to think about this one.

CATHY: There are 1 or 2 ways you could improve its appearance which perhaps

will satisfy you. Try new landscaping with a tiered front garden and/or try

placing awnings on the upper windows and the living room window...awnings

that will allow light to filter through and not darken the interior.

JAMES: Kim, you are being So Picky! We're not going to find a PERFECT HOUSE! There is so much about this home that is Right for Us!

KIMBERLY: Cathy, you have an Open House this afternoon; I in the meantime 

we will take the dogs for a walk and have lunch. James and I will talk about an offer on this home. We'll see you at 4 pm at the end of your Open House.

NARRATOR: That afternoon, James and Kim didn't show up at Cathy's Open House, nor did they call her. In the evening, she tried to reach them, but could only leave a message on their home phone. No call on Sunday either, nor could

Cathy reach them...so left a second message for them.

       IT'S AT TIMES LIKE THESE ... THAT WE GET THAT “JITTERY,

       SINKING FEELING” THAT SOMETHING'S NOT QUITE RIGHT!

                           ...and on Monday came the answer...

JAMES: Cathy, I have some good news and bad news for you. Which shall I tell you first?

CATHY: Give me the bad news, so hopefully we can enjoy the good news!

JAMES: We didn't want to do this and we really intended to buy through you. 

On Sunday, we drove into Waterdown and saw a couple Open Houses. We

told the Sales Reps on site that we were dealing with you and that was just fine

with them. Then on leaving Waterdown, we saw another Open House on a

PRIVATE FOR SALE...thought we'd look at it anyway...probably wouldn't

even like it...so we went in........

CATHY: to herself saying (Oh, No, No, No)...And then, what happened?

JAMES: The home had EVERYTHING we wanted and the location is great! 
We did tell the owner we were working with you, but he said, “I'll have 
nothing to do with realtors. They had my place for sale for several months
for $189,000 and didn't even bring me an offer. Now I've dropped it to

$179,000 ... there's no room left for real estate fees. So , if you want it...

you buy through me directly.

CATHY: Have you signed the offer yet?

JAMES: Our lawyer is drawing it up and we're returning to see the owner

tonight to sign it.

CATHY: James, the best I can tell you is that I'm pleased you found a home

you both like, but I regret I hadn't the opportunity to represent you

in the purchase.

JAMES: We do want to thank you so much for your work in Burlington and 
we did tell you we would not be interested in Waterdown. Linda could not have selected a better Sales Rep to act on our behalf. I felt we even became good friends! If we're ever in a position to recommend you to anyone, we'll be sure 

to do so.

CATHY: Good luck to you and Kimberly. I hope you enjoy your home!

(aside, she thinks...how difficult it is, sometimes, to be sincere!)

NARRATOR: Later on Monday, Cathy called Linda to relate the foregoing events..

CATHY: Linda...my news is not the Best...not what we had anticipated.

LINDA: You don't need to tell me; I already know. James called me last night

when they returned home. I advised them to call you themselves and

make apologies. We can't win them all...and as we say in our business...                                “Sometimes, Buyers are Liars!” 

Just remember to keep in touch with them, because one day they'll move again...and now ...”They Owe You Big Time!”

NARRATOR: Later that afternoon, a gorgeous flower arrangement arrived at Cathy's office. The entire staff was envious and thought it to be from one 

of her satisfied customers.

                                      The enclosed card said it all:

                                      We are SO SORRY!

                                      We never planned for this to happen.

                                      We hope these flowers

                                      will brighten your day!

                                       ...from Kim and James.

                 Every day, Cathy looked at her flowers and thought of them

                 as her Substitute Pay Cheque...which pays No Bills

                                    yet..the flowers were beautiful!

                                        .................................................

(Names have been changed to protect their identities)

I was actually Cathy in this playlet.

"Pearl of Wisdom"

Keep a green tree in your heart

and  perhaps a singing bird will come.

(Chinese Proverb)

 

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . re-composed December 19, 2011

Comments appreciated ... scroll down ... (may sign in as “anonymous”)

or ... inezkate@gmail.com

Family Humour

Where do Red-headed Babies Come From?

After their baby was born, the panicked father went to see the Obstetrician.

“Doctor,” the man asked, “I don't mind telling you, but I'm a little bit upset because my daughter has red hair. She can't possibly be mine!” “Nonsense,” 

the doctor said...”even though you and your wife both have black hair, 

one of your ancestors may have contributed red hair to the gene pool.”

“It isn't possible,” the man insisted. This can't be. Our families on both sides 

had jet-black hair for generations.” “Well,” said the doctor, ”let me ask you 

this question. How often do you have sex?” The man was a bit ashamed. 

“I've been working very hard for the past year. We only made love 

once or twice every few months.”

“Well...there you have it!” the doctor said confidently...

“It's Rust!”

The Will

An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. 

He went to the doctor...and he was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%. The elderly gentleman returned

in a month to the doctor and the doctor stated, “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.”

The gentleman replied, “Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times.”

I Didn't Do It!

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in 

their pyjamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers 

strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, 

as was the front door of the house.

Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess! A lamp had been knocked over and the rug was wadded against the wall. The Family Room 

was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the Kitchen, dishes 

filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door 

was wide open, a broken glass lay under the table and a small pile of sand 

spread at the back door from a toppled pail and shovel.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothing, looking for his wife. He was worried she may be ill or that something serious 

had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way 

out of the Bathroom door. As he peered inside, he found wet towels, scumming soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet tissue lay in a heap 

and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the Bedroom, he found his wife...still curled up in her pyjamas, reading a book. She looked at him...smiled...and asked him how his day went. 

He looked bewildered and asked, “What happened here today?”

She again smiled...and answered, “You know, every day when you come home from work...and you ask me, “What in the world did you do today?”

“Yes...” was his incredulous reply. She answered, “Well, Today I Didn't Do It!”

(The foregoing...from a Family Magazine I recently read in Connecticut)

I debated, “Is this Humorous? “ or is it

“a Sad State of being Unappreciative?”

Geography Lesson...A New Spin

Geography of a Woman

Between 18 and 22: A woman is like Africa half discovered, half wild, fertile

                                 and naturally beautiful.

Between 23 and 35: A woman is like Europe ~ well developed and open to
                                 trade, especially for something of value.

                               

Between 36 and 40: A woman is like Greece ~ and gently aging, but still
                                  a warm and desirable place to visit.

                         

Between 41 and 50: A woman is like Great Britain ~ with a glorious and all

                                 conquering past.

Between 51 and 60: A woman is like Israel ~ has been through war,
                                 doesn't make the same mistakes twice and
                                 takes care of business.

Between 61 and 70: A woman is like Canada ~ cool, self-preserving,
                                 but open to meeting people.

After 70: She becomes Tibet ~ wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past

                                 and the wisdom of the ages...an adventurous spirit ...

                                 and a thirst for spiritual knowledge.

Geography of a Man

Between 1 and 80: A man is like Iran ~ ruled by a couple of nuts.

(Thank you, Sydney, for this Geography Lesson)

Husbands are Husbands

A man was sitting reading his papers when his wife hit him round the head 

with a frying pan. “What was that for?” the man asked. The wife replied, 

“That was for the piece of paper with the name Jenny on it that I found in your pants pocket.” The man then said, “When I was at the races last week,
Jenny was the name of the horse I bet on.” The wife apologized and
went on with the housework.

Three days later, the man is watching TV when his wife bashes him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious. Upon regaining awareness, the man asked why she had hit him again. Wife replied...

”Your horse phoned!”

Bus Ride

                         Son:   Mom, when I was on the bus with Dad this morning,

                                   he told me to give up my seat to a lady.

                         Mom: Well, you have done the right thing.

                         Son:   But, Mom, I was sitting on Daddy's lap!

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . written October 18, 2011

Comments always appreciated ... scroll down

or e-mail ... inezkate@gmail.com

From Ruins to Happiness

(2^nd in series “Real Life...in Real Estate”)

The “Beach Strip”

We call it “the Beach Strip”...actually known as Lakeshore Road as it follows from Toronto through mid-Burlington along the north shore of Lake Ontario. 

At this juncture, Lakeshore Road bends around the western tip of the lake 

to the canal entry from the Lake into Burlington Bay and Hamilton Harbour. 

The Skyway Bridge soars high above the canal permitting ships from the

Great Lakes and abroad to reach Hamilton's berthing piers.

The “Beach Strip” is a unique community with peoples who “hang together” participating in year round activities. There were homes on both lake-side 

and bay. Today, most of the lakefront properties were purchased by the 

City of Burlington (home owners were on land-lease contracts which expired). Today, parkland from Spencer Smith Park extends to the Skyway Bridge (canal). Same situation occurred on the Hamilton side.

All these homes along the Beach Strip were initially “summer homes” for Hamilton's working class families. My Aunt Inez told me of times when she 

and a couple secretaries from her office rented one of these homes for several summers. Each morning before busing to work, they would have a dip in the 

Bay waters...and again upon return to their summer “retreat”.

I had business acquaintances who engaged my services to market their property on the bay side along this section of Lakeshore Road. The owners, who had moved to Grimsby, rented the bungalow near the street; at the rear of the property was also a small two-bedroom house rented to a middle aged bachelor who loved life there, under the traffic noise of the bridge. This was a “grand-fathered property”...illegal today, yet permissible at time of construction

several years previously.

Within a couple months we had an acceptable offer on the property...with the transaction closing in two months. One day, when returning from Hamilton to Burlington, I noticed the access to the Lakeshore Road extension to the Skyway Bridge was closed. Seeing gray smoke rising into the sky, it was evident there must be a fire. Unbelievable! It was the home I had recently sold! The family 

had left on a Saturday afternoon to shop...and someone had inadvertently 

flipped a cigarette butt into the garbage bag on the back porch. The house 

could not be saved! The family lost all their possessions! The Buyer cancelled 

his contract! The owners put in claims for insurance coverage.

What a Mess it was! Hanging wires! Dilapidated roof! Walls ready to tumble!

Debris all over the place! When all was resolved, the owners decided

to sell the property “as is”!

It was a Sunday morning that I received a message on my pager to call a certain party. They were a couple ( late 20's to 30ish in age) out for a spin on their bicycles ...enquiring about the situation of this said property. Could they view it inside? No!...due to safety hazards! I advised them that the property needed a total removal of debris, wires, etc. and total rebuilding from the foundation up. 

I left my apartment immediately to meet with Russell and Helga in front off this “place of shambles”. They were delightful and ambitious...with a dream

of owning their own home. Her employment was with a bank in downtown Toronto. He was a Home Renovation Specialist with cabinetry skills. Their desire was to make this property an appellation of their dreams! We prepared an Offer to Purchase, accepted by the Grimsby owners; notice was given to the tenant in the rear home on the property to vacate. The transaction closed in 60 days.

The Reconstruction

There were obstacles to overcome: removal of all the debris; gutting the house to its foundation; land study revealed a new septic system be installed; permits required for construction demanded that he NOT extend the foundation; nor could he alter the size of the secondary house on the property; finally a building plan of construction requiring approval from the Building Department. His designed plan was for a 1 1/2 story house which would provide a “lake view” from the upper level.

Their first project was to “update” the rental house at the rear...installing new flooring, new cabinets and counters, remodelled bathroom, re shingled roof. From the rental income (a woman with small boy and a dog), they purchased construction materials for their own house to be rebuilt on its original foundation.

Russell worked daily on their “Dream Home”; Helga assisted him every weekend...erecting drywall and taping; learning construction tasks as he 

taught her; she installed flagstone walkways both front and rear. Their enthusiasm was amazing! Frequently, I was invited to observe their progress: 

an open-concept Living Room/Kitchen; spacious windows offering views

unseen previously; the exterior facade was of modern acrylic siding; a front covered verandah. Then, we'd lunch and coffee at Tim Horton's following 

which they returned to their Sunday project. I was So Proud of their endeavours.

Beside this property was a vacant grassy lot owned by the City...which Russell and Helga accepted as “their little park”. When friends came to visit, they played baseball, catch football...even a few games of croquet. Sometimes...with a picnic basket and blanket they strolled across the road and up a sloping sand dune to “view the view“ of the Lake's expansive waters.

It came as a surprise in the mail ~ a Wedding Invitation, to the marriage of Russell and Helga! Location? Their new home on Lakeshore Road...with permission from the City for cars to park on “the grassy lot” adjacent to their home!

Comfortable chairs were placed in the home for their guests. Yes, Russell 

wore a tuxedo and Helga a gorgeous satin gown. Her parents walked her 

from their car, along the flagstone walkway to the veranda and the flower-bedecked altar. The Reception was in the back garden, set with tables, candles and flowers. A violinist accompanied the wedding ceremony and reception.

What an Achievement! And a Dream Come True...for this most deserving couple!

(Names have been changed to protect their identity)

Merle's  Pearl of Wisdom:

"If God sends us on strong paths,

we are provided strong shoes"!

(Corrie ten Boon) 

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . written December 18, 2011

Comments appreciated ... scroll down (may enter as “anonymous”)

or ... inezkate@gmail.com

Business Humour III

Boodro Goes to Europe

Boodro, a furniture dealer from downtown New Iberia,
decided to expand the line of furniture in his store,
so he decided to go to Europe to see what he could find.

He arrived in Berlin in early morning, but had an afternoon appointment
with the furniture maker, so he decided to visit a small bistro during his wait.
As he sat enjoying his wine, he noticed that the small place was quite crowded, and that the other chair at his table was the only vacant seat in the house.

Before long, a very beautiful young Berlin girl came to his table;  she
asked him something in German (which Boodro couldn't understand);
so he motioned to the vacant chair and  invited her to sit down.  He tried
to speak to her in English, but she did not speak his language.  After a
couple of minutes of trying to communicate with her, he took his napkin
and drew a picture of a wine glass and showed it to her.  She nodded,
so he ordered a glass of wine for her.

After sitting together at the table for a while, he took another napkin,
and drew a plate with food on it...and she nodded.  They left the bistro
and found a quiet cafe nearby that featured  a small group playing
romantic music.  They ordered lunch...after which he took another napkin
and drew a picture of a couple dancing.  She nodded and they got up to dance.

Boodro never had so much fun!

Back at the table the young lady took out a napkin and drew a picture
of a four-poster bed, which reminded Boodro of his appointment...
so he abruptly left.

To this day, Boodro still has no idea how she figured out
he was in the furniture business!

Merle Baird-Kerr ... written October 12, 2011

Wish to comment?  Scroll down...may enter as “anonymous”
or e-mail ... inezkate@gmail.com

Beyond Control

Sherrie has been a long time personal friend who was instrumental

in my decision to create ... “Merle's Kaleidoscope of Life”.

She has been to me, a great inspiration whose intellect and

philosophical outlook on Life impress me.

This article she wrote, so befitting, following

my publication of “Message from Clouds”.

Things Happen ... Often Beyond Our Control

        When I was a young child, I wondered all the time about the world. 
I spoke to strangers. I wandered off...often for a few hours. I experienced life 
in its fullest even then. I had very few restrictions and always felt free. 
However, looking back, I believe my parents were controlling me all the while with “Love and Understanding” all the time and that is what gave me this freedom...
plus my freedom-loving-personality-sign of being a Sagittarius. 

My parents were Gemini and Leo...both friendship signs for me.

Now, being the free spirit I really am, I also know if you are not in control, 

you can lose the most important things in life: good love, good education, 
good home and good job. They are all there, but you need to learn to control well...
or you can end up forfeiting all.

I am lucky in my life as I learned half way through, how to “control me”. 

I used to be the “CONTROLLED ONE”!  Yet, I discovered and knew a way 

to work around it...to survive and be flexible. But now, I am learning to control myself...by listening and loving fully and with the belief that one can attract 

good things in life if one wishes to! It is not beyond your control if you are 

aware of your surroundings and what makes you tick. Being involved and 
fully engaged in the wonderful study and performance of Reiki,  First Degree, 

I am helping others every day!

My personality, I have studied personally and others who are intimately connected 
to me; that is how I have survived well. It's fun “knowing me” and what 
I am really here for. It took almost half my life and lots of travel 

and studying my true nature...but I have landed! My adventurous ways, 

being a Sagittarius, are tempered with my Chinese sign of an “Ox”. 

             I am so proud being me! I even know my Numerology! 

 

I recommend everyone to find this out about themselves as it's enlightening...

getting to know yourself...because, when you are free like this, you can help

and understand others. I am here to do this for you...

just let me know your Birth Date.

sherrielynn@cogeco.ca

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . January 14, 2012

Comments appreciated ... scroll down (may sign in as “anonymous”)

or ... inezkate@gmail.com

Messages From Clouds

One day last summer, 'long our Lake Ontario beach,
we glanced at the cloud-laden sky.
Unusual formation of broad diagonal bands
seemed to criss-cross...other narrower clouds.
I noticed the sandy ripples ... at the water's edge.
Rivulets from far-away waves, gently washed ashore.
I loved to barefoot walk through crystal-clear waters
to feel these little ridges ...tickling my toes.

I was driving to Toronto ...
and dominating the sky
was a large irregular puffy "white"
quickly scudding eastward.
The trail of six or seven smaller puffs
moved in unison...behind the engine a-front.
Chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug
the train seemed to spell...in its hurried sky-run.

The early eve sky...projected a rare scene
of a dark and ominous cloud
with gaped open mouth and sharp devouring teeth
as he chased the prey to its soon-to-end life!
I gazed at this formation...so, so bizarre...
knowing that this monster...wouldn't catch me!

My third floor balcony's NW exposure
oft' portrays glorious sunsets.
As  I stitched an autumn tapestry,
a strange phenomenon met my eyes.
Low lying blue clouds accented the silvery white sky!
Before they fled behind tall maples,
my camera's photo verified the view.
Like Life ~ everything may not be
as it appears to the naked eye!

A sunny winter day, I left Connecticut state.
No snow on the ground; no flurries in the air.
The cloud formations...they spoke volumes.
A steel gray cloud...hugely patched the sky.
From behind this curtain, came golden rays...
rays streaking, stretching toward our Mother Earth.
I pensively...wondered,
“Is God speaking to us Earthlings?”
or “Is this Nature's promise
of a Good Weather Day?”

My scenic trek.. from the eastern seaboard
was to Southern Ontario near the Great Lakes.
These waters we share as well as two oceans.
The sky became “marbled” with clouds and blue sky;
with wind up above, they quickly re-assemble...
seems, a large continent, of a cloud-shape design.
Yes, there's contoured France, Spain, Portugal;
the Mediterranean, Monaco and Italy's famed boot.

Our countries both share Rocky Mountain beauty.
I've frequently observed...and imagined that...
marshmallow-puff-clouds oft' appear mountainous.
I recall the “Three Sisters” near Canmore, Alberta...
so distinctive and pristine 'gainst the sky's blue horizon!

The wind scuds the clouds, behind me now travelling.
Another gray cloud...very high-sky...westward lurks.
Now I question, "What is the cloud's intended motive?"
Gray speaks sadness...oft' pervading our lives
which may threaten us...and try to discourage.
Suddenly,  “silver linings” accent the upper crust.
So glorious to behold!
'Tis like the pot o' gold at the rainbow's end!
Remember, this is Life!
When in despair, look for “the silver lining”!

Stopping at a Service Center, west of Syracuse,
my car needed gas; for me, coffee and lunch.
The 20-minute rest rendered massive clouds.
WOW! Looked like the Himalayas and the Andes Mountains
with their mighty peaks shrouded...in tons of snow!
The two mountain ranges, side by side
invited me “to come” although far, far...far away.
These may be the Himalayas, I'll best ever see.
The Andes, I've viewed from Chile's Santiago;
flew to Argentina...over this lofty range.

As I neared I-90's western end to exit for Niagara,
the clouds conveyed a Special Message!
The mountain ranges moved close together
joining at their bases and snowy upper edges.
The layered colour depths...from snowy white to oyster,
then to silvery gray...formed a “diamond-shaped-window”
to the far, far beyond!
At the bottom of the opening, was an igloo-shape cloud
and above it, a cave-like view...to an azure blue heaven.
The “Window of Opportunity” it gave to me...
which...If We Search...We Shall Find!

The Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls
crossed the turbulent river to my Ontario.
Like transitions, it reinforced convictions
that...”Nature is in tune with Man;
           Man is in tune with Nature”
We need only to ...Take the Time.
We need only to ...Understand the Correlation.
We need only to ... Communicate.

The foregoing represents...Merle's “Pearl of Wisdom” for this publication.

Interesting Facts About Clouds

The process of condensation results in the formation of clouds. Different clouds form under  different circumstances. There are numerous cloud types...
here are 4 recognizable ones:
         Stratus:       “low clouds” up to 6500 feet often covering the entire sky.
         Altostratus: “middle clouds” 6500 feet to 18,000 feet
         Cirrus:         “high clouds” above 18,000 feet
         Cumulus:     “clouds with vertical development”

A cloud is a large collection of very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals.
The droplets are so small and light; they can float in the air.

Clouds are white because they reflect the light of the sun. Light is made up of
the colours of the rainbow; and when you add them all together, you get white. The sun  appears a yellow colour because it sends out more yellow light than
any other colour.  Clouds reflect all the same colours, the exact same amount,
so they look white.

Gray Clouds: If the clouds get thick enough or high enough, all the light above
does not make it through; hence the dark or gray look. If there are lots of other
clouds around, their shades can add to the gray...or multi-coloured gray appearance.

Clouds move with the wind. High cirrus clouds are pushed along by the jet
stream sometimes travelling at more than 100 mph. When clouds are part of a thunderstorm, they usually travel at 30 to 40 mph.

Must confess that my cloud choice would be

Cloud 9 ~

the desirous feeling of elation and blissful happiness.

(The 9th cloud is also regarded...as the location of heaven.)

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . written January 9, 2012

Comments appreciated ... scroll down (may sign in as “anonymous”)

or ... inezkate@gmail.com

I Am DETERMINED...to Take in Every Moment!

As previously indicated, I am beginning this New Year...

with Words of Wisdom...which I have gleaned over many years 

and reserved in a file for future reference. In Real Estate, I had a

news letter to clients called “Merle's Pearls”...which were my current listed properties, information about the real estate industry, and a Pearl of Wisdom 

at the end...philosophically beneficial to all .

I was away several days over New Year's...and discovered experiences

from a couple novels and a Calendar which induced me to write 

about this Pearl of Wisdom.

From the novel, Whisper Falls, by Toni Blake:

“With all you went through the past few years...

you never would have reached this moment in time!”

She, Tessa, would not be moving to this song with her friends...

doing “the bump” with Rachel, now; she wouldn't be laughing as she watched 

Sue Ann dancing atop her patio table; she wouldn't have this opportunity 

to realize how dear her friends were to her or to remember all they've been through together over the years.

In this moment, she was experiencing everything that made up what she'd come to think of as “the Ellen Philosophy”...'Laugh, Dance and Think Positive.' 

And she suddenly realized that those simple tenets held all the answers, she'd been seeking all this time.

She'd been searching for ways to get past the limitations her disease (Crone's) had imposed on her; searching for ways NOT to let life pass her by ~ 

in tattoos (the one being a chain of daisies around her ankle); motorcycles; 
sex; the idea of skydiving. And before all that, she'd seen Dr. upon Dr. 
(not to mention holistic healers, herbalists and more). She liked her tattoo 
and she liked Lucky's motorcycle...and God Bless..she loved Lucky!..

It turned out, the Secret to Happiness was much simpler than any of those things.

It was Laughter, Dancing and finding Joy in Life! 

It was learning to expect the best instead of the worst. 

That was all...it really took!

From the novel, Time to Hunt, by Stephen Hunter:

(a war experience from Vietnam)

The sergeant (Bob) wore the M3 grease gun on his back and his hands carried the M40 sniper rifle. It carried a Redfield scope. He had smeared jungle grease paint on his face. He tried to get into his “war face”...to become, in some way...war! 

It was a gift his people had...his father had won the Medal of Honour in the bygone against the Japs (messy business on Imo Jima) then to come home to get the blue ribbon from Harry Truman.

Hard, proud men...true sons of Arkansas...had two gifts: “to shoot and see something die and to work like dogs the long hot humid days.”

What could save you? NOTHING! 

If it was in the cards, by God, it was in the cards!

The fear began to eat at him...as it always did. Some fools said he had no fear; 

he was such a hero! But that only proved how little they knew! 

The fear was like a cold lump of bacon grease in his stomach...hard and wet and slick...that he could taste at all times.

(Fortunately, he lived through three “tours of duty”.

  But in his mind, he knew that each moment might be his last!)

Significantly, upon my return last evening and reading my e-mails

was this...sent by a long-time Bridge Friend:

“A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life,

wrote a blank cheque payable to

The United States of America

for an amount up to and including his life.”

In God We Trust!

.........................................................

The Calendar for 2012, I viewed, was hung above a “work station” .

Each month depicted beautiful scenery.

The caption on the calendar face and on each month, stated

I am DETERMINED

to Take in Every Moment!

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . written January 8, 2012

Comments appreciated ... scroll down (may sign in as “anonymous”)

or ... inezkate@gmail.com