Quest for Truth, Humor in AllSuzi Gravenstuk (115)    Suzi Gravenstuk    8 8 8 -- Just any Day?Posted Friday, August 08, 2008 (12 days 7 hours ago.) Viewed 4 times. Last night as I was working on line and we slipped into the new day of 8 8 8; I couldn't help but wonder if anything unusual might happen.
Exploring 8 8 8 just a little, I found this article. (warning, it is a Christian Resource; So, if you will be offended, please do not read it.) Additionally, this article explains how the numbers add up to the name of Jesus in Greek. You'll have to read it to see if you believe the numbers.
To keep things balanced, I found a Scientology/Atheist article regarding Christian Nation House Resolution 888 - Rewriting History . I couldn't help but wonder how such a bill could have the number 888 attached to it... hmmm .
Then, of course some people's consider the number 8 to be lucky, and 888 to be luckier still.
So far, I have just had an ordinary special day for which I am grateful for. How has your 888 day gone. It might be fun to share some 888 experiences. What do you think?
Permalink Comments (0) How Much DO You Save Bundling Your Telecommunications?Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2008 (28 days 5 hours ago.) Viewed 12 times. I did not think of ditching my landline until I bumped into several families in the MS Gulf Coast who seem to get along fine without a landline. It amazed me. The idea of life without a landline. My telecommunications bill was rarely less than $250 a month. Often it ran more if we got out of sync with our regular use. I was saving so much money with A T & T's bundling, that it had not occurred to me to re-evaluate our use. Since our first bundling, our patterns of use had indeed changed. Each family member now has a cell phone of their own. We all have voice mail, long distance and other goodies on our cell phones. Its just more effective for most people to reach us via our cell phones. We had actually left a general message on our landline voice mail (which we were paying for:-) -to not leave messages but call our cell phones. You would think at the time I did that, that it would have occurred to me we could actually operate efficiently without a landline... We were receiving a very good discount on A T & T's top level Broadband for 4 computers. We received a whopping $5 discount for bundling with A T & Ts Cellular service. We recieved $10 discount on satellite TV service by bundling with A T & T. We received about $50 in discounts for the landline packages we were no longer using. With the 4 cell phones, we rarely use our landline, although telemarketers seem to enjoy me having a landline. I discussed the idea of unbundling with the family, because it was a radical idea for me. It was downright scary--thinking of not having a landline. $ and cents? I went radical and took off all the stuff I don't use, such as landline call waiting, voicemail.... I am losing $5 cellular credit, about a $20 Internet credit, and a $10 Satellite credit. The other landline credits do not matter, if I am not using the service. I saved more by unbundling. Without the internet credit, A T & Ts broadband was no longer competitive. So I investigated other services. The family is very pleased with the much quicker cable/wireless service. After the trial period with cable, it will be slightly higher than A T & Ts Broadband, but, we are happier with the service and we will still be saving from the overall unbundling of the whole package. Bundling worked well for me at one time. It was after each family had a cell phone that bundling ceased to be as effective. So, I encourage you to re-examine how you use your services. Analyze this for yourself. Do not rely on a telecommunications employee to analyze it for you. If you have found an effective way to handle your telecommunications, I would like to hear about it.
Permalink Comments (0) Coincidence, or Providence?Posted Tuesday, July 22, 2008 (29 days 1 hour ago.) Viewed 7 times. *Warning. This article is not intended for speed readers. If I omitted the background to keep this slice-of-life short and sweet--I think we would all miss the point, and, the revelation. So here goes...I hope you have time to relax with me. One more warning--God will be mentioned in this story. Here's a bit of background. I am an Independent Real Estate Broker residing in the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Not long ago I stopped soliciting new listings as I needed time to evaluate how I want to reposition myself. It just so happened that about the time I made that decision, I applied for a temporary position as a Field Interviewer with a research team. The position was a perfect fit for my personality and my life. Though working with an amazing team of researchers, I still manage my own time and motivation. So, it gave me opportunity to experience other work, while still maintaining my brokerage license and tending though not soliciting, the few real estate demands I have. And, Yes, it is easy to keep the two roles separate. A simple matter of scheduling. For quite some time I have been visualizing a certain property I have listed as being staged outdoors with play equipment, portable buildings, gazebos, etc. I was traveling North HWY 49 while en route to an interview located in Perkinston. A stretch of HWY 49 between Lyman and Perkinston had several mobile home, modular home, and portable building dealers. I made a mental note to drive the area again on my time, or real estate time--and pitch the idea of displaying their products at the Daugherty Road location. Soon, I passed an amazing display of portable buildings and colorful playground equipment. As I said, I passed. Then made a U-turn and drove up into the lot. I remembered to log out of Operation Assist time. A friendly lady came out to greet me. I was still fumbling for a card, as I was not in a real estate mode when I left the house. I told her, "Hang on--I'm trying to find a card. I'm also a REALTOR. When I noticed your play ground equipment and portable buildings, a property I have listed in Harrison County crossed my mind..." She, said--"The owner and I was just talking about that this morning." It was as if someone had gone before me and prepared this lady for me stopping by. What could seem impulsive to many people was action on an idea that had been in my mind for months. I am used to unusual things happening with me on a daily basis. This incident even surprised me, though. She said she had goose bumps--I had a few of my own. We discussed the ideas of buying, leasing, zoning permits--and maybe just displaying there in exchange for helping get the property in a more appealing condition and maintaining all expenses until sell. Both of us had to run ideas by respective owners. I didn't have to explain the link I saw between her products and my listing. I didn't need to explain why I passed by all the other dealers then made a U-turn to come back and visit her lot. I wen back to my car to email the listing information to her. I could not believe my eyes when I looked at her business card. She had the same last name as the seller's mother who had previously owned the property. *Editorial note: I ran this "slice of life" story by my daughter before writing it. She gave me the go ahead with a, "That's weird, mom. Write it." It's the truth! So, I leave the lot in a state of amazement. I am literally laughing as I finish driving to my interview. I don't know how this will turn out--or, if anything will actually take place from today. I do know one thing. My Higher Power got my attention. Maybe I just need to get out of the way... Now, can you take a moment and tell me if you have had similar experiences? Do you attribute such experiences to coincidence, Providence--or, do you just accept these types of experiences as a normal life occurrence?
Permalink Comments (0) Reverse TelemarketingPosted Thursday, February 14, 2008 (188 days 4 hours ago.) Viewed 38 times. I was browsing through the interesting comments on a blog at Active Rain. My 800 line rang, I answered. It was a hang up. I waited about a minute and received the expected email with the caller ID #. I call the #, no answer. I left a message. The person calls me back. He introduced himself as an Orthopedic surgeon and said, "I'm sorry, I must have the wrong number." I said, "No, I don't think so. I have the perfect property for you at the Oaks Golf Course." He says, "I'm an orthopedic surgeon, I'm not looking for property." I said, "I'm a Real Estate Broker. Surgeons are naturally drawn to this property. You'll probably be moving soon. Now you know about the right property." Well, I could tell from the silence that he didn't share the real sense of humor, so I let him off the hook (not literally, yet). I told him, "I'm kidding." He laughed, sort of. I don't think he was accustomed to being marketed or teased by a person that he called by mistake. So, I'm listening to CNN in the background, and I say, well, enjoy your evening. Then I thought of Obama, and said, "Better yet, have a SUPER Duper evening." Then, he was guffawing. I could hear a lady in the background asking, " What was that about?" My husband also had the same question hearing me laugh out loud. Its near impossible to explain with it ending up being as funny and fun as it was. I guess that's what happens when you mix wrong#'s, real estate, a surgeon, a real estate broker, an awesome listing, and the influence of political jargon. How do you handle wrong #s?
Permalink Comments (0) One of Many Simple Solutions for the Dark TimesPosted Sunday, February 10, 2008 (192 days 4 hours ago.) Viewed 66 times. I am wealthy (Wealth=positive family relationships, even with my teens. I'm plugged into a church that feels right to me. I appreciate my husband and he appreciates me. I have terrific clients. I enjoy the simple gifts of sky, air, breathing. I communicate with everyone in my path--whether they are ready for me or not.) I feel like I am in heaven. Not long ago, I was miserable and frustrated. In darker times, long ago, I welcomed the thought of dying. Think what I would have missed. At that dark time, when I seemed to have no purpose and no hope--if I had died... I wouldn't have met my husband of 18yrs. Skye and Luke would not exist. The whole future world would have had to adjust. Because, who knows who Skye and Luke will touch in their time? At times, a single life may seem inconsequential. In reality, a single life and the decisions and actions in that life have a ripple effect across the world. I have done nothing to deserve this Utopia. What happened? There was no magic cure. No one stepped in and solved my problems. Time passed. One by one seemingly inconsequential events occur, changing things ever so slightly. One day you pause and realize that your life is not as it was. I wish my Brother, Shane, had realized this truth before he took his own life. Things Change. I promise. I know. If you ever get to the point of despair. Do yourself a favor. Wait. If one day at a time is too long for you to handle--wait two hours. Then two more hours. Go on about your life, not doing anything drastic. Look for an opportunity. If there isn't one in site for you--there should be an opportunity for you to help someone else. Take the focus off of you and focus intently on others. Get out. Look at people. Really look. Every single person you see has more than likely had a challenging time at some point in their life. Get out. Experience the sky, the horizon, birds, animals, babies. If your two hours is almost up--make plans for the next two hours. Seek professional help and medication if needed. Sometimes depression is as simple as a chemical imbalance.There are many on line groups to help and hot lines if you need to talk. You have to cooperate for these things to work. The number below is a working number. I checked and I'm glad I did. I tried one crisis hot line that never answered. Another one ended up being a psychic hotline. Who needs that? This number works!  In summary: Things change. Wait. I promise you there will come a day that you will be filled with joy. There will come a day that you are happy you waited. I know.
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