Mike’s Real Estate Show

Yes, I go all the way to Ireland to Kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle in the bucolic village of “Blarney” and after walking up a tiny little, precarious staircase with a hanging rope as a guide, I could NOT get my back and neck to arch back so I could kiss the “Stone”!! See the photo above and my cousin kissing the “Stone” and holding onto the “bars” which they provide for you. The photo on the right shows the pads which you lay your back on and then arch over. A “guide” holds you as you bend over. You’re looking straight down 4 stories when you bend over!! The darker part of the stone is where everyone has puckered up and smooched the “stone”. I “air-kissed” it! The grounds though as really worth the price of admission–about $15.00. We got their late in the day and missed the house behind the castle but walked the grounds. We had to come back the next morning for souviners as the shop had closed when we left. I reccomend it highly. It’s just 20 minutes from Cork which is in the “Sunny” part of Ireland in the south.

Here I am (the guy on the right) in front of Windsor Castle with my cousin Kathy and “Tom Kelly, International Man of Action!” (my Uncle Tom Kelly). This is the gate adjacent to the “long walk” which is a gorgeous, paved walking path which goes straight out of this gate for about a mile to a raised, viewing area. Lined by trees and spacious lawns. The town of Windsor surrounds the Castle. Left of the picture is a cute pub and then up that street you can walk along the perimeter of the Castle to the main entrance and then past that to the Thames, crossing the Eaton Bridge to famed Eaton College. Weather on this day? 70’s, calm, absolutely stunning. Had a nice lunch of “pub-grub” and then sauntered about ending the day on the Thames sipping a libation at a restaurant dubbed “River House”.

Shamrocks

St. Patrick used the shamrock leaf to symbolize the Trinity, and today many people wear a shamrock to commemorate Saint Patrick’s Day.
 
Blarney Stone

Blarney Castle is located in County Cork, Ireland. Built in 1446 by Cormac Laidhim McCarthy (Lord of Muskerry) the Blarney stone is located in the southern tower wall
between the main castle wall and the parapet. In order to kiss the stone one has to lie on their back and bend backward (and downward), holding iron bars for support. It is said that the Blarney stone has magical properties. As legend has it an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly.

Leprechaun

Just what does a Leprechaun look like and why are they so special? A Leprechaun (Irish fairy) looks like a little old man. He’s about 2 feet tall and dresses like a shoemaker with a cocked hat and leather apron. A Leprechaun’s personality is described as aloof and unfriendly. They live alone and pass the time by making shoes. They’re special because they also possess a hidden pot of gold. If you listen closely for the sound of their hammer you might be able to capture one. If you do you can force him (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal where he’s hidden his treasure. Be careful! Do not take your eyes off him for if you do he will surely vanish and your hopes of finding his treasure will vanish with him.

Green

Why wear green? Probably because you’ll be pinched if you don’t! School children started this tradition. Green is also the color of spring, the shamrock and is connected with hope and nature.

The Luck of the Irish

If you want to be lucky this St. Patrick’s Day? Then follow this advice:
1.Find a four-leaf clover. 2. Wear green 3. Kiss the blarney stone.
4. Catch a Leprechaun if you can.  And most important….
5. Buy your next home from Michael John Kelly!!

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever go!

I’ve been a REAL   TORRRR for 30 years and used to drive my Executive Officer absolutely nuts by mis-pronouncing REAL TORRRR and giving it three syllables!! She’d correct me ALL the time. Real-Ter, Real-al-la-tor, etc.  What really does drive me crazy, to an extent, is when the Media and other fairly intelligent folks lump us ALL together as Realtors.
  We had a reporter for our local daily years back do an ongoing “dairy” of her experiences with Realtors and Agents as a tenant dealing with the sale of her rental unit. She slammed us weekly in the press. She then purchased a home but had a horrible experience with her chosen licensee. She called the same EO I referred to above and proceeded to rip her “Realtor” and wanted to file an ethics complaint. My EO looked up the Licensees name and told her she couldn’t do that. The reporter ripped her for 10 more minutes complaining how we Realtors protect our own, our code of ethics are nothing but a sham, blah, blah, blah. Anne let her rant, relishing every word, and when she was done and the reporter had literally run out of breath and was panting, the EO calmly said, “I would have no problem filing a complaint, we do it all the time, but in your particular case your agent is NOT a Realtor!”  The reporter stammered, “But your ALL Realtors!!” Anne calmly explained to her just WHAT the difference was between a licensee and a REAL TORRR!! I love that story!
  And as far as the Reality mis-pronunciation is concerned, I recall the great line from a “Thousand Clowns” when Jason Robard’s brother is begging him to “come back to reality!”. Robards deadpans, “Sure, but only as a tourist!”

Hello from Atlanta,Georiga andthe World Congress Center!! I’m here for the next 5 days exploring all that is new in the world of real estate Techonology and real estate trends. I just left a Technology mastermind group where we concentrated on blogging! I’m getting real good at that!! We discussed implementing full feature videos of not only your homes which we market to the consumer but also video’s of entire neighborhoods. How cool is that? Read the rest of this entry »

 2336 Mirage Court, Santa Rosa $589,900 Open SuperBowl Sunday 1 to 4pm. This gorgeous home of 2300+ square footage with 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths is yours to view this SuperBowl Sunday. Not EVERYONE watches the game so come on by and see this ready to occupy home. For a virtual tour you can go to this link: http://www.Obeo.com/431943  That should give you enough of a taste to want to see it in person! And we’ve got a special treat for you!! Read on! Read the rest of this entry »

Some one asked me recently about the phrase, “Priced to Sell” and how it irritated him. I responded to him in an email: “Why do you think real estate as an industry is not susceptible to advertising hyperbole? I’m sorry it annoys you but geez; if you post this much over such a hackneyed phrase then I don’t know how you get through an hour of television or radio. Are you totally media deprived?
  I’m surprised you’ve just lighted on this phrase. I see many more which are MUCH more irritating. The classic to me is TLC. Read the rest of this entry »