Okay let's do this....

I keep telling Tim (my boss) if he comes to work and works longer days ( ex 5 hrs) we would get more done. He told me to hire an assistant. I was determined I can do it without an assistant. I now may be changing my mind. If I had someone for a few hours a day ( ex 2 to 3) to do the website and other items I have fallen behind on I may be able to get more listings and not feel behind all the time. Tim is useless on the computer aspects of the job and if I am driving around none of my work is being done. He also is not very good at taking the photos and reporting back to me on the properties. I think I can do it when I get caught up on the weekends, then I fall behind again when we get more work from the banks. I'm new to this work stuff and am not sure we produce enough right now to make it worth what we would be paying someone. Commissions are down however the inventory is up.

At what point do you hire someone?

Weekend Update

I had a not so great week but a VERY good weekend. I started off playing Bunco with co-workers at the office, it was a blast. I didn't want to go and I didn't think it was for me. I was wrong and had a fabulous time. Saturday was clean the house in the morning and Roller Derby at night. The Roller Derby was not so fun. Afterwards we went to Ricardo's for dinner. I was nominated to celebrate my Birthday by Mark M. It was fun and they sang to me and I had a great Crazy Banana dessert. Sunday I went out with the girls. Mark and Rob met Anne and I for a little B-I-N-G-O. I had a lot of fun and will try to make it out more as they go twice a week.

I am so grateful for good friends in my life at this time. I was planning on being by myself and reflecting on my horrible work week and feeling sorry for myself. Due to the friends in my life I did none of that and I had a wonderful weekend. As i am trying to work more during the week and less on the weekends I hope to have more great weekends with friends and family.

5 Things

I'm VERY grateful for

1) A body the lets me push it to exhaustion and bounces back within 6 hours of sleep.

2) A loving husband that rubs by back, even if he's tired.

3) A beautiful spring day after the storm.

4) A friend who lets me shower at her house so I don't have to drive home and back again.

5) Co-workers that I enjoy to see for 8 hours a day.

5 Things

Stolen idea form my sister Lacey who stole it from her husband, here are five things I am grateful for.

1) My family- mostly those in it who accept me for me, all my faults included.

2) My husband- who is so neat and organized it only takes a quick wipe down and sweep to get the house ready for company.

3) Bad days- I know that's crazy, but it keeps me in line and reminds me how lucky I am that they are few, but not always far between.

4) Nieces- They love me for me and bring a smile to my face, even when they cry or want to ignore me.

5) In-laws- that are willing to drive to my house to play games with me, even though I threatened to never play with them again last time we played.

I LOVE my job!!

I have been in Real State for 3 years as a licensed Realtor. I have maybe had 3 Buyer's. I am a Listing Manager, so my job is take the Listing, take photos, put it in the computer, make cute flyer's and sell the house. Until REO's came, now it's see if someone lives there, take a photo, post a note, offer money, pray the house is in good shape, take more photos, pray the house doesn't smell and go back every other week till it sells. This past month I have had 3 Buyer's. Now that's not a lot if you do Buyer's and that's all you do. I on the other hand have been running around like a cray person. I've worked 3 hours, shown 5 hours worked, 3 more hours, sleep and repeat two days later. I was feeling stressed and I felt I was letting things go at work. I had what we call a 4-1-1 with my boss Jenni. It's just to take a look at the goals we've set for ourselves at work and personal and what we are doing to get them accomplished. She informed me that I was doing great at my work goals, yeah I had less Listings then I wanted or I didn't sign up on all 20 websites like I wanted to but, I was doing all I could to be on my way there. I have Buyer's and that will balance out what I need to reach my work goals. Jenni rarely will ask about my personal goals as we are very open and she knows where I am on those on a weekly if not daily bases. This time she asked how much time I have been spending on me and with Derek. She said she sees the late nights and knows I go in on the weekends. She asked if I was taking care of my marriage. I realized I have putting Derek and myself in last place. Jenni talked about how she knows Derek is putting up with it now but concerned that in a few years he wouldn't put up with it anymore. How if I wasn't fitting him into my life or making time for me I wasn't on the right track. It really helped to hear from her that she knows I work hard but, I need to not work as hard and not feel guilty if I leave work on time with items left to do. I took her advise and have been leaving as on time as I can. I had a Holiday off and hung out with family, when usually if we have a Holiday off I go in and "catch up". I have a goal of one home cooked meal a week. (Note- By that I mean something I make, not from a box or package.) I have spent more nights home with Derek. I am grateful to be working for a company that really wants me to succeed at work and at home. She truly cares that I take care of me and not just her bottom line. I love my job. (Note- I have 1 escrow and wrote 2 offers this week. One good and one bad, but hey that's what I do.)

Last Minute Craziness

I usually don't wait to do things till the last minute. Well that has changed and here I am in the last week of February taking online classes, because I didn't make time to do the classes I can take during the week for the past 2 years. I just took the final exam and passed. Now I can head off to the Division this week and keep my Real Estate License and job. I also didn't make time to have my name changed. I will be a Harvey for 4 more years. I know I can change it still however, I just ordered a new Notary stamp and I don't want to have to send out for another one. So not only am I waiting till the last minute, I'm becoming VERY lazy. All this craziness is due to a heavier work load and a crazy work week. This past Thursday I came home around 8:30 pm, ate a salad and was asleep on the couch before 9:00 pm. I have been doing online classes to become certified in doing REO's and have dreaded doing the classes to keep my License. After 8 hours of the computer at work and multiple hours at home for work, to think of being on for anymore time was dreadful. I am happy to be done with school. I can now focus on work and feel safe for two more years.

Where does the time go?

My world has been crazy for the past couple of weeks I've been working late hours, running across town, going to school and eating like crap all for the love of the job. I enjoy my work and I enjoy helping people find their dream house. I enjoy all of it but what have I sacrificed? I would come home eat a bowl of cereal, watch an hour of TV and fall asleep. I haven't been working out and taking care of myself. I mentioned to Lacey, I'm lucky I don't have kids or Derek would be hating me with these long hours. I know if I had the responsibility of a child I would have a different life. I sometimes wonder if I'm missing out on something by choosing not to have them. I know how much work goes into raising them and I know it's hard and also has great rewards. Today I made cookies with my nieces and sister. I had fun, I also know I am enjoying sitting on the couch relaxing and watching TV now that they are gone.

I played a mom for six years. I think I'll enjoy playing a working wife for awhile.

Past weeks Highlights

1. Snow in Las Vegas Yeah!!

2. Drive home was 2 hours due to snow in Las Vegas, not so yeah.

3. I am done with Christmas shopping. Thanks to Amazon.com and a few people picking items up for me it was a breeze.

4. I drove across town for work, 3 hours total and ran into Lacey on Charleston on her way to my office. How funny is that? I did have little hands wave at me, how cute.

5. I am going to enjoy Christmas tonight. Derek works till 8 pm both Christmas Day & Eve and doesn't want to wake up early.

My backyard. We had about 6 inches. Derek wanted to have a snowball fight I said no way.

My house, it's hard to see.

My poor tree. I did shake it off after I took the picture.

My yard the next morning. Note- I still have snow in my yard..

Picture Blog

I broke my camera a few months back and now I have a new one, so you will get more picture blogs in the future. Anyhow. I am going to post pictures from when my office went to Disneyland. There would be more pictures however; my mother's camera died halfway through the day.

Enjoy.

Chicken Dinner at Knot's Berry Farm. Side note- Jenni played Snoopy for awhile.

Next day off to Disneyland.....well California Adventure 1st.

1st & 2nd ride Toy Story Mania!!



Cute spot to take a memory.

Dream Pass WINNERS!!!!

Derek with his 1st Visit button. Yes, we made him wear a necklace and a button all day.






Derek on the Winnie the Pooh ride w/Brian.

Yes, that's Derek giving Chynna bunny ears.






I just love Kia in this photo.


Over all it was a fun day. Derek was a good sport and had an okay time. He said he doesn't care if he ever goes back. That makes me kinda of sad, because I would love to go back.

My bucket is overflowing

At my office once a month we have a big KW Meeting. They do a segment called "Filling Someones Bucket". I was chosen by last months person as someone who fills her bucket. She said some nice thing about me and how she is grateful I was able to teach her her job, be her friend and help her out around the office. Then they let the people from the office add to it. My boss Jenni added how I help her team and she can't do it without me. Tim added how I am a part of his family and he is grateful for me and my caring for him. More and more people added their own comments on how they are grateful for me. As they continued and as I heard from an old friend's mother I realized I needed to hear these comments at this time from her and from my co-workers. I needed to hear she cares for me still and I was and am a special person in her and her husband's life. I heard the information I needed to fill my heart that has been broken for a few months. I have tears hitting the keyboard as I type, replaying all that spoke at the meeting and came up to me afterwards sharing what I meant to them or how they can't wait to get to know me, as I seem really great.

I have had an event happen that has made me question who I am and my lack of good judgement in people. I realized that in the last 3 months I have let one person affect how I see everyone and how I think people see me. These agents as they spoke of me saw a caring person with a big heart and willingness to help ease their burdens at no expense of myself. As I get older I have lost touch and grown apart from people in my past. Now I see it's not for the bad but for the good that this has happened. I can be the person who always says "YES", I just need the "YES" not to affect my own happiness. I stay to help clean up to let those in charge know I appreciate what they have put together for myself and family to enjoy. I work after hours to ease my burden of a busy schedule the next day. I answer Agent's question to educate them and make them better agents. I help make items to sell because I am enjoying the company of those around me. I say "YES" because I grow as a person. It's not a bad thing to say "YES", it's just bad when the person asking does it only because they know you will and when you do it it doesn't benefit you. I have started to say "NO" a lot more and these people still love me and appreciate all I am willing to still do. I am not a perfect person, but today I am a lot happier with myself because someone choose me as the person who touched her. In reality she help me more then she could ever know in a time I didn't think I needed anyone.

Thank you Teri O.

Work party

Today was my office Halloween Party. It's very kid friendly and of course I invited my family to come in place of my own kids, I also picked Dominick up. I LOVE my nieces and nephew and am so grateful they live near by and I can see them. I had a blast going around to the different offices with them and enjoyed seeing their faces with all the different decorations and reaction to the people dressed up. I was surprised to see Lilah and Eden go to a "haunted office" and Howie stayed away, due to it being to scary. I hope they all had fun. I asked Lilah if it was "to scary" or "just the right amount scary" and she said it was "the right amount scary", I thought so too.

I don't know if I would make a good mom, I do know I love being an Aunt to my sisters' kids and to those who have trusted me with their kids. I thank you for letting me enjoy your kids and return them to you happy and tired for YOU to take home and put to bed.

What a week.

This was a short work week with Monday off; however it did not feel that way. Hours flew by and it was time to leave with piles of work still on my desk. Monday will not be a fun day at work, as I get to start all over again.

I sometimes wonder why I choose to work where I work and what I do. Some days it's very clear to me that I love my job, others it's very unclear as to why I am where I am. I guess that's how it is with everything. You get your high and lows. We keeping doing what we do because we like the highs.