Margaret Rome's Blog

When I saw that I had been MeMe'd again, I thought, "Oh no not again," but this one is a bit different and about books - have you noticed that I am into books lately? - and it was Greg Gorman who asked. Now how can I say "no" to Greg? Not possible. Here is the original MeMe. 

This was the book that was on my desk so it was my Closest Book

Here is the way it works:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 56.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next two to five sentences.
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book or the intellectual one. Pick the Closest.
6. Tag five people to do the same

*The one book that this can not be is the Bible*

The book closest to me is  More Than Meets the Eye  by Joan Brock

See -  Joan autographed it for  me                                                                                                                            

From page 56: "Now, as I recall and record the words Dad spoke on that carefree day when I married Joe, I find myself foolishly wondering whether we would have been too daunted to make our solemn vows had we but glimpsed the perils and pain that lay ahead for both of us."

If you get the chance, please read the story of this remarkable young woman and how she has dealt with life's challenges. I was fortunate to meet and hear Joan Brock speak. What an inspiring story which touched me personally.  There is also a TV movie made with the same name More Than Meets The Eye

http://www.joanbrock.com/  to learn more about this special person.

Now, I get to tag 5 people:

1. Randy Prothero

2. Bridget McGee

3. Gail Harris

4. Steve Warrene

5. Connie Harvey

What's your Closest Book?

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

He really knows how to put you at ease, That Interview Guy. Michael Krisa had set up an interview for yesterday morning, but a snowstorm changed his plans with a power outage (he's in Ontario, Canada.) That gave him a chance to get some wonderful snow photos - like the one at left.  Later in the day, when we got the interview in, I remembered that Michael is a natural at leading a conversation and making it fun.

Michael reminded me that we met years ago. Since then he's learned about the Type E personality, and so he understands me. We talked about Type E and some of the characteristics such as being optimistic and loving  a challenge - if someone says, "It can't be done," I respond, "Watch me!" We talked about how Type E's hate routines and details; anyone who knows me knows that I have no patience with meetings. I do love to learn and love to share with others. Living in the moment is my style.

Our conversation ranged from my former ceramic art and nursing career, to the challenge of having a normal life outside of real estate. It is so easy to get caught up with settlements, listings, and showings so that you can be working 24/7. We agreed that, just like they tell you on an airplane, you have to put on your own oxygen mask first.

Of course we talked about my book and how it is a first for all of us involved: the first book I have written, the first book cover that Marti Garaughty has designed, and the first book published by The Silloway Press. That's another trio of Type Es who worked together so naturally.

  We also talked about my way of working, about my waiting list for clients, working with referrals, and finding options for sellers (including auction) in a slower market. When I mentioned Cloneonials and how I coined that word to describe the way-too-standard Baltimore-area style of house, he told me about a unique home he has to sell. Cedar Brook Station is a retired train station on 3.6 acres, the building has been renovated and features wonderful views. Now that's the kind of property I like to sell – give me a challenge like an historic church or a retired train station, and I'm happy.

So here's a challenge for all of us on Active Rain:  Let's try to sell Cedar Brook Station with its lovely views, its fine craftsmanship, and its river for kayaking. I know there's enough creative energy in this community, so what do you say?

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

It's done, it's really done. Now we're waiting for the printer to make magic and turn all those hours and words into a book. And now that we know it's just a few weeks away, my publisher has a web page for the book where people can order signed copies. I love it!

In case you can't read that tiny print, the page is here: http://sillowaypress.com/pages/RomeWayBook.html.
You know that I'll be saying more when the books come in. It's very hard for this Type E to wait!

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

What happens when friends who haven't seen each other for a year - both real estate agents, one from Santa Barbara, CA and one from Baltimore, MD - get together? You go for a quick lunch.

Well, it sure seemedquick, but the watch confirmed that it was over three hours! I met Diana Fornas through our mutual friend, and top real estate agent, Ira Serkes in Berkeley, CA. Diana and I had a delightful lunch at Mama's On the Half Shell, a Baltimore oyster house. We shared conversation, personal stories, and decadent triple chocolate cheesecake dessert.

Diana is getting involved with a group called Army of Women, an organization formed when the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation joined forces to launch the Love/Avon Army of Women. The organization has two key goals:

• To recruit one million healthy women of every age and ethnicity, including breast cancer survivors and women at high-risk for the disease, to partner with breast cancer researchers and directly participate in the research that will eradicate breast cancer once and for all.
• To challenge the scientific community to expand its current focus to include breast cancer prevention research conducted on healthy women.

Visit the FAQ pageto learn more about how the Army of Women is working to stop breast cancer in its tracks. I am encouraging Diana to sign up with Active Rain so she can spread the word about this research group, and enjoy the community of Rainers at the same time.

How can you take a three hour break in the middle of planning a technology seminar the next day, three settlements in the next 10 days, acknowledgments to write for the book (Real Estate the Rome Way)deadline, a listing appointment, emails, blogging, etc.? Well you just remember WIN and ask, "What's Important Now?" It was important to see my friend Diana who came to Johns Hopkins Hospital for a checkup - she's doing fine and looks great. Just look at her with the two "guys" on the sidewalk near Mama's!

No matter how busy I am, and how much there is still to do, I'll always make time for the special people in my life, like Diana.

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

 Saturday was a wonderful day! We met the pilots at the airport, had breakfast at the diner - what we call "hanger flying" – you go somewhere and just talk about flying. Today's conversation started with, "Did you hear about the guy who had a stroke, yes while flying, lost his vision and still landed safely? (The story from England is here.)

Then went to visit some special friends, Marge and Henry; we stopped by with a cake to celebrate Marge's birthday.

 Oh, yes, and then I ratified a contract and listed a new one that's up on ActiveRain with a dozen  comments.

Driving home, I received an exciting call: "You are featured in a story on the front page of the Washington Post!" Immediately I called my friend Peg who subscribes to the Post and she had it right in front of her – lead story in the Real Estate section of the Sunday paper.

We got off the Beltway to find my own copy of the paper. Sure enough, the headline read:

"How do you make an OPEN HOUSE stand out? Sometimes agents go to Extremes, but the Glitz doesn't always help."  This was the picture in the Washington Post

Not every place in Baltimore carries the Post, so we had to go to several places and bought a bunch of copies, then called Tatiana in New Mexico to share the news, since she's in the article, too.

It started a week or so ago, when I received a call from a Dan Rafter, a freelance writer for the Washington Post. He was interested in unusual open houses, and saw my post on the "Piggy TRAC Barbeque"

 That's right, Dan found me through Active Rain!   

If you have a chance to speak with a reporter, remember they are on a deadline and usually have an assignment. Second, find out what the article is going to be about and focus on that.  I would have liked to talk about Auctions or my book, but his assignment was open houses, so we stayed on topic. He wanted stories of unusual open houses like the "Piggy TRAC," and wanted to speak a home owner who had a good experience with an Open House. I told Dan about the champagne and popcorn event for the Historic Church.  Not Your Every Day Open House  He liked the idea, and I knew Tatiana would be able to give him a good interview.

And there was the story on the front page of the REAL ESTATE section including a mention of Active Rain! Turns out I didn't need to run around and buy copies of the Post; the article is all online.

This is one more good example of how Active Rain can bring unexpected attention to your business!

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400