Pictures Not To Include in Your MLS Listing

I know that I have mentioned the blog It’s a Lovely Listing. Any day that you are at all blue, check it out and you are guaranteed a smile. If you are selling or buying, you absolutely will laugh out loud. As we’ve been on our house hunt, here are a couple of pictures that have surprised me:

This picture is from Brimfield, MA. I actually sent this one to Lovely Listings. I thought it was the visual equivalent to "Has everyone gone to the bathroom before we go out?" I figure that is way better to think of than what someone might find if they walked in the other way. Who comes up with these designs?

This one is actually from a beautiful house which I hope to tour in Oakham, MA. My question is though, with such a beautiful fireplace why wouldn't you move the table for the picture?

No, I haven't driffed away from my topic. This is an actual picture from a MLS listing in Paxton, MA. Why exactly is a picture of a world map supposed to inspire me to buy this house? And what room is this in? Very odd.

Finally, from Woodstock, CT - They say a picture says a 1,000 words. I'm thinking this one is saying " Run Run Run Run Run Run Run Run Run ....." I'm thinking there may not even be a reason for a home inspection. And frankly this is the best picture of the grouping on this listing.

If you are crawling through the MLS and are frustrated, let me know what gets to you. Share with us any that give you a laugh. And don't forget to visit Lovely Listing. Not only do the pictures make her sight, but her comedic writing makes sure you will laugh.

Dow Down, Prozac Up

Get the Prozac ready. I am watching the stock market close. The Dow is down 777.68. The bell has rung but some trades are still in the works. If I actually had money, I might invest, but since I don't, I just see this as a predicesor of what is to come. . . get the cabbage and potato recipes ready.

Philisophically, I for those who are close to failing failing and I'm glad that the bailout did not pass. Forget the idea of seperation of church and state, business and government are not a great mix either. I litterally laughed when they said that the tax payers would get money back if / when the companies bailed out made money in the future. But I am a conservative at heart and the massive swings are scarey.

We'll have to keep our eyes open.

Dreaming of Christmas Cookies

I’m not sure why I am looking forward to the holidays. I feel broke and if I hear one more word about falling into an economic depression, I may fall into an emotional one. All our Christmas stuff is packed for the move and I can’t even find my corduroy pants or my turtlenecks. And since the house still has very little movement, I’m guessing we’ll still be here so I better start looking through the boxes I already packed(See, it doesn’t pay to be proactive.). And yet when I was at the grocery store, I picked up:




I am dreaming of a romantic old fashioned Christmas: lots of cookie making, yummy pies, warm fires. Of course given the financial times, Christmas may go way back in time. How do you think the kids will feel if I give them an orange for Christmas?

Is anyone else dreaming of the holidays?

New Job, An update on the Squirrel, and a question

I started my new job officially. Last night was the orientation for the new students. Work was actually a very good excuse not to go to the fair which was a virtual wash out, but apparently I was missed at the fair. DD and DH said that everyone was asking for me. DD said that she was going to put on a t-shirt that said “My Mom is not here. She is at her new job. I can’t explain it so just ask her when you see her”

I have a ton of reading to learn more about the program so that I can answer any questions. I also learned two important things:

1. Wear flats – My feet hurt. They were ok when I was there but after driving home, I could barely walk from the car to the house.

2. I need to get my eyes checked – my task last night was to get the students’ pictures so that I can make their badges (the job is in a state building so everyone must have clearance). I’m just telling you that those numbers on the camera could not have been made any smaller. Plus, the numbers were white on a white background. The 6’s, 8’s, and 9’s were virtually indistinguishable. I started tracking the number counting down and the number of each picture just so that I could cross reference. I did not want to fail at my first task at my new job.


Important Update from the Crazy Squirrel Post: I found out where my crazy squirrel came from:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Don't Touch That Squirrel's Nuts Movies & TV SPIKE.com

Also, I have to ask why bother saying you are not going to be somewhere unless. When dispite the unless, you show up anyway. I guess pre-conditions don't always work.

Ice Cream made from Breast Milk

Have you hear of PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) requesting Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to substitute breast milk for cow’s milk? Here is their press release:

“Burlington, Vt. - This morning, PETA dispatched a letter to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, cofounders of ice cream icon Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc., urging them to replace the cow's milk in their products with human breast milk. PETA's request comes in the wake of news reports that a Swiss restaurant owner will begin purchasing breast milk from nursing mothers and substituting breast milk for 75 percent of the cow's milk in the food he serves. PETA points out to Cohen and Greenfield that such a move on their part would lessen the suffering of dairy cows and their babies on factory farms and benefit human health at the same time.

"The fact that human adults consume huge quantities of dairy products made from milk that was meant for a baby cow just doesn't make sense," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "Everyone knows that 'the breast is best,' so Ben & Jerry's could do consumers and cows a big favor by making the switch to breast milk."”

So my question, are we going to start having women farms instead of cow farms? Are we going to regulate the diet of those women like we do the cattle?

I don’t mean to make light of something that clearly is important to many, many people, but does this seem ridiculous to anyone else? I mean let’s consider this ad absurdum. Do we keep women lactating for long periods of time to get enough milk to make all this ice cream? What women do you think are going to take this position? The women with college degrees? Or the lower socio-economic women? If women are making money for their milk are they more likely to nurse their babies or sell their milk? And a totally absurd question, if we no longer drink cow milk or eat cow meat, why will farmers continue to maintain cows? Since cows aren’t wild animals, what would happen to the species?

The letter that PETA sent to Ben & Jerry’s sites a Swiss restaurateur who is replacing 75% of their milk products with breast milk. Of course my parents’ admonition comes to mind, “If your best friend jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?” So in a parental tone, “PETA, if your Swiss friend chooses to drink someone else’s breast milk, would you?” I’m not even going to bother to send a message to Ben & Jerry’s because I’m guessing they just had a really good laugh.

PS I think a better use of excess breast milk is for feeding premature infants, for helping mother's that cannot lactate but would like to breast feed, or figuring out how we can package it and get it to malnourished, starving children around the world.

McCain / Obama Debate

Important question: Do you think McCain and Obama should debate tonight? Or do you think McCain is right in forgoing the debate to stay in Washington DC to continue the economic debate at Capitol Hill? Do you think he really will stay away or is this a publicity stunt?

Sarah Palin Corn Maze

Have you seen this?

This picture is of a corn maze at Wheeler Farms in Whitehouse, OH. It was released by Duke Wheeler. I guess this proves she has reached celebrity status. Perhaps we could make corn mazes of all the candidates and then count visitors as votes?