Monthly Archives: August 2009

Thai Orchid is now open in Powell

Posted on 08/31/2009 | 1 Comment

ThaiOrchid in Powell Ohio Thai Orchid recently opened their new restaurant in Powell. When I first saw their sign indicating they were moving, I was excited. I would occasionally stop for carry-out at their former location on Sawmill Rd further south in Columbus. Having them move “north” off of Sawmill Pkwy (just north of Seldom Seen Rd) would be more convenient for me.

I decided to stop last night for the first time to pick up a Sunday evening dinner. This new location has a carry-out window. GREAT! Orders picked up at the carry-out window receive a 10% discount. EVEN GREATER! So I ordered inside, then sat in the WEENR-mobile for 15 min before driving thru the carry-out window. I picked up one of the carry-out menus so the next time I can order in advance.

A lot of the items on their menu are identified as “HOT”. I don’t do “HOT”, so my choices were more limited but still plentiful. A word of caution – the seafood sauce made my eyes water and it wasn’t just from the horseradish. As always, the meal I ordered was very good. Now I’ve got another restaurant to add to my possible carry-out places when I’m in Powell on my way home.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Commentary, Delaware County, Powell Ohio

Tagged Thai Orchid restaurant

Being a real estate agent is a stressful job?

Posted on 08/26/2009 | Leave a comment

CareerBuilder posted an article on the 10 Most Stressful Jobs. The one thing they note is that these jobs have equal amounts of stress AND SATISFACTION. What I noticed is that all the jobs in the list are jobs that “help” others. While the salaries aren’t high, they are high on the “feel good at the end of the day” type of jobs. The only one that may not fit that is the Assistant job. While a good assistant is a very valuable person, I suspect some may not always feel appreciated.

The 10 Stressful jobs are: (1) Assistants; (2) EMT’s; (3) Farmers; (4) Flight attendants; (5) Military personnel; (6) Police officers; (7) Real estate agents; (8) Social workers; (9) Stock brokers; (10) Teachers.

How ’bout that! We’re right behind Military and Police Officers! There are similarities to our job vs those jobs but I think I’ll keep those thoughts to myself.

Here’s what CareerBuilder said about the real estate agent job …

Why it’s stressful: Many real estate agents work on commission, so relying on a sale to earn a paycheck is already stressful. Home buyers don’t like to commit to mortgages unless they’re positive it’s the right move; between their timid nature and the fickle economy, you never know what kind of client you’re dealing with.

Why it’s worth it: Aside from having freedom from a regular office job, real estate agents get to fulfill that quintessential dream of adulthood to own property. People save for years to invest in a home, and you get to be a part of that process.

How much you’ll earn: $39,968

I totally agree with the “why it’s worth it”. In the eleven years I’ve been doing this job, after holding corporate jobs prior, I’ve often said that with THIS job I get “hugs”. I like getting hugs at closing or in the supermarket when I run into a past client. It means a lot to me that I get to share the excitement when a young couple receive a promotion allowing them to buy their dream home. I also feel privileged when I am a shoulder to cry on when someone needs to sell because of a divorce or family death. That makes the long hours and the stress all worthwhile. The fact that I receive a paycheck for my work is secondary. I suspect that people working in the other nine jobs feel the same way.

Copyright © 2009. Elaine Reese, Real Living HER. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Buyers, Commentary, Realtors®, Sellers

Tagged central ohio real estate market news, real estate agent job, what's it like to be a Realtor

New Feature – My Photoblog

Posted on 08/23/2009 | Leave a comment

I just added a new blog – a PHOTOBLOG – located at OlentangyLiving.com. Just as with ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate, I’ll be adding new photos on a regular basis. I carry my camera with me all the time, so I’ll be sharing various sites, events or views as I come across them to portray life in and around the Columbus metro area.

The name of the photoblog is indicative of the area of southern Delaware County where I spend much of my time. Plus, of the various waterways in central Ohio, the Olentangy River is my favorite. Depending on its location in either Delaware or Franklin counties, its appearance changes as it meanders through the area.

So click on the photo in this post or on the right side bar to visit often to see the new photos I’ve added. I hope you enjoy.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Franklin County

Tagged central ohio real estate market news, Olentangy River, OlentangyLiving.com

Talk, Talk, Talk … Text, Text, Text … just not FTF*

Posted on 08/21/2009 | Leave a comment

Are you tired of hearing the term “social media“? If you don’t participate, you probably are. I DO participate and even I’m a little tired of the term. IMO, it’s really a misnomer as it can be anything BUT social.

People sit in meetings or restaurants with their head down – thumbs flying on their smart phone - totally oblivious to the REAL people around them. As I’ve said before, I’m a chatterer. I was in the Verizon store earlier this week, talking to a young woman – also waiting – when she mentioned that she has “just a phone”. If you have “just a phone”, do you feel as though you have to apologize for being so “antiquated”?

Have you ever heard people refer to other people by their Twitter name rather than the name their parents gave them? (I’m @ReesesPeanut in case you don’t know.) Have you canceled your newspaper subscription because you get all your news online? Have you switched which TV news station you watch based on which one uses Twitter so you can comment to them in real time? If someone tells you something, have you ever responded with, “yes, I read that on Twitter yesterday“?

Are you making business connections on LinkedIn, perhaps hoping to land an opportunity for a new job? I recently coordinated a get-together of people I used to work with via LinkedIn. We had a lot of fun and it wasn’t a bunch of Gen X or Y’ers that attended. Have you heard that the fastest growing group on Facebook are women over 55?

Whether you’re into the social media thing or not, you should watch this YouTube video that’s been making the rounds on various blogs. Good or bad, the way we communicate has changed. What’s your thoughts on this change?

* FTF = face-to-face

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Commentary, Internet, Technology

Tagged LinkedIN, social media, Twitter

The “NEW” junk drawer

Posted on 08/19/2009 | Leave a comment

Admit it! Doesn’t everyone have one? Isn’t there one in every kitchen?

You know, that one drawer where you put those things that you don’t know where to put any place else. Those things that you want to keep close at hand “just in case” you need them.

Then one day you get ambitious and decide to ORGANIZE the junk drawer. Big mistake!

You know full well that if you throw something out that next week you’ll need it. Then we’ll see you upside down in the big trash toter sorting through smelly pizza boxes and other unpleasant things, trying to find that one tiny piece that is now oh-so important. It’s dumpster-diving run amok.

Well, like most other people, I have that junk drawer with all the tiny piece-parts. But now I’m getting a second drawer, too. Anytime I buy some electronic device they come with their own set of cords … and of course, none of them fit any other device. There are cords for recharging using electricity. Cords for recharging using the car battery. Cords for connecting the device to the computer. I have old phones, most of which died as soon as their warranty was kaput. I have a car recharger for my laptop which I bought last year when we didn’t have electricity for days after Hurricane Ike. Then there are all the Instruction manuals, which I only read when trouble-shooting is called for.

junk drawer 002

One of these days, I’ll organize this drawer and put nice little color-coded labels on each of these cords so I’ll easily remember which one goes with the Nikon CORDS camera and which one goes with the Sony camera and which one goes with the new Blackberry and which goes to the old unusable phones. I just don’t have time to do it right now ……..

I’m outside the Verizon store protesting for universal cords!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Commentary, Humor, Realtors®, Technology

Tagged electronic device cords, junk drawer

Cruisin’ along the Olentangy River

Posted on 08/17/2009 | 2 Comments

I love the drive on Olentangy River Road between Powell Rd and Rt 23. During the summer it’s lined with trees. During the winter one can get an occasional glimpse of the frosty water. Over the weekend, I set up my camera on the dash … something I sometimes do.

At one point, I was treated to two fawns in and near the road. Their mother was in the pasture next to the woods. Fortunately, the other oncoming driver also saw them and was able to stop. It was the middle of the afternoon which is not normally the time deer are visible. We usually must keep an alert eye out for them on these roads in the early to late evening. I’ve come close to hitting deer, but thankfully so far haven’t had an encounter.

(Google map of the scenic portion of Olentangy River Rd)