Behind the Scenes at ActiveRain

What? Gone? No...

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:44:48 -0600

Hello, happy ARians! Someone asked the other day if I'd been let go, because they hadn't seen me post lately, but ...no... I've just been OMG super busy.

Luckily for me, the boys gave me something to share with you today... Click play to see these yahoos dancing on a Fun Friday morning to the Chipmunks! :)

Enjoy!

Beware Rental Scams Operating on Craigslist.com

Michael Creel (Brio Realty Inc.) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:54:38 -0500

As you may have read in my previous Blog, the Nigerian 419 scam has invaded our very own realty market here in Washington State. This is a fairly sophisticated scam that many people have fallen for and lost thousands in the process. Any clients you may have that are intending to buy property for the purpose of renting it out needs to be aware of this situation.

One popular free advertising source known as Craiglist.com is a steady source of victims for the scam artist operating out of Nigeria and the UK. However, it's not uncommon for listings on the MLS to receive such offers as well. There are three groups involved in perpetrating the scam. The first bunch are known as the Yahoo Boys, and they are the ones that scour the web for email address regarding rental properties. They send out emails by the thousands in the hope a few will respond.

Once someone has they may pass it on to another scammer that's experienced in the art of reeling the victim in (2^nd level). All of this activity is watched over by the ring leaders (3^rd level) that actually monitor all of the email accounts to insure the "worker bees" are performing correctly, and if it appears one is dropping the ball they will pull him out and bring in another more experienced player. The ringleaders collect the funds and actually pay commissions down the line to the boys that reeled them in. Many of the Yahoo Boys are college students and are given computers and promises of big money to participate; they view it as a job. It's not any different from Americas own drug dealers luring kids in to selling drugs for them. A great deal of this type of activity takes place in internet cafés, but often the kids are provided laptops and internet connections to work from home.

I recently ran an ad on craigslist.com to see if they were still working it. Craigslist has posted many warnings against responding to such solicitations and I was curious if the scammers had moved on to more fertile ground. They have not; I received 16 such inquiries in one day to a simple ad offering a room for rent in Bellevue. I used a fictitious identity and a newly created email address. I'll use the emails from just one of them as an example. This particular scammer managed to have a check on my doorstep by the next day!

This is a common type of email sent in search of victims and is sent to dozens of people at a time (they are often poorly written):

First response to my ad:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi ,
I am willing to rent a room or seek roommates who is nice and honest.
My name is Helen and I am 28yrs, Single, never been married, I am originally from Harrisburg, PA but I am currently out of the United States, I should return back to the State, as soon as I am able to secure a room where I will stay.

I am honest, trustworthy and caring person, who enjoy making good friends, I dont smoke and I dont drink ( but I am not against it), my hobbies are traveling, and Singing, I go to a friends party, but I dont stay late at night.

I would have loved to come and look at the room, but I am not in the States yet, so I will trust you on what you tell me regards the room.
I am currently working for GVI (GLOBAL VISION INTERNATIONAL) and I travel most times to the UK, I work as resercher on a construction Project/Research and Exploration Expedition.
I am moving back to the States. this very week, I have plans to staying back in the States, and look for a part-time job with my degree in Marketing, have thought about it carefully and I want to move to friendly city, where I can start my own life different from the one I have lived in the UK while working with my company GVI and the part-time job I will get any moment from now.
So I just want you to confirm the rent including utilities and if there is any deposit, whats the amount to move in all together? I am willing to stay for up to 8 months but I can move out during this 8 months if you want me to, as soon as I arrange payment for 2 months rent and deposit, when do I move in?

What is the closest international airport to the house? I will ask my company's associate in the US to send you a payment to cover for 2 months to confirm my willingness to occupy your space.
Please forward me your full details where you would want the payment be mailed to:

(Full Name)......
(Address):.....
(City, Zip Code):...
(Email):...
(Direct Phone):...

Thanks, I will be waiting for your details so I can proceed with the payment, I have also forwarded you my picture so you will know how I look.

Regards,

Helen
+44(0)7031817967

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Once someone has responded and expresses interest in renting to the scammer, they will receive this (already calling themselves your roommate), the "private email address" is actually the pass-off to the more experienced con artist.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Michelle,

How are you doing, This is Helen, your roommate, this is my private email address............. carterplp@yahoo.com, I have forwarded your details and I am looking forward to meet you, so the payment of the room will get to you by Wednesday-Thursday due to the postal system, as soon as you get it do not hesitate to contact me so I can proceed with my flight. I will also need your phone number just in case I want to reach you.

My company associate in the States has issued a cashier's check to cover for the rent and my expenses during my trip to the states, as soon as you get it, deduct your rent for 2 months including deposit and forward the remaining funds to my traveling Agent, through Western Union so I can use it to get my flight ticket. I will be buying a used car when I arrive, I will appreciate it if you can help me remove your ads from the internet so I will be assured that I am the only one contacting you regards the room. do you have YAHOO or MSN instant messenger so we can also talk for free on yahoo, my yahoo chat ID is: carterplp@yahoo.com.

Thanks, I cant wait to meet you in person, I will forward you the tracking number of the package(payment)

Your future roommate,
Helen

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

After a bit of small talk you will receive this email:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Misha,

How are you doing?, I am happy that you will get the payment today, the UPS tracking number is (J2080425169), you can go to http://www.ups.com/USto track the package. I was informed that the $4550 was mailed to you to cover for my rent and my flight ticket to the US, as soon as you get it, go and deposit it in your account, you will help me transfer the balance of $2400 to my traveling agent who is in charge of my flight directly, while the remaining funds will be used towards my rent and utilities. I will be flying on either KLM or British Airways, since I am a member, but will forward you my flight details as soon as it has been scheduled.
Below is my traveling agent's info where you will transfer my ticket funds to, through Western Union Money Transfer, you only need the Agent's Name and City, Zip and country to transfer funds using Western Union Money Transfer.

(Name): TIMOTHY MONTOYA

(City)Port Washington

(State)WI.

(Zip) 53074

I will be expecting the following info from you as soon as you send the funds, I am aware that the Western Union Agent will charge you for sending fee, please use out of the funds to pay the tranfer fee, I will need the info as follows:

(1)Exact Amount Sent(after deducting the transfer charges):................
(2)Senders Name and Address:...........
(3)Money Control Number/Reference Number(MTCN):.........

Please, do make sure the funds are sent same day you get the payment so I can get my ticket on Friday and fly on Saturday, that reminds me, how do I get the keys to the room, will you be available to pick me up on Thursday???.
Thanks, I awaits the Western Union Details.

Regards,
Helen

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Then the sense of urgency begins and often you will receive several emails in rapid succession:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Hello Misha,

How are you doing, I just got your message, please make sure the funds are wired today, Saturday is my flight, I want to be able to schedule a flight tomorrow, did you get my traveling agent's info?

Thanks, looking forward to meet you.

Helen

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello Michelle,

How are you doing, did you get the payment yet, I tracked it and it has been delivered at the front door of your room, so please I will need your swift response ok, I cant wait to meet you, will you be able to pick me up at the airport?

Thanks, will be waiting for the Western Union Details.

Helen

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Because I like to see how they deal different objections I send various responses, this is one I used:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Me: Yes, it was there when I got home from school today but it was too late to go to the bank. I talked to my mom today cause I was real excited about you coming here, and she thinks it's a great thing. She did suggest though that I wait until the check clears with the bank before sending any funds to you. I'll have to ask the bank how many days it takes to clear completely, hope that's not a problem luv. I'm really excited about your coming here and I know we're going to be the best of friends!

Scammer: Hello Misha, How are you doing, I am really excited at the thought of meeting you, I can see that you are nice and honest, I am the same kind of person, I cant wait to meet you, please the bank might want to put 2-3days on it, I wont be able to wait for that long.

I am asking you, if there is anything we can do so I can get my flight, or if there is a way you can borrow money for me and as soon as it clears, we will replace it back. Can we exchange pictures?

Helen

Me: I maybe could borrow some money from my student loan account, but that's about all the money that's in it. If for some reason I couldn't pay it back I wouldn't be able to pay for next semester and I would not be able to attend classes. My mom would just kill me! What's your flight number and departure time?

Scammer: Hello Misha, I really appreciate what you are doing to me, I promise to be the best fried you ever have, please, maybe we shouldnt tell your mom about it, so when the check clears, we can return it back, my flight is Saturday 6pm, I will need to pay my traveling agent before I can get a confirmation for my flight. ok.

Please, I will appreciate it if you can wire the money to my traveling agent today or early tomorrow, It is certain we will replace it back ok. Thanks. Looking forward to meet you

Helen

Me: I do feel like I've known you all my life, and I'm certain I can trust you. Maybe when I go to the bank I should just explain the urgency of the situation and they can call the bank that issued the check to confirm it's good. I'll bet that would solve our problem! What do you think? I hate to lie to my poor mother, she's been really sick with cancer and all and she doesn't feel good. Wouldn't it be better to just ask the bank to help us out?

Scammer: Hello Misha, I understand, I wouldn't want you to lie as well, there is nothing the bank can do because it is a policy they must follow, let just see how many days they will ask use to wait then. Thanks, looking forward to meet you.

Helen

(After this email, a more experienced scammer came in. This one was dropping the ball)

Me: Gee thanks, that's a good idea. I knew you would be understanding of the situation. I actually forgot where you're flying from! I see your travel agent is here in the US, did you used to live in that State? I'm still so excited knowing your coming so soon, the weathers still pretty nice so we can spend a little time going downtown and eating at all the beautiful restaurants. What's your favorite kinda food Helen!

Scammer: Hello Misha, How are you doing, I am exicted about meeting you as well, yes I use to live in Harrisburg, PA and Wi but thats a long time, I am originally from PA. I like lights food, yes we could go out and have a nice time.

Helen

Me: Where are you now, are you in England? I've always wanted to go there! What do you do for work?? I want to be a Hotel Manager, or maybe work on one of those big cruise ships after I graduate. Did you go to college in Harrisburg? You mentioned earlier we could exchange pictures; I don't remember if I ever sent you any or not, so I'll go ahead and attach a few for you now.

Scammer: How are you doing? I just got your email, I want to know if i can borrow some little funds from you, any amount you have, I will appreciate it. I WANT T RAISE SOME MONEY TO BUY MY FLIGHT BEFORE THE CHECK CLEARS, the days the bank asked you to come seems like a year to me, I will be waiting for your swift response.

miss ya

Helen

Me: How much do you need to borrow sweety? I don't think it will be a big problem. Can you possibly send me a scan of your photo identification, like a driver's license, or school ID? Then I at least know exactly who I'm making the loan too.

Scammer: Hello Misha, how are you doing? I just got your email, I cant believe you are asking me for these just because I ask you to borrow me some money, I dont have a scanner to scan what you have asked me to send to you.

But, I want you to know that I am an honest person, I cant borrow what I will not pay for, it is very urgent thats the reason why I turned to you for assistance, we are now friends, I can assist you if you want me to as well.....

Please there is no way I can send all this, since I dont have a scanner, I want to believe you trust me right? Please........

Helen

Me: Well, shoot, don't they have places that can scan for you? Oh, wait, I know. Maybe you can just take a picture of it and send that! I would at least like pictures of you or something, I know we're friends and all but I've never even seen you. Plus, you didn't say how much you want me to loan you. I only have about $5,000 in my college loan account that I'm supposed to use for school next semester, if I sent you that I would really need to be sure your going to pay me. If I lose my college money I can't return to school for half a year, and my mothers so sick with cancer I know it would just kill her if I wasn't in school.

It's not that I don't trust you hon, but the check didn't come from you, it came from another person. I have no idea who that person is. What if they cheated you and me both? What should we do Helen???

Scammer: Hello Misha, I just got your email and I believe you, I wouldnt want you to risk anything for your college ok, I will have to wait till the check clears then, I just hope it wont tkae more than 3day, but what I was acutally going to borrow from is $1000 and not $5000, I was just thinking I could be in the State by this new week, so we can visit alot of places together, I am really excited about meeting you.

and I know you will make a good friend. I wish you could borrow just the $1000 before noon tomorrow, I would appreciate it, that means I will still be able to fly later in the evening on Saturday.

How is your parents doing, I hope she is using her treatment, where di she travel to? would you like to visit the UK in your holidays? we cna go together and stay in my house here in London.

Thanks, will be waiting for your email.

Helen

Me: So sorry I just got your message Helen, I went to my best friend's birthday party (see pic) and we had such a good time. I really wish you could have been there. As for your question, $1,000 doesn't seem so bad; it is a lot of money to me so please realize that even losing that amount would dramatically affect my life.

The banks aren't open tomorrow though Helen, so I can't do it until Monday. You really have to swear to me though, if the check your friend sent for any reason doesn't clear (which it can't in 3 days, it takes over a week), you will pay me when you get here.

Surely you understand that even losing a thousand dollars would mean I can't continue my education, and when my mother returns from France from her cancer treatment, the last thing in the whole world I want to do is break her heart and tell her I lost my school money and had to drop out. I think I would rather kill myself than do that.

So please, you must promise me on the Holy Bible you will make good on the loan if the check isn't good. Do you promise??

Love you always,

Scammer: Hi Misha, How are you doing, I just got your email, yes I realized that alot of things is at stake if you have to borrow me the money, I promise to give you back if anything happens to the check ok, but I bet you nothing is going to happen, because this is my pay check, and no one will want to send me a bad payment, but I promise to give you back the funds if anything happens ok..... trust me on this.

Regards the party, I saw the pic, I just wished I was there with you, at least thats another avenue where we can spend time together and get to know ourselves better, right now it is as if I have known you for years, the understanding is just too perfect.
I cant wait to be there so we can go to other occasions like that, we could even visit London together during your hols in school. Please, do make sure the funds are wired early on Monday, try and do everything very early on Monday, I will really appreciate it.....I promise to pay you back in a very big way!

Thanks, looking forward to meet you.
Helen

(As you can see, the scammer is finding humor in ripping her off when he say's "I promise to pay you back in a very big way!")

Me: How much of my school money should I send? What do you need for your trip? I've seen those pics before, is that all you have?

Hello Misha,

How are you doing today, sorry I have not been online for sometime now, I have been busy putting my things in place for my trip. I would have appreciate $1500, but I am not sure you would be able to do that? if it is possible help me with $1500, and if you think $1000 is ok, then try and send it to me very early Monday morning ok.

Please, it is Monday here and the time is 4:56am, I will be coming back to check my email for the Western Union Details ok.

I hope you still remember my agent's info:

(Name): TIMOTHY MONTOYA

(City) Port Washington

(State) WI.

(Zip) 53074

I am looking forward to meet you Misha, I cant wait for us to paint the city with beautiful colors together.

Helen

Me: Thank for all your patience, I spoke with the bank and they said the money was available for withdrawal so I've sent $2,515.00 early this morning. The MCN number they gave me was 289-609-5468. Take care and be sure to get back to me with your flight information!

Now obviously I sent no money and the number is fictitious; often I'll send them to the WU several times attempting to collect, and sometimes I even send them a doctored receipt from Western Union to convince them it was indeed sent. On one such occasion the scammer went to Western Unions office with the fictitious receipt so many times the police were waiting for him when he came the 4^th time to collect and his associates emails me asking me to help get him out of jail! He was quite upset and said "Our Minister of Finance" has been arrested!" that made my day.

The two things people have said to me in the past regarding these scams is that:

Anyone getting pulled into such a scam is being greedy and trying to get something for nothing, therefore they deserve what they got!

The Nigerians are so poor they're simply acting in desperation and trying to find a better life.

I don't really believe either are true 100% of the time. As you can see by this email exchange, this person I fabricated was merely trying to rent out a room, and for a fair price. It wasn't part of a "Help me sneak 45 million of a deceased persons bank account and I'll split it with you" scam (although that is a common scheme); so honest hard working people are victimized by these scams.

I intentionally said all I could to see if the scammer had any sympathy at all. In the end, it didn't matter how sweet and innocent Misha sounded, that she would not be able to pay for college once the scam was complete, or that her mother was gravely ill. The scammer had no qualms getting her to take her college money and send it and instructed her to keep it a secret from her ailing mother.

I also wanted to show how they befriend the victim and prey on many lonely people. The young and elderly are common victims. I recently saw a young man on TV that simply wanted to sell his motorcycle. He was contacted by a man from overseas and sent a check for more than the amount due. He was then contacted by the "shipper" and asks to wire money so that they would pick the bike up and ship it out. He lost over $3,000 and now has to work 3 jobs to repay the bank or face criminal charges. He wasn't trying to get rich quick, just sell his bike.

I spoke with a Realtor last week that said she had in fact rented a home to someone that contacted her via the web and rented the home prior to arriving from Canada. They did send her a cashier's check, but they did not ask for money back; it was a legitimate deal. So it's not hard for someone to believe that it is legitimate since on occasion people do rent rooms in this manner. Then when the bank permits them to withdraw the money from the account based on the check being deposited, many believe that indicates it has cleared, when in fact it has not.

As for the Nigerians impoverished condition driving them to do this, that's not quite true. The bulk of the profits are going to the ringleaders and they have made billions. The Yahoo Boys are paid nominal commissions for their success. Many consider it a game, as this popular song indicates. It's called "I Go Chop Your Dollar" and has lyrics such as this:

"419 is just a game. You are the loser, I am the winner. White people greedy.... I take your money and disappear.... You be the fool, I be the master."

The losses from this scam are in the billions! On August 6^th 2007 the EEOC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) ran a sting operation in Nigeria and confiscated outbound mail for the US and UK. The operation produced startling discoveries of how criminal elements operating from the country ship fake documents and counterfeit financial instruments abroad. In several packages they found fraudulent identification and counterfeit financial instruments neatly concealed in carbon paper to evade the sensors of scanners.

In all, 15,129 counterfeit checks related to advance fee fraud scams were intercepted. They included 6,948 blank checks and others drawn for the sums of $145.9 million, Euro 211,077, 218.00, over two million Pounds Sterling and 120,450.00 Canadian dollars. So this is a major problem that shouldn't be ignored and written off as "something that happens to greedy fools".

In playing along with their scam and allowing them to send the check, only to realize they have wasted their time and money in doing so and perhaps makes them more leery of who they send the checks to. I've noticed that some of the ads I place on Craigslist receive no response. The Yahoo Boys have private websites where they post messages to one another regarding their own bad experience with victims and who to avoid.

I hope that in doing this I make them more leery of any ads for Washington State property rentals. I'm not crazy enough to believe I can end it, but as I said before, if I can just save a few from this scam it's worth my time. I haven't taken as much time or effort as it may seem; I often do it when I'm bored or need a break. Also, I can't lie; it's a bit fun at times.

Never Forget: Remember, but Do Not Hate.

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:58:37 -0500

Suddenly, it scrolled across my screen: Omg, did you see that? Do you have the news on? Quick! Turn on ABC! We're being attacked!

I had visions of the cliche scene from an old WWII movie, of states being blown sky-high, men in trenches, and gunshots fired on both sides. But no, when I turned on the news, there was nothing more than the cowardice of a left hook to America's jaw on the screen as a plane carcass burned high, pushed through the first tower at the World Trade Center.

These are a couple paragraphs from my rememberance post from last year on 9/11. They're still true today, as people around the country remember the Towers and the Pentagon and the people lost within; my heart still sinks a little when I remember how violated I felt that morning while watching the broadcast. My adreniline still kicks in and makes me want to fight back, to seek revenge, to destroy their home as they destroyed ours.

However, this is the wrong reaction to have, eight years after some jerk got it into his head that killing 2,998 innocents was an excellent way to take a giant, ragged chunk out of America. It's hard to wrap one's head around the motives for causing such pandemonium in the streets of New York and DC, but what it comes down to is Hate and infamy.

We can't really fight infamy; without remembering, we wouldn't be able to subvert future attempts to crush our strength. Without remembering, we wouldn't understand the pain and horror that watching another person's life being snuffed out brings. Without remembering, we wouldn't have the foundation or the building blocks to rebuild our Towers and our communities. Without remembering, we would forget the real enemy.

We can't fight infamy, but we can fight Hate.

We will fight Hate. People all over the country today have chosen to do just this by doing one simple thing today: instead of wallowing in the guilt and despair of the Attacks, today, they are building a better home. Today, they have taken up arms to rebuild in their own communities, to volunteer their time and energy to put their backs and give a cause a push. Whether it's helping the animals or building houses or sharing their garden's bounty with a less fortunate family, today is a day where we should remember and fight by strengthening ourselves, by strengthening our neighborhoods, our towns, our states, and our country.

The best and only weapon against Hate is Love; unfortunately, we can't pack Love into a missile and shoot it across the world. We can't stuff it into grenade shells and expect to get in a Guerrilla attack. No. Love starts at home. Although I am not religious, most of the religious texts that I've read -- and I've read many -- come back to one very important lesson: Love thy neighbor.

Take this tenant to heart and realize that although we may not always agree and we may not always get along, our neighbors are the best tools we have to create an America that is not touchable by the long arms of Hate and destruction. Today, find a need, fill that need, and love your neighbor. Pull together, strengthen your communities, and let those who sought to destroy us know that they have failed in their mission.

The war is not over.

Life Isn't Like a Box of Chocolates

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:56:30 -0500

No, in fact, life is a lot like driving.

This morning, while crossing the 520, a Land Rover decided to see just how close they could possibly get to my bumper without hitting me while going 60mph. This isn't unusual in Seattle, because for all of the "After you", "No, after you!" drivers we have here, there are one or two of us transplants who know how the rest of the world drives, and every now and again, our impatience rears its ugly head. Regardless, eyeing the guy in my rearview for a good half mile as we crossed a the two-lane bridge, I made a bad judgment call:

I stomped on my brakes.

The highway patrol warns against moves like this because there's always the chance that the idiot behind you won't be able to stop or slow down before hitting you. They especially warn against quick-stopping on a rainy day after a long dry spell, and rainy, indeed, it as this morning after a multi-month drought.

Lucky for me, the guy also stomped on his brakes, shifted the car, and zipped into the other lane before promptly getting stuck behind a commuter van for the duration of the trip to the junction of 405. He didn't get where he was going any faster by being a jerk, and even though I made a bad judgment call, the vengeful side of me hopes that the shot of adrenaline I gave him this morning opened his eyes a bit.

Aside... This caused some introspection for me, because it illustrates well the tendency for people to get pushy when life is frustrating or claustrophobic. Humans tend toward becoming more aggressive when the chips are down in such a way that actually binds their hands from accomplishing what they want most.

This was a good lesson this morning to think about for me, especially, because I have a handful of large projects weighing down in my inbox that I haven't really had a lot of time to pay true service to, and because my first instinct in dealing with them is to turn on my redheaded "charm" and push them through with the various other people that I have to work with to accomplish this. But, as evidenced by my friend, the Land Rover, this morning... Being pushy gets you nowhere fast.

My Mimi used to tell me, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, Red", and it's something that I, myself, try to live by. My grandmother was full of great advice as you can tell from this and previous posts, and were she with us now and I was telling her about how my stress is manifesting itself this week -- heartburn, dizziness, short temper, even a few tears -- she'd do three things:

First, she'd ask if I was pregnant. No.

Then, she'd ask if I was REALLY pregnant. Also no.

Finally, she'd tell me to take a breath and bring my G-D patience to work (I love my Mimi). Well, and then she'd tell me to stop being such a jerk while driving. Okay, so four things.

But I digress...

The lesson today, Gentle Readers, is even when the world is weighing you down, even when it seems like you're unable to get anywhere fast, for heaven's sake, don't be pushy -- you'll only succeed in frustrating yourself and nearly causing an accident when someone puts the brakes on.

Having Courage is More Than Being Brave.

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:48:40 -0500

Growing up, I was the eight-week child at my father's house, since he lived on the other side of the state. Although my total time there during my childhood amounted to little over two years of my life, there are a few things that stick out to me to this day: the smell of fresh popped popcorn (my stepmom and I used to have movie nights, just the two of us), the bare patch in the yard where I lost a lot of skin sliding into home base, and a prayer plaque that hung on the wall of the downstairs bathroom for years.

Although I am not a religious person, I can still recite the Serenity Prayer verbatim, after having read it so many times:

Lord, please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Now, before you all start thinking that this is a post about religion, let me explain why this prayer is the subject of my post today...

I'm a control freak. There, I said it! Whew, I feel better now. (*Fans self with hand.*) I'm sure this is nothing that you don't already know about me, but I'm not very good at accepting the things I can't change; like a lot of people I know and love, I batter against the brick wall, thinking that if I give it just one more shove, it'll topple over.

Unfortunately, one of the facts of life is that you can't control everything, as many of us already know. The industry's swinging (and I don't mean hopping), many of us are worried about our livelihoods, and we feel as though our alternatives are few and our stores are depleted.

Grant yourself some serenity:

Although I know, firsthand, the upside to having backups to my backups, the worry that things will constantly fail and the consistent planning of contingencies is exhausting. Understand that we cannot plan for everything, that surprises are going to happen, and the best you can do is take the punch, roll with it, and stand back up. Life, in many ways, is like the economy: it has its ups and downs, and it will correct itself if you work hard and push to recover. Take a breath and realize that although it may not be in your immediate control, there are some things that yet still are; do not spend energy on worrying about those things that will only weigh you down.

Rely on your courage:

I often forget to do this, hiding behind stability and the promise of a sure bet. Courage is, truly at its base, trust. Do you trust yourself? Do you trust that you can square your shoulders and push for it? Do you trust your advantages, your knowledge, and your gut? That's courage, folks; even when the situation looks dire, if you can swallow the terror that's swimming in your throat and reach for that goal, for that better life, for that next sale, you'll make it. You can change your own world if you focus and trust yourself to make good decisions.

Use a little wisdom:

I'm pretty intelligent, but that does not mean that I'm wise. Let's face it: there's some things we cannot do without a little help, advice, or a push from our support network. Talk to people, reach out, look for alternative solutions. Knowing the difference between what you can handle yourself and when you need to ask for help can mean survival in dire situations. Knowing yourself and your limitations is the best, most solid way to overcome what ails you while under your stresses and burdens. Put out the SOS when the water level is too high and, as my gramma would say, help will appear.

It's interesting to think that trips to the ladies' room at my dad's house while growing up would stir such an emotional response in me twenty years later as I'm staring at this screen and drinking a double short. I came across it in a random internet search for quotes about Courage, and immediately, I considered how much of a control freak I was, how much I worry about needless things, and how little I trust my gut in the day-to-day. Perhaps with a little reflection now and again, we'll all be granted the serenity, courage, and wisdom needed to know how and when to make the decisions that impact our lives.

Burn, Baby, Burn

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:00:57 -0500

I woke up this morning groggy, with many fewer clothes on than what I went to bed wearing, and the face of my tuxedo cat inches from my own.

"Meow," she told me, her pitch whiney and pathetic. She blinked at me while I stood, used the little girls' room, and wobbled into the kitchen, rubbing the bruise I got on my shoulder from running into the doorhandle at the gas station after a mad dash to FedEx and then to the bank last night. Since there was food in her bowl, I can only imagine that she was reporting on what I already knew:

It's hot in Seattle.

Wait, no, let me rephrase: It's FREAKIN' hot in Seattle.

Sigh. For a city that's used to muggy days and rain falling on our heads in droves, this summer's heatwave has been murderous to our way of life, our work, and naturally, our moods. Most of the houses and apartments here are built without air conditioning, mostly because our "summer" usually lasts all of two weeks at some point at the end of July or early August.

The ActiveRain offices have been affected, too. Today will be our hottest day ever in the history of Seattle, and yesterday's build-up to that point was evidenced by the hollow, shadowed eyes that our workers came in with, indicating that the heat had made their sleep restless and unfulfilling. Joel stated that he was just going to sleep in his pool from now on, while Kerrie railed against the heat -- admitting that she'd left the windows open all day the day before.

It's interesting to be detached from the bulk of the office, as shut up as I am in my own little square of space in the corner. They laugh about me having bionic ears because I can hear every detail of every conversation out there, but as the heat ratchets higher and people get less sleep, their moods are changing, tempers are flaring faster, some are more ADD than usual.

I guess it's fair to say that the AR Staff is just as human as the rest of the world. Most of us are aware that we're tired or feeling stressed or just unfocused, but it's so hard to keep on the straight and pleasant narrow when you just can't seem to get enough shut-eye or when you walk outside and Washington's turned into Texas for some ungodly reason.

We've been under an excessive heat watch and a non-precipitation warning for the better part of the week (I have a plug-in on my firefox that shows me these lovely things), and fires are cropping up around the state caused by lightning storms and other threats to the environment. People are toting two or three bottles of water at once to stave off heat exhaustion.

My vet even recommended that I shave my short- and medium-hair cats.

I'm fully convinced that my hometown has gone more and more insane as the mercury rises; honestly, for the sake of the office and my coworkers, I can only hope that it cools down soon so that we can all get some rest and stay hydrated. I think I speak for everyone when I say, "Give us some rain, already!"

When Life Hands You Lemons, Throw 'Em Out.

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:23:12 -0500

Think about it. The lemons that Life hands you are disappointments - a big bushel of dispair - especially when you were expecting a bushel of some real beauties like apples or oranges. Expectations sometimes get us in trouble, but unlike many psychiatrists that I know (it's weird, but three or four of my childhood friends became shrinks), I don't advocate lowering those expectations.

Take the realm of dating or marriage, for instance: My auntie says, "Claire... your expectations are too high for these men. Lower them a little, give a little, and you'll be happy." Then, she pours me a cup of tea, and, without adding any sugar, hands it over to me.

How can I possibly be expected to drink unsweetened tea?! I've told my auntie that, time and time again, that I'm very picky about my men and that I like sugar in my tea -- honey, at very least! Still, my auntie's one for making lemonade out of lemons, instead of simply pitching the entire bushel and moving on as I am. And so, as she drinks her unsweetened tea and prattles on about my lack of a husband at my overripe age of 25, I eventually come to the same point during each of these conversations: "Auntie," I say, "I love you, and I would never change you, even though you're wrong."

As she sputters into her teacup, I smile pleasantly and tell her, "I'm picky about my men because I want what's right for me, not what you or anyone else think should be right for me."

That note is especially important: Disappointments are often the expectations of others foisted on your shoulders that you can't, in your heart, live up to and carry on under the weight. Often, we take others' expectations into ourselves and depression lays in when they simply don't fit what is right for us.

Jon is a big fan of pushing people, of grasping higher, of reaching out into the ether to pull amazing things from the sky. His expectations aren't too low, and even though sometimes we, as his employees, don't quite make the grade, we've never asked him to lower them. You see, Gentle Readers, having high expectations is giving yourself a personal push of motivation, wanting -- nigh, NEEDING -- more than what you have.

Here in the Real Estate Industry, you probably all know well how hard it is to hope for more, especially since this industry was so deeply plunged into the recession. I'm sure many of you are still carrying around that bushel of lemons, trying to figure out where you can find the sugar my Auntie stole from me in order to make some lemonade.

Let me ask you this: Are your disappointments and expectations by others truly worth the weight you're carrying? The answer is quite simple and very, very succinct: Are you nuts? Of course not.

That weight will be lifted the moment that you recognize that having higher expectations and hoping for more is okay, even valued, over living under the depressive and soul-collapsing crush of what other people think is best for you.

Learning to be good at what you do is not a matter of how many facts you know or where you place a chair (under the window? In the corner?), but how adaptive, agile, and attentive you are. By setting your expectations high and working in favor of highering them every step of the way, by pitching those lemons to the roadside and demanding sugar in your tea, by always feeding that craving for more, not only will you evolve and adapt as a professional, but you will come to realize that it's those who make lemonade who probably need people like you the most.

Loving Your Job: The Victory Dance

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:47:03 -0500

I did the Snoopy dance in the middle of the office today. In fact, I did the rubber chicken, then the Snoopy dance, and then I sprinted the all of ten feet between my office and the conference room where Jon sat and practically blew out his eardrums as I skidded to a stop in the doorway and announced that I had, in fact, accepted a final document that I've been working to obtain for darn well near forever.

There's something momentus about accomplishing every goal set in front of you at your initial hiring on a job. Whether it's to sell eighteen houses by your third month or stuff four hundred and fifty pillows for a major manufacturer or landing a huge legal contract with the government, that laundry list that we all get at the outset of our new position is something that niggles in the back of the brain, whispering, "You still have to get me done... I'm still here... Your performance eval is going to be awful if I'm still on it..."

It's easy to lose steam on that corporate to-do list, especially when you don't know why or how those goals were set for you. If you don't care, they're not going to get done, and that's really the bottom line.

Let's face it: We all deal with these awful personal deadlines that weigh so heavily on our souls, and when they finally come through, we smile serenely, nod if acknowledged, and go about our day without making so much as a ripple in the pond of our occupations. But inside... Inside, we're having a grand ol' hoe down in the middle of the cube farm, standing on the desk and kicking our heels up! Inside, we're doing the rubber chicken dance in the touchdown zone. Inside, as each of these items are pecked from the list, we're so happy we can hardly breathe.

Am I right?

You know I'm right.

And when that laundry list is completed, ready to be crumpled up and three-pointed into the circular filing cabinet, suddenly, the future seems so much easier to face, the stresses of running around and trying to get that LAST phonecall in are gone, the boss is happy, and you can enjoy your weekend.

I finally hit that point here at AR. I took this job because I KNEW that I was going to love working here (as said in yesterday's post about staying positive); I knew this job was mine. A little over a year later, that stupid list is all crumpled up and binned, and I feel about twenty pounds lighter. However much as I'm in a celebratory mood, I have to say that this isn't a pat-on-the-back sort of article, so I'll get to the point:

Just as being happy is a mindset, setting personal accomplishments is the perfect way to gauge yourself in your position, to measure your growth and development, to motivate and focus you toward that light at the end of your laundry list tunnel. We're often faced with huge tasks when taking on any job, whether it's being hired somewhere or taking on the burden of extra work, and sometimes, they may seem insurmountable as we bang up against brick walls time and time again.

Tireless doggedness and absolute resilience against accepting the word "no" is the best and only way to push through; though a hoe-down on the desktop may not be the best way to express yourself at work, celebration is just as much a part of the process as determination. Allow yourself to have that celebration inwardly and more importantly, outwardly. I suppose I'm lucky that I work for somewhere awesome like ActiveRain, that allows me to run and skip and laugh and jump (and yes, even do a few Hammer-esque side to side shuffles), but I have to tell you.... Celebration is the sweetest bite of that Last-Item pie.

The world would be a better place if we could all moonwalk when we "done good", so take the time to reward yourself with a little celebration now and again, regardless of what wide-eyed stares you may receive for your Betty Davis eyes.

Why So Serious?

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:09:12 -0500

"You look like you need an ice cream cone, little girl," I told my sister as the corners of her lips drooped toward the floor after eating out last night.

"I shouldn't feel guilty about spending money," she told me, obviously unhappy. "I'm okay." Like many people, myself included, the Recession we live in today has impacted my sister's way of thinking about money. She's just switched jobs, just finished her college education, and lives in a gorgeous apartment in the heart of Ballard right across from the park. And yet, still, she worries about every penny she spends because she doesn't know when she might need that penny to survive the economy.

Like many of us, my sister works hard to support herself. I'm very grateful that she inherited the 'motivated' gene in our family and fights now for everything she has. That gene has served me well in the past, and like me, my sister has learned the value of the respect and experience that busting your butt to get the job done gives you. She's started displaying Claire-like symptoms of putting your heart and soul into the job at hand without asking for anything more than a simple 'thank you' or 'job well done'. Sometimes unfortunately, the seriousness of the situation gets to us both.

My sister is very serious; she didn't used to be. She used to be this vibrant social butterfly who simply enjoyed everything she came across, but now, after finding herself so unhappy after earning her BA, after discovering some of the trials and tribulations that we muddle through as adults, she's lost that little spark she once had. To bring it back, she's decided that she's going to be happy.

I've made that same decision countless times. Growing up, I had a rough childhood; we never had enough - enough food, enough clothing, enough heat in the winter. My mom sacrificed everything she could to make sure that we never went to bed hungry and that our shoes didn't have holes in them. Our family situation was undesirable, especially on top of our money issues. My father had dependency issues and my stepfather was abusive. At the age of 16, I was a very, very angry child. I faced my problems with determination and temper, where my sister faced them by keeping her head down and looking for social support of others outside of the family.

One morning somewhere around my 17th birthday, I woke up, and I decided to be happy. I decided not to let my situation impact my mood.

Years later, I worked in Maryland for a woman who had morality issues; I can't speak in particular length about her as she's involved in litigation, but I feel that she mismanaged her business, that she misappropriated funds from that business, and she treated her employees like dirt. I worked there because I needed to pay my bills, and I felt that I was doing a service to the clients. Irregardless, toward the end, I started feeling like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, like I had to slog through the day just so I could go home, tuck myself under the blankets, and sleep away the miserable feeling I had in my gut.

One afternoon, I called and cried while on the phone with my mother. It was then that I decided to be happy: I was moving home. My mother was having spinal surgery, and so the circumstances lined up well for me. I could be home while she was recovering, and I could be happy once again. I found a job across the country, packed my car and my kitties, and followed my happiness home.

I lost my job twice the following year to a pair of layoffs. It was at the beginning of the Recession, and having moved across the country and exhausted my savings account, I was in a bad spot financially to lose my job...twice. I worried about bills everyday; I made myself sick over them. How would unemployment cover my medical costs, my housing costs? I set my head on the edge of my kitchen counter and breathed out until I was calm some days, worried I'd give myself a panic attack. While doing the job search that led me to ActiveRain, I had given myself a panic attack just before that particular interview, and so as I drove into Bellevue, I was still shaky.

Jon and Bob (the two who interviewed me here) don't know this, but I sat in my car for a full ten minutes pulling myself together, updating my mascara, and deciding that this was going to go well, that I was the happiest person on earth, and that this job was mine. A year and some months later, I'm still here, I'm still kicking, and I consider having landed the position one of my best personal triumphs.

I give you these examples because these were all very serious situations, all based on hardship, all centered around the bad and miserable in life. They're very personal examples - trust me, I try not to speak out of my rear for things of which I know nothing - but the point I am trying to make is that even when times are hard and everything going on around you seems too dire, you have to make the concious decision that you are going to pull through, that you are going to be happy, and that, like my sister, you'll be okay.

Your mood affects so much of your daily life, your interactions with the world at large, and the quality of the work you do. It affects the people around you, and in turn, when their moods go south, their moods impact your mood, and soon, you have this whirling vortex of depression that's being fed in a turnstile manner by those closest to you.

So... why so serious? Make the concious decision to be happy, and no matter what happens, to keep your chin up. Even when things look bleak, understand that there is more to this life than money and a job, that the economy will bounce back eventually, and that you are in control of your life, your situation, and your own happiness.

(The movie embedded here is something that I found utterly charming - usually, weddings are so serious, but this particular one is fun and memorable. They'll have lasting memories of more than just the cake and garter because they made the decision to insert happiness.)

Innovation and Necessities: What Need Do You Fill?

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:42:54 -0500

I was braving the 520 bridge yesterday, thanks to the I-90 construction where they shut down the ENTIRE WESTBOUND BRIDGE (sigh - I'm still a little bitter), and just as I got past the cop sitting at the last exit onto the highway, my phone beeped. Naturally. Yey for cops and the no-handheld-phones law; luckily, my trusty Bluetooth earpiece was right there and I popped it on, flipped open my phone and answered a call from...

...my sister. "I really want to go see a movie tonight," she said, but had no preference on which movie she wanted to see. Long story short, I picked her up downtown and we shot back into Ballard to check movie times. Believe it or not, Harry Potter was sold out (darn). Everywhere. But a movie I wanted to see several weeks ago was still playing...for only two more days.

Food, Inc. is one of those movies that makes you want to stop eating. No, seriously, if you need to go on a diet, go watch that movie, because I walked out of the theater with my stomach turning and a new awareness of where the food I do eat comes from. Luckily for me, I don't eat a lot of processed or snack foods - I mostly choose local fruits and veggies. I think my downfall comes in my meat selection.

But I digress... this isn't an article about the movie, but what happened after. On our way back to Ballard, Paige (that's my sister) and I got into a debate about illegal immigration. It was a large theme in the movie and so it was an easy jump from that to the debate. Slowly, our discussion grew from illegal immigration to collapsing multi-national corporations to, finally, how innovation is the product of necessity.

So, with my mind too on the run after that conversation to really lay down and sleep, I laid and stared at the ceiling and pondered... What need do we fill? We're in real estate, so the automatic knee-jerk reaction is to say "I get people into homes". Which is great! Don't get me wrong: I'm not bashing that mentality at all. But...

...that's not a necessity. What I'm offering up as a question is a much wider look at the industry and what we do in it. Are you a pioneer? Using Jon as an example, he's created this magnificent engine that, even for it's faults, has helped push real estate marketing to a whole new level - a personal level. Another example: My job here is part assistant/part office manager. Is that the need I'm filling? No. I'm the fixer, the coordinator, and the organizer - the need I fill is keeping everyone together so that the business functions. Am I a pioneer? Perhaps, on some level, due to my association with AR, the tools I try to get people to use in the office, and so on.

My sister's point was simply that "no one" would want to work certain jobs for what these large, multi-national corporations were paying illegal immigrants, in example: clean toilets, gut pigs, shovel manure, and so on. With the jobless rate in the country being nearly 10%, I was of the opinion that were those jobs available, necessity would dictate what those "no ones" would do to provide for their families, and innovation would be born from that necessity - new, better ways to do the job, better wages, better living standards... perhaps, even, a better product.

Now, before I get on my high politics horse (which, as you all know, I try to avoid whenever possible - my blog's not a battleground, and even -I- need to respect that), I circle back to the thought of filling needs. In this society, in these economic times, it's interesting to see how many people seem born with a natural tunnel-vision that inhibits them from thinking of anyone other than their own household bottom line. This, unfortunately, leads to holes in the community that need to be filled but are ignored until those holes cannot go on anymore: businesses move out of the neighborhood, certain products are shipped out of state to be assembled, workers who are no longer "necessary" get cut, families have to raise their budget to pay for commodities, utility bills go up, etc., etc.

But we are not powerless. I know it seems a dim, dire situation when you're watching your personal or community's bottom line, seeing things changing, but understand me clearly: those changes are opening up opportunities and NEEDS that must be filled to stabilize the community. You all know the term "Build it and they will come"...

I think, in essence, that's the need that real estate agents must fill - you are community builders. Not like AR's Community Builders, of course ;) but more of finding the right fit for the right people, bettering neighborhoods, building up, and rounding out the rough edges. So now, my wonderful and lovely real estate agents, I must ask: What need do you think you fill? What gap have you closed? What wider-world hole have you patched up? What innovation are you working to see progress?

A Lesson in Productivity: How Much is Your Time REALLY Worth?

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:01:03 -0500

It's been a tumultuous week in Claire-land, and as it's finally July, I've sat down to review my yearly budget, my tax withholdings, my goals (both personal and professional), and my savings accounts. I also took the time to consider what obligations that I give my time to when I'm not at work and whether I could still sincerely uphold those obligations without killing myself or diminishing my standard of living.

So, to start, I pulled my last six months of bank records and uploaded them into a spreadsheet, sorted by category, and made a graph. It made me wince -- we'll just say that -- in how much I had spent on gas and car maintenance in the first half of the year. I also pulled up the IRS's calculator for withholding taxes and plugged in the withholding to date off my paystub. The good news is that I need to make no adjustments to my withholding and I probably won't have a huge return in April. I closed a couple of my sub-savings accounts, now that the goals had long passed and I was no longer putting money into them, then considered what I wanted to do over the course of the next year. I opened three new sub accounts to drop cash into: one for a vacation in December sometime, one for my credit card payoff, and one for a new, pretty, comfy convertible couch for my uber-small living room.

Sure, all sensible things - I'm sure you all are nodding your heads in agreement. Well, except, perhaps, the couch - I want a red couch, which is not sensible at all, and it mustn't have any of those stupid bars that bite into your back when you fold the mattress out.

But the true experiment of this last weekend was figuring out what I'm really worth per hour; it helps put my goals and motivations into perspective to be able to say, "I work X amount of hours to pay my rent" or "My couch means I have to work X number of days."

Here's how to figure out YOUR hourly worth (using an example of my bestest friend Jamie, who earns salary of $100,000/yr. I think it would be slightly unethical for me to post my actual salary on any blog, let alone my professional one):

Jamie earns $100,000/yr gross on a commission basis doing photography for weddings.
Jamie's tax bracket is 25%, meaning her net salary is actually $75,000/yr.
Considering that Jamie works eight hours a day with a one hour lunch and a 45-min commute and an hour of prep for work each morning, Jamie spends 11.5 hours everyday in relation to work. Thankfully, she doesn't take work home, or this number would be higher!
There are, on average, 260 working days a year. Multiplying 260 by Jamie's 11.5 hours/day, Jamie works 2990 hours a year.
Taking into account that Jamie spends about $100/month on clothing for work, $150/mo on gas for her car, $100/mo on maintenance for her car, $100/mo on various expenses for work to include supplies, and rents a studio for $300/mo for portrait taking, Jamie spends, on average, $760/mo or $9120/yr on expenses relating to work.
Finally, taking Jamie's net salary ($75000/yr), subtracting her expenses ($9120/yr), then dividing by hours worked (2990/yr), Jamie's actual hourly wage is $22.03/hr.

This is a pretty big change, considering that her job was advertised at approximately $48/hr when she took it; Jamie's actually working for less than half what the sticker price said.

This particular exercise is something I do every six months or so to determine whether my time is well-spent at work, at home, volunteering or otherwise, because considering how much you make an hour helps put into perspective what you spend time and money on, especially when you start comparing it to bills:

Jamie pays $1400 in rent ($1400/$22.03/24hrs) and must work eight standard eight-hour days to pay for it.
Jamie's car payment is about $400/mo. She must work two and a half eight-hour days to pay for it.
Jamie's commute is worth $250 worth of gas and maintenance on that car. She has to work at least a day and a half to pay for that.

A day, you say, well that's nothing! But if you compare it to how happy you are, it's actually quite a bit of something. As Jamie's 45-minute commute is spent seething in frustration at the other idiots in East Coast traffic, she's really spending $250/mo to learn new cusswords and flip radio stations in an effort to stay calm. How is that for perspective? How about this: Jamie is wasting eighteen days every year and spending $3000 to learn new cusswords and flip radio stations. Eighteen 24-hour days! $3000!

Tell me, folks...what could you do with eighteen more 24-hour days every year? How about $3000? What would you do with an extra hour and a half every day? Those are the questions I ask myself when I have these personal budgeting sessions - not just 'what would I do with', but 'why do I spend money on that'?

Currently, I have three volunteer obligations outside of work and two other extremely low-paying semi-volunteer gigs, taking up a solid five of seven nights a week. When I consider what my time is worth, it really makes me pause to reflect on whether I'm spending my time well, and whether I'm truly happy running around the city.

This time, I've decided to decrease one of my obligations by a half hour and one of my obligations by a full hour, giving myself a few extra hours each month to write. Since my passion really is writing, an hour and a half could mean 10000 words on a novel I want to get published. I think about it as paying myself - I'm worth my time.

So I have to ask, Gentle Readers, when you consider how much your time is worth - however you quantify it - are you spending your time on things that make you happy? Are you spending your money wisely? When looking over your goals, are you working toward them, or just placing them on a shiney pedestal to look at?

It is Bob's Birthday Today. Go by his Blog & Wish Him an Awesome One!

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:42:54 -0500

Go to Bob's blog and wish him happy bday!

Via Jeremy Blanton (ActiveRain Corp.):

Happy Birthday Mr. Stewart! Hope you have an awesome day today!

Please, go by his blog & wish him a Happy Birthday!

What We Take for Granted: The Real Cost of Freedom

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:16:03 -0500

Today is July 4th, 2009, and today, Americans celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, barbecues and friends. We pass bottles of wine and cheer as fire comes to life in firepits on the beach. We get incessantly drunk (at least, the very young and legal of us do), clanging beer bottles together and singing drunken melodies. Some of us follow our base urges into the night, while others fall into a sleeping stupor and will wake up tomorrow with a terrible headache and a serious need for hydration.

Yes, I realize that this is a very brusque look at our celebrations, but to bring clarity to how few people actually consider what freedom costs, I decided to give this example before hashing out the facts. Onwards.

The Declaration of Independence, one of our most sacred documents as Americans, was signed by 56 men. Of those 56, 24 were lawyers and jurors. 11 were merchants. 9 were farmers and plantation owners. These were all considered the smartest of the smart, but truly, they were the bravest of the brave, knowing full well that they were signing their death warrants and those of their families to fight behind a principle that they so believed in.

Here is the true cost of our freedom:

Five were captured and tortured by the British before they died behind bars.
Twelve lost their homes when the British soldiers burnt them and everything they owned.
Two had sons that were captured and never heard from again. Two others sacrificed them to the mire of war.
Nine physically fought in the Revolutionary War and lost their lives.
One saw all of his boats sunk by the British and had to sell everything to pay what he lost in those fateful hours, including his home and possessions. Once a rich merchant sailor, he died penniless.
One was so constantly harassed by the British that he put his family in hiding; his property was ransacked and stolen, leaving him, also, penniless.
Eight had their homes broken into, vandalized, and stolen from.
One lost his home to General Cornwalis and Cornwalis used it as an HQ for the British Military. His home was destroyed when he urged Washington to open fire and take out the occupants within. This signor died bankrupt at his own hand when his home was lost.
One lost his properties to the British when they were seized on the England side of the pond. His wife was also lost when she was captured and tortured, dying only a few months later.
One had to flee his dying wife's beside; his thirteen children also fled, never to be heard from again. He lived in the forest for years, returning to find himself without any family at all.

Even in a simpler time, our freedom was never free. These men, the ones who put their name on the document that began the war to give us this glorious country, knew precisely what they were getting into. Their families knew the risk they were taking alongside these men and accepted it. They were the epitome of brave, and yet...

yet...

We sit in our backyards and grill instead of taking a moment to remember the fallen, the ones who lost everything, every penny, their homes, even their families, to give us our freedom from the oppression the British empire forced on us so many years ago.

So please, everyone, as you're pulling out the BBQ and laying down the kabobs, take the time to consider what it really is to be free, to not worry about things like conscription and tariffs. Remember, even for a second, the real cost of freedom, and enjoy your Fourth in such a way that you celebrate those freedoms and the lives lost that afford us those freedoms.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

~Francis Scott Key, "Defense of Fort McHenry"

Do You have Faith in your Scooby Gang?

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:11:25 -0500

If it weren't for those meddling kids....no, just kidding ;)

I say it constantly to many of my friends: If you surround yourself with intelligent people, you will be filled with intelligent thoughts to ponder as you move through your days. We've had a lot of big changes here at AR HQ, and it's been some time since I've written about the office itself -- I guess I epic fail at keeping you guys updated ;)

After speaking this morning to a certain AR CEO (cough*Jon*cough) and briefly discussing what growing pains a company has while expanding, he said, "If we're not f*ing up, we are not pushing ourselves." With that single sentence, I realized that a large part of pushing ourselves requires a combined team effort of all the individuals in our office, and since we have a few more backs to help push the load uphill, it was probably time to introduce our newcomers en masse.

In member support, we have a few new faces: Drew, Rodney, Kerrie, Sean, Steven, Aaron, and Joel. The first four are working with our new business builders, while the rest are those calling up our new members and helping them learn how to use the Rain to their advantage. They come with heavy dollops of sarcasm and a little playful banter, but they're ours!

Heading that team is Doug. Although you don't hear him on the phone very often, he's constantly riding herd on our new member support agents and has an easy demeanor that makes him a huge asset to our team. You may have seen him in my video post from last week.

Our new Director of Advertising is Chris. His input and energy in getting the word out about AR has been vital to the operation of the business since he arrived.

One of our newest community builders is no stranger to the Rain: Jeremy. Jeremy has been a long-time member and displays an eagerness to help our members that is unmatched. He has a serious enthusiasm for the Rain and an often contagious optimism.

Last, but not least, we managed to snag a new designer, too! Craig came to visit us from his home state of Connecticut this last week, and it was nice to meet the man behind the idle message. He's a gearhead and manages to mesh with the team very well.

Like our favorite R-Spouting cartoon dog, I can't help but think how much lesser of a company we would be if our Scooby gang wasn't together; every single one of them has their eye on the prize and want to make ActiveRain better for the members. It's refreshing and an absolute privilege to work for a company where every single person comes to work every day to work their tail off.

Sure, we don't unmask criminals or eat sandwiches eighteen times the size of our respective heads, but the shenanigans ensue on a daily basis. I'll be bringing my video recorder to work next week to get you guys the inside scoop, so stay tuned!

Why are You Grateful?

Claire C. (ActiveRain Corporation) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:48:38 -0500

In the past week, I have heard the sentence "At least I have a job", especially as the major companies in our area continue to lay people off of their respective workforces. Seattle's unemployment numbers were nearly at 10% as of last night's radio report, and Seattlites are feeling the pinch. Regardless, I hate that sentence (Well, at least I have a job.) mostly because everytime I hear it, the tone in the person's voice is both exasperation, despair, and discontent.

So I have to ask, friends, in these bleak hours, why are you grateful?

The Job:

Yeah, okay, so a steady income is seriously useful. But is it just the job? It shouldn't be. For me, I could choose to cut ties with AR and move on to another opportunity, but would it make me happy? Probably not. Your job should be engaging, thrilling, and yes, sometimes stressful. You should be making relationships and bonds that will last in your future networking. You should have goals, whether you're like me with five long-term projects on your plate, or like Jon, who is working to make AR a great place for real estate professionals.

Your Home:

Many times in down economies, people lose their homes, are forced to move, or have to take on roommates to survive. As you all know, being in real estate, the best house a person can have is one that they've made their home. Regardless of the bodies that live under your roof, make sure your home inspires you in some manner. If you like to cook, make sure your kitchen is up to snuff. If you're a reader, put your bookshelves near your favorite chair. if you like to take long, soaking baths, get yourself some bath salts and a candle for those lazy evening hours.

Your Family:

The stress you feel has a weird way of affecting those around you, even if you don't yell, scream, or throw things. If the economy is stressing you out, make a pact with yourself to leave your money issues at your desk for when you have to go through bills, and spend some quality time doing something fun (and inexpensive) with your family, like playing cards or board games. Have a 'lights off' night and light a bajillion candles, roast marshmallows in the fireplace, and just enjoy the company of the people you may be forgetting with other things on your mind.

Your Pets:

If you're an animal lover like I am, you know that your animals can sense when you're upset. I have two cats, and they immediately flock to me the moment I burst into tears (not that I EVER do that...*ahem*), purring and rolling over so I can scratch their tummies. Stupid cats. (*sniffle*) In any case, pets are among the many that get neglected or ignored when your mind gets overloaded with things.

Finally, Yourself:

Are you healthy? It's important to take care of yourself, even when times are tough. Make sure you're not under-eating or over-eating to compensate for financial issues or to destress, respectively. I'm a stress-eater, so on the days that Jon gives me eight projects to finish by 5pm, ... yeah... those oreos? MINE. It's an awful habit, and I don't recommend it. To help keep you at your very best, make sure you put yourself first.

Why are You Grateful?

I'll give you my list: I have my health and my youth, I live in a nice neighorhood with a relatively low crime rate, my car is whole and working, I have a job that I love and bust my hiney for everyday because of that, I have great friends and awesome coworkers, I have...the Rain (winkwink) -- which is possibly the most useful network I've ever used (shameless plug, I know), I have two kitties who make me feel better when I'm sad, family close by who would drop everything for me, and best of all...most of all, I'm grateful to be independent and able to provide for myself even in tough times.

And so, gentle readers, I pass the torch to you - sit back a moment and reflect about the things that make you happy, the things for which you are so thankful, and the goals and future that lay ahead so long as you just stay on course.