Just for Fun

🌳9-2-26 Where's Woody?☀️For ALL of Your East Valley AZ Real Estate Needs📞Call Brian at 480-773-2370🙋‍♂Text Brian at 480-773-2370📨Email Brian at brian@bke12.comTrish hasn't been photographing Woody as often, but Kathy Streib has inspired me to try to keep this series going since everyone in the Rain seems to enjoy it. In order to keep it going, I am going to need your help. If you have access to a Woody figurine, would you consider photographing it in some scenes around your area, sharing them with me, and allowing me to share them in the Rain?  Or, something else I just thought of: since most of you have become quite adept at using AI, how about you get creative with AI and share your creations of Woody's adventures with me to feature in this series?It would be fun for everyone to guess... 09/02/2026

📿Beautiful Churches ~ 9-2-26 ☀️For ALL of Your East Valley AZ Real Estate Needs📞Call or 🙋‍♂Text Brian at 480-773-2370📨Email BrianI needed a new series in the Rain, and since the highlight of most of my days is attending Mass, I figured a good series would be to share photos from the churches that I have visited over the years.  As many of you already know, I enjoy traveling, and I attend Mass daily.  So, of course, when I make plans for a trip, the first thing I look for is a Catholic Church where I can attend Mass daily.  There is nothing that I enjoy more than being inside a Catholic Church!  I hope that everyone will appreciate this series, whether or not you are religious. I think that we can all agree that Churches are Beautiful.  I specialize in the East Valley of the Phoenix Metr... 09/02/2026

Of course I am not talking about rain showers. I live in North Dakota, not Seattle Washington. We are often in a drought here in central North Dakota.Keeping in line with the cartoon I am talking about grooming.Every time we return from camping, as we did last Sunday, I look forward to "my" shower at home. We have a shower in the camper and the campsite has a community shower but my shower is like my little slice of heaven.Good grooming is not just important to Real Estate professionals, it's important to all people (maybe not guinea pigs). Who doesn't like to shower? Maybe little boys... until they discover little girls.  08/26/2026

When I was first contemplating this move to Portugal, I did look up to see if green chiles were available in Portugal.   Well, not really.  SO, went onto Amazon and did find them.  BUT for a 4 oz. can of chiles, it was over $11.00 and there was a $35.00 delivery charge - FOR ONE SMALL CAN.SO, was thinking I probably wouldn't ever be ordering anything from Amazon here, especially with those delivery fees!BUT, while I was putting together a route for a road trip in Portugal, was thinking I may take my fur babies with me.  I did not bring my kitty condo (it is in the storage unit for my return), so they would have to stay in their individual carriers.   I won't be driving hours at a time, so maybe that wouldn't have been too bad, but I wanted to see what Amazon had to offer.I found a "back... 08/26/2026

Trivia question answers for Tuesday August 25, 20261. What type of bear has a clear eyelid? Polar Bears2. What sitcom was almost titled "six of One" or "Across the Hall"? Friends3. What would you get if you combined all light colors? White4. A rainbow has how many colors? SevenTrivia questions for Wednesday August 26, 20261. The names of how many countries start with the letter "A"?2. What is 37 degrees Celsius in Fahrenheit?3. How many feet separate the bases in a regulation sized bseball diamond?4. What European conflict lated 116 years?Enjoy your day. 08/26/2026

Wordless Wednesday…No Substitute For Me! This is a rather delicate topic, but I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t live without it.  We almost had to back in 2020, but thankfully, our supply chains came through. Yes…today is National Toilet Paper Day. I have not gone off the rails! Think about it. During the Great Toilet Paper Grab in 2020, store shelves were depleted of life’s necessities. Toilet paper, paper towels, Clorox, alcohol…gone in the great grab.  I purchased what I could and stocked up, not just for me but for family and friends if they needed it. I cut my paper towel usage by about 75% just by using face cloths cut in half to wipe up spills, etc. I still use them and toss them in the washer!HOWEVER…there’s no replacement (IMO) for toilet paper!!!   Leave it to “my people”... 08/26/2026

Book Recommendation: A Curious Incident by Vicki DelanyA Curious Incident (2021, Crooked Lane Books) is the sixth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Book by national bestselling Canadian author Vicki Delany. I enjoyed this novel and recommend this series for your reading list. Click on the link to reach the website to learn more about the author and her many books.It's up to Gemma and Jayne to root out the killer in national bestselling author Vicki Delany's sixth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery when the winner of a garden tour trophy is left pushing up daisies."I am not a Consulting Detective," Gemma Doyle reluctantly tells 10-year-old Lauren Tierney, when the little girl comes to the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium to beg Gemma to find her missing cat, Snowball. Gemma might not b... 09/02/2026

We completed our 2nd camping trip of the year last weekend and it almost concluded without a hitch. The weather fully cooperated and my inventive skills helped out quite a bit as well.The SceneryMy inventive skill included the makeshift canopy (cost about $5.00).As we walked the lakeshore I snapped a few pictures.Evidence of coal was everywhere. This part of ND is known as "Coal Country".The picture above is the Garrison Dam power plant water intake building. What you see is the top of a building approximately 20 stories tall. The electrical generating plant is on the other side of the dam. The water enters the building from the bottom and comes through with such force that dampeners are needed on the other side so the force does not damage the generators. If memory serves me correctly ... 08/25/2026

I know as I get older, sleep has become more difficult.   In those last couple of years working in real estate, I would wake for a couple of hours in the middle of the night and fret about a transaction.  It was usually the inspection keeping me awake!Now, with a festival so close here, and live music not beginning until 9:30 pm, some yappy dogs barking, drunk people laughing late into the night, trash trucks, car doors closing, a number of things keep me awake.   I don't want to rely on sleep aids, but did bring some Melatonin spray, just in case.Maybe I should be more tired before retiring for the night?   I know I take more naps now that I have free time!BUT, on the other hand, these cats can absolutely sleep anywhere!   Cracks me up sometimes watching them sleep, and dreaming!   The... 08/26/2026

Trivia question answerrs for Monday August 24, 20261. What is the number of thieves that Alibaba had? 402. Which Apollo space mission put the first man on the moon? Apollo 113. Vaselina and Brillantino were alternative names for which film? Grease4. What old TV puppet show  was hosted by "Buffalo Bill Smith"? How DoodyTrivia questions for Tuesday August 25, 20261. What type of bear has a clear eyelid?2. What sitcom was almost titled "six of One" or "Across the Hall"?3. What would you get if you combined all light colors?4. A rainbow has how many colors?Enjoy your day. 08/25/2026

I have taken a few photos while exploring, and have shared here, and a few I haven't shared yet.   When I take my road trip, will have MANY photos to share, as the cities/towns I plan to visit have so much history and beauty.   While I was in Loule for my AIMA appt, I saw some places that I thought were pretty cool.   This is a pedestrian street filled with cool shops and restaurants.   08/25/2026

Touch a Heart Tuesday Touch a Heart Tuesday is part of Be Kind to Humankind Week.  While I know we all practice being kind to others every day of the week, it’s a good reminder.And it’s an even better way to share how you touch the hearts of others.The world could certainly use a healthy dose of kindness, compassion, and grace toward one another.  It can start small and cost you nothing…the important thing is to just do it! Make it a habit.  What are easy “to-dos” -Send a text message to someone to show your support.  Perhaps they’re holding their first Open House, having a medical procedure, or are going through some difficult times.-Help your neighbor. Take their garbage cans or paper in for them if they’re out of town. If they’ve been ill, check on them. Make a fresh pot of soup and ... 08/25/2026

eave a little sparkle wherever you go.Our greatest weakness lies in giving up.  The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. - Thomas A. EdisonHave faith in yourself, think YES, not no, Live life to the fullest, never give up. - Richard BransonThere's nothing wrong about fear, the only mistake is to let it stop you in your tracks. - Twyla TharpIn order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision. - Dalai LamaIt's Monday, Time to sparkle and Shine. - Will Hamm 08/24/2026

I was updating my profile on CreativeMornings.com because I was thinking of attending an upcoming Phoenix meeting. I have a creative office listing, and I thought members of a creative community might be interesting people to meet and learn from.Then something completely unrelated caught my attention: The Skills section.Business networking. Parenting. Partnerships. Puns. Public speaking. Breaking things. Putting things into boxes. Handshaking. Learning. Sleeping. Staring longingly into the distance.I particularly loved seeing public speaking and staring longingly into the distance on the same list.This definitely wasn't a conventional résumé.I also noticed that, in addition to selecting from the existing skills, there was an option to enter a skill that wasn't already listed. It made me... 08/24/2026

Book Recommendation: Bound for Murder by Victoria GilbertBound for Murder (January 7, 2020, Crooked Lane Books) is the fourth Blue Ridge Library Mystery by North Carolina author Victoria Gilbert (Vicki Lemp Weavil). I enjoyed this novel and recommend this ten book series for your reading pleasure. Click on the link to reach the website to learn more about the author and her books.Blue Ridge library director Amy Webber learns it wasn't all peace and love among the "flower children" when a corpse is unearthed on the grounds of a 1960s commune.Taylorsford Public Library director Amy Webber's friend "Sunny" Fields is running for mayor. But nothing puts a damper on a campaign like an actual skeleton in a candidate's closet. Sunny's grandparents ran a commune back in the 1960s on their organi... 09/01/2026

When I was an active Broker in Denver, I LOVED Mondays.   It was the day my phone rang the most.   The day when buyers called and had driven by homes they wanted to view, or get a lender's name for pre-approval.   The day when buyers were on my website all weekend, and felt it was time to contact me.YIPPEE!And something else I think of NOW on Mondays - Funny how retirement affects your week!  08/24/2026

“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.”– Zig Ziglar“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out.”– Robert Collier“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.”– George Sheehan“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”– Colin Powell“Action is the foundational key to all success.”– Pablo Picasso 08/24/2026

Mary Todd Lincoln reminds us that the public figures we encounter in history books often carried private burdens the public could not fully see or understand. Her years as First Lady were not shaped by peace and celebration, but by war, sacrifice, criticism, and uncommon personal loss. More than 140 years after her death, Mary remains one of America's most complicated First Ladies, and perhaps one of its most misunderstood.  "She stood beside a nation at war while carrying unimaginable personal sorrow." Born: December 13, 1818 (Lexington, Kentucky)Died: July 16, 1882 (Springfield, Illinois)Years as First Lady: 1861–1865 Few First Ladies have experienced more controversy and tragedy than Mary Todd Lincoln. As the wife of President Abraham Lincoln, she occupied the White House during the ... 08/27/2026

Trivia question answers for Sunday August 23, 20261. Gouda cheese originated in what country? The Netherlands2. How many feet make a mile? 5,280 feet3. Who wrote the play "A Streetcar Named Desire"? Tennessee Williams4. Franglais is a blend of French and what .other language? EnglishTrivia questions for Monday August 24, 20261. What is the number of thieves that Alibaba had?2. Which Apollo space mission put the first man on the moon?3. Vaselina and Brillantino were alternative names for which film?4. What old TV puppet show  was hosted by "Buffalo Bill Smith"?Enjoy your day. 08/24/2026

Motivational Monday…A New DayThis new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays. Ralph Waldo EmersonYears ago, an older friend shared her thoughts with me that forever changed how I approached certain people and events.  I was meeting a friend for dinner but not looking forward to it. It’s not that we didn’t get along, but the conversation always revolved around her. She is the kind of person you don’t dislike, but you’d rather not be around.  When I mentioned how I was not looking forward to the dinner, and why, this is what she said: Treat each person as if it were the first time you've met them.  Make that your attitude. Even if nothing has changed about them, your own demeanor will change how you feel about it. And…who knows, Jane could cha... 08/24/2026