Real World!

Hi Everyone,

This week I have been extremely busy. On Monday I started the Fast Start program with Coldwell Banker. This is one week of intensive real estate training. Talk about out of my comfort zone! On the first day I was 20 minutes late because of traffic in Provo being reduced down to one lane, so when I walked into class the instructor said nothing to me, or even acknowledged I was late, but one person leaned over and whispered, "Turn off your cell phone or it's 5$ if it rings." Good to know. Anyway the class was in the middle of playing Jeopardy, with the class divided up into tables for groups. In the classroom, I am the type of person who sits in the back, and never raises my hand, I don't like to answer questions or blurt out answers, so I was a little uncomfortable when it was my turn to go against two other players. But it was O.K. I soon began to relax and began to really enjoy the instructor, Jim Curtis, who apparently spent some time in Roosevelt as a Realtor and knew the three people who passed away in the Neola fire.

I should tell you about the people in my class. On the second day we all got to talk with another person in the class and have them introduce us. We learned we are quite the group. There is a limo driver from Las Vegas, (Joe) who moved to Tooele, (Ya, I know) an ex pro-golfer, A pastor, a life coach, Coni, whom told me never to be down on myself, when I made a joke about being the best realtor EVER! (Oh ya, I said, your the life coach) a third year law student, (who thinks he knows everything!) two Spanish-Americans, who are both really outstanding and high class men, and a man who looks just like my Dad. The resemblance is uncanny! Dan has the same bushy salt and pepper eyebrows with the right one curving up in the middle. The same lips, same tan, same smile, same balding hair, the way he holds his glasses to his mouth when he is in thought, the way he holds his index finger on his cheek with the rest of his fingers resting on his upper lip when he's thinking or perplexed about something, it's amazing! He sat at my table today and I often wondered how I could sneak a picture of him with my camera phone with out him noticing. I haven't gotten up enough nerve to say hey, you know what? You look just like my Dad, I don't think he would take that as a compliment, unless I explained that my Dad is a handsome man, (you are dad!) and then he might think I'm flirting or something, so I just sit there and stare. I even wondered to myself if I could find out if we were related. His last name is Taylor, so how about it Mom and Dad, are we related to Taylor's? So Dad, I have really thought a lot about you this last week. I love you!

Anyway, the rest of the class is made up of women who are either young or old, starting a second career or just getting started like me. We have to do a lot of role playing and scripting so I've gotten to know everyone very well. Which is way out of my comfort zone, but it's becoming O.K. not really comfortable, because I still break out in a cold sweat when I'm faced with presenting, but I'm becoming more bold and assertive because of it. Tomorrow is the last day, and I am glad. I don't think I could work a 8 to 5 job and then come home and try to get everything done! So Kudos to you, my family and friends, who ARE doing it! You are awesome.

Today I had to go to lunch with the Axiom financial guy from the Provo/Orem office. Axiom is a partner with Coldwell Banker to help provide a sort of one stop shopping for our clients. Everyone in class had to go with their own Axiom person and we all went to Mama Mias' or something like that. I was so nervous, I was breaking out in a cold sweat. What was I going to say to this guy for an hour? Lynn reminded me the night before that he goes to lunch all the time with people he doesn't know and sometimes they don't even speak English! O.K. but I've been hiding away at home and have conversations with two-year-olds all day. So we were walking to the restaurant and my feet are all sweaty because I'm so nervous, they are slipping all around in my shoes, you know Tracie, those cute black ones with the bows that you bought me :)? And I almost fall on my butt! I am such a looser! The lunch went O.K. I know some people in his office, I actually talked to him last September when we were going to take out a line of credit, which I realized over lunch when I was thinking about his name, Garrett, which is not a very common name. O.K. Now I am rambling.

Well, my house looks like hurricane Katrina, I have mountains of laundry to catch up on, and my kids are ready to poke each others eyes out, but we are all well, (no pink eye lately) so I considered myself very blessed. Love you all. Millie