Des Moines Area Real Estate

Where in the World has Nigel been ??

Express Yourself:

There is a video and story on ABC’s website http://abcnews.go.com/icaught/story?id=3505508 called “Speak Your Mind, Three Words at a Time: Express Yourself and Share It with the World”. It’s a project created by i-CAUGHT.

People submit a picture or video of the three words they would like to hear spoken to them or the three words that best describe what they are feeling. It’s usually written on their hand. It’s a pretty provocative piece of media.

The three words I want to hear at the end of the day are “We Got Them!” My wife and I are working through the adoption process with the Department of Human Services. We want to adopt older siblings currently in foster care. Right now we are waiting for our home study to be finalized and approved. We are hoping to have our adoption license by Thanksgiving.

Being English:

Upon meeting me for the first time the first question many people ask is, “Are you English?” Yes…I am proud to say I am English. I was born in Northampton, England. I lived there for 31 years until I moved to the USA with my wife (who is American).

The second question is almost inevitably, “Have you ever met the Queen?” I’d like to explain how the whole “Queen” thing works in England. First of all, I have never personally met the Queen of England. Have you ever met the President of the USA? It’s similar.

Our Queen nowadays is more of a figure head. She really doesn’t exert any power over Britain, but is a great ambassador to other countries in the Commonwealth. She dresses up in the royal robes and crown jewels and gives a speech at the beginning of each year outlining what she would like to see accomplished by the government. Outside of that, the queen really doesn’t have anything to do with politics.

I guess I had better get my American citizenship quick - I think that was treason!

I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry

Those of you who know me, know that I do not go to movie theaters. It started a long time ago, when as a smoker, I decided to "cut off my nose to spite my face!" I decided that as theaters would not allow smoking, then I would not go - I was a lot younger then. Then over the years, movies were released on DVD earlier and big screen TV's were launched, and so the need to go to the movies dwindled.

If you know me, you also know that I have a strange sense of humor and rarely outwardly laugh at the so called "comedy" that is currently available. Having said that, I am a big fan of Adam Sandler and hence this blog.

Two dear friends took my wife and I out for a surprise supper on Friday night. We had a fabulous meal at the Jordon Creek Cheesecake Factory and then they announced we were going to the movies. I felt a bit deflated at first - not the movies! I don't do movie theaters! I kept this feeling to myself, sucked it up and off we went to watch the aforementioned film.

Even with Adam Sandler, I could not see how a film about two straight men pretending to be gay could be "funny". I was wrong - the movie was great! The sound was too loud, there was hardly anyone in the theater, but the movie was great and the chairs reclined!

The concept of the film was fascinating; a man rightfully trying to re-assign beneficiaries on his insurance has to break the law to get what he has worked for; the way his "friends" shunned him when he became a different person; the way he learned to love people for who they are and how they choose to live their lives. You could watch the movie as a "comedy" or the way I did - like an amalgamation of annoying traits us humans have and how everyday people have to fight for what they believe in. The movie has a serious side to it for sure, but for those of you that like comedy - my friends were laughing hysterically throughout and YES I  was laughing inwardly and occasionally gave an audible chuckle - to the delight of my wife :)

Thank you Eric and Tanya!

Here's Your Sign!

Excuse my sometimes warped sense of humor, but I had to share this experience. Unfortunately, this is a true story!

I Recently took my car in for service. I have my name and telephone number plastered all over it. Talking to the service guy checking me in, we were stood next to my car. Bare in mind I had pulled into the oil change lane of the service bay.

Question 1 "Are your here for an oil and filter change?" Well I was actually thinking about ordering a double cheeseburger - but couldn't tell him that!.

Question 2 "Do you have a phone number we can reach you on when we are finished?" I told him he could try calling me on the number from the side of my car. This led to . . . . .

Question 3 "Oh, is that your number?" NO - I just thought I would make up a number and pay to have it put on my car. In the back of my mind I was thinking about the poor person who's number I am advertising and all the unwanted calls they must be getting!

I have got to start blogging!

OK - here I am again. Sitting at my computer and starting to blog. 2 years ago, I started blogging, got busy in my business and quit.

I met a friend this morning who was high on blogging! He got me pumped up to not only start blogging again, but do it the right way this time.

So here we go Guinea Pigs, I am giving it a concerted effort this time - I promise! :)