North Dakota

The big old gas pig let me down on Monday. It was quite a sight to see, for my top client and myself. We had a good laugh over it but now I'm driving Mom's car with the license plates TNTSMOM. Both my kids have the initials TNT thus the plates TNTSMOM. I thought they were really cute but I never counted on me driving it.

Let me tell you quick about the temporary demize of the big gas pig. I'm out with my friend and best client. He is up here to see the Scandinavion Festival known as The Norskhost Feast. We always take my 92 Sable Station Wagon because I'm scared to death of doing anything to his ride. He has one of those Chevy pick-ups that is built onto a Corvette frame with a Corvette engine. I bow down before it but that's as close as I want to get.

So we are driving all over town and back looking for properties that may suit our needs. I smell something hot but the temp gage looks fine (even though it's a gage there is a reason they call them "dummy lights"). Well we decided to make one more stop before returning to the golden arches for more coffee. We get out of the car and I hear a gurgling sound, turning to my friend I said "that doesn't sound good". Four or five steps down the dirt driveway (in town) we hear a noise that sounds like a muffeled stick of dynamite under the hood of my car.... then the cloud like over Hiroshima. My friend looks back at me and says "I don't think I want to get back in the car". We proceeded to look around the property and I call for a ride to get us back to McDonald's.

Just to finish the story I have to let you know that I drove it to my favorite repair shop (after it cooled down) and they told me it would be FIVE days till they could get to it.

Moms car is a great car, a newer Tauris SEL with leather seats, Moon roof, a fantastic stereo, all the bells and whistles, but those darn plates!

Bob Timm, Minot ND

As a new agent I'm not sure I picked the best time to start in this career! Any comments y'all might have would be welcome?

The legislators we elected keep throwing us curve balls. How are we to know what our client's chances are from day to day??

I picked a fine time to subscribe to cable television. MidContinent Communications has moved into the West Fargo market at our City Commission's request. Many years ago, about 15, we had Harmon Communications. They were amazing. Big city possibilities with small town service. Can you imagine $13, including tax, for 35 channels? Then CableOne bought them and everything went to heck in a handbasket! I had an antenna and amplifier installed in my attic and refused to pay another cable bill.

Then Qwest got crazy and I used CableOne.net for my ISP. But now MidContinent Communications is here, in West Fargo, to save the day. I now have a DVR and a gazillion channels, or so it seems.

Imagine my surprise when I discover there is a world outside the West Fargo area.

Using that DVR to the best of my ability allows me to watch Jim Cramer all day on Saturday. Yes, I choose to sit on my couch and watch 5 hours of Mad Money all in one sitting. The downside of so much information is that my small little world has gone ass over teakettle.

Hence, my questioning if this was a good time for me to get into this business?

As all area agents in my area and accross the country have taken almost every real estate website domain, I am asking for helpf from everyone.

My current website is www.NewRealEstateProperty.com - Please go to so you get an idea that might help.

Too Lengthy, so I need some help from everyone. Any suggestions, as you should go to my site, as you will get a good idea of the area, names, wording, and maybe come up with something. If I choose your suggestion, I will send you a $50 gift card to your favorite restaurant!

Thanks as that is what the Active Rain Community and friends are for!