Linda Bourgault

When the clock strikes twelve tonight, people all over the world will cheer and wish one another a very Happy New Year.
For some, this event is no more than a change of a calendar. For others, the New Year symbolizes the beginning of a better tomorrow. I know we can benefit from a new beginning... it's been a challenging year for all of us and especially in the real estate and financial markets.

Some of us can't wait for a new beginning, I know I'm one of them! Yet it's important to remember the who, what, how, when, and where 2008 has given to us. Sometimes I think I've encountered more than my fair share of adversity this year, but I realize that without the adversity and challenges I would not have worked as hard or focused on what is truly important to me—professionally and personally.

So, I embrace the old of 2008 with gratitude, while looking forward to using what I've learned and experienced to make 2009 a better year with new opportunities and new life!

Symbolically, I've built a bonfire and have burned away all that I want gone and feel the release it brings watching it break down and turn into nothingness. I'm doing the same with each wish for the new year and blow them into the air, to release them and make them happen. I keep a flame burning in my heart knowing all things are possible... a reminder that I am the keeper of my own flame... and I will share it with others to help create a better world.

This is my wish for all of you... as well as good health, happiness, prosperity and long life. Happy New Year!

Copyright by Linda Bourgault/lulugraphix. All rights reserved.

South Padre Island, Texas—Beautiful beaches, warm Gulf waters, fishing, boating, bird watching, shopping, seafood fresh from the Gulf and additional year-round activities make South Padre Island a terrific vacation destination. During the "off season" it's a great place to get away from the maddening crowds and share time with your family or on your own to decompress, re-focus and blow out the cobwebs. Plus meet great, friendly people—locals and visitors alike!

During the week after Thanksgiving I made a trek to South Padre Island, Texas.

It was a time of personal and professional reflection.

I didn't have a schedule to keep nor was I responsible for anyone except myself. I awakened whenever my eyes popped open... usually before 6:00 a.m. much to my dismay. I did what I wanted when I wanted... I walked on the beach at sunrise and sunset. I ate delicious seafood—fish tacos, fresh oysters and big bowls of jambalaya. I wrote in my journal, took photographs, watched movies, visited a sea turtle refuge, set goals, updated my life plan and tooled around seeing what I could discover.

One of my discoveries was Roger, the doorman, at my hotel.

Roger was a delight! He always had a HUGE smile on his face and was full of fantastic tidbits—where to find the best of everything including the local diner, the local watering hole, Mexican food, the most private beach, the best cuppa java and more.

Another great discovery was Linda Zuniga a Realtor with Lynne Tate Real Estate.

I was driving around aimlessly when I spied a realty sign. I thought about going inside, but decided not to... the next thing I knew my car took over, made a U-turn, parked and before I realized it I was shaking hands with Linda in her office. In less than an hours time Linda filled me to the brim with more real estate information about South Padre Island than I would have gleaned on my own in two or three days. She listened to my requirements, showed me condos online that fit my specifications and discussed various options I might consider. It was time well spent and I learned that my car is smarter than I am!

If you or anyone you know plans to visit South Padre Island or is considering a vacation home in Texas give Linda a call at 956.761.1400 or toll free at 1.888.646.6069.
You may email her at linda@lynnetaterealestate.com and checkout her Website at http://lynnetaterealestate.com. Linda will make you feel right at home and help you with your real estate needs. You'll be glad you did!

I hope you enjoy a few of the photos I snapped during my time at South Padre Island, TX.

Thanks to Roger & Linda for making my trip so memorable.

Copyright by Linda Bourgault/lulugraphix. All Righs Reserved

There are many ways to give to family, friends and associates during the Holiday Season. We give one another gifts wrapped in brightlly colored papers with big bows. We bring bottles of bubbly and special dishes to a holiday gathering to share. We volunteer at our church, a homeless shelter or a food bank to give to others less fortunate. All of these things are good ways to give. However, sometimes there are gifts we can give that are a bit out of the box... this is one of those gifts and it's my gift to my goddaughter, Mandi.

Mandi is one of the most beautiful, creative and business savy young women I known. She has worked diligently developing her entrepreneurial skills and has created Mediarich, an interaction multimedia marketing enterprise, in San Antonio, Texas. While she continues to grow Mediarich she has created a new arm called "Blellow."

What is Blellow? First, the term originates from the hit TV show "Malcolm in the Middle." One of the character's in the show is Reese. In his own words, "I invented a new color... I mixed blue and yellow and got blellow!" Mandi was inspired by this new color—blellow and decided to add a bit more green into the mix. The result is that she has created "a collaborative workplace, an empowering community, and an affordable online talent resource that’s somehow more than just another freelance marketplace."

This is Mandi's solution to the “plumber problem.” "The plumber problem, for those who aren’t familiar with it, rears its ugly head when you attempt to, say, fix the kitchen sink yourself, without help and, usually, without the right tools. You go in with a smile on a Saturday morning, and you come out 10 hours later with a headache, bruised knuckles…and a busted sink. On Monday, you call a plumber, who repairs your sink in 15 minutes and for less than you spent on gasoline, pipe wrenches, and Band-Aids."

"For freelancers (or, Mediarich calls them, independent workers), the plumber problem works like this: You spend way too much time doing what you’re no good at. If you’re a writer, you get roped into design – mainly because you don’t know any good designers. And the design takes you twice as long as it should and looks half as good as it ought – mainly because your talent is putting little black squiggles on paper. Ditto if you’re a designer who’s asked to write a paragraph or two. Ditto, ditto if either of you get over your head with HTML, Flash, or JavaScript. And no matter what your genius is, you also get to be an accountant, a marketer, a project manager, a debt collector, and PR specialist. But wouldn’t it be great for you and your customers if you could just do what you do best?"

"For those seeking creative talent, your plumber problem is simply this: It’s such a hassle finding all the experts you need, coordinating all their efforts, and doing it all affordably that you throw up your hands and do it yourself. You go in with a smile on a Saturday morning…and, well, you know the rest."

"Blellow is like calling the plumber in the first place. Freelancers get a pool of vetted talent they can leverage, an IT department, ad agency, bookkeeping service, and more. And they get to spend time doing what they do well. Buyers get affordable, cream-of-the-crop freelancers, an easy way to sort through them, and a single point of contact, no matter how many pros are working on their projects behind the scenes. And they get to spend time doing what they do well."

So, "whether you’re a buyer or a freelancer, whether you’re a blue or a yellow, Blellow is a better way to get together and make some green.

Blellow is a Community for Creative Independent Workers
—Check out Blellow at: http://www.blellow.com
Mediarich is an interaction design firm which creates web sites, video and print materials
—Check out Mediarich at: http://www.mediarich.net

Contact Mandi at mandi@mediarich.net for your media needs and tell every creative media worker you know about the advantages of partnering with Blellow.

Mandi I hope Blellow grows beyond your wildest dreams!

Copyright by Linda Bourgault 2008. All Rights Reserved. Copyright by Mandi Lehman Harrell 2008 for Mediarich and Blellow. All Rights Reserved.

OK, I'm finally finished with the re-construction layout for my blog. I began the re-construction initially just to add a bit more interest to my blog, but while I was in the midst of re-constructing it, it came to me that there is a more important reason to update my surroundings.

Creating a "new look" is more than just trying to get someones attention. In our business it's really all about how can we create situations which will appeal to our clients and associates, to help them feel as welcome and comfortable with us as possible as well us separate ourselves from the crowd. We need our clients and associates to be comfortable with us in order to create trust. When we have established trust we are more willing to share information, ideas and offer to help one another. Trust is more important now than ever before.

With the uncertainty of our current market many of us and our clients are unsure how to proceed. Do we spend those extra dollars on marketing? Do we stop producing because the old ways no longer work? Do we flail about saying, "woe is me'" and asking, "what do I do now?" Do we hunker down and hope someone else will figure things out for us? No, we band together as we do on Activerain to create new strategies and ideas. We share our successes and failures with one another. We trust one another enough to embrace the challenges of this new time and move forward fearlessly because we know we can succeed.

So, if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, lost or unsure of yourself, or can't figure out what to do with yourself... consider a new look, new idea or new way of doing business. There are plenty of successful people here on the RAIN that can help you. You can TRUST this as fact. I've definitely received more professional and personal encouragement and support here on AR than anyplace else.

Hope you enjoy my "new look!" Happy Holidays!

Copyright by Linda Bourgault. All Rights Reserved.

I really do have a BEAR of the human kind sleeping in the den. He's 6' - 4" tall, a gentle giant and dear friend, who's been sick for days. Thus sleeping, actually hibernating in the den. Occasionally I spot the bear rising slowly, grrrrring all the while. I try not to hover and be a pain in the proverbial rear, but it's tough sometime when you see a bear in misery!

On the first day I thought the bear was just tired. So I let him rest.

The second day was the same... more sleeping. I asked the bear if he was feeling alright. The bear's response was literally a Grrrrrrrrrr, grumble, grumble. Then asked if I could do anything for the bear. Another Grrrrrrrr was emitted so I backed off. My dad, a hunter, taught me long ago not to disturb or startle creatures while they are sleeping... especially bears! Thus I left the bear to his sleeping.

The third day was more of the same, but this time I couldn't over look the bear's misery. So with a very quiet voice and maintaining a safe distance away from the bear I inquired again if there was anything I could do. This time the bears' eyes rolled, emitted another Grrrrrrrrr and meek groan... and EUREKA a new response, "yes, ah maybe some hot tea, grrrrrrrrr." Off I went happily to the kitchen to concoct a nice hot cup of chamomile tea with honey and lemon to soothe the miserable feeling beast. The bear polished the tea off in short order and requested a refill. Ah, progress at last. Later in the day the bear begrudgingly ate some toast and drank another cup of tea. Then the bear fell back to sleep and didn't move for hours.

Today, while I heard the bear stirring about, I became fearless and inquired if the bear had considered seeing a doctor. Another GRRRRRRRRR! Oh dear, this wasn't going well. Then the bear stirred again and muttered something to the effect, " grrrrrrrr, errrrrrrr ah... gonna go see my doctor today." I sighed with relief and smiled at the bear.

Is there a lesson to this story? Yes! The lesson applies to hunters and people who handle poultry or other meats of the domestic and wild variety. You see, the bear had been hunting pheasant and dressing-out his kill. Somehow cross-contamination occurred with the poultry which exposed him to salmonella or possibly ecoli. So, please be careful during this hunting and holiday season where ever you are and do your best to avoid cross contamination.

The following link is from Washington State University which addresses Food Safety—Information for Consumers and specifically "How to Avoid Cross-contamination."

http://foodsafety.wsu.edu/consumers/displayTopic.asp?id=3

I realize most people are aware of how to avoid cross-contamination. However, my friend is one of the most careful and responsible hunters and consumers I know and it still happened to him. So it's worth repeating the basics to keep everyone healthy this season.

Wishing one and all a very Safe, Healthy and Happy Holiday!

Copyright by Linda Bourgault 2008. All Rights Reserved.