Bob's Blog

Sunday morning chuckle

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:44:19 -0500

I received this in an email this morning from one of my buyers. He's a 82yr old Navy retiree. Need I say more?

I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired?'

Well..I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things
I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, Scotch, and margaritas into urine.

And I'm pretty damn good at it, too!!

I do this brought a smile to your face, I know I'm smiling.

If she hasn't ...

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:14:03 -0500

I received this photo in an email entitled "If she hasn't she will".

I will say, that at first I wasn't too sure what the title meant, until I studied the photo more closely, and increased the size of it. In the email, it was small and you really couldn't see the lion in the grass in the background.

I have no idea whether it was photo shopped or if it is an actual picture. All I can say for sure, is I do believe she has. What say you?

Together at last

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:40:31 -0500

Living in a age restricted community, and dealing with the older generation quite often, this doesn't surprise me in the least.

I received this from one of my buyers who I might add, are old enough to be my parents. He always has a good joke for me when I visit, and she reminds me very much of the little lady on the left with her hand on her cheek. The one answering the question at the end.
Enjoy!

LORD,... THEY ARE FINALLY TOGETHER

Judy got married and had 13 children. Her first husband, Ted, died of cancer.

She married again, and she & Bob had 7 more children. Bob was killed in a car accident, 12 years later.

Judy *again*, remarried,.... and this time, she & John had 5 more children.

Judy finally died, after having 25 children.

Standing before her coffin, the preacher prayed for her.

He thanked the Lord for this very loving woman and said,
"Lord, they are finally together."

Ethel leaned over and quietly asked her best friend, Margaret:

"Do you think he means her first, second, or third husband?"

Margaret replied:.....
"I think he means her *legs*, Ethel...."

Little girls know how to outsmart little boys!

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:23:54 -0500

I received this cute email from a friend and he asked if it reminded me much of my grandchildren.

I had to laugh, because I could picture my youngest granddaughter doing this. She's very smart. Or, so she thinks.

Enjoy!

Undies

Little Susie goes home from school and tells her mum that the boys keep asking her to do cartwheels because she's very good at them ?

Mom said : " YOU should say NO - they only want to look at your undies".

Susie said: " I know they do, that's why I hide them in my backpack"!!

Birdhouse and squirrel

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:40:50 -0600

A few years ago while I was up north for the summer in the Buffalo area, I was visiting some friends in the country. We were sitting out on his deck and I spotted a squirrel go into one of their many birdhouses. I mentioned it and and went over to see if I could get a picture of it inside. No such luck, I think he saw me coming and hid deeper inside. By this time, I think everyone thought I was either hallucinating, or just pulling their leg. I do have a bit of a prankster in me.

I decided to try and get a video of the little guy, and tapped the house with a broom handle. We all gathered around, and here is the outcome.

Bob Cumiskey
Realtor
A1 Connection Realty, Inc.
1509 Rickenbacker Drive
Sun City Center, FL 33573
(813) 633-2020

Blogging for the points ~ the lazy blogger.

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:02:37 -0500

Blogging for points

I know we are not supposed to blog for "points" and that "points" are supposed to be irrelevant. For the most part, I don't have a problem with that. But...

I do blog for "position". I enjoy being in the top position for my town. I enjoy being in the top group for my county and hopefully someday will be in the top group for my state. The whole point of blogging is to put out information, whether it be a life experience, or instructions, or even a periodic joke we wish to pass on. That said, it comes back to the point system. The more you blog the more points you get and the higher you climb up the blogging ladder.

Now for a bit of a gripe. There are a few "so called bloggers" on the ladder who obviously blog just for the points. Here are a few stats that lead me to this conclusion.

Anonymous point summary

Score: 89804
Members Invited/Referred: 0
Blog Posts: 671
Rank in State: 57
Featured Posts: 0
Rank in County: 5
Comments Received: 18
Rank in City: 3
Comments Made: 2
Blog Subscriptions: 5

Score Summary

Profile Points:   720
Invite Points:
Blogging Points:   88834
Blog Comment Points: 0
Linking Points:   200
Bonus Points:
Other Points:   50

My point summary

Score: 76274
Members Invited/Referred: 2
Blog Posts: 109
Rank in Florida: 75
Featured Posts: 0
Rank in Hillsborough County: 7
Comments Received: 1496
Rank in Sun City Center: 1 (Featured Member)
Comments Made: 2500
Blog Subscriptions: 29

Score Summary

Profile Points:   1643
Invite Points:   8205
Blogging Points:   20826
Blog Comment Points:   44650
Linking Points:   600
Bonus Points:   200
Other Points:   150

As you can see this individual has posted 671 blogs to my 109, BUT has only recieved a total of 18 comments. I have made 2500 comments while this person has ONLY made 2 comments.

Most of the blogs by this individual are identical with the exception of different pictures, and town names. Week after week.

Obviously this person doesn't comment on other blogs, or maybe they don't read other blogs. They are not an asset to the community nor are they good bloggers. 671 blogs and only 18 comments received. Pretty sad. There are several of these individuals out there. I will climb past this individual in due time, and so will many others who blog for the right reasons. Guess they missed the lesson on "why we blog in the Rain".

Well, that's my rant for the day, and I'm sticking to it. Have a great day in the Rain to all you wonderful bloggers and readers.

Don't forget to block your cell phone

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:15:08 -0600

I received an interesting email recently about cell phone numbers going public. That age old warning of telemarketers calling.

Here is the email as I received it..

This only takes a few seconds and it should save you time and money.

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this week. REMINDER...
all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies tomorrow and you will start to receive sale calls.

... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time.
It blocks your number for five (5) years.
You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked.
You cannot call from a different phone number.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.. It takes about 20 seconds.

Pretty Scarey huh?

This email apparantly has been circulating for quite a few years now. I went to Snopes - www.snopes.com - and checked to see what the real truth was.

According to the article:

There is a grain of truth in the message making it believable, but it's wrong on two counts:
Not all cell phone numbers will be listed in the national directory planned for 2006.
And telemarketers will not have access to the directory.
It is illegal for marketers using auto-dialers ~ and most do ~ to call wireless phone numbers.

Here's the truth:

A national directory will be compiled, but numbers will be included on an opt-in basis.
If a cell phone subscriber does nothing, the number will not be listed. when the directory is ready,
it will be available only as part of the existing 411 directory service, accessed by calling in and asking for a specific number.
It will not be published in a book or on the Internet. And it will not be sold to telemarketers.

Cell phone subscribers can list their numbers on the do-not-call registry if they choose,
but there is no deadline to hget on the list, as the e-mail messages now circulating suggest.

You can read the snopes article here. http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

I'm including a link to the FTC website concerning this issue. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/04/dnc.shtm

I went ahead and registered my cell phone just because I could. You just never know when they are going to change the rules on ya.

Winter comes to Sun City Center

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:32:39 -0600

Last week winter came to Sun City Center. We had been expecting it, and the forecast had even warned of snow but later changed the snow forecast because they said it would be too cold for snow. The storm that blew through before the front hit, tore a section of my screening away from our pool cage, but it was easily fixed. The frost on the roofs and ground across the lake really surprised me when I awoke. The cold didn't seem to bother the family of ducks that have taken up residence on our lake this year.

The gulls didn't seem to mind the cold either.

I only stayed outside a few minutes, to get these pictures. Having lived in Florida now for over 15 years, I don't have the tolerance for cold like I did when I lived in the Buffalo, NY area.

Fortunately for us, winter doesn't last very long here. 2 -3 days at a time is normal, rarely does it last more than that. The other day we hit 80, and today our high will be 67. Life is good here in Sun City Center.

Bob Cumiskey
Realtor
A1 Connection Realty, Inc.
1509 Rickenbacker Drive
Sun City Center, FL 33573
(813) 633-2020

Tall Palm Trees against the blue sky and cloud

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:11:48 -0600

While visiting with my daughter and Grandchildren in Nevada, I took this photo. We were sitting in a park chatting, and the kids were playing. I noticed some dark clouds moving in, and I happened to look up and saw the bright blue against these Palm trees and knew I had to get a shot. We left shortly after that and got the kids home before the rainstorm hit.

© Bob Cumiskey, 2008. All photographs and/or written content produced by Bob Cumiskey
All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Bob Cumiskey.

Bob Cumiskey
Realtor
A1 Connection Realty, Inc.
1509 Rickenbacker Drive
Sun City Center, FL 33573
(813) 633-2772

Don't speed with your dog in the back seat.

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:47:54 -0600

I received this email from a friend the other day, and I couldn't stop laughing. Enjoy!!

I GOT
CAUGHT
FOR
SPEEDING
YESTERDAY!!

I THOUGHT I COULD TALK MY WAY OUT OF IT,

UNTIL THE OFFICER LOOKED AT MY DOG

IN THE BACK SEAT.

THIS ONE IS DESTINED TO BECOME A CLASSIC!

SEND IT TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A SMILE.

That poor dog.

Sunset from above the clouds.

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:16:52 -0600

While traveling home from visiting with my daughter over the holidays, I captured this sunset.
It's not often that you can capture a sunset above the clouds and this one was truly beautiful. I don't think the photos do it justice, but here it is.

All photographs and/or written content produced by Bob Cumiskey. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Bob Cumiskey.

Bob Cumiskey
Realtor
A1 Connection Realty, Inc.
1509 Rickenbacker Drive
Sun City Center, FL 33573
(813) 633-2020

What do you see?

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 09:39:00 -0600

Speechless Sunday

Bob Cumiskey
Realtor
A1 Connection Realty, Inc.
1509 Rickenbacker Drive
Sun City Center, FL 33573
(813) 633-2772

The Evolution of a Cloud

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:51:50 -0600

While returning from my Holiday visit to see my daughter and grandchildren out in Nevada, I noticed this cloud and thought it was pretty inteesting, so I took a shot of it.

A minute or two later I noticed it was changing. I decided to take another shot and before I knew it, I had a series of shots as the cloud continued to change.

As you can see, the final shot looks nothing like the original. It would be hard to say this was the same cloud if I hadn't taken the shots in between.

© Bob Cumiskey, 2009. All photographs and/or written content
produced by Bob Cumiskey. All rights reserved and may not be
reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of
Bob Cumiskey.

Bob Cumiskey
Realtor
A1 Connection Realty, Inc.
1509 Rickenbacker Drive
Sun City Center, FL 33573

(813) 633-2772

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2008

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:02:37 -0600

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2008

I visited Hawaii in 2005 and had the honor of visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona. Here is a collection of photos I took that day.

Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona

The memorial was built in 1961 as a tribute to all the men and women who lost their lives on that historic day. The memorial is 184-feet long and carefully crosses over the Arizona's mid-section. Openings along the both sides of the memorial afford a dramatic view of the ship resting on the floor of the harbor. A marble-walled chapel at the far end of the memorial lists the names off all the sailors entombed here.

When visiting Pearl Harbor it is a must to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. Built in 1961, it is a tribute to all the men and women who lost their lives on taht day in history. The memorial itself is 184 feet long and crosses over the mid-section of the Arizona. Openings on both sides allow for a dramatic view of the ship resting on the floor of the harbor. A chapel at the far end with a marble wall with the engraved list of names of all the sailors entombed here. There is also a list of survivors who have had their remains interred with their shipmates.

Riding Trains - Part 1 ~ Hold on tight

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:05:45 -0600

Reading the tragic events of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, I was a bit surprised to find that Mumbai was actually what was once known as Bombay, India.

I did a google and a reality check to find that the name was officially changed to its Marathi pronunciation of Mumbai in 1996.

During this check I came upon a few incredible videos that I thought I would share. The first is supposedly taken from a station in Mumbai. Fasten your seat belts folks. I don't think we are in Kansas anymore.

I don't know how we as Americans would react if this was our mode of Mass Transit.