Quicken to Quickbooks Agent Conversion Tips: Here’s the outline we developed to convert my real estate business from Quicken to a Quickbooks bookkeeping system.

The Adventures of Riley Rover and Diesel Dog

By Cheryl Ritchie, Mosquito Gulch, Home of Riley Rover

Cheryl Ritchie, GoldenGirl@GoldenResults.com

www.GoldenResults.com

Riley Rover, a twelve month old Golden Retriever Pup, knows one thing for sure. He is King of his Kingdom. This includes the comfy pile of comforters stacked neatly on the front porch, the dog food bowl that’s always filled and refilled for his dining delight, and the endless stack of toys to toss and treasure. Plus, his reign includes this Girl who has a stack of Dog Training Books that don’t seem to do much good. Riley Rover knows he is the Leader of the Pack and nothing, absolutely nothing, is going to make him resign his reign. He is B_A_D and loving every moment of jumping on the Girl, eating her socks, stealing her paper towels, shredding her clothes, and barking when she does not do as he wishes. Not to mention making her totally miserable until she lets him finish the bottom of the ice cream carton.

Well, it was that way until the night Diesel Dog came to visit Mosquito Gulch. Mosquito Gulch is located on the Chesapeake Bay, near the Bay Beach and the Boardwalk. It’s in a little Beachside Town near the edge of nowhere. But we’ll get to that later.

Riley Rover is a pup in a long line of Allison’s Golden Pups. His uncles, Trevor Triever and Trapper Triever , also  belonged to the Girl. Riley Rover was in a puppy litter that had all been sold and claimed by year end. The Girl was heartbroken. She wanted another pup from the same family. Of course, it was Christmastime, so one family decided not to pick up Riley Rover. He had Neurological Problems and the Family wanted their first Golden to be perfect. The Girl just wanted a dog. So Riley Rover unexpectedly ended up with the Girl. She needed a dog and he needed a home, so the two agreed to be together for better or for worse. To the Girl, it sometimes seemed like for worse. But she loved him so.

One cold, cold night in January, Riley Rover started to bark and bark. Then jump and bark. Then twist and bark. Finally, the Girl let him outside on the Porch. On his comforter throne was a dark, shadowy figure that only Riley Rover could see. It was Diesel Dog. On that cold, frozen snowy night, Diesel Dog was a stray who decided to stay. To him, Mosquito Gulch had everything. Food, Water, and Four Paw Deluxe Accommodations.

Riley Rover was delighted. He had everything but he had nothing because he did not have a friend. They romped and tussled and played and ran on the big porch. The Girl could hear the thunderous noise but still could not see Diesel Dog in the dark. Besides, who would be on the Porch on this cold winter eve?

Well, Riley Rover realized the Girl didn’t see Diesel Dog. She was too busy working at her desk. So he barked to come in and barked to come out and eventually with all the commotion the Girl saw the stray who decided to stay. To Diesel Dog, Mosquito Gulch looked like a Resort and Spa. With a bit of a limp, it was a perfect place to perch for the evening. Except it was bitter, bitter cold. Riley Rover wanted his new friend to come indoors for the evening. He knew his friend had a little limp and could not go home in the snow and ice. He knew his friend was cold and hungry. So both Diesel Dog and Riley Rover gave these pitiful, imploring looks to ask the Girl to come inside.

There was just a little problem. The Girl was afraid to let Diesel Dog inside the warm home. Diesel Dog was a Pit Bull. The Girl was afraid of this dog. But Diesel Dog looked well fed and well loved and Riley Rover was so convincing that the Girl let Diesel Dog stay in the Laundry Room.

Diesel Dog was the perfect guest. He stopped shivering and nestled on his new comforter in the Laundry Room with lots of treats and water. He never barked or complained.

Meanwhile, for the first night in a year, Riley Rover behaved. As in, he really behaved. He knew the Girl had done something extra special because she looked a little afraid of Diesel Dog. Riley Rover went all night without barking or chewing or pulling the Girl’s comforter off the bed. He even went all night without stealing her slippers of trying to pull her socks off while she snoozed. He was almost what you would call a Good Dog.

The next morning, the Girl let Diesel Dog outside. Diesel Dog perched on the comforter for the day. Riley Rover, being a good host, rested under the step so his guest could have the best spot. After a while, Riley Rover decided to heck with that, he would lie on the comforter with his new friend. So when the Girl would look up from her work desk during the day, Riley Rover and Diesel Dog would be lying butt to butt. They nuzzled and snoozed throughout the day.

Diesel Dog showed no signs of going home. But he was a hefty looking, loving, gentle kind of soul who had a family somewhere. There was an Invisible Fence collar but no dog tags so the Girl could not figure out what to do. When the snow and ice cleared, the Girl called the Animal Control Department. But they only kept the dogs three days. They did keep records just in case someone called. The Girl put a dog tag on Riley Rover just to make sure she never, ever lost her B_A_D Golden Pup.

Sure enough, a few hours later, Diesel Dog’s family called the Girl. They were at the Shelter. They had posted signs and gone to shelters and called Vets. It turned out that Diesel Dog was allergic to his collar so it had been temporarily removed. The family arrived and ran up the hill to the Mosquito Gulch Porch and hugged and hugged Diesel Dog. Diesel Dog thumped and wagged and wagged and thumped his tail. His folks and all three children were there to take him home.

There was just one problem. Diesel Dog and Riley Rover had become fast friends. Diesel Dog may have been a Pit Bull that looked scary but he was a gentle soul that thru his shining behavior had shown Riley Rover to be kinder to the Girl who loved him so. The two friends had slept butt to butt for days. They had romped and played and run. The Girl explained to the Family that she had treated Diesel Dog like she would have wanted her dog to be treated. The family promised to return with Diesel for play dates.

So after all the adventure, since the snow and ice had melted, the Girl had to leave for the store to do errands. She knew Riley Rover would miss Diesel Dog. But she did not expect the call saying the Riley Rover was loose in the town. She knew when she got the phone call that something was wrong with Riley Rover. He managed to get loose off his rope on the Porch to go chase after Diesel Dog and bring back his friend. But the Girls’ neighbor saw Riley Rover and brought him home and kept him in her fenced back yard until the Girl got home from shopping. She said she treated the Girl’s dog like she would have wanted her dog treated if the same thing had happened.

So the Girl realized a few things. The Girl realized all God’s creatures deserve a safe place in the storm. Riley Rover knew that already. And that an act of kindness comes back many fold. And that a book is not to be judged by the cover.  Riley Rover knew all that, too. And to always have your pet carefully tagged and chipped. Now Diesel Dog has both chip and tags from the same Neighbor Vet who came out during the snow and ice to check that the stray was okay.

Diesel Dog learned that there’s a new Resort and Spa in town where he is always welcome.

And Riley Rover learned that the Girl isn’t so B_A_D after all.

But, of course, he still barks to finish the bottom of the ice cream carton. As every good dog should.

The End. Cheryl Ritchie 1/30/2009 Mosquito Gulch GoldenGirl@GoldenResults.com 301 855 5215

Severn Serendipity

For “The Bridge”

Cheryl Ritchie

www.GoldenResults.com

GoldenGirl@GoldenResults.com

Maybe you believe in Serendipity. Maybe you don’t. But sometimes you just have to stop and wonder.

I was on the thirty year Class  of 74 Severn Reunion Committee  .We cruised up the Severn about a year and a half ago and had a great turnout and lots of fun.We included the class before and after ours in the celebration. We had a photographer who did video clips and also tons of digital photos. Me and my big mouth ( I should have left the Cheerleader stuff in retirement) mentioned doing a video of the evening. Well after a year and a half, I finally faced facts. The sixty plus hours it would take my friends to donate a 60 minute DVD was time prohibitive. Not to mention the equipment cost it takes to produce this. I would just as soon do it myself and learn how as to pay someone. Then I had this epiphany. Never had it crossed my mind to ask the Severn students to help produce it.

Mia Chandler and Jack Flanagan had given me rolls of heirloom photos from past reunions. We had dozens of photos and video clips from the Reunion evening. And Vickee Evans had donated the scans of the Senior yearbook photos. Plus I had some “yellow with age” uncirculated photo treasures stashed in my closet .

It’s kind of like the credit card ads. Cost of film and cassette.10 bucks.Video clips of your 30 year reunion .Priceless.

So I called Severn yesterday and approached them about this student class project concept with donations going to Severn. I found out they  now have a 20 Mac Video Computer Editing Lab. And maybe, maybe there is a way this can work out.Maybe. So the Technology Advisor asked me if I could bring all the data to Severn. I explained I live an hour away but oddly I was going to Annapolis the next day and that I would deliver the photos and clips the next afternoon.

This is where the Serendipity starts. I got up the next day and decided to head to Severn before my appointments that day instead of afterwards.It was the first time I had driven the morning route to Severn in 30 years. And if that wasn’t weird enough, it got weirder. When I arrived, I had to ask where the office was located . It had been that long. When I got to the office, all the faculty was at the Gym. Why was everyone at the Gym? I was told I was not allowed to roam the buildings and I was determined to put this in the correct person’s hands. Over ,around or under the fence to get something done, I decided to head to the Gym. It was the one building I knew how to find.

I couldn’t help but notice the backpacks.They were lying everywhere.I mean everywhere. It made me think of a conversation I had with Peter Tsou.When I first went to Va. Tech I had a new calculator. Back then, calculators were NEW. I left it on the steps a few moments and went back to get it. Sure enough, it was gone. I was so stunned. At Severn, I could have left my purse out and noone would have disturbed it. When I told Peter this story, he started laughing and said, “Cheryl, you could have left your purse out for DAYS at Severn and noone would have touched it . So the backpacks were what I really noticed. And the Alumni names on the walk. And then I walked into the Gym for the first time in 30 years.

And it all came back. I remembered Graduation Day on the stage and Cheerleader practice on the Gym floor and Homecoming and  Admiral Games and it just all came roaring back at once.

I was supposed to be there right at that moment. But I totally had no idea what was going on and why the Gym and Bleachers were filled. There was this film playing about Severn as I walked in. I asked the young Student what was going on. He said it was Founders Day and Grandparents Day combined in one. I proceeded to ask him a lot of questions. Like why they had blue blazers and did they still have the Powderpuff Football Game we had started. Like if the man speaking was the Headmaster I had seen in photos.

As I walked in there was a large screen film playing of Jeeper  ( G.P. Lindsay) talking about his Dad. And photos of Woody and Scott Burns and Court rolling on the screen. Mind you , this was as I  was walking in the Gym just trying to hand over some photos to a teacher since that was the only place the lady said I could visit. Nothing like absolutely being forced in the right direction.

Since the ceremony had started I had to wait to meet the teacher who did not know I had arrived in the morning instead of the afternoon. I heard Molly Green talk about a funeral she had attended. She said she was accosted by a woman  who noticed all of the Severn alums surrounding her  at the funeral .The woman said if she had had any idea that was what Severn would have meant for her children that there would have been no cost too high for this.

And  I got it. Because to this day I can pick up the phone or meet one of my classmates on the cuff and it is as if time transports you. It is a bond that is unbreakable. It’s the backpacks on the ground with no explanation necessary.

So near the end I saw the teacher to whom I was supposed to hand the stuff  cross over the room near me. I knew this because the cute young student next to me explained who he was and updated me on the gym and the Powderpuff Tradition and everything else I quizzed him about.

So as I left to hand over the photos to the teacher, some people walked over to me and asked if I was one of the original girls who attended Severn. STUN GUNNED  again, I said yes and they asked to take a photo. How they figured this out is beyond me. I was just there on a weekday to drop off some photos and try to figure out how to get them made into a Fund RaisingVideo for Severn since I have flopped fabulously on this mission.

As I left I could not help to think about how odd the morning had become. I started to pick up the phone to call Gail Kirchner but I did not know her new PA work phone.Then I started to call Peter Tsou but figured I’d catch him later and tell him about the unusual day. Not everyone would realize how completely off the wall it was. And if weirder couldn’t get weirder, I went to my scheduled appointment and looked up and sure enough right in front of me, plain as day, was my fellow  Reunion Classmate organizer , Gary Zorn, right in the same office. So I wore him out with this story.

But this is too neat a story to be left untold.

When Gary left the room, I heard a woman say Woody’s name. I turned to look at her and realized I had introduced her to him thirty some years ago and that she is now one of his patients.

So I am not  completely sure what the message  today was about. I went to Severn on a seemingly regular day to drop off some material to be used as a Severn Fundraiser.I figure I have 2.5 years before I completely lose face on this Fundraiser video DVD project. But for some reason I was supposed to be there today. Maybe it was a reminder of the strength of the Severn Community. Maybe it was a reminder that as much as things are different, they are still the same. Maybe it was a connection and an appreciation for the gifts I have received from Severn, like the barriers  I do not see as one of the first batch of Severn Ladies to Graduate or the ensuing  entrepreneurial spirit that has enabled me to run a business for twenty years.Or maybe it was the backpacks. It was just nice to know they were all lying around  safe and sound.

Which is a nice time to say……

P.S. Jack and Mia, your photos are safe. They are at Severn. And if anyone has an idea how we can get this video completed, S.O.S to GoldenGirl@GoldenResults.com. I have 2.5 years before I get as redfaced as the first day at Severn when I dropped all my books on the ground and lay face down as Gusty roared with laughter. Oh, and while I have your attention, Bob Alley, I should have gotten the English Award. How you walked off with it is still beyond me in spite of all those books you have published.

And RAH Severn. Thanks for the reminder today of how much you mean to me.

Cheryl’s Agent “Cher” Center

buffini-pop-by-ideas

www.GoldenResults.com

GoldenGirl@GoldenResults.com

 Agents! Click the Buffini Pop Bys ideas link above to download these “Golden Results” ideas for your clients!

My new Waterview $299,900 Listing on 1275 White Sands Drive is already under contract in  just 30 Days!  The desirable 30 Days on Market refelcts that this home shows beautifully and is priced for the current market value.

Here’s a Calvert County Tourism Video!

This 3 BR 3.5 Bath "Feels Like New" Waterview Colonial is situated on Private Feeling Wooded Lot with a view of St. Leonard’s Creek in the front and your own Gazebo and Hot Tub in the back yard. It’s a sunny,comfortable feel in this exceedingly well maintained vacation all year round home.

This is my first audio podcast!  Please listen to the Calvert Market Statistics Report!

Welcome to my NEW Blog featuring Southern Maryland Homes for Sale and Market Conditions!