Sent this to a friend in Orlando who used to be in the business.
"Hi, toots. In exchange for my freebies, toss off a personal experience story. Wyndham hired me and when I gave them my misgivings about the industry they talked integrity and honor , hired me conditionally, and I begin training tomorrow. (Betcha they don't have any idea that I'm pushing 76!!!) We'll see if its really different.
Meanwhile, I'm collecting horror stories and theorizing its the difference between used car lots and Lexus dealers. We'll see if I'm right. The tab here is $22,000 (dropped) with 6% commission. At Welk down the road its $700 a sale, but its a great resort. The juices are flowing again. Fun. Add your 2 cents.
Love
LLC (that's a limited liability corporation, doncha know)"
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
It's Obvious, but I don't read it anywhere.....
Dearest Ones: Emma has a music scholarship and the two graduates this year are honor grads. What could make a grandma happier?
To turn to the meat of this blog (unlike the latest candidates debate which was pure milk), it seems to have escaped everybody that Obama has run a truly amazing campaign. Grandma Letty was observing some months ago that he didn't seem to be afraid of excellence (unlike Hilary who dotes on cronies) and that trait has certainly paid off. So he fraternized with a Weatherman? Grandma Letty fraternized with a Weatherman and took their newsletter in the 70's and harbored notions that while they might be revolutionaries, they were slightly justified revolutionaries. After all, if J Edgar Hoover and Richard Nixon were running the country, why not blow them up? Temping, but really not a sound idea in the long run.
But I digress. I get daily updates for the candidate, courtesy of a man called David Plouffe whom I hope will be Chief of Staff. I am seduced into donating once again and having dinner with Barack and four other afficianados. I formed the original gray haired ladies for Obama in Vista, CA, and I phone banked at the labor hall. The quality of callers would make a boiler room head dizzy with delight. This has been a primer for political campaigns, at least the part of it I've seen. The riposte by the candidate that "attacks are the old politics" is resonating. Hilary's negatives climb and climb. If he can get away with this one, we'll be done with swiftboating and 3 a.m. phone calls and get down to brass tacks for a change.
Kids, you're viewing a sea change. Let's hope it holds.
To turn to the meat of this blog (unlike the latest candidates debate which was pure milk), it seems to have escaped everybody that Obama has run a truly amazing campaign. Grandma Letty was observing some months ago that he didn't seem to be afraid of excellence (unlike Hilary who dotes on cronies) and that trait has certainly paid off. So he fraternized with a Weatherman? Grandma Letty fraternized with a Weatherman and took their newsletter in the 70's and harbored notions that while they might be revolutionaries, they were slightly justified revolutionaries. After all, if J Edgar Hoover and Richard Nixon were running the country, why not blow them up? Temping, but really not a sound idea in the long run.
But I digress. I get daily updates for the candidate, courtesy of a man called David Plouffe whom I hope will be Chief of Staff. I am seduced into donating once again and having dinner with Barack and four other afficianados. I formed the original gray haired ladies for Obama in Vista, CA, and I phone banked at the labor hall. The quality of callers would make a boiler room head dizzy with delight. This has been a primer for political campaigns, at least the part of it I've seen. The riposte by the candidate that "attacks are the old politics" is resonating. Hilary's negatives climb and climb. If he can get away with this one, we'll be done with swiftboating and 3 a.m. phone calls and get down to brass tacks for a change.
Kids, you're viewing a sea change. Let's hope it holds.
Monday, April 14, 2008
So proud of the evangelicals (it's true)
Last night's compassion forum on CNN with Barack and Hilary proved something I've been claiming for four years, when I parked my Kerry sticker in the parking lot at North Coast Church. To wit: gone are the nutcases. The ministers, one of the my old pastor Joel, asked questions of the candidates about climate change, Darfur, poverty, etc.etc. etc. It fell to the editor of Newsweek to ask about life beginning at conceptions. (The last was adroitly and reasonably answered by the two, quite in line with my convictions.)
In short, evangelicals aren't the lunatic fringe today. I think they used to be, but as more and more thinking people join large churches with large agendas, the questions about homosexuality and gay marriage and abortion are no longer the sole focus. It is true, they are still concerns, but they don't overshadow world-wide concerns of vastly more importance to our planet. God, after all, charges us to have dominion, but not to rape and pillage.
I am tickled pink that the stigma attached to me for seven years of laboring in the evangelical vineyards is beginning to fade, if not disappear. God is having the last word after all.
In short, evangelicals aren't the lunatic fringe today. I think they used to be, but as more and more thinking people join large churches with large agendas, the questions about homosexuality and gay marriage and abortion are no longer the sole focus. It is true, they are still concerns, but they don't overshadow world-wide concerns of vastly more importance to our planet. God, after all, charges us to have dominion, but not to rape and pillage.
I am tickled pink that the stigma attached to me for seven years of laboring in the evangelical vineyards is beginning to fade, if not disappear. God is having the last word after all.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Here's how it was, kids
Back before all of you were born, grandma Letty was relieved of her duties at the Orlando (FL) Sentinel when the paper was purchased by a Chicago company; since she had to support herself somehow, she began to teach part time at several colleges and sell something called "Timeshare."
In Orlando, all she had to do was get a real estate license and look presentable and be upright. A lot has changed, but what else is new?
In 1978, the industry was recovering from being like the wild west. Felons and drunks and disbarred lawyers and used car salesmen were grandma Letty's fellows. We'd often get paid (or not paid) more or less depending on whim, and the contests were legendary. Grandma Letty got a "spiff" (reward) of $5000 once for selling the most timeshare weeks in a month. She didn't believe it until the check cleared the bank.
Eventually, order was more or less restored. The earliest Timeshare resorts were staffed by veterans of the Florida land sales of the 1920's and 30's, and when a developer pulled into town to recruit workers, he hired car salesmen; so the terms "spiff" for bonus, "T.O." for Take Over by the Sales Manager. and other arcane language is familiar to every ex car salesman. In those days, when we got paid (if we did) we got from $500 to $700 a sale. We "hauled" "ups" or took clients on a tour, had a "love line" where the salesmen got preferential treatment if they were very, very friendly with the sales manager. (Especailly females.)
Grandma Letty worked her way into a real estate firm which specialized in timeshare and which had so many that when we sold out one, we had another to go to. That was a breakthrough. Our manager used to laugh at the family ownership and when a new baby was born in the family the manager would announce "he was just appointed vice president of sales" which was about what it was like.
In Orlando, eventually some 40 timeshare resorts sprouted up, so we could always work. I stayed with Island One, my group, and more or less respected the firm. In fact, I even sold them T-shirts to wear as uniforms. In 1983, we were sent to Freeport, Virgin Islands for selling $600000 in one month, and because I led the line, Dan, my husband, was included, too. This was a line of some 20 ragtag souls who really had a good time. I won the ping pong tournament, and my TO had bet on me and made a fortune. Good days.
Just about then I was asked to be editor of a paper and did that for 17 years. After all, that's what I was trained for. I had a great time doing that, too, and when I retired, moved to California, and flirted with timeshare sales again, I found that big boys were in the game. Wyndham granted me an interview after I aced their personality test, and so did Lawrence Welk resort. Since the latter was 8 miles from home, I was hoping it would work out. Needless to say, I got my real estate license.
I'll let you know
Work hard and have fun and be like Jennika, Magna Cum Laude. (That's a good thing.)
Love,
Grandma Letty
In Orlando, all she had to do was get a real estate license and look presentable and be upright. A lot has changed, but what else is new?
In 1978, the industry was recovering from being like the wild west. Felons and drunks and disbarred lawyers and used car salesmen were grandma Letty's fellows. We'd often get paid (or not paid) more or less depending on whim, and the contests were legendary. Grandma Letty got a "spiff" (reward) of $5000 once for selling the most timeshare weeks in a month. She didn't believe it until the check cleared the bank.
Eventually, order was more or less restored. The earliest Timeshare resorts were staffed by veterans of the Florida land sales of the 1920's and 30's, and when a developer pulled into town to recruit workers, he hired car salesmen; so the terms "spiff" for bonus, "T.O." for Take Over by the Sales Manager. and other arcane language is familiar to every ex car salesman. In those days, when we got paid (if we did) we got from $500 to $700 a sale. We "hauled" "ups" or took clients on a tour, had a "love line" where the salesmen got preferential treatment if they were very, very friendly with the sales manager. (Especailly females.)
Grandma Letty worked her way into a real estate firm which specialized in timeshare and which had so many that when we sold out one, we had another to go to. That was a breakthrough. Our manager used to laugh at the family ownership and when a new baby was born in the family the manager would announce "he was just appointed vice president of sales" which was about what it was like.
In Orlando, eventually some 40 timeshare resorts sprouted up, so we could always work. I stayed with Island One, my group, and more or less respected the firm. In fact, I even sold them T-shirts to wear as uniforms. In 1983, we were sent to Freeport, Virgin Islands for selling $600000 in one month, and because I led the line, Dan, my husband, was included, too. This was a line of some 20 ragtag souls who really had a good time. I won the ping pong tournament, and my TO had bet on me and made a fortune. Good days.
Just about then I was asked to be editor of a paper and did that for 17 years. After all, that's what I was trained for. I had a great time doing that, too, and when I retired, moved to California, and flirted with timeshare sales again, I found that big boys were in the game. Wyndham granted me an interview after I aced their personality test, and so did Lawrence Welk resort. Since the latter was 8 miles from home, I was hoping it would work out. Needless to say, I got my real estate license.
I'll let you know
Work hard and have fun and be like Jennika, Magna Cum Laude. (That's a good thing.)
Love,
Grandma Letty
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
ye Gods
While reeling from my studies for the California Real Estate exam, I posted a hideous thing. I called B. Obama "Obamma." I'll bet Elmer Best, my old editing teacher, is rotating like a chicken on a rotisserie in his Lawrence, Kans. grave.
I reminded myself of an earlier day when I read Odgen Nash's "The one "l" lama, he's a priest. The two "l" lamma, he's a beast. But I will bet a silk pajama, that there is no three "l" lammma." The footnote was for a certain conflagration that brought out three fire trucks and was, indeed, a "three "l" lammma.
Well, I will bet a silk pajama, that there is no two "m" Obama. Doesn't scan, but rings true.
By the way, against all odds I passed the durn exam. Fortunately, I didn't have to spell anything. Just fill in a computer sheet with four answers, only two of them wrong. Choose one, indeed.
If I weren't so tough from years of Timeshare sales ( you want to get used to rejection? Try that.) I would be hurt that my old journalism school has produced a book on blogs that did not include alumna grandma Letty. They'd never pass the real estate exam.
I reminded myself of an earlier day when I read Odgen Nash's "The one "l" lama, he's a priest. The two "l" lamma, he's a beast. But I will bet a silk pajama, that there is no three "l" lammma." The footnote was for a certain conflagration that brought out three fire trucks and was, indeed, a "three "l" lammma.
Well, I will bet a silk pajama, that there is no two "m" Obama. Doesn't scan, but rings true.
By the way, against all odds I passed the durn exam. Fortunately, I didn't have to spell anything. Just fill in a computer sheet with four answers, only two of them wrong. Choose one, indeed.
If I weren't so tough from years of Timeshare sales ( you want to get used to rejection? Try that.) I would be hurt that my old journalism school has produced a book on blogs that did not include alumna grandma Letty. They'd never pass the real estate exam.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Hey, Wait a Minute
Lately, Geraldine Ferraro is the latest staff member to be cast out because she is politically incorrect. For those of you living in a cave, she recently opined that B. Obamma is where he is because he is a black man, and that a white woman with his record of accomplishments would not be taken seriously.
Of course, she's a little bit right. Recently a great political thinker said the reason Obamma was leading in Virginnia was because with one swipe of the pen a white voter could expiate 400 years of guilt.
But I submit another couter: Hiliary is where she is because she was married to one of the most powerful men in the country. And when he left her alone to reform health care she fell flat on her sunny face.
Geraldine, dear, put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Of course, she's a little bit right. Recently a great political thinker said the reason Obamma was leading in Virginnia was because with one swipe of the pen a white voter could expiate 400 years of guilt.
But I submit another couter: Hiliary is where she is because she was married to one of the most powerful men in the country. And when he left her alone to reform health care she fell flat on her sunny face.
Geraldine, dear, put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
return to the blog
Dears:
Grandma Letty has been spending all her time teaching and learning; she has taken the California Real Estate Exam after much study, and will not get the problematical results for a few more days. Hence, the home movie" Return to the Blog."
It occured to Grandma Letty that in the seven years she has lived in California, she has amassed four licenses: 1)dog;2)marriage;3)tax preparer;4)real estate (assuming she passes a very hard exam.) Certainly, the one that so far has worked out the best is #2. Number 3 paid only a little more than the investment to get it; Number 4 has great promise, because the aforesaid grandma letty sold Timeshare in Orlando for a grand total of about 12 years. Believe me, that paid well.
No reason to believe it won't be the same, here.
Further, if the place I want to sell weeks takes me in, it's right down the road. Commuting in San Diego county, my place of residence, is a killer. The timeshare I hope to work at is 15 minutes away on NO FREEWAYS AT ALL.
Grandma Letty has been spending all her time teaching and learning; she has taken the California Real Estate Exam after much study, and will not get the problematical results for a few more days. Hence, the home movie" Return to the Blog."
It occured to Grandma Letty that in the seven years she has lived in California, she has amassed four licenses: 1)dog;2)marriage;3)tax preparer;4)real estate (assuming she passes a very hard exam.) Certainly, the one that so far has worked out the best is #2. Number 3 paid only a little more than the investment to get it; Number 4 has great promise, because the aforesaid grandma letty sold Timeshare in Orlando for a grand total of about 12 years. Believe me, that paid well.
No reason to believe it won't be the same, here.
Further, if the place I want to sell weeks takes me in, it's right down the road. Commuting in San Diego county, my place of residence, is a killer. The timeshare I hope to work at is 15 minutes away on NO FREEWAYS AT ALL.
Can you imagine how appealing that is? Probably not, but take my word its the boon of all boons.
Wish me luck, dearest ones. My first buy will be a family reunion here, with airfares paid to the far-flung relatives. Kids, that's you. Cross your fingers, and those of you who pray could do a little of that.
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