Before you read the rest of this blog, write down all the songs that remind you of your life. Don’t deny it! You know what I’m talking about — the songs that the first time you heard them spoke to you on some level.

Don’t read on until you have at least three to five songs, more if you like. The more variety, the more fun you will have.

OK, all done? Good. Read on!

I went to a science museum a while back. At one of the exhibits you could change the music score for different scenes in popular movies. I was fascinated by how changing the theme and tempo of the music would change the way I perceived what was happening in the movie.

For example, the scene from “Jaws” in which a girl is swimming in the clear blue surf isn’t nearly as intense with a happy Caribbean theme playing in the background — until the shark bites her, of course.

But even then, it sort of looked like they were dancing when you squinted through your fingers just right.

This started me thinking about how music and songs could trigger memories and feelings. What if we had a personal orchestra following us around to set the mood of our lives? Look through the list of songs you wrote down. Which of these would you choose as your personal theme song?

You might have several, depending on the situation. Your band might play a sitcom theme when you pull into your driveway at night and dramatic organ music when your best friend calls. Maybe “Welcome to the Jungle” describes your workday, but you’re more of a “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” on the weekend.

What music would you play for other people in your life? Does your boss’ theme seem to be the soundtrack from “Psycho”? And the new guy in the mailroom defiantly exudes that sassy salsa beat.

Try using the music inside you to change the way your feel. If you feel like your personal theme song is from “Titanic,” make a conscious effort to change the channel. If you want to feel funky and feel good, you got to have the music in you.

I had no trouble naming either one of my kids. 

Allison Inge

My oldest,Allison Inge was named after her grandmothers,  Alice and Inge. 

Randy wanted a pretty French name for Paige Michelle. 

Paige Michelle

However, I am having a really hard time naming this blog.   

What do you think would be a good “Vicki Trembly” blog name? 

It’s not ALL about the Real Estate.  I’ll post about … well, just about everything.  So while  I do want it to be relatively respectable, it it doesn’t have to be something like… BUY A HOUSE FROM ME!  

I’d appreciate any other comments and suggestions as well as to what  you’d like to find a blog about me and Topeka.

9 inches of snow means it’s time to catch up on some reading.   Nice to see some happy news.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-December Existing-Home Sales Jump.

What more can I say?

We have seen historically low home mortgage rates recently. Intrests rates at @4% allow buyers  to get a lot more house for the same payment than a mortgage at say, 9%.  which is the 40 year average according to the Wall Street Journal.

So a buyer who wants to pay $450 a month for  payment and interest, and locks in at  a  rate of 4.75%  could buy a house for around $89,000

A 1%  increase will drop his buying power by $9000.  Plus, instead of paying $75,401.05 in total interest for an $89,000 house,  he’ll  pay $84,986 for for an $80,000 house.

What do you think?  Will rates continue to rise?  Do you think housing prices will drop accordingly?

P.S.  For the morbidly curious, should rates indeed climb to 9%,  our buyer could only afford a $58,000 home and will pay $106,155.02 in interest.

If you’d like more specific information on the Topeka housing market or help getting pre-approved for a home loan, please contact me. I am happy to serve you.

Gingerbread house - last place winner!

Check out my new listing!   This beauty  is the last place winning entry in the Schultz Family Holiday Party Gingerbread House Building Extravaganza.  It has an open floor plan and was constructed with the finest pre-stamped gingerbread available.

We were supposed to elect a leader, an Architect, a contractor and a worker, but J.D., Jon, Bud and I decided that our group was an anarcho-syndicalist commune.  Yes, the roof needs some supports and I’d recommend a structural inspection; but none of the trim was licked before being installed!

Things were going ok until we added the skate board ramp to the roof and let the gingerbread boy try a test run.  Probably would not qualify for an FHA loan. 

We called it Chateau Jacqueazze.

As long as it will remain standing, it will be on display at the Break Room along with the other entries.