Given how much the WordPress blogging community means to me, I wanted you to be the first ones to know.
It was me.
The Wall Street Journal has an article in this week’s Mansion section with the headline:
Mystery Buyer Pays $157.5 Million for Two Condos on New York’s Billionaires’ Row
Well, mystery solved.
I know it seems a bit pricey, but the building has a pool, athletic club, and private restaurant. And musician Sting and his wife live in one of the units. Those are all tough to pass up.
Now I know you are wondering how a teacher could afford such a property (actually two properties).
And you’re right, my teacher salary wouldn’t allow me to stay even one night in such a place.
It was my blog.
As many of you know, one of my most popular blog posts was one about the world’s largest tire manufacturer (if you don’t know, you’ll be surprised).
Anyway, one of the companies mentioned in the post contacted me and said they would like to feature my post in their promotional material, for $180 million.
I told them I’d have to think about it. I called back three seconds later and said it’s a deal if you throw in free lifetime tires for all my cars. They readily accepted, and a deal was made.
After signing the papers, we went house hunting, in New York City. My wife and I fell in love with 220 Central Park South. It is, after all, clad in Alabama Silver Shadow limestone. And it’s got Sting.
So we put an offer in for $157 million, cash, for the two properties, and we should know soon if the offer is accepted.
Assuming that it will be, I think one of the first things we will do is…
Excuse me, hold on a second. My wife is yelling something at me. I’ll be right back.
I’m back. Oops. Apparently, the offer from the tire company was for $180. I just assumed they meant millions, given how much revenue and profit they generate each year.
Now I’m embarrassed. But it’s too late to recant this post, since I’ve got nothing else in the pipeline.
So back to what I was trying to say before I was interrupted; one of the first things we were going to do when we moved in was to throw a party at the house, and invite all the people who follow my blog.
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but hopefully, someday I’ll be able to do throw that party…
P.S. There is no $180 – it’s all part of the fantasy world that I live in..
Hey thanks for thinking of us. I hope you were also thinking of inviting Sting to that party before reality hit.
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that goes without saying 🙂
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If you invite Sting, someone will probably call the Police.
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🙂
as long as they don’t stand too close to me…
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Wouldn’t that be entertaining.
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it would certainly give all the bloggers there something to write about 🙂
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Aww…would have been a sweet deal!!
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someday… 🙂
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Please just send me the $180.
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sadly, just like the $180 million, the $180 was pure fantasy as well…
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Hey, congratulations! $180 is nothing to sneeze at. That’s more than almost anybody makes from blogging, including me. So now you’re a professional blogger, but I hope you’ll still talk to us minions who are still in the amateur league.
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sadly, just like the $180 million, the $180 was pure fantasy as well…
so I guess I’m stuck talking with the minions…
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Well, hell. You should at least get a discount on your next set of tires.
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at least my next set of LEGO tires…
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That’s an odd expression – nothing to sneeze at. For me, sneezing happens when it happens. I can’t summon a sneeze on demand. The best way I do know to increase my chances of sneezing is to mow the yard, that usually results in multiple sneezes. But, if someone offered me something, even if a small little something, and I sneezed at it, it would be entirely by accident.
Now this has me worried. What if one day I am offered a million dollars and for some reason I sneeze at just that moment. What will they think? This guy doesn’t want this million dollars as he just sneezed at it. I rescind this million dollar offer, now be gone! So much for my dreams of having a million dollars.
Anyway, gesundheit.
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My head feels a little stuffy today, and I suspect I shall have plenty of things to sneeze at soon, if this ailment progresses. Nonetheless, your critique of “nothing to sneeze” at left me cold. But I think it was well-written, so I fear it may go viral. I’ll wave a white handkerchief in surrender, because this idiom does seem idiotic. I even got nosy, and decided to research the origins of the old saying. It seems it comes from the 17th century, when a sneeze was considered a sign of disapproval, disinterest, or boredom. This research is nothing to sneeze at, so here’s the link:
https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/phrases/nothing-to-sneeze-at-2/
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thanks for providing the background on where the phrase came from, and if you think about it, it is a strange expression.
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They had strange ways back in the 1700’s. Sneezing to express boredom or disapproval is a little weird, I think.
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and I am guessing a lot of the sneezes had to be fake…
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Yeah. It was probably a gesture made by elite snobs. If you said something to some rich, white-wigged snob, and he faked a sneeze, I think it was a sophisticated way of dissing you.
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I think blowing my nose would be more effective…
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That sounds like a more modern day way to diss someone.
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I must admit I still laugh when someone blows their nose and it is a loud, honking noise…
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Me too. I’ve known a few people who do that.
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🙂
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maybe I should stand next to you with a handful of freshly cut grass as you are about to receive the million dollars…
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From now on, I’m wearing a dust mask all the time
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or perhaps try the “hair of the dog that bit you” approach, and start smoking grass every day until you get over your allergy…
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$180 is still not to be sneezed at
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sadly, just like the $180 million, the $180 was pure fantasy as well… 🙂
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I agree with others. The $180 sounds great. That’s more than I’ve made form WP this year.
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sadly, just like the $180 million, the $180 was pure fantasy as well…
in fact, it’s just the reverse; I’ve paid WP more than that over the past couple of years…
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Are the free tires for life still on the table? That is a much greater value than the $180 in cash. Humorous and wonderfully misleading. Loved this Jim!
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thanks, Brad!
sadly, just like the $180 million, the free tires and $180 were pure fantasy as well…
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Haha you had me fooled for half a second lol a bloggers get together. Never been… Would’ve been nice!
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sadly, just like the $180 million, even the $180 was pure fantasy as well…
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On a slightly more serious note, I know you’ve considered the idea of writing a book after you retire (on that teacher’s retirement salary.) I’m going to suggest, if you haven’t thought of it yet, please think about writing a book about blogging. I think people would be interested in what it’s like to maintain a daily blog for so many consecutive days. (The motivation, where the ideas come from, the things that would have sidetracked others, the friendships you’ve formed, your teaching life, etc.) I’d buy that book because I think yours is a fascinating story.
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thanks for the encouragement, Pete. Such a book would sell at least 101 copies; I’d buy 100…
but it has been a fun journey, thanks to meeting people like you…
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And there I was, so looking forward to asking Mr and Mrs Sting about their tantric antics. Another time, maybe…
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I’d sit in on that conversation 🙂
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That would have been a sweet party to go to 🙂 Sorry it didn’t turn out as you had imagined!
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never say never… 🙂
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Well shucks! That isn’t enough money for a beach house! Here you had my hopes up!
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I’ll keep working on it…
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Yes, do please!
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👍
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Never mind – I’ll throw a bloggers’ party in my six foot X six foot beach hut instead!
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I hope I get invited!
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Of course, weather is looking good for Sunday.
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👍
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Ahhhhh, Jim I just needed this walk- through your fantasy..so thank you…x
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I do live in a fantasy world sometimes… 🙂
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And why not… X
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it keeps me happy 🙂
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Love this jim! $180m might get you a tiny flat on govanhill… cheers
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hopefully there would be enough left over to buy the first round for everyone at the local pub…
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Doubles all round mate, cheers to that
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it would be my pleasure… cheers…
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Congrats! Say hi to Sting for me!
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will do…
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Thanks!
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Lol well done Jim. You had me at least believing they’d give you $180. LOL 🙂 Great story!
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thanks, Debby! Sometimes I worry that I find it too easy to make up a believable lie 🙂
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Lollllllll 🙂
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see what I mean? People just laugh when I talk about lying… 🙂
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Exactly!!!!!!! 🙂
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🙂
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Ha ha ha that was a fun read. I was kind of thinking wow initially! Imagine. Maybe you will have a fun party at an amazing house in the future with many bloggers in attendance! 😀🎉🏡
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that would be a lot of fun, and provide material for multiple blogs!
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