Thankful Thanksgiving

In the midst of this year's pre-Thanksgiving preparations, our family had an unexpected event. Our daughter in law under went major surgery. The doctor was so very pleased. Surgery went so smoothly. That is until the middle of the night. Intense pain started. Staff simply thought it was the normal post surgery gas problems some patients experience. Until morning when the surgeon made rounds. Our daughter in law had been bleeding internally for hours and no one caught it. Of course, there was absolutely no reason to even look for internal bleeding. None of us knew she was prone to bleeding, not even she knew. And she nearly bled to death before they got it under control. Several stress filled touch and go days, staying at the hospital with our son and our daughter in law.

Just as quickly as she became a critical patient, she made a turn for the better and became a recovering patient. And Thanksgiving Day, our son carefully packed her to our home where we had dinner together. The family, including my parents and my in-laws, gathered at our home, joined hands around our table with our precious daughter in law, bowing our heads very thankfully. God is so very good. He's so good to me.

Professional selling is what it is about

2nd quarter has started with a major upswing. The Subscription Pricing Plan offered by Overstock is a major boost to sellers bottom line. Overstock should be commended for their hard work and thought in the Subscription Plan. TOASA "Save Green $5" as well as the "BOGO" promotions have really created a stir. MIM auctions are selling well as are regular bid auctions. Auctions hits are up significantly. Both TOASA promotions made the Home Page of Overstock.com Auctions. That in itself should make every TOASA seller hold their head a little higher.

TOASA sellers have joined together in a manner that exemplifies professionalism, commitment to excellence and a dedication to offering buyers the best prices, product and service to be found in any auction venue. TOASA sellers brainstormed, created and fine tuned these promotions in the matter of days. Creative banners and logos graphics were in place almost immediately. If you look through TOASA sellers' home pages, auction listings, blogs and websites, one will see the banners displayed proudly. No wonder these promotions have probably been the 2 best promotions ever launched by TOASA.

All these promotions have been created by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. People willing to stick their neck out a bit. Try something different. Use their creative abilities, no matter how limited they believe they are. The truth is, as a group, we have unlimited talent, insight and expertise. This type of camaraderie will not go unnoticed. And if we all continue with the same fervor as we have in the 1st quarter, it will pay off.

Time for Change

2006 is here! I can't wait to see what this new year will bring. In my personal life, business, Overstock and TOASA. With all of the exciting new plans that are being implemented in just the first quarter of this year, who can tell what will happen. Just one seller or even a handful of sellers, usually go unnoticed. But as TOASA makes changes and suggestions, pushing ahead. People are sitting up and taking notice. And rightfully so.

TOASA doesn't have all the answers and has never claimed to. It isn't a social club as some would say it is. TOASA is a whole bunch of dedicated people, volunteering hours of time, brainstorming, digging, researching, prodding Overstock management to develop and grow Overstock Auctions for the ultimate benefit of the sellers and buyers.

So Let's see just how far we can go in 2006. My mom always use to say "Many hands make light work" With all of us working together, just think what can be accomplished in just a short period of time.