Just today I received an email reply from a company who sought me out for title work. 

It began, "Thank you for your bid, but ..." 

Something about the word 'bid' made me laugh.  At least they're now using the correct terminology for how they seek 'professionals'.

And speaking of 'professionals', anyone catch Real Housewives of Orange County, the new reality show about hissy fits of the rich in OC?  

Slade Smiley (his real name) boasts that he makes "a huge amount of money" as VP for United Title.  He also refers to his humble parents as "The Clampets" - to their face - after they drive all the way from Alaska in their RV to visit.   Same guy who holds up his Black American Express card and boasts to the camera that he has just shut down the furniture store for a private shopping spree.  And later mentions on the golf course, "I don't have to be good, I'm rich."

The guy he's trying to get business from is Brent McElway (?) of American Home General, and equally impressive fellow who reaches for his cell phone mid-sentence during Smiley's presentation to make a call, then looks to the ceiling to read his email on a 92" plasma screen, and abruptly dismissses Smiley.

Not to worry, Smiley's girlfriend, 24 year old Jo, also stinkin rich, has just landed her 'dream job' with Countrywide.

And when Smiley and jo have problems, she finds comfort from friends nextdoor who are multimillionaires in title work - from home.  They go out looking for a new home, their 1.5 million just doesn't have the room for the kids to socialize.  But there are two 3.5 mil places to choose from, so crisis averted.

The show ends happily as the 'girlfriends' all go out for an afternoon of shopping and hit a jewelry store, dropping a total of over $50,000 because, in their words, "We work hard, we deserve it!"