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Concerned Citizen and a Serial Entrepreneur wrapped in a progressive democratic soul longing for us all to get along.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Sunday, February 27th

Awoke with a start very early Monday morning so, I'm catching up on my tape of the Oscars... I love the fashions!!!  Gwynneth Paltrow, Sandra Bullock & Halle Berry are the epitome of taste... but I just really enjoy the spectacle!

I met my clients at the home they hope to buy Sunday at noon.  On to my open house & then, Marilyn took over... I just didn't have the heart for meeting and greeting...  went home & was about to go to Deluxe when Gary, Deb & Tom surprised us.  Gary & Deb were on their way to Walmart in Monterey and I was rescued...  Something different... we ended up going to Britons and the SPCA store in Carmel, treated to sherbet and then, a stroll to the dog friendly Carmel shore...an escape from the constant drone in my head and heart for a few hours... bought the items we needed at Walmart and home to my honey.

Tracy, Riley, turkey pot pie, a red and the Oscars... what more could I desire???

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Today is Saturday, February 26th

Today is a day to remember... Snow in Rio Del Mar!!!  These are videos I took of Tracy with my iPhone from our second story deck...


That's all folks... day off to enjoy the view....

Friday, February 25, 2011

Today is Friday, February 25th

OK  I'm sorry to all of you who received an email with a URL in the message.  It was a virus and it caused havoc with my mac and lots of people's email... some I didn't even know.. it basically hijacked my email and just kept going.... I'm going to attempt to update my blog now for the last couple days... I actually have handwritten notes of what I attempted to update on Wed. evening when everything froze but it's not important that I share that.  Who cares? ...

It's amazing how dependent I've become on technology... I've never felt so vulnerable as when as I toured on Thurs.. lots of Realtors asked me what the email was about...some I was able to warn against clicking on it...others let me know that it unfortunately held a virus... I'm soooo sorry!!!

Wed., Thur. all a blur... lots of business, thank you God!  it shall sustain us... today we were geared up & ready; left early for Stanford since we were concerned about the forecast for snow at sea level... well what a pleasant surprise!!  The sky was clear and the sun was brilliant and it was a gorgeous drive over the hill.. we were early...labs done and we waited and waited and waited and then, the fellow arrived...as Tracy said in his inimitable way;  he was paving the way for Bruno's appearance with the bad news...

OMG!!!  T's nutraphil count has more than doubled over the last week (140 last week-300 this week) but he needs to be 1000+ in order to restart chemo.  The problem is we don't know why T's neutraphil count hasn't come back.... as T wise cracked his way through the Fellow's diagnosis and I surmised that he just wasn't responding by saying..."the sign of intelligence is not repeating what didn't work the first time"  T shared,  "That's BS.  When a boy starts to masturbate in his teens it doesn't work initially but eventually he gets it"  Ai yi yi!!  That's my T!!  and here we are..  what's next?  Bone marrow biopsy... how many is this?  We've lost count....T and I now insisting that he have the biopsy today;  no more delays...  T started saying "My last name is Stanford... yah...I'm Leland Stanford McAvoy"... you know the real issue is everybody being treated at Stanford is deserving and in need... so, how do you bargain with that?  Thank goodness we prevailed... we didn't want to lose another week waiting for an appointment for a bone marrow biopsy...we were there...DO IT!!  My braveheart T,  ready and willing "if I can't have a lumbar puncture (chemo plus spinal tap) give me a bone marrow biopsy!! "  T is the most courageous man... he accepts with a sigh...  so, now we wait... Mon earliest and I'll start calling to find out what the future holds...  either the leukemia is back or the puzzle hasn't been figured out... next step unknown... more chemo with radiation or bone marrow transplant?  Hospitalization starting next week?  Only God knows... 

As we headed home; a stone hit my windshield... been there done that...last time (several years ago) I waited a few hours and had to replace the windshield...so, T searched my apps...Around Me & called Absolute Auto Glass as we approached Santa Cruz; drove straight there....4:30 & they fixed the crack as we waited; realized they replaced my windshield the last time.  Done!  Very nice folks!!!

My eyes are swollen shut...T insists he's gonna make it!  Please keep praying & sending white light...we need it!!!  As T quipped to the cardiologist the other day;  " I don't need another ologist".. he needs a cure!!!  Keep the faith!!!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Today is Wednesday, February 23rd

Ok I missed a few days...just catching up.  Monday, I took Zach & his twin daughters & son for a tour and viewed a lot of homes from noon to about 4:00.  Our stomachs were yearning for lunch but we pressed on...  They are just moving back to the states and I'll be taking them to the Westside today. They are a pleasure to tour with and Mom is due in this weekend.  Also, received a counter on the West Cliff beauty.  Lots of other work stuff and arrived home, changed and Tracy insisted I go to my book club... nice evening eating & chatting about "The Kahuna " and politics & the latest news... I was glad I went...home in time to see "Harry's Law"...Kathy Bates is dynamite!  Tracy is looking good and eating!  Yahoo!

Tuesday was another blur... no breakfast rushing to our Sales meeting with Carole Radoni speaking to us about the market.  Interesting times we're in... on to view 3 new listings and soup & salad with Lorraine.  Picked up T for his cardiology appointment at long last. Dr. Glancy was amiable, intelligent, down to earth and allowed T to get off his med.  T now instead has an emergency medicine to treat himself if as he takes his daily pulse; he has any erratic moments.  Warning:  Now that the arrhythmia has happened once under extreme duress, it could happen again so, beware....  Kind of put me in a weird state...like not another thing... but T took in the news and moved on as only my T can.

I dropped T at home and went back to the office to organize my tour for Zach; add a search for him for the Westside and communicate & checked in with several other clients.  Checked in on the Short Sale and processed more info for the 2nd.  The 1st told me they had a complete package & we'd have an assigned negotiator within 7 business days.  Hurrah!!  Counter for W. Cliff in the making..., offer for cottage maybe in sight...

Home to my honey... he looks so much better!  Stronger with a ready sense of play.. We ate left overs side by side and then, after I caught up with the papers; showered and watched "the Good Wife"  until I fell asleep....  I picked up meds at CVS;  discovered one of T's meds that he should have been taking 3x a week, has been sitting there since last Wed..  Somehow CVS missed it so, now T will start it a week late... oh well, we'll have to clue in Bruno et al on Fri.... so much to keep tabs on...

Nightmare last night disturbed me enough to take half an Ambien at 1:30 to get back to sleep...  Mom, Cenz & I were in a penthouse with lots of levels and light.   Cenz thought there were weird characters coming in and wanted us all in the same room & bed for protection... I awoke with a start... missing mom & cenz...  and fell asleep again with the sleeping aid.... Wed is a gorgeous day filled with possibility...

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Today is Sunday, February 20th

We awoke to a beautiful clear sunny day!!  Tracy is feeling better and he's eating!!!  After showing two homes this morning, I stopped to pick up live dungeness crab from Frank at Dock E at the Small Crafts Yacht Harbor... 2.5 lbs apiece of menacing crab clawing their way to escape their fate ...phenomenal!!!   Mother nature at its sweet best...

Swung by home to pick up my signs & an egg & prosciutto sandwich T had made for me and then, on to my open house at my listing, 207 Toledo Drive.  Great open house on a gorgeous day at the coast... home to crab and a relaxing evening with the love of my life...

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Today is Saturday, February 19th

More rain... I know we need it...  so, Shawn, our nephew called this morning from Portland.  I think he's lonesome; missing family... I only wish he could come here but for the time being T can't have any visitors... it's bad enough he gets exposed through me everyday... I've got hand sanitizer by the front and garage door;  I'm pretty good at remembering to use it each & every time I enter T's lair.   We'll see what next Fri. brings... keep sending that white light!!!

I thought I was just going to hang out with T today but you know how that goes...as Mom would say "make hay while the sun shines..."  Viewed a home with Kim, her gorgeous babies and her Mom, Vibeke again this afternoon to determine if they'd like to make an offer... they'll have to make a decision by tomorrow cause there is another offer on the home & put together Stan & Glenna's offer package and presented it...  spent some time with my broker, Robert talking about the market and finally picked up a Gridzich Olallaberry sp? pie, organic pepper & Artisan bread at Deluxe on my way home.

Baked Italian sausage, red bell pepper & purple, red & yukon gold potatoes with garlic and filled the whole house with a tantalizing aroma... Riley drooled a puddle waiting for a taste... and Tracy ate dinner... either the meds are working, the fragrance was too tempting or I'm just wearing him down... whatever the reason I'm so relieved!!

Enjoyed " Social Network" this evening...Zuckerberg, the nerd, really only wanted to be cool... in my former life, I've met a few...never as wildly successful but I do understand the persona and thoroughly enjoy the different facets when working with engineers...

The moon kept me awake last night as I savored Adriana Trigiani's "Brava, Valentine".. I read half way through and hope to read a little before I close my eyes...Ciao...

Friday, February 18, 2011

Today is Friday, February 18th

No let up...the rain just keeps on coming...  lost another tree at New Brighton today so, the park was evacuated and closed down.. ruined some folks' holidays..but better safe than not.

Intended to go to the office for a couple hours; 6 hours later I'd put together & transmitted 2 massive short sale packages (90 pages in one, 78 in the other, each & every page detailed with name & loan # added) and an offer for Stan & Glenna... finally & completely done in..

T seems stronger... he's eating more each day, as we figure out what works & what doesn't... what appeals & what to avoid... anxiously awaiting his Neupogen refill while Blue Shield tries their best to delay, delay, delay....  who cares as long as T gets what he needs?  seems like the new anti-nausea med is working which makes all the difference...

Night all....

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Today is Thursday, February 17th

The storm that hit the coast today was amazing and destructive!!!  It rained soooo hard, I didn't want to leave the office!  Took down a healthy tree at New Brighton Beach!!! What a change from yesterday's rainbow that ended at Barry & Dottie's new Castroville home!

... T informed me that we lost power for several hours at home this afternoon while he & Riley cuddled together.
T & I are looking forward... I have to say, I'm glad T & Tom didn't have to drive through the storm to Stanford and I'm about ready to call it a night..

I think the short sale has a chance and I'll be making an offer on a Westside beauty tomorrow.  Phew!  I'd trade it all for T's health; but Lord knows it will sustain us and we're eternally grateful...  working on getting T's Neupogen approved by the all powerful Blue Shield... more pushing tomorrow...

We shall survive and thrive!!!!!  Mother Nature is howling....

Wednesday, February 16th

OK, I'm so frustrated I could scream!!!  Poor T...another delay due to too low white counts.  We're both down, frustrated and depressed.  We return to Stanford on the 25th for a recount and possibly another spinal tap.  Cancelled all T's rides until further notice.  Thank you our friends for your understanding.  T has lost weight too so, I'll pick up prescriptions today... one should help with his distressed & twisted stomach pains.  We received the bad news yesterday and it put us both into a tailspin... stopped to drop off info & Sale Pending rider on the Westside; dropped T home and drove to Castroville for a final walk through for Barry & Dottie's new home....  roasted a chicken with veggies in the clay pot for dinner and T hardly ate... between a total meltdown and tears... we spent a non-talking evening.

Somebody share a laugh...a joke... T really needs some uplifting!  Come to think of it, me too!!!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Today is Tuesday, February 15th

Amazing and scary!!  What a day!!  605 Laguna St. offer accepted;  Wells Fargo told me to re-fax authorization and call back on Thurs.  Here we go... 220 Cresta Drive, Janet & Mike's duplex offer finally accepted (we've only been working on this since July ) !!!!  Saddened by the loss of a colleague from our firm...  Heard wonderful news that Tom's surgery was a success!! ...  & about a fabulous Valentine's day celebration... Jim serenaded Linda with a barbershop quartet...what a romantic!!!
Sang happy birthday to our dear friend, Deanna & rejoiced that Gary finally went to a doctor for bronchitis & a sinus infection... sure hope we get to see our friends soon!  Tracy set up a skype account so we can at least keep in touch online in the meantime... lots of folks are using it...
Tracy was kind of punky... didn't keep his dinner down but no fever...  tomorrow is D-day!! Stanford and hopefully,  treatment continues... pray T's numbers are up... white light needed!!!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Today is Valentine's Day, Monday, the 14th

I fully intended not to move today but you know how that goes...  wrote an offer and presented it this afternoon and it was accepted by the seller!!!  Yahoo!!! Now I just have to get the bank to accept it!   I will start the short sale process with Wells Fargo tomorrow...sure hope it works for all concerned...  much better for the seller's credit to do a short sale rather than a foreclosure.  The buyers are pretty excited too...

Valentine's Day is Carla's birthday; T & I sang to her voicemail...  hopefully, we'll catch up on Fri.  I look forward to another Valentine's Day when Tracy & I will celebrate & toast our  future in each other's arms.... he's having a hard time... no appetite... queasy stomach...send white light to surround T.. Wed. is D day...

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Today is Sunday, February 13th

I'm ranting but it's astounding to me that the people aren't rising up and storming the streets.  How can anyone believe that the government should NOT fund the arts? How about libraries? Parks? Schools?  Medicare?  Some call it entitlement. I call it being American & caring about the essential pieces of living life as an American and caring for your fellow man.
Why not eliminate funding for making war? Or funding despots? Stop building prisons and fund programs for the mentally ill & drug addicted?
I'd rather put money into Sesame Street than Halliburton. 

The reason we're in such deep debt is George Bush's war on Iraq and everything most people hold dear...Patriot Act? Deregulation of Wall St & the banks... who's kidding who? We're viewed as Imperialists by the rest of the world and George protected the war machine and I dare say Cheney, for one, profited mightily. It's not PBS or NPR that drove us into these huge deficits. Get real!!!

Why do people believe all those lies...  that's America... we're free to believe what we want... and most people can see the truth...

Full day... Showed Sarah two homes for the second time today before my first open house at 207 Toledo Drive, Rio Del Mar and I'll be writing up an offer in the morning.   Tracy actually put out my signs and picked them up... Thank God for T having the energy!!! Steady stream of folks viewing my listing and finally collapsed in a bathtub filled with bubbles... Grammies and bed soon...  white light to Greg tomorrow!!!  Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Birthday Carla!!!  To all a good night....

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Today is Saturday, February 12th

Wow!  Another phenomenal day on the coast... we could see clearly all the way to Monterey!!!  The beaches were packed and it felt like summer was already here...

Sarah & Jeff wanted to see my Westside short sale listing and the newest listings in Rio Del Mar/ Seascape / Seacliff.  What a treat to show off our county!  We spent the afternoon together and we'll be going back tomorrow morning to see two of the homes for a second time; so they can make a decision.  Great choices!!!

I was very happy to come home to my honey and put dinner together for the two of us... T actually ate a whole meal of meat loaf, Brussel sprouts and avocado!!!  thank goodness!

You know it's amazing to me that some feel that government funding NPR and TV is a waste of money.   I believe that the government should continue funding the arts, NPR, TV and discontinue funding war or any despot... just saying... My facebook posting from moveon.org has generated some interesting comments...


Time to turn in...  keep sending that white light... and calling T...

Friday, February 11, 2011

Today is Friday, February 11th

2/11/11 love the numbers!  Another gorgeous day on the coast... Board meeting first thing and on to show homes for several hours...no decision yet but great news that Egypt is free of Mubarek!!!  

Can't believe the Republicans just released their budget proposal, and it zeroes out funding for both NPR and PBS--the worst proposal in more than a decade. Tell Republicans that cutting off funding was unacceptable last time they were in charge, and it's unacceptable now. Sign the petition to save NPR and PBS. www.pol.moveon.org


Tracy's punky but sat on the deck long enough for me to capture these photos...






Thursday, February 10, 2011

Today is Thursday, February 10th

OK I'm waaaay behind... life has gotten in the way.  Been trying to do it all; hoping no balls are gonna drop.  Tracy has been trying very hard but he's had another setback.  Yesterday, we had a day at Stanford fully expecting the T man to start two weeks of chemo...rides lined up; T was anxious to start so, he'd get it over with.  Well, you know best laid plans... T's white cell count is too low to start the treatment protocol so, he's got a week off.  He starts treatment again next Wed.  Meanwhile, T has been very creative (better to concentrate on than the alternative).  He took all the photos and a video and put them on our internet listings.  He's so very talented and I love him so!!!

Two new listings... gorgeous Rio Del Mar classic and fabulous legal Westside duplex now a short sale.  Showing properties;  making offers and squaring away deals... been burning that candle and I'm gonna call it a night.  While I run around working, please friends call him at home... chat him up, cheer him up, please.

Patience and white light to all...

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Today is Sunday, February 6th

Super Bowl Sunday!!!  Tracy is feeling kind of punky today and my leg is throbbing so it's a day of rest for us both.  We watched the duke out between the cheese heads and the Steelers.  Good game and no vested interest in either team winning...

Tomorrow is another jammed packed day...  

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Today is Saturday, February 5th


Today would have been Cenzo's 60th!!!  It's unbelievable that he's gone 15.5 years and that we're married just about that long,  Tracy stepped in to fill the vacuum...when I lost Cenzo, I truly lost a part of myself... he was my best friend up to that last year when he moved back to Ct.  He was losing his fight for life and his grasp on reality and Mom took over caring for him.  It broke her heart when she lost her youngest son.... and she joined he and Daddy, May 26th of the following year.   My brother, Johnny, Shar and their sons and their families carry on the Sorcenelli love of life and we hold our lost loved ones in our hearts forever.

Friday was a great day!  I showed homes to Kim & Vibeke for about 4 hours hobbling along with my cane and enjoying the viewing.  They may have found their new home;  I will speak to them later today.  We wrapped up the Castroville ranch...Barry & Dotti were able to get a screaming financing deal; so we released contingencies and increased their deposit.  Great news finally on Janet & Mike's duplex!  They'll be in contract early next week if this hedge fund actually gets their act together.  We're being countered on the back up position for the La Selva beauty... too bad timing worked against us on that one.  New info for Stan and that just about did my day in... home to pizza and a good red and ICE on my throbbing leg....we watched "Secretariat"  and I absolutely LOVED  it!!!!

We've got a big red doggie who sat with his daddy this morning on our back porch long enough to snap all these photos....

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Today is Thursday, February 3rd

Juggling to keep up and knowing that every hour I spend working is an hour I don't get to spend with T.  Tracy had a hard night but went back to bed 'til noon... I was gone after I made waffles for breakfast and cleaned up.  Broker's tour day and lots of catch up... listing apt., made an offer and on and on....

Tomorrow is another day...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Today is Wednesday, February 2nd

It's amazing what a good night's sleep does for my outlook.  Yesterday all was bleak and I couldn't see beyond the end of my nose.  Today T & I awoke to a gorgeous sunrise and a mission:  Get Tracy back on the treatment track!  We made great time to Stanford but the ITA was jam packed and we had to wait for labs, then we waited for Bruno and then, we ended up waiting an hour for T's hell shot.  But in between, we grabbed lunch from the cafeteria and enjoyed it in the atrium, while being serenaded by a wonderful classical duo (a harpist who also played piano & cello and a cellist who also played a native Norwegian instrument that was played with a bow and looked like a cross between a violin and a guitar).  We are truly blessed.  Stanford holds the key... Bruno acknowledged that T probably will end up in the hospital many times before we're through with treatment and each time they'll throw everything at the infection and the medications can cause all kinds of contraindications.  The difference at Stanford is that because it's a teaching hospital;  there's always someone readily available and on call.  I've decided that each time, we'll make a decision whether we can make it to Stanford quickly enough.  Dominican will definitely be a second choice but a viable second choice.  After all, my T survived.  Thank God!!!  and he's looking pretty cute... photos to come..

T's treatment schedule resumes again next week, starting on Wed., the 9th, 4 days on, 3 days off for the next two weeks.   I'll have the scheduled times tomorrow.  Michael has volunteered for the 10th and that allows me to hold a Broker's open house at my new listing.  With my business picking up so much (thank God!!!) it will cramp my driving time...but it will keep us sane and whole.  So, please drivers, we'll need some help coming up?

Amazing all the work that technology & organization allowed me to accomplish today!!!  I picked up the docs I was missing from my Sunnyvale listing file from the buyer's agent in Los Altos on the way home; Yahoo it closed yesterday!!!  Arranged a Rio Del Mar listing appointment & arranged with the tenant to view it Thursday...consulted with the listing agent & counseled the buyers and ultimately wrote an offer on a La Selva Beach beauty...checked on progress on Janet & Mike's home..the news: the bank wants a copy of the red tag (got to figure out how to get that when the office is only open from 8-9 in the mornings and I'm stretched pretty thin..enlist the buyers?)... started assembling a tour for new buyers on Fri.... long conversation this evening with Stan about how to package a deal for a West Cliff beauty... and that's a snapshot of all the balls I keep juggling... just hope I don't drop anything...got my spirit soaring again... my baby is gonna beat this thing and we're gonna thrive...

oh yeah and I need to write a piece about health care for KUSP broadcast later this month. .. thought about going to an open house for a chorus that was looking for singers this evening... oh yeah... I love to sing... I sang along with a wonderful guitar today when I could remember the words .. it felt so good ... the guitarist was in the ITA while T had his labs done and his choices were classic 70's...soothing music to our ears and our hearts...

My baby is asleep and my eyes are very heavy...  the sunset was obscenely beautiful this evening and we were alive and oh so appreciative...

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Today is Tuesday, February 1st

My poor man had a terrible time last night... lost count on how many times he sweated out  but he never ran a temp!  Thank goodness!  I probably got a couple hours of sleep; so today was tough...missed our sales meeting... left T in bed and went to the office to put my file together and then, thankfully to the chiropractor... she mercifully adjusted my twisted body and wrapped my leg.  I used a cane today and that relieved some of the pressure.... I guess my athletic soul will be yearning for a couple weeks...

Tracy slept the entire day and he's better but weak.  No temp just really tired...

Zeva, The Good Wife and a good night's sleep will heal all ills...