Today is Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013

Wow!  What an amazing trip it's been... sometimes I need to remind myself that it is the journey not the reward...

As we wind into Indian summer, I'm thinking about all the lessons that life brings us.  The balmy nights remind me of growing up on the East coast where we squeezed every last moment from the summer 'cause we knew winter was on it's way...

A high school friend and his wife, David & Donna Cosenza are visiting from Connecticut and it's been a delight to catch up with them.  Jayne, David and I were on the reminiscing trail on Sunday at a delicious BBQ complete with mariachis...  we also toasted Tom's continuing recovery from his Cancer bout...Yay Tom!!!

Gary & Deanna hosted us @ Shakespeare Santa Cruz in the Glen Sat. night.... Taming of the Shrew was well done and marked the end of the season and hopefully, NOT the end of the program.  A sudden announcement this past week that the program was under financed and that the university had decided not to continue their underwriting shocked the community.  We'll see where this goes...

Sometimes I wonder why some lessons are so hard... am I not listening?

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor day weekend now... Get back to work!!!

Ha! Ha!

Today is Wed. August 28th

I know, I know it's been a very long time!!!  All I can say is life got in the way...

As our traditional summer winds into a glorious Indian summer;  the coast is balmy and warm and very interesting...

So, let's play catch up, shall we?

Last time I wrote we had just done the Sereno Texas Hold'em Relay for Life.  Well, since then, we've participated in 2 more Relays that I can remember:  Drumming out Cancer in Santa Clara

 and the Cancer Avengers at Cabrillo College in Aptos.  We've also, contributed to a few more but haven't been able to participate.  The Relays are amazing triumphs of will and courage and I feel so lucky to be able to stand up and stare this cancer beast in the face and damn it all to hell....

Tracy and I go to Stanford today for his 6 week check up and as always the case;  I'm anxious and a little scared cause this time around he's lost some weight and had lots of cramping in his legs and hands.  He says he's lost the weight intentionally and I know it gives him control but I don't like it.  There I've said it...  

T in Betsy's studio 6/2013

Lots of amazing times with friends and family- dinners and game nights and a special July trip to Paso Robles for the fair and birthday celebrations that Johnny & Shar came into town for.

I've been working pretty hard and had some wonderful escrows with truly great folks.  259 Dry Creek Rd and 236 Meadow Rd. with Carly and Bruce were fun, stressful and enlightening as we evolved into friendship...  Janet & Tom found a gorgeous Bonny Doon home in the sun and 404 Arbolado Dr. in La Selva Beach closes today.  Wow!!!   Gary & Sally are in contract on a Seacliff beauty and I have a couple acres of development potential listed in Live Oak...  yahoo!

I finally sat down and vented and here's that 90 second rant that was broadcast on KUSP Aug. 14th:

The saddest point in the last few months... we lost Betsy last week.  May she rest in eternal peace

Anyway, I'm back and ready to write again.

Today is Sunday, May 19th

I've been enjoying myself thoroughly the last week or so... Living on the coast certainly has it's advantages.  Our walks are such an amazing ritual at this point and it's hard to even think about not seeing and feeling the surf each morning...even walked in the drizzle on Thurs. Speaking of which..Thurs  was a jammed packed day... Between our walk and Broker's Tour, we kept up pace to see about 25 homes..  but then, home to pick up my personal hero, Tracy, cancer survivor and take him to the Relay for Life Texas Hold 'em Tournament at our broker's home in Monte Sereno to play poker... We raised over $7000 and had a blast doing it.!!!  What a fun evening!!  So glad to give back even tho' we both lost...  I lasted through two breaks anyway...

Texas Hold'em Relay for Life 

Friday was another fabulous day where I walked, played with clay (almost done with my surfer gal) and showed a very interesting home on Moon Valley Ranch Road and then, took a trip to Tuscany..
Linda and Jim shared dinner with us and we totally enjoyed being with them!!!

Open house today at 404 Arbolado Drive in La Selva Beach!!!  Another gorgeous day at the beach!!!

Today is May 1st

Well, I find myself awake at 3:00 in the morning so what do I do?  Update a marketing analysis for a home in Saratoga, clean up my email and watch a video online.  I'm a happy gal but I sure wish I could go back to sleep.... maybe I should try?

The days have been warm with a breeze on the coast and I'm enjoying our lives unfolding...

Yesterday was a phenomenal day!!!  T, Riley & I proceeded to the beach early... about 7:30 instead of our usual 8 AM.  The air was warm and soft, almost caressing as we followed the prancing Riley boy down towards Seascape... greeting our beach buddies, feeding treats to their doggies.  It's amazing to be able to start our day that way.

Upon our return, we stopped to say hi to our neighbor and then, were invited in to see another neighbor's home on Toledo and then, watered some potted plants at 207 Toledo ( sale closing in a couple weeks).  Delivered some mail and greeted Linda and then, finally home to coffee, protein drink and the paper on the back deck.  Imagine that?  I actually read the paper the day it was delivered!

Work beckoned and I enjoyed checking in with several clients and catching up on paperwork.  Grabbed a light lunch and off to an inspection at 84 Robak and then, to show several homes to a great Cupertino couple.

Upon my return, Tracy & Riley were outside and we decided that dinner out would be fun so, T came along when we stopped at 1220 Day Valley Trails to deliver my closing gifts.  What a wonderful gift to be a part of my clients' happiness in their new home!!!  They are positively beaming!!!  We are blessed!!

Then, we found ourselves at Cafe Sparrow enjoying a surf & turf and a risotto and a wonderful Barbera from Fiddletown Cellars.

That and the last half of NCIS and a couple more shows and sleep beckoned...

Maybe it will again?

Today is Saturday, July 28th

When you're ready to sell again,  not just list your home; consider the fact that I'll really market your home on both sides of the hill & make sure that it's open & advertised every weekend until it sells.  I advertise on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, MLS Listings, YouTube & Sereno for maximum exposure in addition to print advertising in the Sentinel & the Mercury News. I just sold 200 Sand St. Rio Del Mar in 8 days, 1656 Martin Ave, the Rose Garden in 10 days, a Milpitas listing in 4 days all within the last month. Homes are selling when they're given the right advertising & outreach. I also always do a video with original jazz music.   Your home will sell given the right amount of exposure.  I'd like the chance to try.  This is my neighborhood. I know how to sell it & I'd like the opportunity to  help you get it done. We just returned from a few glorious days in Paso to celebrate my birthday & Tracy.  Our 2nd trip in 3 years. We have survived the most horrible 24 months of our lives  but T is fighting & thriving even thru all the hellacious treatment & setbacks. Our art class - playing with clay, family & friends & walks on the beach sustain us; my business keeps my brain otherwise occupied & happy & staves off senior moments of senility.  Hee hee

Monday, April 29th

I have to say this has been an unbelievable month!!!  I just vented about the ridiculous nature of things seemingly beyond our control BUT I am also very thankful for a month of fabulous sights, sounds and business.  I'm intensely happy with life as it unfolds.

I sold 444 Whispering Pines #95 and closed it within 2 weeks;  sold 279 Aptos Beach Pines and represented those same sellers when they purchased 1220 Day Valley Trails and closed contiguously ...sold 207 Toledo Drive in 10 days and it'll close in a few weeks... now representing buyers on 1213 Andrew Lane and 84 Robak Drive and having fun with my new listing at 404 Arbolado Drive in La Selva Beach...  I've been referred to several new clients and just generally very happily busy figuring out how to solve the puzzles.  Oh yah!

On top of that,  we've heard some great music this month at Kuumbwa and the Rio theatre... Pharaoh Sanders and the Ray Charles tribute band featuring Tony Lindsay of Santana fame and Spang a Lang

Tony Lindsay & me

I knew Tony when I was single cause my hair stylist dated him and we all loved to dance to his music... almost 20 years ago... it was a blast hearing him again...  gotta go dancin' again soon... and last BUT definitely not least the Blue Sky Riders with Kenny Loggins... I can't get their music out of my head!!!

We also were treated to a visit by dear Connecticut friends, Patti Mulligan Githmark and Paul and we toured Monterey with our mates.  So great to see them again!!
The Beta Phi Beta Babes did Pebble Beach...

Anne Marie, Patti & Jayne

Anne Marie, Paul, Patty, Tracy, Jayne & Lou

Amazing sighting on our Rio Del Mar beach... 3 whales!!! If I could figure out how to add a movie I'd show you but I felt sooo blessed to see the huge fins and the outline of these humungous creatures... We've sighted them twice this week including yesterday... they are so close to shore in our little piece of the world and with that I'm going to bed....

Sunday, April 28th

Here's a question I'm grappling with...  Why didn't we all choose to be politicians?  They are soo far above the rules that you and I play by.  Did you hear that our elected very quietly repealed the law that makes it illegal for them to benefit from insider trading?  If you or I used insider knowledge; we'd be prosecuted and end up in jail like Martha Stewart. How about the fact that the sequester had hampered air travel and the elected wanted to go home to their constituencies from DC and suddenly, within a week they drafted and passed legislation to get themselves home without delay.

How about the fact that my medical insurance premiums have gone up by 28% in just over a year and yet, had I been elected to federal office;  I'd have free medical for life... even if only elected to one term?  Why aren't the elected eligible for social security instead of their compensation for life with cost of living increases?  Why aren't those elected perks referred to as entitlements as well?

I am disgusted and frustrated that the media hasn't focussed on any of these issues and that we are constantly being ignored or our wishes denied.  90% of the people want gun control and the Senate can't get a bill passed.  Spineless bought and paid for politics at its best!!!  I'm sick of all of it...are you?  Now what do we do about it?