HOT TOPICS
THE SECRET TO MY SUCCESS IS THAT I SPECIALIZE IN NICE PEOPLE.

HOT TOPICS  7-24-10

Have you noticed that there are people in life, who, when you just think of them, put a smile on your heart!

THE REAL ESTATE LIFE.  Until you do this work, you cannot understand the innate chaos, jumping from one client to the next call to the next project to the next walk in, to the next concern, and seldom being able to finish any conversation or piece of work without having to jump into another, hoping to get just some of these fully completed by the end of the day.  And when the brain gets dull or playful, shuffling all these brief moments of attention can bring hilarious results.  Like the day I met a client to show a home that had JUST come on and that I had not seen.  We parked and greeted each other, then I led her to the front door of a pretty little Spanish on a cul de sac.  I knocked on the door and two ladies inside called out, “come in”.  We did.  I introduced myself, automatically pointing to my Realtor badge, and said I would like to show my client the home.  The occupants hesitated just a split second then welcomed us.  Only as I started to walk around did I realize there was something not quite right.  I walked back to the owners and said, “Excuse me, but I’m not sure…”  And they said, very kindly, that the house for sale was the one next door.  They thought perhaps I wanted to show theirs for neighborhood information.  Can you imagine how nice they were!?  And how competent my client must have thought I was?  We didn’t buy the house next door, but I am friends today with the two wonderful ladies who live next door!

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Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future!

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CLEANING YOUR SPACE, CAN MEAN FREEING YOUR MIND.  

One great source of relief can be taking just one step.  Into your often lengthy plans for the day, put just one thing, one small task you have been procrast-inating, and get it done.  Last week I organized the medicine drawer in our bathroom.  Silly, but I felt joyous and proud of myself for several days!  Determine you will attack that annoying squeak in the floorboards or the door hinge and enjoy the repeated joy of silence and accomplishment.  Take a few minutes to make your sweetie or child their favorite something that you haven’t done for a long time.  Oh my, attack the fence hole where you have piled “temporary” bricks to keep Spot at home.  Pick up the phone and make the call that has had you feeling guilty for way too long.  Just ONE THING can make a huge difference!

“Our life is frittered away by detail. . . simplify, simplify.”  Henry David Thoreau.

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IS IT CRAZY IF IT WORKS?!  A trusted source, whom I do not wish to embarrass by naming, says that this absolutely is the way to keep flies and other bugs away.  Take a ziplock baggie, fill it half way with water and 4-6 pennies, zip it shut and tack or tie it up on a wall or window in the area you want to protect.  Flies and wasps and multi-legged/winged critters will go elsewhere.  I dunno.  It just works and being crazy can be fun!

Someone said:  Regarding the science behind zip log bags of water? My research found that the millions of molecules of water presents its own prism effect and given that flies have a lot of eyes, to them it's like a zillion disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. When you figure that flies are prey for many other bugs, animals, birds, etc., they simply won't take the risk of being around that much perceived action. I moved to a rural area and thought these "hillbillies" were just yanking my city boy chain but I tried it and it worked immediately! We went from hundreds of flies to seeing the occasional one, but he didn't hang around long.

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TIP:  Define the problem you are having, and you are more than halfway to the solution!  After you think of the obvious solution, keep thinking.  Don’t discard the question.  Your creative thinking kicks I after idea number 7.

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MISSION HILLS REAL ESTATE. 

LISTINGS:  This morning we have 213 active listings of   single family homes, condominiums and row homes in 92103.  112 of these, slightly more than half, are condominiums.  79 of the 101 active single family houses are in Mission Hills.

CONTINGENT (short sale waiting for bank approval) and PENDING:   this morning there are 81 contingent and pending of all property types, 33 of which are single family homes/row homes.  That would be 38% of all the properties and 29% of single family homes/row homes.  Of those in Mission Hills, 25 are contingent or pending which would be 32% of the number of actives. 

SALES:  In the past 3 months there were 92 sales of homes, row homes and condo-miniums in 92103.  29 of these were single family homes/row homes, 22 of these were in Mission Hils.

GENERAL STATS:  Average days on the market is 43 (Mission Hills single family) to 80 (all).  High days on the market is 319 for Mission Hills, 787 for all.  Average Sales price to listing price is 103%.  Yes!  Those homes that are selling are those that are perfect.  Homes with ANY considerations are getting thought over until the buyer forgets his emotional ties.  And perfect often gets multiple offers.  Finally, price per square foot, which is always much higher in smaller homes and lower in larger homes is an AVERAGE of $409 for all property types in 92103 the past 3 months, an average of $471.93 for single family homes and row homes in 92103 the past 3 months, and an average of $481 in single family homes and row homes in Mission Hills the past 3 months.  Strange little market we have here. 

A row home in San Diego, CA., is defined as a single family home with almost 0 space between the units on a smaller than typical lot, generally 3 stories or more like what we call a “townhome” here in SoCal.  As opposed to a condominium of townhouses, row homes do not have common walls and do not have Home Owner Association fees.  Occasionally they have small private yards.  Words in real estate can have different meanings AND be misused, so if it is important, always verify! 

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SAVE THE DATE!  AUGUST 8, IS HILLCREST CITYFEST! 

In just two weeks, so plan ahead.  It is generally very hot, and you will want water and cool clothes, a big swag bag for the things you buy or get for free, and comfortable shoes.  This huge celebration includes music, arts, crafts, food and generally attracts over 150,000 people, baby carriages and dogs and even cats on leashes.  Hillcrest is a celebration of people sharing space and ideas, and City Fest is a celebration of that spirit!  12 noon to 8pm.  Come early and find parking!

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BOOKS TO READ:  Yup, my pile of books to read look just like that picture, and sometimes I am several years behind.  I like fiction if it is good, biographies, business books, some best sellers are worth the time others not so much, and I have just finished several I recommend:

WHAT REALLY WORKS, William Joyce, Nitin Nohria, and Bruce Roberson:  Their theory is that there are 4 primary and 4 secondary management practices that lead to success.  The primary are all required and 2 of the secondary are needed to get to that success point.  The primaries are: 1) sharply defined strategy (Walmart is price!).  2) flawless execution (how Nordstrom became a household name).  3) Per-formance oriented culture with high standards and consistency within the work population, valuing every employee (something everyone seems to be striving for these days but few succeed). 4)  Structure must be simple and flexible.  Secondary practices are: 1) Talent – attracting and involving and appreciating.  2) Leadership, which just like sports and education, always shows when it exists at the top.  3) Innovation, which today is a short term asset, since imitation is the quickest form of flattery.  And 4) Mergers and Partnerships.  The most interesting to me was developing a productive culture.  Inspiration, rewarding achievement but always raising the bar, making the workplace challenging and fun, sustaining clear company values to avoid political and personal differences. 

GENERATING BUY-IN,  Mark S. Walton.  Every person from 2 to 102 spends part of every day convincing someone.  Asking them to “buy in” to our point of view.  Looking for understanding, commitment and action.  Walton points out that people think in pictures and stories, not statistics and information, so that storytellers are always among the most successful. You pick your message and then you build a story to tell it.  He tells about famed CEO of GE Corp, Jack Welch, who took over when the company was dying, massive layoffs, absolutely no morale and unexciting products.  Welch made his story around 3 key messages: GE is a place where ideas win.  GE is where people flourish and grow.  GE perpetuates an excitement at work that transfers to people’s whole lives.  And you saw during his 20 years at the top that the stock price climbed 2,876%.

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ENJOY THE WEEK! 

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HOT TOPICS   7/17/10

 Any day on this side of the flower bed is a good day!

CONFESSIONS OF AN OBSERVER FARMER

I confess.  When I was a little kid and my mother loved to garden, all I saw was dirt and bugs and worms.  I never took to the soil or sweating in the sun.  But recently, I was convinced by late night tv to buy one of those “Topsy Turvy” tomato planting devices, thinking that those hideous little green worms couldn’t possibly jump up onto the plants so far above the ground. 

I phoned in my order and a week later received this enormous box.  Excited, I ripped open the package to find that my $19.95 bought me two 8-inch accordion cylinders, 2 foam discs with holes in the middle to keep the plants from falling through when they were hung, and some wire to hang the finished “garden”.  No tomatoes, no seeds, no

seedlings, no dirt, no fertilizer, scant instructions.  Not to be daunted, I dashed in my fuzzy slippers to Mission Hills Nursery, where I was told they had 6 packs of tomato seedlings.  “I only want two,” I said.  Very courteously, they walked to me another table and offered two of the plants that they said grow the best in San Diego.  I also bought a huge bag of planting soil WITH fertilizer, and more fertilizer for after a few weeks to rejuvenate the proliferating plants. 
Back home I dug through stashes of storage and located my bent trowel and a bucket, filled the bucket with soil and water, stirred it to make damp bed for the tomatos, and squeezed the roots of the tomato plant into the foamed cylinder hole.  Holding the cylinder with one hand to keep the plants off the ground, and troweling damp dirt with the other hand, heavier and heavier, I finally completed one entire planting.  Exhausted as I was with my two hours of farming effort, I was sure plant A would be happier with company, so I duplicated my efforts and completed the habitat for plant B.  And my husband hung them where, as the directions suggested, they would get good sun.  Let’s not even talk about the two weeks of non-sun that followed, which I am certain were all my fault!  Today I have about 12 golf-ball sized green fruits all told.  And trust me, I hope these little puppies will turn out to be the BEST $5 apiece tomatoes ever grown, because today Meredith French told me tomato worms don’t come from the ground but from moths, and I might get them anyway. 

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COSTS NOW AND THEN

New Home	1970	1980	1990	2000	As of March 2010
Avg. Household Income	$9,400	$19,500	$28,960	$40,343	$50,303  (2008)
New Car	$3,450	$7,200	$16,950	$24,750	$28,400
Gallon of Gas	$.36/gal	$1.19/gal	$1.34/gal	$1.26/gal	$2.86/gal
Postage Stamp	$.06	$.15	$.25	$.33	$.44
Avg. Movie Ticket	$2.00	$2.69	$4.22	$5.39	$7.50

Sources: ThePeopleHistory.com, Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Postal Service, National Assn. of Theater Owners, GasBuddy.com.

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HOMEBUYER TRENDS

CRS (Certified Residential Specialists organization), the PhD group of Realtors, reports that surveys show that a majority of single adults, contrary to conventional wisdom, are choosing to live in the suburbs, and their main motive-tion is that it is more cost effective than renting. What’s more, 68% of single homeowners purchased with practicality at the top of their agenda, buying below  heir price range rather than choosing to buy the most expensive home they could afford. 

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TIRED OF BEING STRESSED?  Some people are getting away from their constant pressure by creating a calming, serene retreat right in their home, cheap, no travel time, and just the way YOU like it.  To meet this purpose, the “sanctuary” has to : ●have a different feel than the rest of the house, completely.  ●be separate, even if just behind a screen or curtain.  ●include NO technology, including phones, computers, televisions.  ●be a soothing color, pale blues and grees highly recommended.  ●have a big comfy seating or reclining piece, with a table just big enough to hold an icy drink or steaming mug of tea, perhaps a plate of food, and a lamp (not overhead lighting).  ●family or special photos to surround you with love and happiness.  ●candles can be nice in scents like lavender, sandalwood or sage, which calm body and spirit.  ●and finally, NO stuff, NO clutter, NO piles or lists. 

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JULY IS NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH. More ice cream is sold on Sunday than on any other day.                   

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ENERGY CUES:  ●A refrigerator with a freezer On top uses 10-25% LESS energy than a side-by-side or bottom freezer !   ●Plugging appliances into a power strip rather than directly into an outlet can save the up to 15 watts of electricity sucked up by the appliances, even if they are shut off.

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THE ECONOMY IS SO BAD THAT…

• CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.

• Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 congressmen.

• I bought a toaster and got a free bank.

• Motel Six turns the lights off.

• A picture is now worth only 200 words.

• They rename Wall Street “Wal-Mart Street”.

I got so depressed last night thinking about the Economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Hotline.  I was connected to a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck! 

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HARD TO GET AWAY FROM YOUR BUSINESS FOR A VACATION? 

Trust me, I understand.  Some thoughts that may help.

1. Plan ahead. Coordinate your vacation time with your co-workers, team and other executive staff to ensure that things run smoothly while you're out.

2. Designate your main point of contact and give them a detailed account of all your projects and work commitments along with your emergency contact information.

3. Try to leave the majority of your work-related hardware at home.

4. Inform your key accounts, vendors and clients when and how long you'll be out of the office.

5. If you have a lot of projects that will need attention while you're out, consider distributing your projects among your co-workers or team, perhaps on a trade off for their vacations, or hiring a temporary pro. There are MANY good pros out of work.

6. If you can't resist the temptation to check in, set up specific times or days you will be checking messages.

7. Leave your mobile devices in your room so you can concentrate on family and friends and not be tempted to check in other than those specific times.

8. If you receive urgent voicemails or emails while you're out, ask your main point of contact to troubleshoot the issue.

9. Remember, your health is important, and taking a vacation may be all the help you need.

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ART EVENT

Bard Hall Art Guild, "Art of Pride", Show and Reception 6:30-8 p.m.  Tuesday, July 20, 2010  Light Refreshments Featuring the works of eight local artists: Thomas Belloff, Roger Dedrickson, Ken Floyd, John Keasler, Charles Keil, Howard Kubicki, Jack Wade, Scott Wright. 

Bard Hall Gallery,  First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, 4190 Front Street, San Diego, California - Hillcrest, across from UCSD Medical Center The third Tuesday receptions are followed by an artists roundtable open to the
public.   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uuartguild/

 

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HOT TOPICS 7/10/10

We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads.   That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

ONE THING A WEEK - FINAL

CAR EMERGENCY KIT:

Review Emergency Supplies and Grab-N-Go Above and plan your trunk! 

MORE INFORMATION:

TO PURIFY WATER:  BOIL FOR 1 FULL MINUTE or ADD ¼ TSP BLEACH/GAL. WATER, MIX AND LET STAND FOR 30 MINUTES, or WATER PURIFICATION TABLETS. 

DIAL 2-1-1- for shelter information
www.earthquakesolutions.com – all kinds of helpful products
sandiegocounty.ca.gov/oes – website for County for all kinds of helpful info, resources. 
San Diego County – 1600 Pacific Highway, SD 92101, 619-531-5555, pick up published help
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department  - Barbara Ayers, CERT Program Manager 619-533-3075 
AARP, Insurance companies, City/San Diego and many others have free information, and of course there is the internet if you look BEFORE the emergency.  The Red Cross on-line store sells emergency kits at www.redcross.org.  FEMA has a 204-page book you can download from www.fema.gov/areyouready or order at 800-480-2520.  The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security has a brochure “Preparing Makes Sense, Get Ready Now, which includes worksheets and a wallet card, you can download at www.ready.gov or order from 800-be-ready.

POLICE SECURITY INSPECTIONS

All San Diego residents and businesses may call the police department and make an appointment for an officer to inspect your home or business and make recommendations for improving your security.  I had it done and was amazed at even the obvious things I had not thought of.  Call 619-531-2000.

SDG&E adds a distinctive odor to their natural gas, so you can detect leaks more easily.  If you smell gas:  ● Get everyone out of the house immediately ● Call SDG&E at 1-800-611-SDGE (7343) ● If you can’t reach SDG&E, call the fire department  ● Don’t light a match or a cigarette, turn any lights off or on, use any phone in your house!

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AS WE SET ABOUT OUR SUMMER VACATIONS:

●  Call hotels directly to get the best rate, last room.  Sometimes if they are full you can get in by talking directly to manager, especially if you are a frequent guest.   ●  Pack your antiseptic wipes and use them on phones, tv remotes,handles.  Remember sheets and towels are changed after each check out, but not necessarily bedspreads and blankets!  ●  If you are staying for several days, tipping the housekeeper each day rather than at the end will ensure your good treatment throughout the stay, not just after you leave.  ●  Travel insurance, easy to purchase when you book your trip, can cover trip delays and cancellation, food and lodging for a trip delayed more than 6 hours, loss of belongings.  Check it out.  ●  Pack a solar charger in case power goes out wherever you are, or camping!   ●  Store your critical information – passport/driver’s license, selected credit cards, medical data, contacts -- somewhere smart!   ●  Enjoy the trip.  Consider those things that happen part of the adventure.  Making lemonade can change the entire result of your vacation! 

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MAKING BUYING A HOME A LITTLE EASIER.                                                             

Even though prices are down and the government is “stimulating” us, it is not easier buying a home today. The first thing you need is a good attitude.  Probably when you met your spouse or partner, found your perfect job, created your “bucket list”, it was done with some testing and revision along the way.  Buying a home is not just discovery on the outside, but also on the inside, learning about things that are important to you that you might not have thought of or are different from last time.  Consider yourself on a road to something that will be wonderful and worth it when you are done, and plan to enjoy the journey.  Your brain will be more open to learning and smart thinking.  2.  Start with a great lender.  This is annoying and a lot of work, so don’t just go to Joe the corner Guy.  Find a go-getter who will take care of YOU, and gets things done.  Tell him you are going to BUY, not look, and ask him or her to get your paperwork COMPLETE, so their will be no surprises as you travel this arduous process.  You can lose a good deal if your loan falters, and you can have a better chance of getting a great deal if your financing ducks are all lined up!  3.  You also need a great Realtor.  That is a person who is intimately familiar with the neighborhood(s) you prefer (can make all the difference in negotiating and protecting you!), who is absolutely committed to earning your future gratitude and referrals by orchestrating your very best experience and results, and who is full of credible advice and counsel you can see making a difference.  I am happy to provide referrals to these people anywhere you are looking.  If someone else offers a referral, question them diligently about what they liked and didn’t about the agent they are referring.  “Cousin” is not enough reason.  “Discount” is not enough reason.  You cut a corner here, you may pay more there! 

A buyer is a pretty good position to have in this real estate market.  People all over are looking for you. So play it smart and breathe deeply and enjoy making your best moves. 

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I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing…

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WE ARE CALIFORNIANS, WE KNOW ALL ABOUT“MANIFESTING” AND “CREATING OUR VISIONS”.

Some tools that may help you stay focused…I especially love the last one!                                        

Scrapbooks and Vision Boards
Start vision from self-image as divine and everything is possible.
3x5 notes to remind and focus
Bullet points
Act as if
Keep beliefs in alignment with dreams
Self-talk
Intellectualize – enumerate all reasons on my behalf
Make believe
Tune into the Universe – listen
Goal for the Day
Nothing kills ideas faster than sitting on them.  Just start.
See with new ideas
Commitment
Inspiration:  rewards, big picture
Stop stressing
Recognize life as a spiritual game
Opportunity knocks every day.
Take action, stop watching
Perfect is “–ing”   not “–ed”  !

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Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.

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HOT TOPICS  7/2/10

20 OF THE UNITS AT 1 MISSION  ARE SOLD! AND OTHER MISSION HILLS ACTIVITY THIS PAST WEEK WAS:

SUMMER CHILD SAFETY IDEA. 

Put your cell phone number phone number on the inside of a rubber bracelet on your child, just in case you get separated.  He and you will feel safer. 

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IF YOU ARE A SHORT SALE SELLER, YOU NEED A STRATEGY, a plan, to become a buyer again as soon as possible.  This may involve your choosing to do a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which will ●eliminate credit card debt, ●eliminate your second mortgage debt, ●eliminate some tax issues, ●eliminate collections.  You must file the bankruptcy before you close the short sale.  It takes 100 days to do a Chapter 7, and after the Bankruptcy, your credit score will rise.  All your negative information will have been erased, and you will free up capital to begin saving.  Two years from the completion of your bankruptcy you may qualify again to be a buyer.  If you need professional help, a specialist in hardship lending is James Carmody, Benchmark Mortgage, 858-571-0271. You can hear him on the radio, 1170 AM from 6-7pm evenings.  You will hear that he is not just one of “those guys”  He works with Mr. Credit, a professional credit repair advisor firm, and McDonald Legal Group, a proven legal team, to guide you through the process.  Bankruptcy seems like a shameful step, but truth is, most people today are not at fault, and it is as common as a summer flu. 

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HOTELS AND KIDS.  Breakfast can be a toll and a Toil.  Pack some instant oatmeal envelopes, and even a hotel without a microwave will have a coffeepot and cup and spoon and sugar.  AND  a pop up tent, “blankie”, a few favorite stuffed animals, can give your son or daughter his own “room” within your room!

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INFLUENCES ON INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE IN CALIFORNIA.

A “1031 Exchange” is a vehicle long used by savvy real estate investors to DEFER the payment of capital gains taxes on the sale of investment properties, so that the money they would pay to Uncle Sam can stay in the cash

pool to enable them to have a greater cash down payment to move up to a larger investment.  A regular sale of an investment property would require the owner to pay 15% long term capital gains.  1031 Exchanges can NOT be used for a seller who purchases to upgrade and flip.  This kind of transaction classifies the seller as a “dealer”.  Dealers may also not take depreciation and may not take tax benefits from an installment sale.  The intention of the owner in a transaction to qualify for a 1031 must be to “hold the property” for investment.  The IRS does not specify a specific holding period, but hints around at 2 years, and most CPA’s recommend to their clients a period of 1 year + 1 day up to 2 years (two tax filing years).   It is possible to be BOTH an investor and a dealer at the same time, but the wise owner would hold his properties in 2 separate entities, one for the dealer properties and one for the investment properties. 

Investment landlords who do not live in California are now subject to a Franchise Tax Board withholding of 7% of the rents received, due quarterly.  

There is also a bill pending in the state Senate, a really good bill except for one poison bullet, that will prevent out of state property investors from deferring their state taxes on California property long term gains, costing them 9.55% from the sale proceeds at the time of sale.  Effectively this will deter out of state investors from looking at California property and reduce our pool of buyer, ergo reducing our prices. 

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PACK YOUR CARRY-ON IN A SOFT-SIDED COOLER

And you have a cooler to use in the hotel, in a rental car for driving times, at the beach or wherever.  And it is usually easier to stow. 

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IF YOU READ THE NEWSPAPER,  you know that sales across the nation plummeted.  One report said:  According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), pending home sales fell a whopping 30% in May. Their index, which measures signed sales contracts but not closed sales, plunged to 77.6 from 110.9 in April. It's even off 15.9% from a year ago when the nation was barely emerging from the recession.

"The pending home sales report is a disaster," said Mike Larson, a real estate analyst for Weiss Research. "Sales fell off a cliff after the tax credit expired. It's the biggest monthly decline ever and the index is at its lowest level since NAR began tracking it in 2001."

Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist downplayed the damage a bit. According to him, customers rushed into deals to claim the credit, borrowing from May sales. Once the economic recovery comes into full swing, housing markets will heat up.   

"If jobs come back as expected, the pace of home sales should pick up later this year," said Yun, "and reach a sustainable level of activity given very favorable affordability conditions."

Those conditions include much lower home prices and extremely favorable mortgage interest rates. The question is when -- or if -- the job market will ever bounce back.

"We're not creating jobs," said Larson. "The housing problems now are being driven by broad economic problems."

This is all parallel to what we are seeing locally.  Buyers are fewer.  They recognize good values, they are negotiating reasonably, but “they” are the very few with strong reasons to move not wait and see.  I have advised my clients that I don’t see renting and waiting for a recovery is a short term solution, because I don’t see enough emphasis being put on entrepreneurship, supporting business and eliminating business obstacles, which would all drive jobs.  This may even be a better time than we will see if buyer confidence declines further and the government stops supporting low interest rates. 

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CONDOMINIUMS ARE SMART TO QUALIFY FOR FHA APPROVAL. 

It will cost $1000 - $1500.  It will take 3-6 Months.  It will greatly enlarge the pool of buyers able to buy, (and enlarged pool of buyers supports better pricing!)  since FHA loans now go up to $793,750 and require only a 3.5% down payment (compared to the 10-20% on conventional loans), and carry a very competitive interest rate, AND are assumable!   FHA has NO relation to Section 8 even though each is a department of HUD.  If you condominium complex is not FHA approved, you may want to ask your board to look into it.

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HOT TOPICS 6/26/10

Long term capital gains will move up from 15% to 20% on January 1, 2011.  That is 6 months from now.  Plan ahead.

PLANNING IMPROVEMENTS AT HOME?  Don’t forget to let Uncle Sam supplement your funds.  If during this year you do things like windows, doors, water heaters, insulation, heating and air, you can qualify for a CREDIT (better than deduction) of 30% of your costs for materials (not labor) up to $1500.  Solar panels will get you the 30% credit with no cap!  And the government is looking at a lot more ideas.  You can keep up to date by referencing www.energystar.gov.

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FREE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT SERVICE!!

Even if you are NOT the person who called me about your neighbor’s always barking dogs, or their tree that is damaging your patio, you will love this service.  It is professional mediators who will take your problem, community issues, parent-teenager issues  (wonderful story about how the daughter of a divorced couple wanted to stay with her step-father when the mother died, and the father was devastated until the mediator discovered the daughter’s driver was about seeing her friends, and they were able to find a way to do that and now the relationship between daughter and father is better than ever!).  The organization is NCRC – National Conflict Resolution Center – and they offer FREE training for people who want to learn to do better in their community or workplace, free.  Since life IS a negotiation, I think this is a very valuable service.  The County is a major funder of this organization, realizing that these services keep people out of the small claims courts.  You may get information on the training from Bridget at blambert@ncrconline.com, or request help from the NCRC at 619-238-2400.  They are located at 625 Broadway #1221, Downtown, and also have offices in East County, South Bay and North County. 

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SUMMER EMPLOYEES who are classified as independent contractors rather than employees may not have taxes withheld, and may find themselves responsible at tax time for paying income taxes AND Social Security and Medicare taxes.  They are usually exempt from benefits.  If you are a student and received a refund of all your withheld taxes for 2009, you may claim “exempt” on your W-4 form when hired.  This will increase your paycheck and you may avoid filing a federal tax return.  The employer should still withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes.                     

MORE TAX TIPS:  If you are getting married, report any name changes to the Social Security Administration, and report any changes of address to the Post Office, your employment and the IRS.  You may want to have the withholding changed on your payroll calculation.

Driving during an official charitable service may earn you $.14/mile for your auto expense if you keep good records.

Summer Day camps may be deductable as child care expense under the Child and Dependent Care Credit. 

THANK YOU JAMES D. MILLER, CPA, FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION. 

Now that every dollar is more important, having a good financial expert at your fingertips is very important, and planning a good strategy and timing is essential to your best results.  If you don’t have such experts, I would be happy to make recommendations to people you can absolutely trust.

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PLAN YOUR 4^TH OF JULY IN MISSION HILLS WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AT PIONEER PARK!

A week from Sunday we all celebrate the founding of our nation, and we of Mission Hills, our friends and family, will gather to do so at Pioneer Park next to Grant School on Washington Place.  There is a full schedule of fun.

At 10:30 everyone is invited to come on foot or on bike in costume with pets and partners all decorated for the holiday to the entrance to the park for the annual parade.  It will go north up to Fort Stockton, and west along to Sunset, across St. James to Fort Stockton again, back East to West Lewis Street, and then south on Randolph back to the Park.  Prices for best costume and most patriotic dog (sponsored by Howlistic) will be awarded.  At 11:30 kids games including Balloon Stomp, Hula Hoop and Freeze Dancing will be held with prizes for the winners.  From 12-2 your invited to enjoy your own picnic and the music of our first summer band concert (this one by Spectrum), and free cake for all compliments of Albertson’s.  A great day to enjoy our natural weather gift, your friends and neighbors, and the amazing gift of being an American!  Thank you to Chairman Steve Shushan, an amazing guy in everything he offers to do, and sponsors U.S. Bank (thank you, Manager and resident Lucy Jackson), Phil’s BBQ (long time favorite of Mission Hills), and the Presidio Sentinel which is actually Patty Brooks, who also manages all the summer concerts, is a founder and Treasurer of the Mission Hills Town Council, and has been at the forefront of so many community benefits. 

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FIREWORKS JULY 4^TH.  

There will be fireworks in the evening next Sunday on Glorietta Bay in Coronado, at Sea World, on Shelter Island and Harbor Island, at The Embarcadero, and at Seaport Village. Pick your place, get parking (probably the hardest part), and enjoy the evening! 

THE PADRES ARE HAVING THEIR FIREWORKS ON FRIDAY NIGHT, JULY 2 !!!  

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If you treat people well, they will treat you well! 

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The new HILLQUEST URBAN GUIDE IS OUT!  And if you want some quick fun reading about the people and places in our urban hub communities, pick up a copy (any savvy purveyor, or my office) and enjoy.  Stories about the people, their people, their ideas and their homes, places, activities and histories are all there, along with a lot of things to do and places to see.  You can also call Ann and Nancy at 260-1929 for location, or go to their FABULOUS WEBSITE (!!) (truly!) at Hillquest.com, (which has a lot MORE information) .  If you do business in their Hood, you won’t want to be left out of their next annual edition. 

Thanks again, Ladies!  It is fabulous! 

EASY SUMMER DESSERT THE KIDS CAN DO! 

Whip up a pint of heavy cream with a dot of sugar and a dash of vanilla until it is thick and will peak.  Then layer it between the Famous Chocolate Wafers (about 1/4” on each cookie), then push the layers snuggly together, and line it up on a dish.  Refrigerate for at least 5 hours, then cut and serve, you will all think you are in heaven! 

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HOT TOPICS  6/19/10

BBQ SATURDAYS AT MISSION HILLS WINE CELLAR + DELI!  Last week was a trial run, no advertising or notice, and they ran out of food way early!  If you want a quick wonderful lunch, note the table in front of Sam and Susan’s store (where you can pick up soft drinks or beers to have with) and come on by.  He says he will be here weekly from now on.

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IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY.  An interesting paradox in this economic trough that appears to be affecting everyone, is the improvement it seems to to be creating in the community.  And trust me, I don’t mean the mess in the streets.  Can someone tell me why our impoverished City government has chosen to spend its rare dollars NOW on redoing every intersection curb at this time?  Back to the good news.  If you look around, the market is proving that homes in perfect, gorgeous, magazine condition are flying out the door, 2 weeks maximum marketing time.  Those homes in the middle that need updating are finding themselves categorized as “fixers”, which we used to relegate only to functional or structural problems.  And these homes are standing on the market until the seller decides to make the remodeling or to reduce the price to compensate for the upgrades PLUS a hefty bonus for contingency and inconven-ience compensation.  SO, when these homes do sell, they are attracting people with the financial capability and the experience or professional insight to do the job and do it well.  We are getting, therefore, an influx of financially strong buyers and smartly improved properties.  Sometimes it takes a while to notice change.  We are so accustomed to enjoying what we call the “charm” of our communities in metropolitan San Diego, that it was easy not to notice that newcomers DO treasure the “charm” but demand convenience be built-in too.  Life is too tight to waste time on inconvenient living, and too stressful to want to add the frustration. 

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U.S. SENATE EXTENDED CLOSING DEADLINE FOR PURCHASERS OF HOMES IN CONTRACT BY APRIL 30^TH FROM JUNE 30^TH TO SEPTEMBER 30^TH SO THAT BUYERS WITH DREADFULLY SLOW (and aren’t they all these days!) LENDERS CAN QUALIFY FOR THEIR TAX CREDITS!

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WHO YOU ARE IS MORE ABOUT BEING THAN HAVING.

When you were a child, did anyone ever ask you what you were going to have when you grow up?  No, the question was always, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  then sometime under the influence of our peers and media, “having” becomes important.  And I suggest that if we simply swing the emphasis back to “being”, our problems could often be avoided or solved.

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 ONE THING TO DO , WEEK 10:

PREPARING HOMES FOR EARTHQUAKES:

●   Do a house inspection for potential hazards

·         Be sure foundation is bolted to house, and chimney is stabilized. 

·         Shut off wrench at gas valve.

·         Kitchens benefit from rubbery shelf liners in refrigerator and cabinets and under large electronic components, cupboard doors that latch well, doorstops under refrigerator, washer and Dryer to prevent “walking”.

·         Bedrooms should have fresh or wind-up flashlights in quick reach, window exit ladders.

·         Bathrooms are glass risks, remove glass items from counters, latch cupboards well, more rubbery shelf liners and underpinnings, safety glass on shower doors. 

·         Tempered glass for large windows, doors.

·         Quake-Hold straps for tall pieces, earthquake putty for tchotchkes on shelves, quake-hold picture hangers or close hanger hooks with pliers.   Heavy things on lower shelves.  Books stored tightly, leaning up, or fronted with taut guards.

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HOW DO THEY STAND UP WHEN THINGS ARE TOUGH? 

As we were reminded this week by a couple whose son was the star pitcher, when Gregg Hiddleson and I once had a Little League team we actively coached. . . or maybe they coached us. . .  everyone can be great when things are easy, but it’s who you are when the times are tough that matter.  In true Disney movie style, there was one kid whose adolescence had brought him to a completely clumsy stage as his limbs grew rapidly in all directions.  He was not the star and not the most popular player, but a sincerely nice boy.  And as the movie director would have called it, last game, finals, last inning, last out was his turn at bat.  In spite of some parental pressure, we had held to the principal that everyone plays and everyone is appreciated for doing his best.  And as the team and fans recognized the situation, there was a moment of silence, and no one more than the boy recognized the choice:  leave him in or put in a substitute.  Before Gregg could even give his command the 13-year old team began to speak as one, calling out the boy’s name and saying, “Go, you can do it, Robby, this is the time, you’re our man!”  And as it is supposed to happen only in movies, Robby walked up to the box and missed.  And he missed again.  And the Pitcher threw him two foul balls.  And Robby stood there with his team roaring support from behind him, and on the next pitch he made his first hit of the season, out of the field, winning the game.  It would have been easy to take that chance away from him, parents were calling for us to do that.  It would have been easy to save him from that singular man-alone pressure.  And it would have been easy for him to quit.  But we all would have missed the best moment of the season.  And Robby never would have had that instant of being swarmed and congratulated and proud for his courage. 

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HELPING TEENS FIND SUMMER JOBS

Teens are having even more competition for those summer jobs because of the competition from adults who’ve re-entered the seasonal or temporary workforce because of economic pressure. But certain businesses always need summer help – fast-food Indus-try, grocery stores, movie theaters, bowling alleys and other enter-tainment (mini-golf?) businesses.  Teens may be able to better compete by being willing to look at flexible hours that family people cannot do such as nights and weekends.  Learning how to interview, eye contact is critical, posture not slouching, smiling and being natural, not fidgeting, (great tips on “snagajob.com”!) and how to dress are important.  Applying to as many jobs as possible helps with the above and the chances of being hired.  Friends and family are always good leads, but so can starting a business be!  How many adults have children that need care or at least entertaining so they can go to work or work at home – older teens could start a “neighborhood camp” with sports and games and lessons and the like, or even teaching/tutoring kids who had trouble in school the past year.  Putting yourself out as the “gardener’s helper vacation substitute” or the substitute anything else.  What about asking a local business if they need a bicycle delivery person, and perhaps setting up a business to serve a bunch of businesses and hiring your friends.  And it is important to remember that the job is not the most important thing, it is chance to learn about the process, the rules and how to provide customer service.

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DUSTING THE COILS UNDER THE REFRIGERATOR

Can save energy so it doesn’t have to work so hard to stay cool.  So can wrapping foam around exposed hot water pipes.  A “smart Strip” which costs about $30 and works like a surge protector, will cut the power to devices (like your tv, computer, etc.) when they are switched off but still plugged in.

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17^th Annual

Mission Hills Concerts

in the Park

At Pioneer/Mission Hills Park

1425 Washington Place

 

July 4 from noon to 2 p.m.

July 9 from 6 to 8 p.m.

July 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.

July 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.

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HOT TOPICS   6/12/10

“HAPPINESS is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” . . . Mahatma Gandhi.

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AT LAST!  The latest Housing Price Index reports that the benchmark for national housing prices gained 0.9% in April.  3 of the 4 U.S. census regions registered respectable gains with the Midwest adding 1.9%, the south 1.8%, and the West 1.1%.  Only the Northeast declined -0.7%.  Last year April was down -0.2%.  We are now a total of -23.9% from the July 2007 high.  They say.  Discussion is asking whether the federal tax credits propped this up artificially and we will see renewed weakness.  The scary “shadow inventory” is estimated to be approaching 1 million units. 

In Mission Hills, after NO activity in the above $1,200,000 market to speak of, we are having 3 pendings or closings above $1.3 in the next several weeks.  Listing inventory is increasing more toward the “normal” numbers.  We always have a little trough of activity between Memorial Day and July 4 as people readjust to no school and start summer lives, but lenders haven’t seemed to bring out any new obstacles, and one would hope the interlude would be giving them time to learn how to process in the big picture. 

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OVER-CELEBRATE A LITTLE?  A great restorative whether it was too much alcohol, food, riotous behavior, or just energy expense, is to eat a few cucumber slices before you hit the bed.  The B vitamins and electrolytes will replenish your essen-tial nutrients and bounce you up in the morning! 

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FRIENDS OF SAN DIEGO ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM And CONTEST TO WIN FREE BATH OR KITCHEN REMODEL.   Friends of San Diego Architecture will be presenting a lecture in 2011 on aging in place issues.  And many media are talking about real world design applications. You are invited to attend next year’s lecture AND to join in the Designed for Life contest sponsored by the San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), ReVisions Resources, and AARP for a free kitchen or bathroom remodel and guidance by an ASID member, remodeling plans, merchandise and installation. 

CONTEST DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2010.

Baths and kitchens are two of the most dangerous rooms in the house.  Accidental falls are the number one reason people are forced to leave their homes and enter long tem care.  These designs also hope to demonstrate that aging in place can be attractive and cost-effective, not institutional. 

Contestants must be legal San Diego County residents age 45 or older who own and live in their homes.  Exempt are owners of manufactured homes and mobile homes, and employees of contest sponsors, immediate family and household members.  There is no charge to enter and no purchase necessary.

You may enter by going to SDHOMEREVISIONS.ORG to fill in the online contest entry form (which includes submitting photos of your kitchen or bath and an essay on “Why I Need this Makeover”, as well as your contact information.  Copies of the entry form and contest rules may also be obtained from AARP’s Information Center for San Diego in North Park (619) 641-7020, and mailed to ReVisions Resources, P.O. Box 600751, San Diego, CA 92160.  YOU MAY ENTER TWICE, ONCE FOR YOUR BATHROOM AND ONCE FOR YOUR KITCHEN.  Six finalists will be selected in July and paired with a local professional design team, and in October a panel of judges will determine one winning kitchen and one winning bathroom, and the homeowners associated with these plans will win the grand prize remodels. 

Judges include:  Michael Stepner, former San Diego City Architect and member of many important advisory groups;  Dr. Maurizio Antoninetti, SDSU faculty member and member of the Universal Design Leadership advisory panel;  Dr. David Kopec, New School of Architecture faculty and author of Designing for the Elderly Population; Leon Harper, former AARP housing director; Catherine Darragh, Chair of the Friends of San Diego Architecture; and Joanne Price, former chair of the San Diego Fall Prevention Task force. 

Sponsors (whom you may not be related to to enter) include:  Revisions Resources, a nonprofit agency providing innovative aging in place programs in Southern California since 1989; AARP; San Diego Chapter of ASID; San Diego Kitchen & Bath, Kiva Kitchen & Bath, San Diego Marble & Tile, Tutto Marmo, and Arizona Tile who are providing the new kitchen; Best Bath Systems and Aging-in-Place-Remodeling to provide the bathroom.  Other support is provided by San Diego Home/GardenLifestyles, PACE TV, Friends of San Diego Architecture,  the San Diego Fall Prevention Task force, the San Diego Public Library, and the San Diego County Library.

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FIRE PREVENTION.  A couple of things you may not think of when you are clearing that tinder-free moat around your home, is  to clear your gutters and eaves of dry debris that may catch flying sparks, and trim big trees up at least 6-10 feet above ground.  Your double-paned windows also help!

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HOUSE SITTER ESPECIALE!  If you have a need for a house sitter this summer, I have a perfect person.  Has been in the “hood” for years, professional, personal friend, and I couldn’t say more reliable or nicer about anyone.    A Maureen O’Hara kind of person with highest integrity.  Thanks.

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SO WHEN DID IT BECOME SMART BUSINESS PRACTICE TO MAKE YOUR RECEPTIONIST’ DUTIES MORE ABOUT SERVING THE COMPANY THAN ABOUT TAKING CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS!?  Grrrrrrrr. 

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 MONDAY,  JUNE 14,  IS U.S. FLAG DAY.    

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand,

a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day' and other teachers acted in agreement.  On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day, and more groups began to adopt the day, requesting the authorities and private citizens to display the Flag and with each child being given a small Flag, and with patriotic songs and addresses.  And it spread.  Until inspired by three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

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ONE THING TO DO, WEEK 9:

THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE – AN ALTERNATIVE TO “DUCK AND COVER”

Doug Copp, Rescue Chief of the American Rescue Team International

            When buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call “The Triangle of Life”.  The larger the object crushed, the stronger and the less it will compact.  The less the object compacts, the larger the void and the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured.

            9 Tips for Earthquake Safety

1.     People who “duck and cover” under objects like desks or cars are crushed.

2.     It is a natural instinct you should follow to curl up in a fetal position next to an object, sofa or other bulky object.

3.     Wooden buildings are safest in an earthquake, flexing and moving with the tremble, and have less concentrated, crushing weight.  Brick buildings will cause many injuries with their individual bricks but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4.     If you are in bed during an earthquake or other catastrophe, roll off the bed and curl up at the foot.

5.     If you can’t get out a door or window, curl up next to a large object.

6.     Standing in a doorway when buildings collapse means being crushed if the doorjamb falls forward or back or being cut in half by the doorway. 

7.     Never go to the stairs. They swing separately from the main part of the building and bump into the building until they fail and the people are chopped up by the treads.  When fleeing down stairs always check for weakening by load if trafficking with a large number of people, even before the rest of the building is damaged.

8.     It is much better to be near possible escape routes at the outside of the building than the interior of the building.

9.     People inside vehicles should get out and sit or lie next to them.  AVOID POWER LINES.

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NEXT MISSION HILLS COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE

Set your calendar for October 9.  You may register at any  time between now and then, but we will be sending out the usual neon yellow postcards and posters to remind you in the weeks ahead.  You might think about:   ●Making a neighborhood event, which will draw more traffic than just one home.  ●Inviting your or neighborhood kids to sell Krispy Kremes, lemonade or cookies.  ●Holding a scout troop or band fundraiser in tandem.   

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Hot Topics  6/5//10

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be.. It's the way it is..
The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference.

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IF THEY DON’T HAVE A PHONE NUMBER, I AM NOT USING THEM.

Several times in the past month I have hired an on-line company to distribute flyers of my listings to all the agents in San Diego County.  It is not possible to do so via the Multiple Listing System, and it takes days to assemble your own list, and then the agents move.  So this sounded practical, and I paid my money and sent out my materials.  It seems that the company’s opt-out and unsubscribe buttons are too small, and my webhost called me to say that I have been reported as spam 38 times and my site was now blocked.  Of course there is no phone number for the flyer company.  Because my AOL email was being blocked, I decided to open a Gmail email.  And in doing so I asked for my AOL contacts to be transferred to the google site.  I now have 3563 emails in my aol account which is receiving all my past emails one at a time every split second from some instruction from Google’s gmail.  AOL showed me how to mass delete, but the flow has to be stopped by Gmail.  And they have no phone number.  I can read until I am blue in the face, but it won’t help me.  I already followed their directions, only two simple steps, and this happened.  It is a problem in their system, I need a phone number.

Speaking of which I tried to call the White House to add my great idea on the Gulf Coast to their considerations.  Another one.  They keep insisting you email, and if you DO want to talk to one of their “comment volunteers”, you need to call during business hours East Coast time, and hold for L O N G PERIODS of time with no sound so that you know anyone is there.  They do all they can to discourage calls.  What kind of world have we become that people don’t want to talk to each other! 

And I am confirmed.  I am no longer working with anyone who doesn’t have a phone number and a live person.  If I had time to know everything about everything, I would have to become a mother! 

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CITIES ARE NOW BEING JUDGED, and it seems very appropriate that they do so, BY THE HEALTH OF THEIR ECONOMY, THEIR COST OF LIVING, AND THEIR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS.

According to the most recent study, American cities excelling with respect to these standards are 1) Raleigh NC,  2) Washington DC, 3) Minneapolis, MN, 4) Stamford, CT, 5) Salt Lake City (especially for their booming job market), 6) Denver, CO, 7) Seattle, WA, 8) Austin, TX, 9) San Jose, CA, and 10) Atlanta, GA.  The listing continues with Portland, OR, Omaha, Hartford, CN, Baltimore, Charlotte, NC, San Francisco, Albany, Worcester, Richmond, VA, Kansas City, Nashville, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia.  In spite of all our qualities, we are not on the list.  And I assume it is elements 1 and 2 that we don’t meet. 

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REVERSING YOUR CEILING FAN. 

Most ceiling fans today can have their direction reversed, to pull the warm air up in the winter or push cool air down in the summer.  This is a good time of year to be looking at reversing your directions. 

THIS IS ALSO A GOOD (LESS EXPENSIVE) TIME OF YEAR TO HAVE YOUR ROOF AND FIREPLACE INSPECTED.

Maintenance can be a significant cost saver in overall expenses of managing property. 

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ANY OF US WHO WORK IN THE HOME VALUE ARENA CAN VERIFY that USING AN ARCHITECT OR DESIGNER FOR YOUR JOB CAN GREATLY ENHANCE YOUR RESULTING VALUE. 

These people are trained and educated in options, requirements, alternatives, and resources.  And so often the most amazingly stunning details are the result of a professional’s expertise.

Last week I visited a remodeled condominium where pillars were converted to walls for new storage, walls were moved to open and close new areas, the stunning stainless kitchen cabinets turned out to be stainless veneer (that took very close inspection) and other cost savings but millionaire looking details were provided by the pro who knew how and where to go.  And many of the top people are willing to do smaller jobs now, and they all know about focusing on practical costs, even for their wealthy clients!  Combining their expertise and resources may cost you no more than hiring Home Depot or Lowe’s and may give you much greater results!  It is at least worth a look.  My Resources at www.GinnyOllis.com offers many trustworthy possibilities. 

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ONE THING TO DO, WEEK 8:

Practice.  Twice a year.  At least once With your neighbors, make a party out Of it.  Even spontaneously.  Train each Other.  If you never need this, wonderful. If you do, you will be eternally grateful that you did this.  Think about keeping your automobile at least ½ full … in case. It doesn’t cost any more.

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HOOKED ON BOOKS. 

“Citizens of London” is another book I cannot put down.  Often I am in wonderment that people expect what was true yesterday is true today.  I always expect everything to change.  One amazing insight from this book, about the men who were instrumental in forging the union between the U.S. and Britain during the early 1940’s, is learning that Britain still thought of Americans as the obstreperous rebels who left the realm to start their own country 165 years earlier, AND Americans still held the British to be class-bound stiff royalists.  The insight into the daily life of those in London during the years of war, blitz and deprivation, the courage and stalwart determination they all demonstrated, the leadership of women who had previously been limited to England’s dress shops and kitchens, the relentless obstacle of politics in every arena on every side of the Atlantic, and the (sorry, old boys, but yes!) stupidity of our leaders (again on both sides) in certain instances.  I realize any book is one man or woman’s vision, but this is so fascinating I cannot put it down, and invite you to share the bravery and character of so many in such a hard time.  You will find it addictive too!.

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THE PRESIDENCY, a fascinating thought:   From Matt Bai, The New York Times  6/5/10:  “As much as we talk about ideology and competence, our judgment of presidents doesn’t hinge on either of these things in isolation. What matters is the perception — or perhaps the illusion — that one is shaping events, rather than being shaped by them. The modern presidency, like the old “Get Smart” series, is about chaos versus control. “

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HOT TOPICS   5/29/10

BEING ON THE MARKET IS NOT WHEN TO SAVE ON ELECTRICITY!

Bright lights, when needed to supplement natural light, show a room as bigger, cleaner, and cheerier.  Dark may be romantic, but it opposes the selling of homes.  If you have “green low wattage lights”, please replace them with green HIGH wattage lights, as much as your fixtures can stand.  It is temporary.  It is necessary.  A bathroom barely lit looks small, a bedroom looks cozy and small, a living room looks dowdy or dated.  BRIGHT might show off some flaws, but if they can’t be fixed, they will have to be dealt with regardless.  Turn up the light.  Be bright about bright!

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QUALIFYING FOR TODAY’S MORTGAGES.

If you are planning to apply for a new mortgage, you will find that one of the requisite documents will be your 2009 federal tax return, and that if you have filed an extension, it may delay your loan processing while the lender finds other verification of the copy you provide to them.  Sigh.  If this is fixed, please keep the government away from me!

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CHILDREN. 

Being a natural birth parent to zero children, but always wanting to be a mother more than anything else, I watch in admiration how so many of my friends and acquaintances perform the most important job in the world.  I am always learning and getting ideas from them, often from comparing with my own upbringing from 2 wonderful parents, who, like everyone else, saw things from their experience and learning.    

A friend told me today about his son at the London School of Economics, and I sighed.  While there were all kinds of exchange opportunities when I was growing up, I was quite parochial.  Although many of my friends never left our little colonial Massachusetts village, and I had been to New York and Washington DC and Florida and Cape Cod dozens of times, it never occurred to me that I could go to Europe or Asia or faraway places.  And I think that perspective, learning that far is not different from near just different from same, learning that problem solving out there or on a higher scale is the same as problem solving in the living room or classroom but with more input, or that succeeding on a greater stage is different only in the level of focus, preparation and confidence, is such an important thing to teach a child.  And helping them to see the lessons in life, not just absorb and store them.  Oh what job parenting is!

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ONE THING TO DO, WEEK 7:

Paper work.

1.  Calendar to refresh grab-n-go’s, supplies, records, contact lists at least every six months.

2.  Make sure your insurance and records are up to date.

3.  Prepare copies of medical records or instructions for any special situations, and make a copy to be available to  post in the house out of sight but easily locatable in case emergency professionals come into the house.

4. Make copies of all birth certificates, investment records, social security cards, passport, trusts, wills, private keepsakes, credentials of any kind, and store in a fire proof safe AND safe deposit box.

5. Make a written memo to all out of town relatives to apprise them of the plan and their role in any of it.  Keep copy and/or original in fireproof safe and safe deposit box.

6  Prepare or collect instructions on how to service the house –

    [ ] how to shut off the main electrical

    [ ] how to shut off the water main

    [ ] how to shut off the gas

    [ ] how to operate the garage door override

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ANNUAL ART AROUND ADAMS.

June 5^th from 3:00 pm – 9:00 p.m. the Adams Recreation Center is sponsoring a free family event on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights and Kensington with live music, outrageous street performers and an array of art.  Write it down so you won’t forget!

ROCK ‘N ROLL MARATHON

June 6^th San Diego will host one of the nation’s leading Marathons, with bands on 26 stages on a course cenically set through the city of San Diego.  It begins at 6:15 (time change!) in Hillcrest at 6^th and University, so plan your local travel wisely. More information is available at www.runrocknroll.com.                              

June 19^th will see the fabulously attended and successful Annual Old House Fair in South Park.  Anyone who is thinking of buying, restoring, repairing or preserving an older home will enjoy the plethora of ideas and information from local crafts-people and businesses that specialize in this genre.  So many of our wonderful metropolitan homes qualify, and the art and artisanship are fabulous.  Absolutely worth the day!  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 30^th and Beech.  More info at 619-233-6679 or www.theoldhousefair.com

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WITH THE PASSING OF ART LINKLETTER

We can’t help but think about how kids say the darndest things:  A few you may enjoy are –

• Briefly explain what hard water is.  “Ice”. 

• Name one of the early Romans’ greatest achievements. 

"Learning to speak Latin.”

• Name six animals which live specifically in the Arctic.  “Two polar bears and four seals.” 

• Where was the American Declaration of Independence signed?  “At the bottom.”

• What is a vibration?   “There are good vibrations and bad vibrations.  Good vibrations were discovered in the 60’s.” 

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Hot Topics  5/22/10

'AND THE TIME CAME WHEN THE RISK TO REMAIN TIGHT IN A BUD WAS MORE  PAINFUL THAN THE RISK IT TOOK TO BLOSSOM.'

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TRAVELING -  Always pack your medicine in your carry on and not your checked luggage, and before you leave, type a list of your medications and dosages onto a small piece of paper and put it in your wallet.  Date it.  This will help anyone who is trying to help you! 

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 “GREEN”, TRENDY AND TROPICAL

Perfect for San Diego outdoors, these  natural outdoor shelters made from regenerative bamboo and natural fiber canvas, will decorate your pool or garden with smart.  The fittings are steel and brass.  They can also provide a custom design.  Go to www.standardbamboo.com to see more.  888-632-9096.

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THE WORD ON FRUIT.  Have you noticed that with the advent of the internet, there are just more ways for people to tell you how to live your life?  And it can be hard to determine which ones to give credibility to.  BUT sometimes, it just seems to make sense.  One of my newest emails told me the following, and it makes very good sense to me.

1.      Eat fruit on an empty stomach.  Fruit will cause other food to spoil when it comes into contact with other food and digestive juices, hence the bloating and burping and unseen results. 

2.      Eating fresh fruit juice is very beneficial, canned and heated cooked fruit have lost most of their nutrients.

3.      A 3-day fruit fast will cleanse your body and radiate your skin. (Always check with your doctor before doing any extreme practice!)

4.      Kiwis have potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, fibre and twice as much Vitamin C as an orange.

5.      Apples enhance the activity of vitamin C, and give you antioxidants and flavonoids. 

6.      Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits.

7.      2-4 oranges a day may deter colds, lower cholesterol, dissolve kidney stones and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

8.      Watermelons are 92% water and contain a giant dose of glutathione which boosts our immune system, lycopen which fights cancer and offer vitamin C and potassium. 

Finally, drinking cold water AFTER a meal is a no no.  It will solidify the oils you have eaten, generating sludge and slowing digestion, lining the intestine.  It is best to drink HOT water (coffee, tea, etc) after a meal. 

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ONE THING TO DO, WEEK 6:

Pets and Neighbors.  Week 2 you already made a grab and go bag for your pet. Depending on whether he is a gecko or a goldfish or a dog or cat, you may wish to talk to your veterinarian to see if he has any added suggestions, can do this when you pick up your immunization record.  And be sure there is a blanket, sweater or other shock-keep-warm treatment for your pet.  In some cases a muzzle for stress reaction protection? 

In your immediate neighborhood there may be a grandmother or disabled person who lives nearby, or you may have one.  Talk to the people who live there and find out what help they might wish if they are not home at the occasion of an emergency.  Help them to organize an emergency prep kit for that person.  Be sure their granny or disabled person has emergency phone numbers where they would look, and an emergency phone (and emergency-only cell phone in case AT&T goes down), and knows who will be looking out for them, so their fear is managed.  If there is some way they can also be helpful, they will appreciate the opportunity to be doing something too! 

Have a weekend afternoon or early evening dessert potluck and talk to your immediate neighbors, perhaps 2 houses on each side, behind, across the street, and create a

COMMUNICATION CONTACT LIST –

• Everyone’s home and daytime phone numbers, everyone’s out of town emergency contact numbers. 

• Everyone’s special skills, if needed – plumber, medical or emergency training, cooking, electrical, cleaning and labor, etc.

• Meeting place if emergency occurs during work/school hours – is there one home where the owners are home and could check in/on everyone else?

• Exchange keys, if desired have one designated key manager who knows where spare and their keys are.

• Exchange information about children, pets, other.

• Is there anything expensive you could save by buying in bulk? 

• Would you like to have a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) speaker come to a meeting some time?

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SPRING CLEANING   In case you don’t have enough to Do:

[ ] toss magazines over 3 months old (fire hazards).

[ ] Toss keys you don’t know what they are for. 

[ ] Toss that “stuff” you really don’t need – ●twisty ties, ●random paperclips and safety pins which are not in your paperclip and safety pin containers, ●partially used products that haven’t been touched for a year or more, ●expired medicines, ●banged up pots and mismatched dishes you never use, ●plastic garden pots, ●clothes that no longer fit but someone else could really use them, ●books you should but don’t want to read.

[ ] Toss some useless old habits – trying to please everyone ●putting yourself down AND thinking you are always right! ●time with negative people, ●watching your life rather than starring in it, ●fears like insecurities, that you’re not good enough, that they won’t like you, that you won’t be healthy enough.

[ ] Anything you wouldn’t want to give as a gift, your children probably won’t want anyway!  Cleaning house can clean the spirit and smile too!

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DEBUT EVENT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!

Generously granted the use of the space not yet occupied at Goldfinch and Fort Stockton by the developers of 1 Mission, the Mission Hills Artists hosted their first event Wednesday night and welcomed an overflow of visitors, well over 200 by my (official greeter) count.  So many people told me they were amazed that their neighbors were such outstanding artists.  One woman couldn’t be delayed to register for the door prize, as she simply had to get to the lady with the picture on the wall she saw through the window and absolutely had to have!  The Mission Hills Wine Cellar (1630 W. Lewis St, 619-291-3740), which had donated the wine tasting

was a hub of happy customers all night, and Sam reported he got more orders there than in days at his store, that people didn’t know before he was a real wine specialist with such good deals.   Patty Brooks, Presidio Sentinel, who is relentlessly supportive of everything in our community, was there to make sure the press coverage was complete.  MHA President, Sharon Plache, is the MOST gentle, organized and thorough person and along with her gorgeous fabric art provided flowers, layouts, food, and everything everyone else needed.  Herb Bernstein had elicited permission for the use of the premises, when I could not succeed, bless his heart, and so many people brought friends and family, that not to be there was to miss a major event.  We are hoping we can squeeze one more event into the space before the tenants take over, look for our June announcement!  Best way to keep up with the artists of Mission Hills is to go to www.missionhillsartists.ning.com, the wonderful website built for us by member Stephanie West.  You can see there a calendar of events, resumes and art samples of the members, and an invitation to become part of the most beautiful and open hearted group!  I have not one ounce of art skill and I love every minute I spend with them! 

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HOT TOPICS   5/15/10

WHERE WE SPEND OUR DOLLARS TODAY IS AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT WE SPEND THEM ON.

I find myself perhaps driving a few more feet, or even making a little shift in product to support those neighbors and good people who deserve it!  Why not feed the people in my community, rather than a chain?  Why not be loyal to people who have provided excellence in the past, rather than calling a flyer special, maybe they will match the offer if I give them the chance?  Why not care about neighbors in the way they need by respecting their business efforts rather than chasing a dollar which may turn out to be less value?  I see people in pain behind their smiles, and the best I can do for those who are worth it, is behave like I value them and their work.  Together we will get through this!

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Rub soap on your electrical cords to keep pets from chewing on them.

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This newly organized association of our community artists represents all kinds of art from plein air to water colors and textiles and glass and jewelry, and you will be so surprised when you find out who the artists are!

Sam Shammas, from Mission Hills Wine Cellar and Deli, respected oenophile and great neighbor to our “hood”, will be providing a wine tasting for you to enjoy while you browse this entirely new side to our heritage community! 

SEE YOU THERE!

CAPITAL GAINS TAXES TO SHIFT. 

The capital gain reduction that went into effect in 2003 under the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act will sunset on January 1, 2011.  The tax rate for long-term capital gains will revert from the current 15% back to the former 20% tax rate.  In 2013 an additional tax of 3.8% will also be imposed on certain investment income which will bring the new capital gain rate to 23.8% for certain taxpayers.  The benefits of a doing a §1031 exchange will soon have an even greater significant financial impact for taxpayers. 

NEW LEAD PAINT LAW.   

The Environmental Protection Agency has a new regulation effective this past April 22, (No, I had not heard sooner, but expect your painters and contractors were forewarned).  Any homeowner whose home was built prior to 1978, must adhere to new EPA regulations when doing any modifications.  Any activity that will disturb painted surfaces, must be done by an EPA Certified Firm. These people will have completed an 8-hour training and certification course on how to safely contain lead in a home as it is being disturbed and how to reduce exposure to residents and workers.  They must give you a brochure, “Renovate Right”, (which you may preview at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf ) and it signed indicating that you have been properly notified.  Certainly there must be procedures in place for the homeowner who wishes to do the remodeling himself.  Information is available at 800-424-LEAD (5323).  It is to be expected that any sales subsequent to this time will want to demonstrate to the buyer that the regulations were followed. 

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ONE THING TO DO, WEEK 5:

Back to basics.  If you haven’t done everything in the weeks before, let’s get caught up. 

REVIEW: 

            1.  Recognize the need.  Start drafting a list of things you need and to do.  Get family involved. 

2.  Make a place

     [ ]  to store your emergency information and reference materials

     [ ] to store your valuables, medical, house, insurance, personal records     

     [ ] to store your emergency supplies and personal grab-n-go bags.

3.      Your child’s safety

 [ ] ID with relevant information

 [ ] basic emergency training for his age

 [ ] involve him in preparing grab-n-go bag

4.      Pets and Neighbors

 [ ] Check with vet about pet protection

 [ ] Hold neighborhood gathering to collect contact information, learn expertises, needs and whereabouts of keys, who needs extra help, who is responsible for what.

5.      Other preparations  

 [ ] be sure all smoke detectors are operating

 [ ] do you want to install a CO2 detector?

         Add to above.  What do you need?

“I WANT MY CHILDREN TO HAVE EVERYTHING I COULDN’T AFFORD . . . THEN I WANT TO MOVE IN WITH THEM!”

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Hot Topics  5/8/10

ARTS FESTIVAL – NORTH PARK   MAY 16

If you were like me and couldn’t get NEAR the Little Italy Art Show, try University Avenue in North Park last week.  They are not quite as well known yet and could be accessible!  10am-6pm   more info at www.northparkmainstreet.com.

ANNUAL RAMONA RODEO   MAY 21-23

Professional rodeo action – bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, bull riding, western dances and speciality acts.  More info at www.ramonarodeo.com. 

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ONE THING TO DO, WEEK 4:

Supplement your basic emergency supplies in addition to your grab-n-go’s: Stash in rubber barrels with tight tops. Make sure the final location for all these supplies is ACCESSIBLE.

● Portable radio with windup not batteries

● Windup flashlights (at least 3)

●  Bottled water – 1 gallon per day per person

● Cooking equipment (do NOT bring BBQ into house!) – at least 2 pots, wooden spoon, fork, grill/stove.

● Food and can opener, paper plates/cups/utensils – canned tuna, pork & beans, nonfat dry milk, graham crackers, dried apricots, juice, trail mix, granola bars, your favorites, peanut butter, crackers, ________?

● First Aid kit and instructions (INCLUDE Ipecac to induce vomiting, bandages, gauze, antiseptic creams/sprays/wipes, ace bandages, tweezers, scissors, eye drops and eye dropper, aspirin/Tylenol, personal choice medicines.

● fire extinguisher (test annually)

● battery supply with several sets for children’s toys and other necessities

● gas shut off wrench at/near meter

● household:  blankets, plastic ground cover to protect from dampness, plastic sheets for other, dust/surgical masks, towels, toilet paper (!!), Kleenex, paper towels and handiwipes, many antibacterial wipes, rubber gloves, plastic bags in all sizes from sandwich to trash, candles and water proof matches and windup timer to be sure candles are not left burning! 

● powdered chlorinated lime to add to sewage/garbage to deodorize/disinfect/waive insects.

● paper, pens, tape, a few envelopes

● some emergency cash $$$

● basic tools - work gloves, Swiss army knife, shovel, hammer, screw driver, plyers, rope, string, knife

● copy of all emergency contacts, information, etc. into the barrel! 

● Basic survival guide book such as:  The Official Urban and Wilderness Emergency Survival Guide by Robert Pelton.  Report to be “The best, most practical, easy-to-use, survival manual on the market today. Profusely illustrated and power-packed with easy-to-understand information on every aspect of basic survival, emergency medicine, edible plants and medicinal plants.  472 pages, $24.95.

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NOTHING SUCKS MORE THAN THAT MOMENT DURING AN ARGUMENT, WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU ARE WRONG!

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INCREDIBLE FINDS OF THE WEEK:

If you need someone to really clean your home or business or rental, if you need someone to do general tune up handywork on your home, business or rental,  if you need someone to design and reinstall or just maintain your landscape, sprinklers and trees, if you need someone to do some general painting, and if you need someone to do all this and get your home or rental all refreshed, call my very trusted resource:  Corry Pratt, 619-847-0389.  The first time he cleaned a house for me, I was stunned, it was cleaner than clean, which means that he also cleans the places we never think of. He has been working for me and my clients for months now and I find him reasonably priced, particularly for the quality he delivers, prompt, always keeps his word, and absolutely trustworthy.  A perfect gift.  Pay him $x and send him to Mom for her day! 

AND do you ever think a new eye and trained consultant and even someone else’s grit and determination would help you conquer the overwhelming stuff in your life?  THE EDITED NEST is the operation of two ladies who can help you make headway in just a short time, giving you guidance or giving you “got it done”.  They can organize and help you re-purpose, taking the things that you cherish and putting them to use in perhaps a different place or function.  They have kindness, style and determination, just what you need.  You deserve it, give YOURSELF a gift.  Call Michelle at 619-295-1416.  You can thank me later!

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Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating keys in their pocket, glasses on their head, finding their cell phone and so forth, but never never never do they have trouble locating the snooze button in about 1.3 seconds.

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BUYING FORECLOSURES. 

Everyone hears about the incredible deals being made on foreclosure purchases.  Seldom do they hear about the no-so-fun losses.  This is not an easy or risk free process.  Tax liens and other problems may go with the house.  It is not typical that buyers have access for inspections and even inside looks.  Competition is staffed by professionals who send innocent looking front men bidders so as not to give away their interest and who represent groups of investors.  Purchases must be made ON THE SPOT with cashier’s checks for the full amount. Occupants must be managed and vacated legally.  Most trustee sales require reclamation if not just simple repairs.

An expert who spoke to our Realtor’s group said that the typical profit from buying and reselling trustee sales has dropped from the earlier 30-40% to 15-20%, and much of this profit is squeezed out of the after purchase fixing cost minimalization. Trustees have no liability for any of the condition or situation of the property.  Re-sellers have full liability for disclosure and condition.  There is a group which has been very successful in this business.  They will do consulting for a fee, or you can partner into one of their properties.  If you are interested, call Luke Middleton, The Cantor Group, 619-546-0973.  At least on the first one it might be smart to have the edge of a pro! 

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REVISIONS OF THE MISSION HILLS STORE have been responsive to the community’s input.  The store exec-utives have to manage their way through the requirements of the Mission Hills Town Council, Mission Hills Heritage, and the Uptown Planners, as well as the overriding San Diego City Council.  We at the Town Council had hoped all through groups would work together to form one panel to coordinate for Safeway, but politics doesn’t play that way.  However, the results so far are positive and Von’s has not backed away from the development as they did several years ago.   The store will provide substantially more service to its customers than its current space, but in doing so will also be behemoth in size, compared to the surrounding streetscape.  And thus the concerns of many area citizens.  However, they are working to step the design to keep the “box” look to a minimum, to make the parking safe as well as plentiful and convenient, and to choose materials that will blend a little more with the traditional style of the neighborhood.  You are welcome to attend the Uptown Planners meeting on June 1 6pm at the Joyce Beers Community Center in Uptown for their vote on the project. 

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I WISH I HAD A SARCASM FONT!

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AIR CONDITIONING TIME COMETH!  Getting ready to save money and energy is easy.  ●Clean or replace your filter.  ●Trim foliage at least 1 foot away from the unit to allow free air flow.  ●Disconnect the power to the A/C, then use a garden hose to spray the coils.  Better is to have a professional HVAC technician.  They will check the pressure,oil the motor bearings, tighten all hardware, check electrical draw and visually inspect the parts.  A company I have been thrilled with for at least 10 years is Jerry’s Heating and Air Conditioning, 619-449-1623. 

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HOT TOPICS   5/1/10

PRICE TODAY HAS TO SUPPORT BUYERS’ MOTIVATION OR IT IS JUST A TAG ON A PRODUCT. 

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JUST DISCOVERED:  FABULOUS ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT IN O.B.

If you love simple, exciting, delicious Italian food in a pleasant and immaculate little neighborhood atmosphere, where everyone seems to know everyone and be friendly and as great as the food, scoot yourself to ESPRESSO PIZZA – RISTORANTE ITALIANO  (it’s NOT just pizza, but salads, pasta, main dishes too, something for everybody) at 1776 Sunset Cliffs, just south of Narragansett.  The owner, Teresita Vazzana (Greeves) is like a package of sunshine, likes things just how they should be.  Do not miss the calamari appetizer with not a hint of the usual rubbery consistency, she says she goes all the way to X every day just to get this quality, and it shows.  Their wine includes no acidic leftovers.  The mushroom raviolis are another decadent treat, but until you try several items you won’t be able to believe the consistency of their flavor distinctions.  Tom just fell in love when his favorite, Veal Parmigiana, turned out to be the best ever, AND you could be wise to skip everything and go directly to dessert.  There is no tiramisu in the world as good and that is only until you try the lemon gelato, oh heavenly delight!  On Thursday evenings, they have a guitarist for your romantic date night.   Call 619-224-2227 for reservations, and when you are grinning ear to ear in joy, remember who told you. 

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WHICH IS LARGER:  12 X 14   OR 14 X 12? 

Ok, the reality is that they are the same, but which one LOOKS bigger?  If I describe your living room as 12x17 or 17x12, which is more impressive?  Just a little thing, but it makes a difference.  If you are traveling around the web looking at homes, do those without pictures get or keep your attention even if their write up is pure prose?  A little thing, but it makes a difference.  And if I add the pictures 2 days later, do you remember to go back and look for them?  Um. 

Whatever your business, I am sure you are working harder and more intensely than 10 years ago.  And you know that you cannot just throw it together, it takes doing it right, balancing deadlines against quality, taking precious time to handhold the client and bring him into the picture so he can understand, and managing staff and community obligations. 

Once there was that joke about the business sign that read:  “Quality -  Fast -  Cheap, Pick Any Two.”  Today’s businesses do not have that luxury.  It takes all 3 to succeed. 

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ONE THING TO DO, WEEK 3:

Your child’s safety.  ● Prepare a simple ID for your child with name, address and phone number, 2^nd phone with E emergency contact in a city away from your household,  photo and thumbprint if possible, distinguishing marks, any special medical information/allergies, favorite comfort stories/food/hobbies.  Laminate and put a copy in his wallet, backpack, favorite thing he carries everywhere, glove compart-ment, swap with friend’s mothers, your office or place of work.  ● Teach your childbasic emergency response appropriate to his age.  What to do if emergency occurs.  Where to go, if you are at work when fire, earthquake, intrusion or other emer-gency happens.  How to call 911 and what to do if they do not answer.  How to be safe under different situations.  Who can he trust!  Practice so he will feel comfortable.  ● Help him prepare a grab-n-go bag.

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APPRECIATING EXCELLENCE.  If your life is very full like mine, and you are frustrated during the day by mechanical phone systems, people who make commitments they don’t keep, and rushed or shoddy service, you too will appreciate D&S TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL SERVICE.  They have been our go-to-always reliable for over 10 years, but again today, when another company chosen by our client did NOT do what they promised and threatened the closing of a sale, D&S again picked up and did their usual excellence and made it happen.  You too can have their great service and never-sell-you-what-you-don’t-need service, 619-462-5577.  I have no interest in their company, don’t do lunch, am not “friends” with them, but I am so excited when I find excellence, I like to share it!

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PICTURES OF 4^TH OF JULY CELEBRATION AT PIONEER PARK NEEDED. 

If you have any photos you took and would be willing to share, please contact Karen Foreman of the Mission Hills Town Council, producer of the event at 619-298-0654, klforeman@gmail.com .

 

$100 DOLLAR BILL.  A rich tourist stops while driving through town, stops at the motel and lays down a $100 bill, saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs to pick one to spend the night.  As soon as the man walks upstairs, the owner grabs the bill on the desk and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.  The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to retire his debt to the pig farmer.  The pig farmer takes the $100 to pay off his supplier of feed and fuel,  The Farmer’s Coop guy pays off his debt to the local prostitute, who rushes to the hotel and pays off her hotel bill with the owner.  The hotel proprietor puts the $100 back down on the counter, the traveler comes back downstairs saying he is not satisfied, pockets the money and leaves town.  Now the whole town is out of debt and optimistic. 

I heard a conversation on PBS radio this morning talking about disbanding the CCDC and letting the City Council be responsible for the Redevelopment of Downtown and other areas.  The guest said that the Downtown only benefited tourists and was all for image.  !!!  The story above points out that a dollar spent enriches dozens of people down the line.  The worst thing that can happen to an economy is for every to sit on their money (sure we need reasonable savings, but..) and not pass it around.  And since when was our City Council able to accomplish anything within skinning it to less than bone after all the politicking and hiding out and strutting?!  I have only been here since 1977, but seems to me that since Pete Wilson left town, so did all our gumption.  I thought a strong mayor would mean LESS politicking and getting things done.  Maybe there isn’t an answer?  But going back to things we KNOW don’t work, surely doesn’t seem like one to me!

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“TIME IS AN ILLUSION, AND AT LUNCH TIME, DOUBLY SO”, Douglas Adams.