chris alston: Photoblogging Wednesday... Aren't turkeys supposed to be at the end of summer? - 06/07/11 06:11 PM
I wasn't expecting to see this beauty on my way to work this morning...  Just like some of you, I keep my camera with me at all times to catch that "thing" that you want to remember...  Kind of funny, my son used to call a camera a "cramera"...  But seriously, I usually do not see them out this early in the year!

There have been more coyotes out this year, so I wasn't expecting to see them this year...  But here was one.  When I got home from work today, he was walking out front on the driveway...  I … (27 comments)

chris alston: Darth Vader goes to Disneyland - 06/07/11 11:26 AM
Darth Vader goes to Disneyland...
I was surfing the web today (I mean working...) and found this YouTube video of Darth Vader...  HAHAHAH!!!  He wants to ride Star Tours at Disneyland, but it is closed...  Want to know what he does?  Well, you have to watch this video.
I know it has nothing to do with Real Estate, but still...  I mean, you have to smile sometimes, right?
Booohoooohahahahaha!  Okay, now back to work you rebel scum...

-Chris
(11 comments)

chris alston: "Julie & Julia"... Yeah, the movie about that girl, and uhhhh... Cooking... and um... Blogging... - 06/06/11 06:17 PM
So I got kinda stuck watching the "Julie & Julia" while I was blogging last night...  I wasn't really paying attention to the movie, as it was just on, in the background...  Like those lazy Saturday afternoons when the TV is on TBS or something...  And the Terminator comes on, and you watch it anyways, even though you have watched it like 10 times.
I am not sure if you have ever watched it, but it seems we all have something in common with the Julie gal in the movie.  I didn't really pay attention to the part as to why … (93 comments)

chris alston: Motivational Monday - Richard Nixon in taking risks - 06/05/11 05:57 PM
"You must never give up. You must remember that you have to take risks in order to achieve anything and sometimes you will suffer defeat. But the mark of any individual is to recover from defeat and disappointment and go on and give it his best shot."Richard M. Nixon, 1969-1974
Never give up... We sometimes forget this one thought...  These three simple words...  Never give up...
We try things maybe once, then suck at it, then give up.  Why is that?  Is it that we are older and wiser now, and over think things before we actually do them?  Playing the … (26 comments)

chris alston: 93rd Annual Livermore Rodeo... The Worlds Fastest! - 06/05/11 05:29 PM
It's summer time...  And what happens in the summer?  No, not JUST hot weather, the river, country music and county fairs...  It is also Rodeo time!  Next up is the Livermore Rodeo, in Livermore CA.  Not sure why I said it was in Livermore, since the name of the rodeo is the same as the city...  But maybe that is why I never was good in English classes back in school.

So I am definatily headed there...  I am going to take my son again, and this time it will not be his first rodeo...  (giggle giggle).  He will have … (3 comments)

chris alston: "I'm Down in the dumps..." No, I said, "A day at the dumps!" - 06/05/11 04:58 PM
So my mom asked me to get rid of a couch, loveseat and ottoman...  About 6 months ago...  I was going to dump it during the local dump anything days with the city, but I was in Vegas...  Then maybe try to sell it on craigs list...  And um...  I never got around to it...  So there it sat in her garage, waiting for me to move it.  I mean, I do own a truck, and you know if you own a truck, you always have to help people move, right?  LOL!

So I loaded the furniture, and my son … (26 comments)

chris alston: The buyer wanted me to write 5 offers on 5 different properties... At the same time... - 06/03/11 05:14 PM
I think we all have been in this situation...  But not all of us have reacted in the same way...
So what do you do?  What can you do?  What would you do?
The buyer says that they are tired of loosing out on properties, so they want to write a bunch at the same time...  OR the buyer says they are tired of how long short sales are taking, and they want the property that will close the quickest... 
There are agents that write several offers at the same time over and over...  They call is "spraying and praying"...  There … (149 comments)

chris alston: De Anza Flea Market - First Saturday of every month. Cupertino CA - 06/03/11 07:56 AM
Looking for a fun day at a local flea market?  Well, this flea market is differnet that most.  The DASB Flea Market in Cupertino was created so the student body could raise funds.  There are local vendors, food, along with local residents that rent out parking stalls to sell their garage sale items.
The DASB flea market is located at the De Anza College parking lots, at 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd.  Cupertino CA 95014.

I remember as a kid, my mom getting us a stall to sell our toys that we no longer needed or played with.  I sold my … (7 comments)

chris alston: I need some help... Or maybe guidance (tech questions) - 06/02/11 05:52 PM
I love to blog...  I blog almost every day...  About life, real estate, hiking, my son, and maybe the gum I stepped on yesterday and wondered if it was strawberry flavored bubble yum...
I have mastered several forms of social media, however I still have some learning to do when it comes to blogging.  Not the actual blog itself, but what can be done with it.  So I thought I would ask some questions to my AR friends to see if you all can help, or if I should just pay someone (from the AR community) to just make it happen...
(28 comments)

chris alston: Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival. June 4th and 5th, 2011. Rain or Shine! - 06/02/11 02:31 PM

Yup!  It is that time again...  Time for the Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival.  June 4th and 5th, 2011.  The event will start at 11am each day and end at 6pm.
There will be local artists, great wine, good food and of course, live entertainment!
Saturday June 4th
11-12pm         "Highwater Blues Band" 12:30-1:30pm "The Hot Rods" 2-3pm            "The Rayburn Brothers" 3:30-4pm       "Redhouse Blues Band" 5-6pm            "Groove Kings" Sunday June 5th
11am-12pm     "The RBXPRESS band 12:30-1:30pm  "The Mystic Pilots 2-3pm             "The Peelers" 3:30-4:30pm   "The Mo-Fo's 5-6pm             "The Department of Rock" Here is a map of the event in Sunnyvale.

Hope to see you there!  … (10 comments)

chris alston: Hiking to the Stevens Creek Reservoir from Fremont Older Open Space, Cupertino CA - 06/01/11 04:39 AM
Hiking to the Stevens Creek Reservoir from Fremont Older Open Space, in Cupertino/Saratoga CA.  This 4-5 miles hike takes about 3.5 hours.

If you are looking at a longer hike that takes you through some great diverse zones in nature, then this is a great hike for you.  Start at the Prospect Road parking lot.  If you arrive later in the day, the small lot can be full, as many hikers come for the easy slopes and the dog-friendly atmosphere.  Head up any of the trails, in within minutes you see a full panoramic view of Silicon Valley.  This picture … (28 comments)

chris alston: Lead Generation is Really Simple and Easy! (I didn't say you would REALLY like it) - 05/30/11 06:02 PM
Lead generation is really simple and easy...  Think about it...
All you have to do is pick up the phone, say a few words, hope that you caught them on a day that they need your services or have someone to refer to you...
OR, while you are at a party, all you have to do is mingle a bit, talk about real estate a bit, and be sure that everyone knows that you are in real estate...
OR, get your butt out of your stinking car, and knock on a few doors.
OR, log in to AR and write blogs...  … (121 comments)

chris alston: Motivational Monday - A Cowboy's Way to Double Your Money - 05/29/11 05:31 PM
"The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back into your pocket."
Some cowboy dude said this... (No, it wasn't me...  lol! )
Okay, I hope that I am not the only one laughing right now over this one. 
But seriously - There is no magic trick to double your money...  No slight of hand, no card tricks that can truly double your fortunes...  The best and quickest way to double your money, is to double your effort daily...  Or go buy some lottery tickets, right?
Are you ready to double your effort?  Or … (18 comments)

chris alston: Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos CA - 05/29/11 03:57 PM
Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, at Oak Meadow Park & Vasona Lake Park in Los Gatos, CA...
Looking for some great weekend adventure?  Like trains?  The kids want to go somewhere new?  The train at Oak Meadow Park!

Tickets for this working engine are $2 and the wait is never long.  The train travels through Vasona Lake Park on it's journey.

During Christmas, the park is decorated in lights, and you can ride it at night...

The ride follows along a flowing creek, and towards the lake.  A side trip is to cross the train tracks and follow the … (9 comments)

chris alston: Cinema at Sundown - Memorial Park, Cupertino CA - 05/27/11 12:57 PM
CINEMA AT SUNDOWN at the Memorial Park Amphitheater in Cupertino.
The park will be showing evening movies during the summer, you should check it out! 
Starts at 8:30pm.
July 14th:     How to Train Your Dragon
July 21st:     The Sandlot
July 28th:     Iron Man
August 4th:   National Treasure
I have to say, events like these are great.  Take your blanket, some microwave popcorn, a pot of coffee or hot chocolate, and relax in the outdoors and watch a movie.
Hope to run into you there!
Memorial Park is located at 21267 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino CA 95014
More can be found … (16 comments)

chris alston: City of Cupertino - Summer Concert Series at Memorial Park 2011 - 05/26/11 07:03 AM
It's here!!!!  The Summer Concert Series at Memorial Park in Cupertino, CA.  Come on out to the park on a evening in June!  Bring your blanket, some food and bring the crew.  These events are free, and will be performed at the Amphitheater in the park.  The concerts start at 6:30 and should run till 8pm.
Here is the line-up this year!
June 2Cupertino Symphonic BandA local non-profit organization, featuring music from musicals and movies, classical, big band and more! 
June 9TinManA 5-piece professional band presenting the greatest rock classics of all time!
June 16Mariachi AztecaThis Mariachi band has been serenading … (3 comments)

chris alston: Would you rather have ONE really good lead, or just TEN plain leads? - 05/25/11 06:43 PM
It is surprising how many different answers you can get from a simple question like this...
Makes me think of the count on Sesame Street...  "One... twwwwwwwwo...  ttttthrrrrrrre...  ahh ahhh ahh ahhh....  Fffffooooour....  ahhh ahhh ahhh...
One good lead...  One that will close a home with you...  Or many good leads, that you would have to cultivate to get to a sale, or not.
What would you want?  One lead or ten...  Some of us may not have that much business right now, so we would raise our hand for the one good lead that will lead to income right away.  … (29 comments)

chris alston: Wordless Wednesday (Almost) - My son and I at the Rodeo! - 05/25/11 04:47 AM
My son and I spent the day at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo this past weekend...

It is a smaller Rodeo, tucked in the mountains between major metropolitan areas...  (City of Hayward and Castro Valley, CA) So when you get there, it is stepping back in to a era that seems to be long forgotten.

My son Ryan's favorite thing to wear, is the spurs on his boots...  He loves to ride, and he is only 3 1/2 years old!
I hope everyone has a great day!
-Chris
(36 comments)

chris alston: Rowell Ranch Rodeo - Always in May (Hayward, CA) - 05/23/11 02:55 PM
It seems to have become a tradition, to go to the Rowell Ranch Rodeo in Hayward...

From the bronc riding, barrel racing, bare-back riding, bull riding, wild cow milking, team roping, calf roping to the fan favorite - bull riding...  This local rodeo has been going on for close to 100 years.  Opening ceremonies are always fun, to see the horses with the flags come into the center ring, and of course, stand for the National Anthem.

Pretty much wherever you sit at the rodeo, is a good seat!  And if you buy tickets for the BBQ later, you … (5 comments)

chris alston: Motivational Monday - Will Rogers - Living your life... - 05/22/11 05:31 PM
"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip"      Will Rogers  (1879-1935)
There is soooo much wisdom in these few words spoken by someone that many people around us know nothing if the man who lived years ago...
"live in a way that you will not be ashamed..."  Do you live your life in this way? 
There are those in life that do live thier lives as Will Rogers directed us to...  IF you always tell the truth, you never have to remember what you ever said...
Hope your monday … (23 comments)