Ginger's Marin County Real Estate Blog

Blog Brawl Finals ..I Need Your Vote!

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:02:16 -0600

Please consider taking 30 seconds of your time to help Heather win the blog brawl!!! She is an amazing writer (and a dear friend). Please help her win!!

Via Heather Elias:

Thanks to all of the fantastic support from my friends, family, colleagues, peers, coworkers, twitter friends, and November moms, I have made it to the FINALS of the Blog Brawl! So this will be my last plea for votes, just one more time to get me through! The voting page is set up slightly differently this time (perhaps to further eliminate voting irregularities?) In any case, click on the link below to go to the proper page on VARBuzz.com, then below the video, click on ***click here to vote in the finals*** and it will open a new window for you to vote in.

Vote LoCoMusings just ONE MORE TIME!

I can't thank everyone enough for the outpouring of support...it's been fantastic and I'm eternally grateful! Voting runs until MIDNIGHT on SUNDAY, so don't delay!

You might enjoy this video that a few of my friends made to 'get out the vote'...

Cheers,
Heather

Biggest, baddest blogger...

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:48:32 -0500

Are you hearing the buzz? Do you want to see the biggest, baddest bloggers in the country?

BlogWorld is a month a way and it is THE place to be for bloggers around country. What is BlogWorld? My friend Todd Carpenter described it as "the biggest baddest conference on blogging in the world".

Real estate and mortgage professionals have a fabulous opportunity to attend ReBlogWorld, which is basically a pre-conference to BlogWorld. This day long event will feature seminars and panels with tips on leveraging social media techniques for the real estate industry. With your ticket to ReBlogWorld, you get admission to BlogWorld and the New Media Expo. This is a really fabulous opportunity to step outside the real estate blogging "bubble" and see dozens of seminars on blogging, social media, search engine optimization, podcasting, video-casting, online journalism, small business strategies and more.

The ReBlogWorld track features a who's who of real estate blogging gurus. I am honored to be a moderator for this event, which is truly an all-star line up-featuring:

The seminars will be moderated by Pat Kitano, Kevin Boer, Mariana Wagner, Matt Fagioli, Jason Berman, Jan O’Brien and your truly, Ginger Wilcox.

More info:

SIGN UP TODAY- You only have a few days before the price goes up. When you register for REBlogWorld, you get all three days for one price. Active Rain members get a 20% discount. Just enter ACVIP in the promotional box during registration, then click reply to see the new price before entering your payment information.

In case you need another reason to attend, don't forget it is all about the relationships, as any of you who have attended inman connect or other meet ups can attest. It is amazing what you will learn in the conference center, but what you learn outside of it can be pretty darn powerful too.

Book your registration and your plane tickets. I hope to see you there!

Guide to Tiburon Public Schools

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:49:55 -0500

Tiburon is a highly coveted place to live in Marin, in part for its excellent public schools. I am often asked about the location of the schools in Tiburon. Here is a quick snapshot of the public schools.

View Larger Map

Looking for more information? Visit the Reed School District or the Tamalpais Union High School District. Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

Tiburon Real Estate Market Update

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:49:13 -0500

What is happening in the Tiburon real estate market?

The charts below are a great visual to what has been happening in the last 90 days as compared to last year. It is a good to see the median Tiburon home price continues to beat out median home prices from last year, although we are seeing those number get closer together. The average days on the market has continued to be in the 90-100 day range over the last few months.

Are you a Marin real estate junkie? Sign up below to my Real-Time Market Report for each city in Marin or visit my live Marin Real Estate Market updates page.

You can also sign up to receive very detailed real-time market reports in your email. These reports are awesome - tons of information. Just register below and let me know which neighborhoods you are interested in. Download a sample report.

Set Sail on the Bay- It is Opening Day!

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:26:51 -0500

The official start of the sailing season kicks off on Sunday, April 27, 2008 with Opening Day on the Bay. The bay will be filled with boats and is always a spectacular sight to see. The Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association hosts the annual boat parade which generally features more than 150 boats. The parade begins at 12:00 noon near Chrissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge and ends around 2:00 pm at Pier 39.

Sausalito and downtown Tiburon will be packed with visitors enjoyed the festivities and sights of the day.

Set sail and enjoy what is sure to be a beautiful day on the Bay!

Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

Failure is so easy...

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:18:51 -0600

Sounds of sobbing were coming from my room on the second day of my ski trip to Lake Tahoe last week week. I rush in to find a cute blonde six year old sitting on the toilet in full tears.

MOM-EEE.

I don't want to ski. I don't like it. I HATE it. I can't do it!

Oh me, oh my. What to do? I definitely don't want to be one of "those" mommies who push their kids to do things they absolutely hate. At the same time, I don't want to be one those parents who don't push enough and the kids regret it later in life that they didn't have the opportunity to do this or that.

What is a parent to do? Well, I asked lots of probing questions, trying to get down to the bottom of the situation. I can tell you, it is much easier to get an irrational buyer or seller to answer probing questions than a stubborn and quite irrational six year old. I wasn't getting anywhere.

With the busy holiday weekend and 8 days scheduled to be on the trip, we had planned for day # 2 to be a sledding day, thank goodness. This gave me a day to think, and to huddle with the other five families staying at the house. (yes, we had a houseful!)

I knew if I didn't get her skiing on this trip, it would be even harder next time, and it might never happen again. Timing is crucial. I decided that she had to work through her fears. She was going to learn how to ski. So, thinking cap on, I realized that I needed a fresh approach. Ski school wasn't right for her. Despite loads of hot cocoa, great friends, and lots of snacks, she didn't like it.

My girlfriend's 86 year old father joined us in Tahoe. His caretaker, a highly proficient (and patient) skier from Sun Valley, Idaho was with us. Sarah is incredibly sweet and patient. The kids adore her. She offered to take the little one out. We also had Brian, who works in the ski shop and takes care of the house during the winter. Brian is a ski pro. I took dad... Brian & Sarah took my little one and another six year old boy. They knew them and trusted them, and went off without a tear.

Two days later, my daughter was on the moguls. NOT KIDDING. 2 days of private lessons with Bryan and Sarah. 2 days of a different approach and she is a pretty darn good little skier.

She could have given up. 20 years from now, should could have regretted that she never learned to ski. I could have given up, not pushed her, and let her stay indoors and play princesses.

We could have said she can't. Well she could and she did.

Sometimes we have to push ourselves when we don't want to. Sometimes we have to step outside our comfort zone. Sometimes we have to push our kids and our clients- by taking a new and fresh approach.

Success isn't easy. Failure is.

P.S. My two year got on his skis for the first time too, but not quite ready for the big slopes!

Marin's Teeny Tiny Towns

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:32:43 -0600

While writing a recent post about the often confusing areas of Greenbrae, Kentfield and Larkspur, I realized that many people outside the area may not realize how small these tiny communities really are.

Here is the scoop on these teeny tiny towns in Marin County:

Belvedere - 2.42 square miles but 78% of that is water
Corte Madera - 4 square files
Fairfax- 2.1 square miles
Kentfield- 3 square miles
Mill Valley- 4.8 square miles
Larkspur -3.27 square miles
Ross- 1.6 square miles
San Rafael- 22.4 square miles (26% of it is water) - Marin's largest city and the county seat.
Sausalito - 2.2 square miles
Tiburon- 8.7 square miles

With a population just over 2000, it is no surprise that small little cities like Belvedere only have a handful of real estate home sales each month.

Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

*data from wikipedia

Not updated, perfectly suited for hard living

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:33:53 -0600

The Inman Wiki had a great article today titled The Guide to Realtor Speak- a guide to real estate cliches and what a consumer's true definition would be. I found the article quite amusing and very true, so of course I had to see what people were saying in my MLS today. Here are a few that I saw:

"State of the art bathrooms"- Does it have a telephone? TIVO? Wireless internet? What is a state of the art bathroom? Do explain.
"This is the house you want." - Well what if you are wrong?
"Low maintenance yard" - No grass or loads of junipers!
"Over 1,500 sq feet of decks" - No yard, built on a steep hill.
"Romantic fireplace" - Have you ever seen an unromantic fireplace? Wait, yes, I have. It is not particularly romantic when all of the bricks are falling off.
"MAKE OFFER" - We are overpriced and I want this listing SOLD
"Retro style" - Seriously outdated
"Owned by the same family for 58 years" - yikes!
"on the quiet side of the street"- Across the street is REALLY noisy
"Recently updated for easy living" - As compared to hard living? Have you ever seen one that says- Not updated, perfectly suited for hard living.
"A sign right behind you here reads "Strange Dog". They're not kidding. ....the yellow lab is wayyy too friendly. Strange indeed." What is stranger, the dog or the comment?

Truth is stranger than fiction. It is all in the marketing...

Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

Customer Roulette

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:55:29 -0600

I just returned from "ski" week with the kids. It is hard to imagine you could learn much from a week at Lake Tahoe - but hey- I am a blogger. We planned to leave on Saturday to avoid the masses of people heading up to Tahoe for the long President's weekend. My girlfriend and I rent a vehicle for this annual trip for two reasons:

We both drive sedans and can't fit 2 adults and 4 children into our vehicles
We don't have 4 wheel drive.

We arrived at the car rental company to find a very frazzled "Assistant Manager" running the show. He was wearing a paper thin suit with shoulder pads the size of Texas. This was clearly his first real job out of college and his first suit. Our 4 wheel drive, 3 row vehicle had been reserved for more than a month. We fill out the paperwork, while Mr. Shoulderpads answers a few calls, tells the people behind us they will have to wait, answers a few more phone calls and eventually calls back for our car to be brought up. When Employee#2 brings up the car, Mr. Shoulderpads realizes that it won't work. We absolutely positively can't take the car. He switched out cars from our original reservation and this vehicle only had 5 seats. We have six people.

Apparently car rental companies play a little roulette. They overbook their cars, assuming a certain percentage of cancellations. Clearly on this holiday weekend, they overbooked.

Mr. Shoulderpads had no car for us. We were understandably not happy. We had antsy children waiting to depart. We were expecting 17 children and 20 some adults for dinner in Tahoe that night (Yes, I am not kidding- but that is another story)

"They are screwing me. They are screwing me." Mr. Shoulderpads starts saying, quite loudly. Did he really just say that out loud? Hands running this his hair, palms sweaty. Mr. Shoulderpads is not exactly grace under pressure. He offers us another car. An upgrade, mind you, with the correct number of seats- but no 4 wheel drive. "Don't worry," he says, "weather in Tahoe is supposed to be good this week." Now Mr. Shoulderpads is a weatherman? Our rental was for 10 days. Who can possibly accurately predict weather 10 days in advance? Meteorologists certainly don't do it that well, but Mr. Shoulderpads could?

Mr. Shoulderpads didn't get screwed, we did. We had no choice at that point, but to take a vehicle we didn't want. The upgrade we eventually got had all-wheel drive, which was fine for the snow, but it wasn't really big enough. Six bucket seats, no storage (and I mean NONE). We had luggage shoved everywhere!

Customer Service 101- don't mess with your good customers. Multiple times a year, we rent one of the most expensive vehicles for our Tahoe trekks. This isn't a weekend rental. This is a week+ rental. We won't return to this car company again.
Customer Service 102- when you are in trouble and things aren't going as planned, show some grace under pressure. Show some empathy for your client. It is not about YOU, it is about THEM.
Customer Service 201- don't be deceptive. Your clients know when they are not getting a good deal- don't lie to them! Don't try to talk them in to something they don't want or don't need.
Customer Service 202- Mistakes happen. Find a way to remedy it and make your client happy. If you don't, they will tell everyone they know, and that costs a lot more than just the loss of that specific client.

Stay Tuned for more "Tales from Tahoe".

Marin County Real Estate Market Update

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:47:03 -0600

Marin County Real Estate Market Reports by City
January 2008

Ginger Wilcox is a licensed Marin County REALTOR®.

Bob Stewart gave me the finger!!

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:26:45 -0600

Yes, you read that right- Bob Stewart, AR Community Builder gave me the finger and I loved every minute of it!

I had the privilege of meeting both Bob and Jonathan Washburn tonight, along with a number of fellow California rainers including Mary Pope Handy, Janet Guilbault, Mike Mueller,Brad Andersohn, Dionne Morgan, and Cindy Lin. We met in San Francisco for dinner at cozy Italian restaurant.

I was so excited to meet the crew- but I had no idea how easily I would connect with everyone. We have experienced and shared so many things together- it was clearly an instant kinship. The AR boys are AWESOME. Funny, nice, handsome- what is not to love? Mary Pope Handy was exactly as I expected she would be. We enjoyed sharing horror stories about various embarrassing moments showing homes- from naked people to almost dead people. Cindy Lin is very sweet and quiet. I didn't get enough chance to talk to her, unfortunately. I am looking forward to connecting with her one on one. Same with Dionne, who sat at the other end of the table. Mike Mueller was hilarious- a tad of a ham, surprise, surprise. Just like I expected. Brad Andersohn was trying to get me to sign up on a new social network. Just typical. Always handing out tips!!

Actually, everyone looks just like their profile pics- no fake realtor pics in this group.

As I was sitting next to Jonathan, a man at another table inched his way in next to me. I couldn't figure out what he was doing, until he got down on one knee...

No, he was not praising the rain gods!!

He got down and popped the big question to his girlfriend. She did accept and of course, we all had to take pictures of their happy moment.

Thank you everyone!! This was truly the highlight of my week!!

UPDATED: Don't miss Brad Andersohn's version of the evening- Active Rain Dinner Becomes Marriage Proposal

GASP- does her mother know...?

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:19:33 -0600

When I tell people that I blog, I occasionally get some strange looks. I even hear some people talking about me behind my back.

"Did you know she BLOGS?"
GASP. She "WHAT?'
"Does her mother know she does that??"

What are they thinking I am doing?

A blog myspace

myspace naked porn

Just because I am a blogger doesn't mean I regularly post naked pictures of myself kissing cute boys. Sounds fun and all, but it probably wouldn't make my husband very happy.

So if blogging is not myspace, what is a blog?

Wikipedia defines a blog as, "a website where entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog." As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs according to Wikipedia.

Do you like surfing the web? If so, you should love reading blogs.

Blogs are websites - only better. Good blogs are updated constantly- some multiple times a day. They are constantly evolving and changing. With 112 million blogs, you can find a blog on almost any topic you could imagine. Cooking, knitting, auto repair, politics, religion, Marin County Neighborhoods, Mortgages, and much more. There are conservative blogs, liberal blogs, Even Dilbert has a blog.

A blog counter culture, A blog an angry, critical cynic

There are a lot of popular blogs who offer alternative voices to traditional news media. Blogs are holding people accountable in a way that has never been done in society. I think this is a really great thing. Some blogs are angry, some blogs are counter culture, many are not (thankfully!). Find what fits your needs and read a blog.

Yes, my mother knows. and she is subscribed...

An afternoon in the city

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:20:28 -0600

Marin County and the Bay Area have had amazing weather the last few days. My sister and her family were in town over the weekend, so on Saturday, we all jumped on board the Larkspur ferry for a trip to San Francisco. The Saturday ferries run a little slower, so the trip was about an hour. We enjoyed the leisurely trip, taking in all of the beautiful sights on the San Francisco Bay.

We stopped and grabbed lunch at the Ferry Building- delicious burgers at Taylor's Refreshers. We then set out on our walk, probably about 8 blocks, to the Yerba Buena Skating and Bowling Center, a delightful place for families. The center is located next to Moscone Convention Center. If you have been to a convention in San Francisco, you probably were at Moscone. Yerba Buena has skating, bowling, a carousel, and the Zeum- an art and technology museum for kids. It also has a great outdoor park, perfect on a gorgeous sunny day like we had on Saturday.

San Francisco is such a beautiful city. I wanted to share the pictures of our outing on gorgeous, spring like day!

BART to San Francisco

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:52:35 -0600

San Francisco has some of the best cuisine in the world. I am spoiled by it quite honestly, so I often meet friends in the city for dinner. If my friends are coming from the East Bay, they often want to take BART to eliminate a sometimes rough commute to the city across the Bay Bridge.

BART is the rail service that connects the East Bay to San Francisco, and continues down to the San Francisco airport. It is quick, safe and convenient.

This helpful map shows all the BART stations in San Francisco. Click on the map to zoom in and see the stations.

View Larger Map

Forgive me, but I can't show you that house

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:02:16 -0600

As much as I would like to sell you that home, I don't know you and I don't trust you. If you are calling real estate agents to show you a house, don't be surprised if they won't meet you there without a lot of questions (at least I hope they won't!).

I know you may not want to answer those questions, but they are necessary. Unfortunately, some crazy sickos occasionally target real estate agents (men and women alike). I personally know of multiple agents who have been stalked, attacked, and sexually assaulted. YEP. One of the "perks" of our profession.

Over the weekend, a real estate agent in Victoria, BC was contacted by a woman who was referred to her. Sounds like a safe bet to meet the client at the property. Unfortunately, she didn't listen to her gut instinct, which told her something didn't seem right. Police found the young real estate agent murdered at the home she was showing.

For my personal safety, I have to check out any person before I show them a home. I may take your driver's license, I will definitely meet you at a public place, and I will be bringing "back up".

Please don't be offended, these are necessary precautions. My life could be on the line here.

Pop open the cork- Measure A passes for Kentfield Schools!!

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:14:42 -0600

I am moving a little slow today after a late victory celebration for Measure A, which renews the parcel tax for the Kentfield School District. According to the Marin County Registrar of Voters, the measure passed with 71% of the vote.

This is a crucial win for the Kentfield School District, which receives 25% of its annual budget from parcel taxes. The campaign was run by Mark Epstein, a Greenbrae resident, parent and past President of the Kentfield School District. He was quoted in the Marin IJ, saying “I feel really great that we came out with our school parcel assessment at a time when the maximum number of voters would be voting.”

Thanks Mark for your tireless dedication to this campaign, and thanks to the Kentfield and Greenbrae communities for recognizing the importance of strong schools for our children!

Marin Median Home Price Tops $1 million in Jan

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:44:49 -0600

The price of single family homes in Marin County rebounded in January. The median home price for Marin County homes was $1,083,000, up 14% from Marin's January 2007 median home price of $950,000 and up 24.55% from Marin's median home price of $869,500 in January 2006.

There was a 30% decline in the number of units sold in January 2008 as compared to January 2007.

Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

See Fabulous Marin Kitchens at Belvedere Kitchen Tour

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:45:16 -0600

I am a sucker for a home tour, probably because I have chaired one. I always look forward to the Belvedere-Tiburon Kitchen Tour every February and it is almost here again! This year, six kitchens are featured on the tour. I have never stopped and stayed for the lunch at the San Francisco Yacht Club, but it is supposed to be good. The Marin IJ has provided us with a sneak peek, so check it out here. Even if you purchase your tickets in advance, bring your checkbook. They have a great marketplace with jewelry, purses, children's things and more. You can also buy raffle tickets ($5 each or $25 for six) for some great prizes including a Dacor kitchen, and some great trips.

What: 30th Annual Belvedere Hawthorne Kitchen Tour

When: February 5, 2008, 9:30am -3:30pm. Lunch available from 11am-3pm.

Where: Starts at San Francisco Yacht Club, 98 Beach Road in Belvedere

How Much: $40 in advance, $45 at the door. Lunch is available for $25.

Info: www.belvedere-hawthorne.com

Benefits: Belvedere Hawthorne Nursery School

This story is reprinted with permission from BlogbytheBay.com, Ginger Wilcox's Marin Real Estate Blog.

My most transparent post EVER..

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:57:01 -0600

This is so highly personal, I am surprised that I am sharing it...I will tell you why....

Six months ago, I took my six year old daughter to the movies. I was feeling pretty lousy before we went, having breathing difficulties- a serious asthma attack underway. I was armed with my inhaler and figured I would wheeze my way through the film. I had promised her the movie and I wasn't going to cancel. As I drove to the theater, it got worse. I vowed that I would call the doctor that afternoon, but I didn't want to cancel my "appointment" with my daughter.

It was an eleven am showing of Ratatouille on a gorgeous summer day, so the dark theater was virtually empty. There were three people in the theater and they were sitting quite far away. As the movie started, it became more and more difficult to breathe, and then...the room got fuzzy.

I wasn't getting enough air and I couldn't breathe!! I momentarily blacked out, but thank god, I came to. I was dizzy and the room was spinning, and all I could think about was my beautiful daughter sitting next to me. She's only six, what if I had stopped breathing? Would she have noticed during the film? She would have been so scared and alone in that dark theater. What if...

As I sat there after the blackout, I was so angry at myself. And I was angry with the medical community. You see.. I have been having breathing issues for years. I was trying to limp by with bad medical care. My primary care physician sucks. When I complain about breathing, they throw some steroids my way and send me packing. I had been in the ER with severe shooting pains in my lungs on multiple occasions. The breathing issues would come and go, and I was just dealing with them. I looked perfectly healthy, but I was miserable a lot of the time. In addition to my breathing woes, I have had severe digestion problems since I was in high school. (Sorry if that is TMI!) It seems to run in my family so I had never done anything about it- again, just dealt with it.

SO, I vowed to myself as I sat there in the dark theater with my daughter that I would figure out what was wrong. Why do I feel fine sometimes, and others I can't hardly breathe or I have sharp shooting pains that would literally make me double over. Amazingly, I sat through that movie. At the end of it, I got a ride for my daughter and went to the Emergency Care. I underwent a battery of tests, had a breathing treatment, and at the end- got what? An inhaler. Whoo-hoo, yippe kay-aaa. Sorry, charlie, not good enough. I blacked out because I couldn't breathe. Doesn't that deserve more than an inhaler?

After days and days of searching online, I realized that some of my problems might be related to food allergies. Unfortunately, my doctor sucks. Did I say that before? I couldn't even get an appointment to discuss the food allergy question for 3 months! I could dead by then, I thought. I found a naturopath who would prescribe my allergy testing and I took the plunge.

It was expensive. Really expensive, and the results were astounding! I was "sensitive" to EVERYTHING! All the foods I ate for health (and diet reasons) were actually hurting me. My soy latte- BAD. Lettuce- BAD. Do I really want to know all this???

No wheat, no dairy, no sugar, no soy, no shrimp, no carrots, no onions, no garlic, no celery, and on, and on, and on. Holy Cow. I can't eat ANYTHING. My husband told me I was crazy, how could I possibly eliminate it all? I couldn't eat anything! Thankfully, grapes were not on the list. If I had to eliminate wine, I don't think I could have made it through.

But all I could think of was my beautiful daughter, alone in the movie theater. I had to eliminate it all. I had to see if it would work. And I did. I did not have one teeny, tiny drop of anything on that list until Dec 31. Not one thing.

So what does that have to do with Active Rain? Well, the quantity and quality of my posts between September and January dropped off significantly. Quite honestly, I was tired, dizzy, and lacking in energy for most of October and November. I couldn't eat anything- I had no food in my system to fuel me. I stopped working out, I was sleeping all the time. Before the big food change, I had always been sort of an insomniac, I would work well from 2-4 am. No more, sleeping 7pm to 7am. SERIOUSLY!

So I couldn't eat anything, and I had no energy. Why was I doing this???? And then my body adjusted. And I didn't use my inhaler once. NOT ONCE, since the end of September!!! Digestion problems, virtually resolved.

I have been gradually introducing some "forbidden" foods into my diet to see how they affect me. Still no wheat, no dairy (cows milk), and mostly no sugar. I am tired of broccoli and tired of corn tortillas, beans and cheese. I wish I had a cook to make me meals that fit into my new revised plan.

So why the heck am I writing this long ass post?? I am normally a short and sweet post type of girl! Well, tonight- my hubby planned "party" food for the family. And I couldn't eat one singular, solitary thing. Actually, not true- he had steamed broccoli stems for me. Umm. WOW! Do broccoli stems count as a complete meal? I am a gourmet foodie, and this pretty much sucks- but it is a whole lot better than blacking out in a theater. If you have food restrictions, I would love to hear how you are living with them. Make me feel normal!

In the end- life is far too short to eat stuff that might kill me. (and that is the blunt Ginger I am used to!!)

Show me the Home Depot!

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:39:38 -0600

If you have been a Marin homeowner for any length of time, you could probably drive to Home Depot in your sleep. Before I bought a home, I could never have imagined how much money I would spend at Home Depot, even if you aren't a do-it-yourselfer. So, when we first moved to Marin and someone tried to describe how to actually get to Home Depot in San Rafael, I was horrified.

Highway 101. Exit Sir Francis Drake. Past San Quentin. Get on the 580. Immediately get off again. Go under the Freeway, down the frontage road.

YIKES! Over the mountain and through the woods- I may never return home! If it seems daunting, I promise you will one day be able to find all of the home improvement stores in your sleep. Until then, you can check out this map with details out the major home improvement spots in southern and central Marin County.

View Larger Marin Map of Marin County Home Improvement Stores

This story is reprinted with permission from BlogbytheBay.com, Ginger Wilcox's Marin Real Estate Blog.

Sitting on the dock of the bay...

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:38:18 -0600

Did you know there are nearly 40 marinas in the San Francisco Bay Area? Sausalito has one of the largest and busiest maritime areas in the region with almost a dozen marinas and boatyards. Sausalito is located on the south shore of Richardson Bay. Richardson Bay is located between Sausalito and the Tiburon Peninsula.

Sausalito was originally the home of the north Pacific whaling fleet. Sausalito has a long history of boat building and built many ships used during World War II. Sausalito and Marin County are definitely water communities- with prominent water views throughout the county and yacht clubs a plenty.

Otis Redding wrote his famous song, "Sitting on the dock of the Bay" while living on a houseboat at Waldo Pier in Sausalito.

If you are an avid boater, Sausalito is the place to be...

This story is reprinted with permission from BlogbytheBay.com, Ginger Wilcox's Marin Real Estate Blog.

Can Marin Homeowners Finally Get A Conforming Loan?

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:43:06 -0600

The economic stimulus package being discussed by Congress and the President may have a huge benefit to Marin home buyers and current Marin homeowners. In addition to tax rebates, another element of the package offers to increase the limit on Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans and loans that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy. The new FHA and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac loan limits would be increased to $729,750 under the current proposal.The increased loan limits could provide for a greater financial benefit to Marin homeowners than the rebates being considered. Many Marin homeowners were forced to settle with what is known as a “jumbo loan” when they purchased or refinanced their home due to the loan balance exceeding the maximum conforming loan limit (currently $417,000).

If the current proposal is signed into law, it may allow for Marin homeowners to refinance their current jumbo loan rate into a conforming loan rate. The spread between the two types of loans is approximately 1% for a 30 year fixed loan.

The proposal would also allow buyers in the market, looking to finance a property with a loan of $729,950 or less, to make the purchase more affordable than it otherwise would have been under the current law.

If the legislation passes as proposed, I expect to see increased refinancing by Marin homeowners and more activity in the housing market.

Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

Read me a book- visit a Marin library

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:51:00 -0600

Marin County has a free library system with eleven branches. We typically go to the Corte Madera library, probably because of it's convenient location near the 101 freeway and close to the Safeway at Corte Madera Town Center.

The kids love picking out their own books at the library. Sometimes my six year old will pick one out for me. We head over to the mystery and suspense area and she looks for anything pink. Amazingly enough, she has selected some great novels for me- pink and all. The librarians are always on hand and very helpful with recommendations on age appropriate books. Fortunately their selection criteria extends beyond the color of the book.

Most of the libraries have story time for children as well as classes for adults, including computer classes! Marin.org keeps a calendar of Marin library events. I was surprised to learn you can take basic classes on Microsoft Word or using email- for free - at the Corte Madera library. The Fairfax library has a book club and the Pt. Reyes library has knitting.

If you are looking for Marin County history, the Anne T. Kent California Room at the Civic Center Branch is the place to go. Resources available include books, maps, photographs, oral histories, early voter registers and more.

I am an avid reader and buy a lot of books on Amazon, but the Marin County library is such a great resource that we sometimes forget about. My kids love the library outings, the books are free and you can even check out DVDs too.

Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

Winter in Marin County, California

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:33:08 -0600

The last couple of days have been super cold- a brisk 48 degrees today.

I really don't mean to rub it in. We have had our share of rain and even hail, but I was able to snap this picture on a gorgeous sunny day last weekend. The path is a popular walking and biking path in Mill Valley that goes into Sausalito.

One of the things I love most about living in Northern California is being able to go outside and enjoy the beautiful outdoors twelve months a year. Marin County is an outdoor mecca with many hiking and biking trails that are available all year round. Check out Marin Trails for some great information on hiking and biking in Marin.

Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

Fun for families- Jack and the Beanstalk

Ginger Wilcox, Marin County Realtor (Alain Pinel, Marin Real Estate) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:35:13 -0600

Yesterday I took the family to see Jack and the Beanstalk in San Francisco. The play is put on by the Children's Theatre Association of San Francisco (CTA).

The classic fairytale is delightful for young children, who are encouraged to clap, and express their delight in the performance. Even my youngest stayed in his seat, enthralled in the performance. The CTA is a non-profit that was founded in 1934. The CTA charges for weekend performances, but offers the performance for free to local elementary school children during the week.

Performances are held in the Florence Gould Theater at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. The small theater is perfect for this type of play. It is a beautiful and intimate setting and every seat is a good one. Tickets are only $12.00 ( a bargain in San Francisco) and parking is plentiful and free.

The play is very simple...,don't expect to hear Pavorotti, but it is a very special treat for children all the same. Both my husband and father-in-law complained about the lack of men in the all-women cast (the Giant and the role of Jack were played by women). This didn't bother me, but I knew going it what to expect. Despite that, everyone had a great time. We loved watching the children's faces light up as the cow danced and as the Giant chased Jack through the audience.

I will definitely be on the lookout for future CTA productions. If you are looking for a fun, family friendly event- this is well worth the trip across the bridge!

Visit Ginger's Marin Real Estate Blog for more information about Marin Real Estate and life in Marin County, California.

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