Summer Breeze ~ Makes Me Feel Fine.  I've been in a reflective mood of sorts lately, just thinking about all the people, email, blogs and tasks that are vying for my attention.  Yet, I prefer to sit quietly enjoying my cup of Joe while letting 1000 other things go. As I gently eased into my day, I stumbled upon one of my favorite bloggers, Cherimie Crane of Beaufort, SC.  Not only is Cherimie beautiful on the outside, she is just as lovely on the inside.  Cherimie's writing style can sweep you off your feet with her romantic flair for simple things.  What's not to love about this girl! I'm still reflecting upon a post written by Mimi Foster this week.  It was poignant and so timely for many of us who are still digging our way out of the trenches.  I'm always touched by Mimi's uncanny ab... 07/27/2012

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted!  Today, I had the pleasure of chatting with an agent who's interested in joining my office.  It wasn't your typical interview per se... it was lively, vivacious and full of laughter.  At the end of our chat, I told her that she'd be a great fit for Real Estate Cafe.  Why??? For starters, she had a REAL grasp on reality laced with a wonderful sense of humor!  We so need more of that in our day, wouldn't you agree?  Then, when she quoted the infamous Mae West... 'I used to be Snow White, but I drifted'... my mind took me on a detour to places I hadn't visited in awhile.   I've fallen from grace a few times in my life.  Looking back, I'd like nothing more than to sweep my mistakes under the carpet and pretend they never happened... but what fun would... 07/10/2012

Summer is finally upon us... I hope each one of you had a fabulous week.   I've been in LA visiting my 82 year old dad who's in the early stages of Alzheimer's, and spending time with my Uncle who's dying of cancer.   It's heart-breaking to watch these very special men, who have always been strong, hard-working and self-sufficient, suddenly become dependent on others for basic needs.  It's a stark reminder that life is short and very precious.   I trust that many of you feel the way that I do... Cherish the ones you love, because nothing else really matters.   Chances are, you won't be remembered for how early you got into the office each day, or how late you stayed, or how many transactions you sold, or where your name appeared on a ranking report.   It won't matter what kind of shiny ... 07/06/2012

I'm a Sappy Sista!  This afternoon, I watched a video clip of a heartfelt goodbye given by Ann Curry on the Today Show.  I love this woman... Ann Curry is such a class act!  I wrote a blog about Ann Curry after briefly meeting her at a local grower's market in Grants Pass, Oregon a few years ago.  Ann is a beautiful woman inside and out, and she has a unique ability to tackle difficult subject matter and humanize it for her audience by applying her warmth, understanding, genuine care and concern for mankind. I applaud you Ann... for not holding back your tears, and for sharing your true heart with your audience.  Your tears were RAW and your emotions were REAL... how beautiful.  You have touched your viewers like no other journalist, and I for one, am quietly rejoicing in your admirable... 06/28/2012

Energy is Everything... I was gently reminded of this fact by a dear gal pal in the Rain... Debb Janes.  Then I stumbled upon this pic with a wonderful quote...   What are you giving energy to today?  Do you need to change your frequency?  Are you focusing on things that matter?  Just a little food for thought for those over-achievers in the crowd... slow down, you're moving too fast (I'm preaching to myself here), smell the coffee, enjoy life, and remember to match your frequency to the reality you want.  Kind of like... Focus ~ Pocus ;))) 06/24/2012

A Magical Moment in Time.  You know them well.  They come to us through incredibly special people in unforgettable places throughout our lives.  I had a few magical moments this past weekend that I will cherish forever.    I had the lovely pleasure of hanging out with my 82 yr old dad on Father's Day.  His name is Mel (too) but most people call him Rusty... I call him Pops.  He's a simple guy who likes to tinker with projects around his 10-acre yard.  He moves a little slower these days and he's becoming a little more forgetful too, which is why I cherish every magical moment between us.   I also had the lovely honor of spending the day with my 26 yr old son, Drew.  It was a special day filled with great pride and happiness, and especially surreal coming off the heels of a tragic event ... 06/22/2012

Need a Chill Pill?  Sometimes things just don't go according to plan.  And when it doesn't, it's best to just swallow a chill pill and accept the things you can't change.  Incidentally, chill pills are the only pills I don't mind swallowing ;)))  Click on this short, yet fabulous video, sit back and enjoy... What a Wonderful World! Ahhh... bright blessed days and dark sacred nights... and I think to myself... What a Wonderful World!   How's that for a Chill Pill?!!! 06/14/2012

It's a Sign!  Have you ever had the experience of showing a home to some Buyers, who upon entering the home for the first time, exclaimed... 'It's a Sign!'  They see something in the home that resonates with them...  it could be a picture on the wall, the style or placement of the Seller's furniture, or something right down to the breed of the Seller's dog trotting around the property.  And when you hear... 'It's a Sign', you immediately draw a conclusion.   When I was in college, I wanted to learn Sign Language so I could be an interpreter for the deaf.  I wasn't good at it... you really gotta have good finger dexterity to pull it off.  I didn't, but I managed to hone my skills as an interpreter for the blind, translating college text books to tape (now we have CDs ;)    There's someth... 06/12/2012

Better Than a Hallelujah!  Sometimes, we need a breather from the daily grind of our stress-filled lives.  I did just that with my gal pals from ActiveRain... Gayle Rich-Boxman and Debb Janes.  And what a glorious three days it was. We camped out in a 5-star hotel at Fishhawk Lake in Gayle's lovely Pacific Northwest home.  Gayle has the gift of gab and hospitality all under one spectacular roof.  We felt pampered, entertained, refreshed and rejuvinated.  It was better than a hallelujah!  I even had the pleasure of visiting with Carla Muss-Jacobs in Portland on the way home.  We had a lovely lunch at Jakes and chatted about everything under the sun and moon ;))) Love you gals... for filling up my soul with hugs, laughter, tears of joy and just plain sillyness!  I so needed it!  You're tr... 06/10/2012

There's a New Standard... at the Station.  You must be willing to sacrifice an Arm, Leg, your Soul and even your Kids for a tank of gas.    There's a New Standard at the Station... and I think there's some twisted truth to it! 06/03/2012

LOVE has no Boundaries, People do!  Recently, a friend told me a story about being raised as a black man in a white neighborhood in the sixties.  It was a time filled with hatred and prejudice.  I asked how he was able to get through it without feeling prejudice himself.  He said his parents taught him that Love has no color.  His comment was so profound to me that it triggered some memories that have been etched in my mind forever. When I was six years old,  my step-father beat me with a dog leash for a period of three years.  He was a Jewish Carpenter who took his anger issues out on me.  I never understood it, but several years later, I learned of another Jewish Carpenter who laid down his life for mine.  Love is not a respecter of persons. When I was 10, I accompanied my mother to t... 06/01/2012

Condos & The Ultimate Protection Plan. One of my agents shared a funny story with me this evening. She has a buyer who is very interested in writing an offer on a condo. However, the complex is not fully occupied and the Condo Association is not yet in place. My agent contacted the bank who funded the development and voiced her concern regarding who would be responsible for the exterior maintenance of the complex. The Banker responded that each condo owner would be responsible. My agent asked what type of protection her buyer would have in the unfortunate event of a leaky roof.  The Banker responded… 'What kind of protection does she need?' Well… Mr. Banker, it works like this… Associations are like condoms, they're used in an effort to thwart potential problems and protect against sur... 05/25/2012

Rockin' the Suburbs... Oh YES, we are!  I just returned from NAR's mid-year legislative conference in Washington DC and what a busy week it was.  My Realtor buddies and I stormed the Capitol sharing important  talking points with our Congressmen on why Homeownership Matters!  But that wasn't the fun part... There were 13,985 Realtors that attended the Rally to Protect the American Dream last Thursday at the Washington Monument in DC.  It was a sunny day with beautiful blue skies, and the landscape of Realtors in blue shirts provided a sea of solidarity.  We were rockin' the suburbs of Washington DC and propagating the message that Homeownership Matters! I've attended many NAR Conferences in my thirteen years of being a Realtor, and I can honestly say that I've taken away something posit... 05/20/2012

RPR doesn't mean... Really Primo Realtor (but it could)!  Rarely do I endorse anything... I like to leave that up to individual preference and choice.  BUT today... I can't help but sing the praises of RPR.  If you're not using this program, it's quite possible you'll be snuffed out by your competition who is! As the President of the Grants Pass MLS, I had the wonderful opportunity to see RPR up close and personal at a NAR Conference two years ago before the program went live.  I knew instantly I wanted it for our Realtor members.  RPR stands for Realtors Property Resource, a parcel-centric database comprised of 117 million properties across America.  The data is compiled from several sources and housed under one address... NARRPR.com.  NAR has spent millions to provide this program to ... 05/03/2012

Making a dent.  This morning, as I was sitting in my car in the drive-through line at the Dutch Bros Coffee House in Grants Pass, a random thought occurred to me... I wanted to pay for the coffee for the people in the car behind me.  I told the Barista what I wanted to do and he smiled and said okay. When I arrived home, I opened my email and there was a quote from Seth Godin saying; 'Are you making a dent in the Universe?'  I chuckled.  Perhaps I made a very small insignificant dent in someone's world this morning by buying them coffee, but I couldn't help but reflect on the bigger picture.  How have I impacted those around me, particularly those who know me?  What mark have I left on the Universe today? We're given so many opportunities each day to make a difference in the lives of o... 04/29/2012

Celebrate Earth Day at Dutch Bros!  There's a party going on at the Dutch Bros Coffee stands around the Pacific Northwest today.  In celebration of Earth Day, Dutch Bros will discount your coffee drink by $1.00 if you bring your own mug! I had a conversation with the Baristas behind the counter this morning, and I asked them what Earth Day meant to them.  'Recycling and being kind to the planet,' was their response.  I smiled, and thought, these kids really have it all together. While I've been a minimalist for most of my life, living in the country, growing my own fruits and vegetables and conserving energy and goods, I still consider myself part of a wasteful generation.  When I think about how we throw away an apple that has a little bruise on it, or cheese with a little mold on it, ... 04/22/2012

Ruthie in the Sky with Diamonds!  Our paths crossed in the virtual world a few years ago.  I was searching keywords for Grants Pass Oregon when I stumbled upon a most interesting blog.  After reading a few lines, I knew I had to do something.   Ruthie is a 55 yr old professional hitchhiker.  She's traveled around North America for over 18 years hitching rides from strangers.  She's an educated soul and she writes with heartfelt imagination, drawing you into her world of fascinating faces and places.  I was touched by her honest mutterings. Ruthie's travels led her through Grants Pass, but not without incident.  She was turned away by a local women's shelter because she didn't meet the 'criteria' for a warm meal and bed.  When I read this, my heart sunk.  How could anyone turn away anoth... 04/17/2012

I'm Gonna Throw Out My Raincoat.  I hope it's all right.  I'm gonna find me a rainbow and hang it up in the sky.  It's raining in the Pacific Northwest.  I guess I can't complain... it's so green and beautiful here ;)  When the sun goes missing for weeks at a time, we find ourselves delighting in simple pleasures, like this song.  I'm gonna find me a rainbow and hang it up in the sky, until the blues pass me by! 04/16/2012

Don't Passover a Hoppin' good time to meet The Active Rain Bunnies!  A special thank you to Richard Yates, for making this cute video for me and some of my favorite bunny friends in the Rain.  You're the best!  You girls had no idea you were so good at shakin' your booty on the bunny trail ;))) Love and Easter Blessings to You from The Active Rain Bunnies! Mel, Gayle, Kris, Mimi & Debb 04/06/2012

I LOVE Happy Short Sale Endings!  This Oregon Short Sale was a bit of doozy.  Mostly because it was a very rural property consisting of 2 homes and a shop on 50+ acres in Glendale, Oregon.  Because the land was more valuable than the structures, it was nearly impossible to obtain buyer financing, with the exception of a hard money loan.  Trying to find an all cash buyer for this Oregon property was like trying to find a needle in haystack.  We knew we needed a miracle. A Miracle Indeed.  After several months of marketing this Oregon property, along came an all cash buyer, and she was totally patient too!  As most of you know, there's rarely anything short about a short sale, except what the bank is willing to accept as a payoff.  And because many banks take an exorbitant amount of time ... 03/29/2012