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Top of the Mountain for the Birthday Banana!

By Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Real Estate AZ Broker BR030809000

December 24, 2010 06:16 AM

Top of the Mountain for the Birthday Banana!

Just a quick update between parties! Yesterday I shared my passion for hiking and how it's a big part of my life - and well being. Read 1st Hiking Post here! In short - I've been unable to hike for almost 2 years due to a foot injury. A couple weeks ago it became clear to me I needed to figure a way back to the top of the hill....no matter what. The goal was to make it to the top by News Years Day 2011.

I made it to the top today! And it's the best birthday present ever! Yahoo Mountain Dew!!!!

We took quite a few pictures and will post them for Christmas. There is a tree about half way up that every year all us hikers bring up decorations. It's so cool to see this tree in the middle of nature. The kids go crazy and love to stop and take the pictures by the tree.

This year somebody also decorated a cactus and he's a big hit for pictures too. Is this a great desert shot or what!!! I love it!

I'm on my way out to a birthday lunch with a bunch of friends .....so I must hustle out of here now.

Happy Holiday to all my Active Rain buds and thanks so much for all the birthday greetings.

Love and Joy!

Santa Anna Banana

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Lottie Kendall

Compass - San Francisco, CA

Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

From one hiker to another -- I can't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday! Happy, happy day, Anna Banana!

Dec 24, 2010 09:00 AM

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

I knew you would get there, I did not know you would do it that fast. What a determination.

Happy birthday!

Dec 24, 2010 09:16 AM

Carra Riley & Declan Kenyon

Brokers Guild Cherry Creek Ltd - Westminster, CO

Helping people Transition at all ages!

Happy Birthday Banana.. this summer we will have to hike the Grand Canyon together! And Merry Christmas too!

Dec 24, 2010 01:55 PM

Rita Fong

RE/MAX REAL ESTATE TODAY, Executive Broker 901-488-9590 - Marion, AR

Realtor - Marion Arkansas Homes for Sale

Anna, Happy Birthday!! What a great way to celebrate your birthday. I also wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2011!!

Dec 24, 2010 03:15 PM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

Best wishes for lots of fun and food with family and friends today. Hope Santa brought you some cool toys, too!

Happy Holidays!

Dec 25, 2010 03:42 AM

Charlottesville Solutions

Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

Just stopped by to wish you and yours a very

Merry Christmas!

From your friend in Charlottesville

Dec 25, 2010 05:21 AM

Ken Barker Realtor® GRI, E-Pro Certified

Dilbeck Real Estate - Burbank, CA

Anna - It is nice to meet a goal, let alone early. Congrats to that and Happy Birthday.

It has been nice meeting you this year on AR and look forward to 2011.

Dec 25, 2010 07:35 AM

Steve Baklaich

RE/MAX Results St Cloud Mn real estate - Saint Cloud, MN

Treating Buyers & Sellers to Full Service Always.

Santa Anna, Happy belated Birthday and Merry Christmas. Glad to see you are getting up the hill again and hope you can continue to do so. I would be going crazy if I could not physically do what I wished to do, as with your hiking. Best wishes for the New Year!

Dec 27, 2010 12:18 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Miss Banana: And a Happy Birthday to You... Santa Banana. It sounds like you are well on your way to another joyous year. I am SO glad you made it to the top of your mountain.

You post said you were "between parties." I am sure you are just rushing to schedule another party... to celebrate your area's newest resident... Miss Bristol Palin and her five bedroom, $172,000 home she purchased. I am not sure just where the city of Maricopa is... the article said it was a city, I thought it was a county. Maybe it is both. Anyhoo... what a festive occasion it will be for you and Sheriff Joe. <smile>

Dec 28, 2010 01:09 AM

Robin Scott

Robin Scott, REALTOR® - Austin, TX

Broker, REALTOR® - Austin Texas

Congratulations! Happy Birthday! and Happy Holidays! Achieving a goal is something to celebrate. May you always be able to hike and climb.

Dec 28, 2010 03:56 AM

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Hey Everyone - thanks so much for stopping by! I got caught up with family and friends this last few days and have missed all my AR buds! I'm back - well almost! Still a few more events to go......

Bob - Would love to do some hiking in Sedona. I know lots of cool places up there!

Jack - thanks so much! Pretty cool Santa!

Joetta - a few days after the holiday but the plan is to post them yet!

Karen/Frank - thanks. It was a blast being back on top. Many more to come!

Jennifer - thanks! The tree is really cool. It's especially fun to see 'out of town' folks come upon it in the middle of nowhere. Alwasy a surprise!

Chris Ann - well not sure it's as fast as I used to but hey - it's all good for me at this point! We used to race each other up and down and try to beat our times. Now it's just nice to be up there again!

VB - haha - you are a funny guy. Next year is the big one for me......yippee skippy!

Toni - thanks!

Dec 28, 2010 07:51 AM

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Wow Bob now that is impressive. 53 in one year. Probaby some big ones I imagine. My little hill is not a big one by any means - unless of course I go down the back side and back up again. That was alwasy my favorite part - and one heck of a workout. Not there yet but I will be this year.

Leah - that mountain calls out to me everyday! It's been saying for 2 years - where are you? Get back up here as soon as you can! What's kind of cool is the same people I've known for years are still hiking - friendly faces year after year.

Cindy - yes it was! And before schedule!!

Lottie - well skiing is always a good way to spend anyday in my book!! I miss that too!!

Jon - I was determined. And it was kind of weird cause the previous day I made it about 1/2 way up and looked up to the top - and thought -good grief - that looks so far away. The next day - done!

Carra - yes the Canyon is one of my favorite places to hike. I really like the North side the best - goreous trees on the way down and not as much traffic.

Thanks Rita - you my dear - are a superstar. I can't tell you how proud I am of you and your continued success on Active Rain. WOW!!!!!

Russel - what a cute pic. And yes Santa was good - and you? Or were you a naughty boy last year!!

Charles - Happy Holidays back to you!

Ken thanks so much! It's been a pleasure getting to know you as well. AR rocks and I have a feeling 2011 is going to be huge!

Steve - thanks! It's great being back up there. Not many hikes in MN - more like long walks, et?

Karen Anne - yes it's been non-stop for days and I'm quite behind on posting and emails (yours as well and I will get back to you!) Bristol, et? Maricopa is a city - way outside of town in the county of Pima! And there is a Maricopa county which is where Phoenix and Scottsdale etc are. Kind of confusing but hey............we've got sherrif joe to keep us straight!

Robin - AMEN to that one!

Dec 28, 2010 08:03 AM

Diane M. Phillips Realtor 443-286-4365

Frankly Real Estate Inc. - Manchester, MD

Specializing in Carroll Co., MD

Anna ~ Happy belated birthday & congrats on your accomplishment!

Dec 28, 2010 03:24 PM

Lori Cain

Own Tulsa - Tulsa, OK

Midtown Tulsa Real Estate Top Producer

What an achiever you are - and with the most positive and infectious spirit. We would expect no less from you than to reach the top of the mountain and celebrate!!

Dec 29, 2010 03:55 PM

Harry F. D'Elia III

WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ

Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

Our entirely family loves to hike on a weekly basis. What is your favorite place to hike?

Dec 30, 2010 02:30 AM

Allison Stewart

St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL

St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Happy Birthday & Happy New Year Top Banana! Congratulations on making it back to the top of the mountain! It is says a lot about our personal fortitude, and overcoming obstacles both personally and professionally. The Santa cactus is great! Love it! & You!

Jan 01, 2011 12:09 AM

Steven Nickens

Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI

R(S)GRI ABR, Maui Real Estate Hawaii

Happy Birthday Anna,

I hope you are taking the day off, go to the spa and treat your self. Here's to an awesome 2011

Aloha,

Steve

Jan 01, 2011 07:53 AM

Susan Neal

RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA

Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Anna, A belated happy birthday and a wonderfully happy new year to you! And I'm glad your foot is doing better.

Jan 01, 2011 03:22 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Anna - a very belated birthday wish from a decade ago. It was nice to see some once-familiar faces from ActiveRain history in this celebratory post where I didn't comment in 2010. Better late than never, right?

Here's hoping you reach three million points soon and in the meantime keep enjoying life and making real estate clients happy. It's one of those things that you do best.

Sep 03, 2020 07:03 AM

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Phoenix, AZ

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Hi Michael Jacobs well thank you kind sir for finding some fun blogs I did 10 years ago and pushing me up the point ladder.. I forgot about this one! I actually would have been over 3M a long time ago....but you know what happened to all of us!!

Sep 03, 2020 03:40 PM