- What was your first job and what did you learn from it? I worked at a large horse farm near my house starting around age 12 or so. I was big into being an equestrian and had my own horse. I was there most days after school doing a variety of things, and certainly learned a bit about being responsible, showing up on time, balancing a job and school, and how to interact with adults (other clients of the farm owners). When I got older, and was a more experienced equestrian, I was able to give riding lessons, too.
- How long have you been in the real estate or related service industry? Since June 2002 in Boston (RE/MAX Destiny in Cambridge’s Harvard Square), and June 2005 in California
- What is your biggest fear and what have you done to try to conquer it? Snakes are up there on the list but I am particularly fearful of spiders, no matter what size. The bigger ones really creep me out. There’s nothing to conquer – I don’t like them, plain and simple! The grandkids think this is hilarious. I don’t!
- What would you do if you knew you would not fail? We really enjoyed having our art gallery back in Boston for 3 years so would likely open one again if time and finances permitted.
- What is a habit you would love to eliminate or change? I can procrastinate from time to time, but have gotten better about not doing this. I’m still procrastinating about changing this habit, and probably always will.
- What is your favorite meal (forget about calories or what you shouldn’t eat). Homemade pasta…mine or anyone else’s. And I’ve never met a chocolate I didn’t like. It’s #1 on my personal major food groups list. So give me pasta followed by something chocolate and I’m a pretty happy foodie.
- What is something you wish you’d done? There isn’t anything in particular that comes to mind. I’ve done a lot and am pretty happy with my life. But it's something to ponder as life moves along and there is less time remaining! You never know what might strike my fancy.
- Who has been most influential in your life? My wife, in so many ways!
- What are your favorite business-related books? Can’t say there are particular favorites, but I liked the The E-Myth, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Who Moved My Cheese, and The Seven Deadly Sins of Sales.
- Other than business books what are your favorite things to read? I enjoy reading murder mysteries.
- What are your top 5 favorite movies? I don’t watch a lot of movies, and haven’t actually been in a movie theater for several decades! But what first comes to mind: White Christmas (every year), Soapdish, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Young Frankenstein, and Singing in the Rain.
- If I came to visit your city for one day what is the one thing I must do or see? See me, and take a walk on the beach, particularly at sunset – there are 7 miles to enjoy!
- If I came to your city to visit for one day what is the one restaurant you would recommend? If you visit longer I get to pick more restaurants! There are so many to enjoy (yes, there are some I would NOT recommend). But if I have to name just 1, let’s go with award-winning: Jeune et Jolie, a Michelin 1 Star restaurant in Carlsbad Village. My treat! But if you crave fresh seafood, Bluewater Grill!
- If I was going to relocate to your area what advice would you give me that is unique to the area? If you are going to freak out about potential earthquakes, possible wildfires, serious drought, lots of traffic, and high prices, perhaps rethink your options. But we sure have great weather, most of the time!! I love where I live and am always happy to share what I know.
- Do you have any special talents? Sad to say if I do they’ve been hidden from view. I keep looking, and hoping something will appear.
- Do you have any quirks? I have a really tough time when I see art work on the wall that is crooked. I have to resist the strong temptation to fix it when showing houses, or even when touring galleries. But of course I don’t! I think it comes from all the hours I spent hanging hundreds of paintings in our art gallery back in Boston, and wanting everything just right for visitors/clients and art magazine photographers!
- What is your best character trait? I’m a pretty humble person, actually, and unpretentious.
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Have you ever done anything you would never do again because it was too hard or too dangerous? Well, never is a long time. But riding a bike with several thousand people from Boston to NY City (325 miles) for an AIDS Benefit over 3 days was a pretty intense life experience. And I hadn’t been on a bike for several decades – I had to buy a bike and train in 3 months to prepare. And then I did it again the following year from NY to Boston over 4 days (350 miles). Would I make a long ride like this a 3rd time? I doubt it.
NOTE: The photo at the top was taken of me while riding through Connecticut along the coast on the 2nd bike ride, Day 2.
I would add hitchhiking, sometimes by myself, when I was in college in Ohio, heading back to the East Coast. It was a dumb thing to do. Not doing that ever again!
- What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time? I don’t think of it as spare time, but time for me! Spending time at the beach. And visiting our kids and grandkids in Los Angeles when their, and our, busy schedules don’t conflict. They are close enough for a day trip.
- If you could live anywhere in the world where would you want to live? I’d want to be near my daughters and their families, so unless they move somewhere away from LA we are here to stay. I could enjoy having a house on the beach again, however! And maybe living in Boston part of the year (but NOT the winter part!). This used to be our vacation house on Lt. Island in Wellfleet (Cape Cod), MA - we sold it before relocating to CA in 2005.
- What is something that we don’t know about you that would surprise us? I worked for about 4 years in the Child Psychiatry Department (infant/toddler unit) at the Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston while finishing up my PhD in Developmental Psychology at Wayne State University in Detroit. It was pretty intense but I later decided working in a medical facility was not for me, and moved into the Corporate Human Resources field, starting with National Car Rental at their headquarters in Minneapolis.
Well, I've certainly said enough about me. Hopefully I didn't bore you to tears!
Thanks Kathy Streib and Carol Williams for hosting such a fun challenge. It's been fun reading all the posts!
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