: November 2007

When I suggested sushi, I wasn't sure how it would go over. When you meet someone for the first time and they ask you to recommend a restaurant, it can be a tricky proposition. Sushi isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Lucky for me that Joey Aszterbaum, the Hemet Home Loan Guy, thought it was a great idea. Joey is one of several folks I've been in contact with in the rain. When we had lunch together at The Sushi House in Temecula, it was the first time I have had an "in person" meeting with one of them.

Joey "gets it". He embodies the true spirit of activerain. He cares about his clients, he sees the value in blogging and is a terrific contributor. He has a wealth of knowledge of the mortgage industry and is more than happy to share his expertise.

This won't be our last get together. I think we decided next time we'll try Thai food.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

I don't know who originated the saying, but I have an Attitude of Gratitude. M.J. Ryan has written a book on the subject. Today, I am grateful:

• For my good health
  
• For my friends and family
• For having discovered active rain and all the new friends I have made here and all I continue to learn here
• For the beauty all around me
• For my spirit of curiosity and sense of adventure
• For my love of music, art and the written word

Have you counted your blessings today? If not, you'll be amazed how much better you'll feel after you do. Here's wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving. I'm extremely grateful for you.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

If you're a junk food junkie, you might want to take a pass on this post.

Today, we're talking about slow food. Yep, there is an actual slow food movement. With more than  80,000 members, Slow Food USA strives to educate the public about the choices they make in  the foods they eat. They believe in using fresh, local, organic foods and in taking the time to prepare them so they are tasty and wholesome. They also believe in celebrating food and taking the time to savor it and share time with others while dining.

Slow Food USA has over 170 local chapters across the US, each called a convivium collectively convivia. Today's Press-Enterprise featured an article about slow food. The Castle has embraced the movement, and Slow Food Temecula Valley will hold a free membership party Tuesday November 20 at 6pm at The Temecula Valley Cheese Company on 5th Street in Old Town. My taste-buds and I are looking forward to being there.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

A few weeks ago, I spent most of a week at the Rancho La Puerta spa in Tecate, Mexico. For a little background, read Things Don't Always Work Out The Way You Plan Them. I left Monday and returned Wednesday to finish the week there. What a gift it was for me. Not only did I have the opportunity to spend time at a heavenly place, I got to spend time with two of my photography mentors, Neil & Susan Silverman. Besides being spectacularly gifted photographers, they are excellent teachers.

I heard Neil Solomon talk about the bald eagles of Homer, Alaska and saw the incredible photographs he shot there. I took a two mile hike to the Tres Estrellas organic farm and had a delicious breakfast at the brand new Cocina Que Canta (Kitchen That Sings) cooking school. I took advantage of the jacuzzi and sauna, got a massage, took a stretch class and ate delicious, mostly vegetarian food. I'm already looking forward to going back next year. Let me share some of the photos I took. In two of them, you'll see a technique I picked I learned from Neil & Susan.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

I was so touched when I saw this that I felt compelled to write a post about it. You may think comparing humans to dogs is a stretch, but to me it's all about handling adversity and overcoming obstacles. I saw a move called Pass It On the other day. One statement that really stuck with me came from a blind man who said if he were given a choice between having his sight or having vision, that he would choose vision.

Are you letting a changing market stop you? Or do you choose to tackle the challenge and find different ways to succeed?

Tom Plant - Murrieta Real Estate Expert - GRI, ePRO (951) 907-9701

We struggle for balance year 'round, but as the holidays arrive, the balancing act becomes just a bit trickier. I look at it as a fabulous opportunity.

It's an opportunity to re-evaluate our priorities. Have we gotten off track? Are we spending too much time at the office, at the keyboard, chasing our tails at the sake of family and friends?

Let this be a time to pick up the phone and let the people that matter to you know how much you love them and what they mean to you. Hug your husband, your wife, your children, your friends. Practice random acts of kiindness. Help those less fortunate. Do the human race proud.

Thanks to friend Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate, I'm now a member of cre8buzz, a new and rapidly growing social network. Read more on Bill's blog, Cre8Buzz! ~ Increase Your Internet Exposure ~ Be Seen..Be heard..Be found.

While there, I saw several cool widgets and noticed they were available at SpringWidgets. SpringWidgets describes itself as "a widget engine for the desktop and the web." You can browse dozens of categories of widgets, create a custom widget, or upload one of yours. Pay them a visit. I don't think you'll go away empty-handed.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

Tecate, Mexico. We had no idea the fires had come so close. We are at the serene and incredible Rancho La Puerta. Not only did the Southern California fires come close, they consumed a few of the villas here. The hillsides are scorched, and we passed several fire department base camps on the way and the smell of smoke is still a constant reminder.

That, however, is not why I am posting this. We're heading home, not because of the fires, but because Debbie's body is paying the toll for neglecting her sore knees and bad achilles tendons. She winces with every step. She focused so much energy on last Thursday's concert (a grand success, by the way) that she neglected to take care of herself. We'll return here. It's a magical, healing place. For now, it's time to head home where her longest walk will be from the kitchen to the bedroom. More to come when I get home. I'll leave you with last night's sunset.

(EDIT: Rancho la Puerta is open for business and running like a clock. The only reason we left early was because of Debbie's health. Don't let the fire deter you from your visit!)

Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Tom Plant -(951) 907-9701

I just wanted to say "see you later". Debbie and I are driving to Tecate, Mexico (yes, where they make the beer!) to spend a week at the Rancho La Puerta spa. You will likely not see me in the rain for a week, but I will be working on three contest entries! I look forward to returning with a freshly charged set of batteries. Be well.