Kenmore Undressed

OK, I’m Taking the Evening Off from Blogging….Sort of….

I am anxiously awaiting the December month-end real estate statistics for Kenmore from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). They should be out tomorrow and, my dear readers, you know how excited I get about crunching the numbers, placing fancy graphs on my blog and then trying to make sense of it all. BUT, tonight, I’m pouring myself a nice drink and I’m going to sit back, relax and enjoy one of my favorite TV programs:

Yes, I absolutely worship Anthony Bourdain’s program “No Reservations” on the Travel Channel. I love it for a number of reasons but the the first is: Anthony reminds me of all the irreverent, profane, gruff, pushy, in-your-face, arrogant, impatient, blasphemous (debauched/drug-addled), nutty cooks I used to work with in the restaurant business. And I confess, I was one of them. It’s a tough, blue-collar job. Make no mistake about it. The second reason: Anthony has written eloquently about the restaurant business in his two wonderfully candid books:

and

If you want to know more about these two excellent books and the “underbelly” of the restaurant business, just click on the pictures for some interesting reviews.

Finally, the third reason I love Anthony is because his program, “No Reservations” is, in my opinion, one of the best TV travel/food experiences ever. Anthony’s pushy New York bravado and his sometimes misanthropic tone make you hate him at times. He can be a real cynical jerk. BUT, there are more times when, after eating at the table of a humble family, his defenses drop and he’s absorbed into the country and cuisine he so obviously loves. He seems to have a love affair with food that transcends culture, boarders and the craziness that makes us human. So, goodbye for now, I’m going to watch Anthony in Mexico!!!!! Adios!!!

Click on the picture below to find out more about NO RESERVATIONS

Some Really Cool Things I Learned in 2008 - My Brain Hurts!!!

BLOGGING

I began blogging in April as a means to advertise my real estate business. At that time it was simply a dollars and cents decision. I thought it would be less expensive than print advertising (which didn’t seem to be very effective anymore). What I didn’t realize was how blogging would fundamentally change my perspective about EVERYTHING! It started out as a high-tech way to convey real estate statistics and talk about the market (not too exciting). It has ended up being far more than that:

1) It has become the creative outlet I’ve always wanted: writing, interviewing, interacting, taking pictures, educating, journaling and philosophizing ALL IN ONE PLACE!!!!!

2) Blogging has made me smarter. Really!!!  Just ask my wife. Strike that, just take my word for it!

3) Blogging forced me to incorporate a lot of new, useful tools and skills such as google, the “blogosphere” and social networking. We really are living in a hyper-connected world.

ITALY & ITALIAN

My wife, Virginia, and I first visited Italy in 1981 during a foreign exchange program in Kiel, Germany. My mother wanted me to visit our Italian relatives while we were in Europe as none of our immediate family had ever gone back to the “fatherland.” Needless to say, my family was wonderful. The funny thing is, it took us 25 years to return. In 2006 we went back for one month and discovered just how wonderful my families are (my mother’s family in Torino and my father’s family in Lucca). At that time we started learning Italian in earnest. We returned this last summer (August-September) for five weeks and during this visit we celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary in Torino. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. I was with the woman I love, in a country of unfathomable beauty, celebrating with some of the most joyous people on earth: my Italian family. Good times! Today, Virginia and I can speak and understand enough Italian to be quasi-functional. I’m glad my family is understanding……

MY READING LIST

I’m a NON-FICTION reader these days. This is ironic because I studied Greek, Latin and Comparative Literature in college. I love all sorts of literature, but there’s nothing I like more than reading about the anthropology of this or the economics of that. Hey, I used to like Classical music but now I listen to Korn and Marilyn Manson………things change. So, here’s my reading list for 2008. If you click on the individual book pictures, you will be taken to some interesting reviews:

I read some utterly fascinating books in 2008. As you can see, I have a penchant for reading books about “how people/organizations/cultures work. I can still remember being knocked-over by the late anthropologist, Marvin Harris’ “Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches” way back when. I was hooked.

TECHNOLOGY STUFF

ALL THINGS GOOGLE - Google has become the most powerful player in the world of the Internet. If you are not already connected with several of the tools Google offers, I highly recommend you consider using the following:

GMAIL - Easy to use and universally accessible, having a email account through Google is one of those basics we all should have.

GOOGLE READER - As a blogger, I scan a huge number of publications every day. This seemingly difficult, time consuming chore is simplified by setting up a Google Reader. Click here to learn more.

GOOGLE ALERT - If you want to know if your name or other important word comes up on a google search, set up a Google Alert. I have mine set to inform me when the words Lupori and Kenmore are referenced in cyberspace. As a result, I’ve made contact with some Argentine folks who are also Luporis. As it happens, their ancestors come from a town close to my relatives in Tuscany. Wow, who would have thought…….

Google has a huge number of tools. Go there and find out for yourself. By the way, most everything in Google is FREE!

FLICKR.COM

Flickr.com is a Yahoo product that allows you to download your pictures (and video) from anywhere in the world to your own, personalized site. There you can edit, organize and store your photography. You can also see literally millions of other pictures from around the world. This is an amazing tool if you do a lot of traveling as you can safely put your pictures into Flickr.com. If you lose your camera, your pictures will be on Flickr when you get home. For $25 a year, you can download an unlimited number of pictures. It’s free to set up. How cool is that????

HOW FORTUNATE I AM

I’ve been a very fortunate man over the years. I’ll be 50 in April and, other than the gray hair (which I blame on my wife) I feel pretty good. How many guys can say they look good in an apron (a red one at that)? My greatest strength and gift in the world has been my beautiful wife, Virginia. We’ve been together almost 30 years and we’ve done a lot of wonderful things together. How she puts up with me, I’ll never know…….but I’m damn lucky to have met her.

We are living in extraordinary times. I have a sense that adversity will bring all Americans closer together and in that coming-together we will find new strength and vision. My most sincere hope is that the coming year will bring you all good health, joy and prosperity.

The Realtor Code of Ethics: Inspiration for Tough Times

“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou Canst not then be false to any man. Farewell, my blessing season this in thee.”

Polonius          Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78–82

At the end of every year we all have license to get a little philosophical. 2008 is exceptional in this regard. There is a LOT to get philosophical about: war, failing economy, real estate bubble burst, starvation in Africa, car company crashes, never-ending election campaigns, and on and on. It’s simply overwhelming. If none of this has touched you personally, you’re not paying enough attention!

On a very personal level, I can’t remember a time in my life when the troubles of the world were more evident. Nor can I remember a time when I have felt more powerless to change the circumstances around me. In my professional life as a real estate agent/professional, it has been an extremely tough year. Sales are at a standstill and, simply put, there’s not much I can do about it. Yet, I cannot nor will I blame myself…………..The economics simply are not working right now. Yet, today I was truly inspired by the most unlikely of documents: The Realtor’s Code of Ethics. It’s one of those high-minded pieces of literature that only insiders read, but revisiting it made me re-focus on why I’m a real estate agent. Here’s the first paragraph of the Preamble:

Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. REALTORS should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment.

These words impressed me because they reach beyond the real estate profession. The code of ethics by which Realtors operate are also those that should guide everyone in America. You know, we are all in this together. I think Americans forget this fact. We tend to be an independent lot; however, I think this virulent frontier mentality blinds us to the needs and problems of others. My most sincere hope is that new leadership in the White house can move this nation on a new course of true stewardship and compassion.

Shall We Dance? Pondering Argentine Tango

Today was a classic snow day! I hate the snow, but I love an excuse to relax and enjoy some of my favorite pass times: reading and watching movies. Earlier today I finished an excellent book entitled ”Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell (more about this in a future post). I also watched an interesting, yet dark movie entitled “Assassination Tango.”

Assassination Tango is a complex thriller, written by and starring Robert Duvall who plays John J. Anderson, a professional hit man from NYC who is hired to do a job in Argentina. There he discovers the world of Argentine Tango which consumes him even though he’s a cold hearted killer. It’s a story full of irony, violence and sublime dancing sequences. I highly recommend the movie (although Rotten Tomatoes only rated it a 48). Robert Duvall is brilliant. He can also dance the tango pretty well.

My wife and I have been dancing Argentine Tango (and Ballroom) for many years. If you ever have a chance to learn a little tango, just do it!!! By the way, one of the best scenes in the movie is during the closing credits. I’ve included this scene below. This dance features Pablo Varon one of the most accomplished Tango dancers today. Watch it and ponder the Tango………………………….stunning, passionate, life!

This is an amazing example of the Tango.

Your Money or Your Life? Personal Money Management on Steroids

Joe Dominguez, one of the authors of Your Money or Your Life, grew up poor in Spanish Harlem. Even as a boy he observed that the poor kids were just as happy as the rich kids. He realized that money wasn’t the magical cure to every ill. Many years later, he and his partner Vicki Robin were the force behind the Voluntary Simplicity movement that many Americans adopted in order to fend of the disease they called “Affluenza.” The amazing thing is that the principles of living simply would be instantly recognizable by people who grew up during the depression: live within your means, reuse, repair, recycle…..it’s not complicated stuff. Unfortunately, we’ve forgotten these simple skills. The problem lies in our cultural DNA. We are a nation of consumers. This character flaw was epitomized by George Bush when, in the midst of national chaos and impending war, he told us to enjoy life and go shopping.  

Today, more than ever, it’s time for Americans to take a cold hard look at their lives and choose between the prison of never-ending consumption and debt or common-sense frugality and financial freedom. Anyone wrestling with these issues should obain a copy of Your Money or Your Life (there are a lot of copies available free at the library!!!!) and transform their relationship with money. For more information just click on the picture below:

A Mini Vacation to Italy: I Needed a Break

I received a quick email from a friend who just got back from a vacation in Italy. Quote: “We reluctantly returned today………” He and his wife had visited Lucca which happens to be the main town in the province where my relatives live (on my father’s side). My wife and I visited there this August so hearing about Italy made my heart race. Here’s why:

These are all pictures of the area around Lucca. Oh, how I miss it!!! Anyway, I’ve attached a very nice “real estate” clip from YouTube so you can get a feeling for Tuscany. By the way, if you’re in the market to buy a nice villa in Italy, I know a good agent!! Just click on the picture below for a mini vacation. I could sure use one right now!

Stay Inspired with Edward R. Murrow’s “This I Believe”

What do you believe? I don’t mean your religious dogma. If you could express your most powerfully held individual beliefs derived from your experiences and motivations in life, what would you tell the world? How would you do this? Read further for an answer: 

In 2005 one of the most inspiring and insightful radio programs of the last century was revived by two producers connected with National Public Radio, Dan Gediman and Jay Allison. This I Believe was created by Edward R. Murrow and was broadcast on CBS Radio from 1951-1955. The show featured five-minute essays by both famous and regular folks read over the air and broadcast on many CBS stations, on the Voice of America and on the U.S. Armed Forces Network to over 97 foreign countries. Over the years, several print versions of the essays were published (see Wikipedia for more details).Edward R. Murrow claims to have been motivated to create the series for “obvious reasons:” …the uncertainty of the economic future, the shadow of war, the atom bomb, army service for one’s self or loved ones, the frustration of young people facing the future. To illustrate the power of these short three-minute essays I’ve included one of my favorite segments. Click on the photo below to hear the reader’s voice and read his words:

I am not a “spiritual” person which disturbs one of my good friends. One day he asked me, exasperated, “James, what do you turn to when you feel despair or pain? You must have a something to turn to!” The fact is, I find solace in knowing that the human experience is crafted by humans, for better or worse. There is freedom in knowing that, ultimately, we must face reality with courage, insatiable curiosity and laughter. Our job as human beings is to create a better world, here and now for the living not the dead.If you want to learn more about THIS I BELIEVE, just click on the picture below. I’m positive you will find many an essay that will inspire and move you:

Built to Last: A House in Sardenia

Yesterday I asked the question: How Long Should a House Last? Most of my colleagues and friends thought houses generally last about 50-100 years. I thought you might find it interesting to see how homes are constructed in Italy. I was fortunate to meet friends of my family on the island of Sardegna who are currently building a new home. They were quite gracious in allowing me to take some pictures of the work-in-progress. I’m not familiar with the way homes are built throughtout the US, but I have seen enough construction over the years to know that most homes are not built like this:

All the homes are built with these terra cotta-like blocks. They have a honeycomb structure in the inside. You can see this in the picture below:

One of the things I wondered about was how plumbing and electrical systems were placed in the walls and floors. In a stick-built home the electrical & plumbing is added before the walls are completed. Well, the Italians put the wall up and then chistle grooves right into the block, then cover the wiring or pipes with a cement grout.

The hot and cold lines run on the floor. Ultimately, these pipes will be covered with a cement product and over that, the tile floor will be installed. I was amazed by the quality of this work.

Homes in Sardegna have beautiful facades. Here in the northwest many of the ornamental rockwork is a resin product.

As you can tell, this is going to be a beautiful home. I suspect this home will last for several generations.

July 4th Celebrations: Northshore Freedom Fest and the Kenmore Concert Series

Celebrate this 4th of July Season in Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville. Just click on the poster above to see the events posters for the Kenmore Summer Concert Series and The Northshore Freedom Fest. Let’s home the thunderstorms and rain pass by today for all those barbeques and family get-togethers!