"I'm still getting to know myself, one experience at a time."
1. What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My very first job was picking berries during the summer to earn spending money for the school year. I quickly learned that I needed to do well in school so I could earn a living with my brain instead of my brawn. I like physical activity, but not physical labor.
2. How long have you been in the real estate or related service industry?
I was in the real estate business for 30 years before retiring in 2011. My specialties were: primary residential, multi-family, and property management.
3. What is your biggest fear and what have you done to try to conquer it?
Many years ago I went to the Anthony Robbins weekend Firewalk seminar. I did the Firewalk and it was a powerful experience in learning how to break through fear barriers. It really was quite effective. That said, there isn't much I'm afraid of except bees and snakes, both of which could kill me. Specifically, regarding snakes, I don't like seeing them in pictures, on TV, or even at the zoo. I've never made any effort to overcome that fear and don't have any plans to do so. I don't like snakes and never will.
4. What would you do if you knew you would not fail?
I have an idea for a membership-based website. It's a little late in my life to be doing it but I believe in the concept so I'll probably do it anyway.
5. What is a habit you would love to eliminate or change?
I am a procrastinator. I don't like that I am that way but it kind of works for me. I get inspired under the pressure of deadlines.
6. What is your favorite meal (forget about calories or what you shouldn’t eat)
My favorite meal changes based on my mood. If I was on death row and offered a "last meal" of my choice I'd probably go with Chinese food. Kung Pao Chicken, prawns, and chow mein with lo mein noodles. I'd finish it off with a big chunk of carrot cake. There would also be a wine involved, maybe a Riesling or Pinot Grigio. I also love Italian food and a good Seafood Boil.
7. What is something you wish you’d done?
I wish I had asked my parents and grandparents more questions. Unfortunately, they were gone before I got old enough to be aware of such things.
8. Who has been most influential in your life?
That would be my Aunt Dorothy. It was her and my Uncle (Dad's brother) who took my brother and me in after our parents died. My Aunt was very influential in everything I did. My Uncle was supportive (if that's the word) but he wasn't what I'd call "involved".
9. What are your favorite business-related books?
I have a lot of favorite business books. I believe Think & Grow Rich and How to Win Friends and Influence People should be on everyone's reading list. Other than those, some of my favorites are The One Thing, Essentialism, Atomic Habits, and The Compound Effect. So many more.
10. Other than business books what are your favorite things to read?
Most of my reading, other than blogs, is done in my car via audiobooks. I used to listen to a lot of business-related stuff but my brain got full and tired so I have mostly switched to novels. Once I start a series I tend to stick with it until the last book. I love all of Mimi Foster's books. I also enjoy anything by: Sue Grafton, Dorothea Benton Frank, Susan Boyer, Rachel Hannah, Mary Higgins Clark, Fern Michaels, Jan Moran, and Deborah Brown. I used to enjoy everything by John Grisham, James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell but I tend to go for the lighter reads now.
11. What are your 5 favorite movies?
On Golden Pond, Legally Blonde, Rambo First Blood, 50 First Dates, The Gods Must Be Crazy. I enjoy anything with Tom Hanks and Reece Witherspoon.
12. If I came to visit your city for one day what is the one thing I must do or see?
It would depend on the time of year. If it is now (Spring) I'd take you for a drive around the Valley to see all of the beautiful fruit blossoms. I might take you for a tour of an apple packing plant and buy you some truly fresh fruit.
13. If I came to your city to visit for one day what is the one restaurant you would recommend?
One of my favorites is The Thai Restaurant. Yes, that's the name of it. All their food is good and the brown rice is to die for, even tho I'm not really a rice fan.
14. If I was going to relocate to your area what advice would you give me that is unique to the area?
If you were going to buy a house in this area I'd tell you to be sure it has "irrigation" water rights for watering your yard. We have a hot, dry climate in the summer and domestic water can get very expensive.
15. Do you have any special talents?
I don't think I have any "special" talents but I'm good at a few things. I am naturally athletic so I've enjoyed that about my life.
16 Do you have any quirks?
I have a few quirks. One of them is that I don't throw my silverware (which isn't actually real silver) willy nilly in the utensil divider. I stack them all very neatly. I also separate the various utensils in the dishwasher. It makes it a lot easier to put them away. I also make sure all the labels are forward in my pantry. And, my linen closet is always stacked neatly. Maybe that's not quirky but I've seen some pretty messy linen closets. I also line up my clothes in the closet by color. Don't ask me about my office, though. That's an area I find impossible to keep organized.
17. What is your best character trait?
I'd say my ability to find silver linings in the dark clouds of life is one of my best traits. And, I'm almost always able to find humor in the difficult.
18. Have you ever done anything you would never do again because it was too hard or too dangerous?
I can't say I've done anything too dangerous that I wouldn't do again. But I have done a few things I would never do again because they were quite difficult.
As many of you know, I used to be a pretty good seamstress. I never sewed professionally but I made a lot of my own clothes during my school years and entered a lot of competitions. One of my projects was a leather jacket. When you're working with leather there is NO room for errors. Once the needle goes through the leather it can't be undone like with regular fabric. When you're working with 4 layers of leather (like around the collar and placket) the difficulty increases dramatically. It is something I'd never do again but turned out beautifully and was one of my greatest accomplishments in the sewing world.
19. What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
As most of you know, I like to golf. Other than that I like to write and travel and I enjoy photography.
20. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you want to live?
I have traveled many places and there are times of the year I'd like to be somewhere else but, all things considered, I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather have as a home base. The Featured picture above is one of our lovely sunsets. If someone gave me a second home anywhere I choose it would be in the Palm Springs / Palm Desert area of California or maybe Arizona.
21. What is something that we don’t know about you that would surprise us?
I don't think there is anything left to reveal about myself that I haven't written about before. Like a few others have revealed in their Challenge post this month, I am naturally shy. I have learned over the years how to overcome that and enjoy the benefits of being more outgoing and unafraid to try new things.
This is my entry into the May ActiveRain Challenge: Getting To Know You co-hosted by Kathy Streib and myself.
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