Monday, November 25, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013

This has been a rough year for several of my friends.  My friend Limi's son Leo accidentally shot himself in the eye with a pellet gun (something our parents have always warned about.) He lost the sight in his eye and the pellet is lodged in his brain.  He is paralyzed on his left side.   Another friend has a brain tumor that had been in remission for the past 10 years and reared it's ugly head again.  At the same time, her husband is preparing for a triple by-pass.  Meanwhile another close friend just found out her dog has cancer.  All this at the same time and right before the Holidays. 


My husband and I were thinking about how lucky we are the other day.  He was preparing his annual Thanksgiving gratitude and blessing request for our upcoming feast.  He was also going over our prayer list for all our friends and loved ones going through hard times.   We realized how grateful we really are just for our common everyday lives, filled only with mundane trials and tribulations.    My husband is very familiar with the pain of long term illness and the total disruption of the entire family's lives and sanity with just the initial diagnosis.  His late wife had gone through a long term illness and her pain and passing is recalled easily with others' stories. 


With Everyone in our prayers, we are focused this year on Gratitude and Thankfulness for so many things...

 

One of my agents fought breast cancer and WON this year - she is now cancer free! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! 


My husband had some minor surgery that has made a big improvement in his health!


 


We found a "forever" home for a wonderful little bulldog that had been terribly neglected!


We watched all my husband's grandchildren grow healthy and strong!


We helped several people save their homes from foreclosure! 


We found "dream homes" for quite a few first time buyers!


My husband finally finished his storage shed (albeit it looks more like a "man cave" than a storage shed.) 


We were able to feed and clothe our families and even help feed a few less fortunate!


My friend Annie (87 in Jan) is still walking with me and the dogs EVERY morning - 7 days a week!


My sister and her husband were able to sell their condo and move in their remodeled  "Pool" house! 


My Nephew Noah graduated High School and is embarking on a career as a chef and my friend Cathy's two boys are now attending USC - don't even ask about the tuitions! 


We all managed to get through another year in California without the BIG ONE!


My dogs are all happy and healthy even though they are all on "mature dog" kibble. 


We spent some great quality time with our friends!


Of course I can add a lot more to this list but you get the picture.  As we look forward to Christmas and the New Year, let's look back and count our blessings ..it doesn't hurt to pay it forward either! 


Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! 


We are very grateful for all our friends and neighbors.  Blessings for a safe, healthy and joyous Holiday season. 



Please keep our friends Limi & KC,
 Leo, Gale, Jim and Lulu on your prayer list. 


Thank You!
 
Charlie
310-534-3940

 







 

Friday, November 1, 2013

Chicken Soup For the Dog?

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE DOG?

Halloween is over - thank heavens...now it's time to take down the gaudy and maudlin decor and start preparing for the next holiday season...but wait a minute.   Why am I hearing those arrrgh noises from my dog?  Seems like one or more may have taken part in last nights celebration.  I'm hoping it was just candy and there are no missing children.  

Anyway, I was going to start putting up my fav Thanksgiving sides and such but now I'm thinking... is there such a thing as a chicken soup cure for an ailing dog?  When we're sick, that's what we eat but what do you feed a dog that looks like a really bad New Year's Eve hangover victim?


One of the things I give my dogs every day is a scoop of roasted chicken with vegetables on top of their kibble.  They enjoy it and it provides added nutrients and protein missing from the kibble.  So, why not make some soup for them too?  I'll be right back...

OK, believe it or not, looks like it helps!  All three are now making slurping noises instead of gagging.
Last Christmas one of them opened up a wrapped box of chocolates that was in a gift bag, unwrapped the box, ate the entire box and pushed the empty box under the couch.  Had I not noticed a few errant wrappers by the door, I would never have even thought to check the gift bag.  There's a fine line between smart and not so much.

At least we will be heading to the beach today and not to the vet.  Thank Heavens for Chicken Soup.  It really can soothe the savage beast in more ways than one.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and please, don't let the dogs get a hold of the turkey carcass.  

Blessings for a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving dinner for you and your family.



Click Here for our November Newsletter
Some great information on predictions for the real estate market in 2014 and fun ideas for decorating your Thanksgiving Table too.  It's all good (my friend Sam always says.)


Charlie (Hoffmann) and Rod Russell and whole furry family ;)

Team South Bay Realty
BRE #00769985
24214 Hawthorne Blvd.
Suite B
Torrance, CA 90505
310-378-4440