THANKSGIVING IS FOR EVERY DAY

Pine Cone Baskets for some friends

Thanksgiving … a time to be grateful, a time for family, a time for celebration.  But, what if you didn’t have a family or a turkey or a place to call home?  Could you still be thankful?  Thanksgiving reminds me of a story I once heard about a young man trying to get home for his family Thanksgiving Dinner.  He lived in New York and was taking the subway.  Everything got in his way that day and he was late and getting more and more frustrated. Now the subway train seemed to be stalled, just one more problem.  He wondered why the universe was trying to ruin his Thanksgiving.  It was looking more and more like he wouldn’t make it to his family home in time for dinner.  On top of that, there were four young kids running wildly around in the subway car, screaming and pushing and irritating everyone.  The man they appeared to be with, probably their Dad, was just sitting there.  He didn’t say a word to them as they carried on .  Finally the frustrated traveler had enough and approached the male chaperone of this wild bunch.  “Excuse me sir,” he said, “can’t you do anything about these kids?  They are irritating everyone.”  The man just shrugged and shook his head.  “I don’t know what to do” he said, “we just buried their Mom.  We’re heading back now from the services and they haven’t eaten and they’re upset.  Mom had promised a big turkey for Thanksgiving but her health didn’t hold out. Now I’m not sure what we’re going to do.”  The young man held back a tear.  “Hold on,” he said, “let me make a call.”  He called his folks and told them about this family.  He came from a very big family himself and they always had plenty of food.  He knew they would have enough for this man and his kids.  The young man’s Mom said “Please bring them home.”   He escorted the family to his folk’s home where everyone welcomed them.  The man was so grateful for his help.  The kids told stories about their Mom and the families remained friends long after the holidays.  Sometimes we need only look outside our busy little worlds to appreciate the reasons we all have to be thankful all the time, not just at Thanksgiving but for every day.        

My Honey For Whom I Am Most Grateful ;)

            

Turkey Soup for the Soul

Puppy Playdate

Friends Forever

My Baby

Charlie, Rod and the whole Russell household  wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas ... May your 2015 far exceed your 2014 in joy, happiness, love and big wet sloppy kisses from fur and non-fur admirers.  God Bless!      







Team South Bay Realty
24022 Vista Montana - Suite A
Torrance, CA 90505
310-378-4440 
BRE# 00769985

Lessons from Tornado Alley

The MAN CAVE

The last few weeks have been too hot for my taste.  Growing up in Chicago, I hated the hot, muggy summer months.  That’s the reason I live in California now and not Illinois.  During those months, there was almost always an impending tornado just waiting to swoop down on us.  We actually had a storm cellar and were all schooled on how to use it.  As soon as the sky blackened overhead (which was usually right in the middle of a backyard picnic) we headed down the stairs into the basement.  Yes, everyone had a basement in Chicago.  We would pool our refreshments into the cellar area and wait it out.  The cellar was different from the basement.  It was in the far southeast corner of the building supported by the foundation on two sides with heavy wooden doors that closed tight.  It was rank and musty and probably more dangerous than the tornado if you had asthma.  It did serve its purpose though.  One summer, we lost an entire block of houses just one block east of us.  Lake Michigan was east of our town (a little southwest suburb called Berwyn) and the storms would pool from over the lake and head out our way.  We’d hunker down in that cellar with a single light bulb hanging from a bare wire in the ceiling and wait it out.  They don’t build cellars out here in California but they do have something similar – in our house it’s called a “Man Cave.”   It’s the place my hubby heads out to hunker down when we have a tornado brewing.  Of course that’s usually just me having a hissy over something, not involving any atmospheric pressure or turbulence.  The cellar and the man cave serve the same purpose though.  Keeps everyone safe and cool and usually provides solace in a place that generally includes beverages of choice for the duration.  Muggy, hot weather in California also brings earthquakes, or so it seems.  I just refilled my emergency kit with all the necessities in case we have the big one.  Being a 

CERT Training in Redondo Beach

Certified Emergency Response Team member, I’m always worried about these things.  So, my sage advice this month is to stock your cellar (or man cave/storage shed) with emergency supplies just in case we have an “event.”  My husband likes to help me with the emergency supplies.  I just don’t know how Jack Daniels became “medically necessary” for the first aid kit but maybe I missed that in my CERT training.  Anyway, remember – if you live in “shake and bake” country or even in “tornado alley” you need to be ready for a big event.  Don’t chance it – you can always use the water supplies and eat the canned goods later as you rotate your stock.   Nothing goes to waste – especially the Jack Daniels …it’s a Man Cave

 

Thing!  You might want to check out CERT training in your area too.  It doesn't hurt to know how to function under pressure in an emergency and to protect your loved ones and fur people as well. 

Charlie Hoffmann/Team South Bay Realty

Mother's Day Dos and Don'ts

First of all, I’m not a Mother – at least not to tiny humans.  If fur people count, Motherhood has been my blessing for sure.  Of course we all “mother” to some extent (whether male or female) but Mother as a noun and not a verb is what we reflect upon this time of year. 

People ask me all the time “do you have any kids?”   Bad Question – I always answer “Not that I know of.”  That answer always brings a wrinkly forehead to the questioner.  Of course there were those somewhat unremembered days in the 60’s, but I digress.  It’s not polite to ask that question.  People usually ask because they want to tell you about their kids, grandkids, great grandkids.  I actually inherited a few grandkids when I married my husband but that doesn’t really count.  Motherhood and/or Grandmotherhood  is more in the “being” than the “doing.” 

My role model for a Mother is my wonderful friend Annie.  She’s my morning walk buddy.  For the last six or seven years (I’ve lost count) we walk every single morning.  We start out at 6:00 a.m. and walk my dogs (she doesn’t have any.)  We discuss politics, crime, relatives, dog poop…we sing songs, reminisce about earlier times and laugh a lot.  We’re probably a tad loud because neighbors have asked me “what in heaven’s name could possibly be so funny to cackle about at Odark30?”  The answer, I guess, is life.  Annie has 7 children that she knows of…and many grandchildren and great grandchildren (I’ve kind of lost track, they just keep coming.)  She’s outlived two husbands that she dearly loved and Annie loves her kids, all of them.  Some make her crazy from time to time but it doesn’t matter, she’s THE MOM.  I listen but I don’t presume or comment.  I learned a long time ago you don’t ever advise a MOM on how to raise or handle her kids, no matter what “pearl of wisdom” you think you must provide.  In turn, Annie doesn’t tell me how to handle my dogs or cats or husband either.  It’s all good!  I listen to the wonderful stories about Annie’s kids and I remember my own childhood.  I marvel at how Moms survive all the drama, disappointment and stress.  I guess it’s the laughter and love and tears of joy that sustain. 

This Mother’s Day, tell the Moms you know how much you admire them.  Don’t ask females you’ve just met if they have any kids (they’ll tell you in good time if they do.)  Kiss your Mom if she’s still with you and remember what a snotty little brat you were and how much she had to …I’ve digressed again.  Let her know how much you love her.   Posies and chocolates are nice but don’t “hold a candle” to some honest affection and admiration and please don’t leave out the hugs. 

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone, tiny human and fur people Moms alike!  We love you all.  

How To Screw Up Your Retirement

Just read this article by Dennis Miller "Miller's Money Forever"

There are many creative ways to screw up your retirement.          Let me show you how it’s done:

• Supporting adult children
• Ignoring your health
• Not keeping your retirement plan up to date
• Thinking you can continue working as long as you wish
• Not increasing your rate of saving
• Continually taking equity out of your home
  
• Retiring with a substantial mortgage
• Taking out a reverse mortgage at a young age
• Putting your life’s savings into an annuity
• Thinking your employer’s retirement plan is all you need.

While I agree with the foregoing, I think he may have missed a few really bad ideas I've noticed lately.  Once you have the time on your hands and a perfectly good retirement

  ahead to screw up, I'd avoid these...

• Continuing to shop at Amazon daily after your paycheck has been discontinued
• Deciding to buy that new SMART CAR to save money before they actually perfect it
• Trying to do your own roofing work with your spouse holding the ladder
• Buying a boat to relax instead of taking a cruise
• Moving into the "Rental Unit"  in the back while the kids take over your house
• Planting a Creative Rock Garden in front of your house to save money on water
• Taking up Snowboarding after age 65 to spend time with the grandkids
• Putting a big chunk of your savings into your kid's new MLM business
• Starting that new Franchise Business you've read so much about 
• Lending money to relatives as an investment that pays more interest than the banks

Ah well, sometimes these things are more easily done than avoided.  Just don't say I didn't warn you.  

Hope you all have a great April and enjoy your Holidays.  We'll be back to warn you about Mother's Day Dos and Don'ts next month.  

Team South Bay Realty  

Your Neighborhood Real Estate Store

24022 Vista Montana

Torrance, CA 90505

310-378-4440

Crime and Punishment

Charlies Neighborhood News  (click on this link if you don't get my newsletter delivered)

Every Month, I send out an "E" Newsletter and a printed version.  Some people like one and some like the other.  Personally, I receive so much email, most of which I really don't have any interest in reading, I hate to clutter other peoples mailboxes with mine.  As far as the printed version, I have a lot of fans of my monthly newsletter.  It's simpler than the "E" version and more folksy.  I try to include some fun stuff ... favorite recipes, "how to" tips, neighborly news.  Since I've been at this for decades, people actually call me when they don't get my newsletter.  I love that - makes me feel like someone is actually reading it.  Every now and then I get an email thanking me for information.  I love that even more.  Makes my monthly effort feel worthwhile.

For some time now I've also been getting NIXLE alerts.  In the beginning they weren't in "my neighborhood" so I didn't feel too worried.  Lately they are edging ever nearer.  I just read one about a pair of Male and Female Distracters.  It appears they knocked on the front door of the person's home.  He opened the door and the "perp" (I learned that word watching CSI) inquired if a certain party resided there.  When told no, the perp apologized and walked away.   The unsuspecting homeowner went out to his backyard and observed perp #2 on his cellphone and asked if he could help him.  Perp #2 said he was looking for his son's ball and began rambling on eventually fleeing the backyard through a side gate.

The homeowner then discovered that perp #2 had moved a bench in the backyard, climbed up a water pipe to the second story, pried open the glass door and ransacked his bedroom.  There was a plastic bag containing BBQ chicken remnants in the backyard (probably used to quiet the homeowners dog.)

Now I'm wondering, do you think it would be helpful to let you know about the Lighter Low Calorie Chicken Pot Pie this month or to find a mug shot of these perps to help you guard your house?

 It's really comes down to this.  Since none of us have much time to read anymore, we have to make it count.  Maybe that's why we don't have any "Good News" papers.   And to think I was going to report on the recent occurrence of Coyotes menacing our small animals this month.  I wonder if BBQ chicken remnants would appease them...

As our Police Department Keeps Reminding us ...

"See Something - Say Something"  






Charlie Hoffmann
Team South Bay Realty
310-378-4440

2014 WILL BE A VERY GOOD YEAR!

TEAM SOUTH BAY REALTY



COURTESY DESKS

While 2013 had it's ups and downs, our families and our business experienced many blessings.  We are grateful for what has past and very optimistic for our future.  We started 2014 with "sun shiny, sparkly" weather, good health and a great market.  We moved our office to a better location with lots of room, plenty of parking and NO stairs!  We added several new listings to our inventory to start the year out right and we're ready to take our Team to new heights this year!

ROOM FOR EVERYONE

 We're also looking forward to adding a few new members to our Team.  If you know anyone looking for a warm, reputable company to join, with or without a real estate license, give them our number - we'd love to talk with them. 

We've also added Insurance to our business this year. If you're looking for auto, home or life insurance, give us a call. 

Our aim is to provide the best possible customer service to all our clients, old and new. Since we've been serving the South Bay for over 30 years, we have a lot of fans and we do a great amount of repeat business with our clients but we're always looking for more families to help.  Let us find the perfect home for your family this year.  Interest rates are the lowest in history and prices are still affordable.  We call this the perfect window.  Whether you are thinking about downsizing, getting something larger, moving out of the area or adding income property to your investment portfolio this year, we can help. 



OUR COMPLIMENTRY COFFEE BAR!

In addition, we are qualified to work with Short Sales and have designations as Senior Real Estate Specialists too.  We also provide property management and leasing services. 

Stop by for a cup of coffee and let's chat about your real estate plans this year.  We're the "helpful real estate Team" here in the South Bay. 

Visit our websites:  www.TeamSouthBayRealty.com
or www.TeamSouthBayRentals.com
or take a peek at our Pinterest of the South Bay:
www.Pinterest.com/TeamSouthBay/South-Bay-Living or
tweet with us at www.Twitter.com/msfinance or check us out on www.linkedin.com/in/charliehoffmann or email Charlie@TeamSouthBayRealty.com

We'd love to hear from you. 

Happy New Year from all  of us at:

 

24022 Vista Montana
Torrance, CA 90505
310-378-4440