Archive for November, 2008
Thanksgiving 2008 – Musings
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s been an enjoyable weekend with lots of cooking, eating and visiting with family. The only real estate appointment I had was a home inspection yesterday but other than that, it’s been a lot of hanging out and doing nothin. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because there is no stress except the timing of the turkey and making the gravy at the last minute. And that stress is so worth the end result of the traditional Thanksgiving feast – and we do it all from the turkey to the pumpkin pie.
Kind of corny but after we finished our dinner, we all shared the different things we were thankful for. The funny thing is that once you get started it is hard to stop. As we slowed down, Lauren pulled out a printed email she had received and read it to us. I had heard it before but I still laughed so hard. Enjoy!
A young man named Victor received a parrot as a gift.
The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.
Victor tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird’s vocabulary.
Finally, Victor was fed up and he yelled at the parrot.The parrot yelled back.Victor shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. Victor, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.
For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.
Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, Victor quickly opened the door to the freezer.
The parrot calmly stepped out onto Victor’s outstretched arms and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."
Victor was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude.
As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior,the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"
GE Recalls Wall Ovens Because of Fire Hazard
Posted by: | CommentsGE has issued a recall for wall ovens under the brand name of GE®, GE Profile™, Monogram® and Kenmore®. Apparently, there have been 28 incidents of property damage caused by the intense heat of the self-clean cycle when improperly installed. Click here for details of the GE Oven recall. This recall was issued Nov 18, 2008.
Paradise Valley Luxury Tour – Arizona Luxury Statistics
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Paradise Valley Luxury Tour meets every other week, and is one of the best realtor home tours in the valley for several reasons:
1. There are always a huge number of agents who go on tour and they actually take the time to give constructive feedback on the listings.
2. Outstanding agents attend and it provides an opportunity for us to network and share with one another.
On November 21, we toured 10 homes ranging in price from $2,495,000 to $6,950,000. My favorite home is a spec home, listed for 
$5,750,000 (just reduced from $6,498,500). This home is 11,585 square feet on a 80,776 square foot lot on Casa Blanca Drive in Paradise Valley. Click here to view the MLS listing including all 50 photos.
One of my pet peeves is what I call the “luxury tract home”. The “luxury tract home” syndrome is caused by spec home builders who found a design formula that worked and never deviated from it. This means that many homes I view, look just like 5 others I saw in the last week, which of course is at odds with the whole concept of a luxury home. If one is going to purchase a luxury home, then typically, one expects that it should be unique in every way. Who wants a cookie cutter luxury home or an extra large “tract home” with granite?
Why was this home on Casa Blanca one my favorite? This builder dared to put some personality into the home. It is very large, very palatial and yet pretty livable. Actually, I don’t think the photos do it justice. It is much prettier with the crisp accent of Arizona sunlight. I love detail and I notice everything. This home was built with a very high standard of craftsmanship from the dome ceiling murals to the pavers on the driveway. And – I love all the Spanish tile. It is truly a home with a unique and classic touch. Call Melissa at 480.621.4044 if you’d like more information about luxury homes or broker representation to tour this home or other luxury homes in Paradise Valley.
The Scottsdale Rattlesnake Story: In Our House!
Posted by: | CommentsOh my gosh – what an experience it was! A Western Diamondback 
rattlesnake was in my house and we miraculously escaped harm. Here’s the story.
Yesterday, after showing property, I went to pick up Quintana, my granddaughter, for a sleepover. We met Robert at Harkins Shea 14 Theater to watch the “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”. Quin is almost 3 and about half way through the movie she said ” I want to go to your house because this movie is a little bit scary”. So we left. Robert went to get “The Little Mermaid” at Blockbuster and Quin and I drove home and went immediately to the sand box in our courtyard. As the sun set, I scooped her up and we went to the shower to wash off all the sand. Robert came home and we watched the movie and ate pizza.
The house was dark when the movie ended and it was time for Quin to go to bed. I got up and went in to prepare her bed. As I walked into the hall the underside of my heel brushed against something. 
Immediately I heard a rattle. I screamed, turned on the light, and saw a rattlesnake who had slithered about 3 feet away and coiled up underneath the bar stool. He was rattling his tail like crazy. Robert told me to take Quin and go into the bedroom – which we did.
Robert then went out to the garage, got a garbage can and a long hook, extracted the demon and threw him down the ravine across the street. While this was going on, the sound of the rattles reverberated through our house. I have never heard such a loud and scary noise.
Apparently, I had left the screen door open after I carried Quin in to the shower. I never leave doors open!! We’ve lived in this house 8 years and have only seen 2 rattlesnakes and the one night I leave a screen door open and have my precious granddaughter with me, a rattlesnake comes into our home. HOW DARE HE!!
I didn’t sleep very well last night. I woke up numerous times and every time the crazy thoughts encroached upon my consciousness. What if Quin had been walking with me? What if I had stepped on the snake? What if the snake had hid until a later time?
We had the hebejebes!
After Robert captured the snake and he was in the garbage can, Quin and I came out to inspect but he was still so noisy. Robert went through our house thoroughly, looking under every bed, in every closet, and in every nook and cranny, to make sure that there were no more snakes in our house.
Robert took a video but it’s too dark – all you can hear is the sound of the rattle. And of course, I had to research the darned snake. Our unwanted visitor was a Western
Diamondback rattlesnake, which is not only the largest rattlesnake in the west, but is responsible for more bites and deaths to humans than any other rattlesnake species in U.S. Want more info about these native neighbors? YIKES!