Featured Dog Blog for the Week of July 21, 2008
Every week I am going to include a candid shot of the spoiled canines that cruise around in their owners cars.
Stay tuned, as some of them are CUTE and if your dog is included on this blog, there is something in it for you!
Check out the "twins", getting ready for their walk in the park on Broadway and Cassidy in Oceanside.
If these are your dogs, send an email to receive a free Starbuck's gift card!
Peace and Love,
Sully, the Real Estate Deva
THEY'RE BAAACK!!
The "Zoners" are officially back in Carlsbad for the summer. With temperatures sizzling over triple digit 100's in the desert areas to our east, the proximity of our beautiful beach town to that large body of water to the west; the blue Pacific, and it's cooling effects on body and soul are irresistible to those that reside most of the year in Arizona. They've targeted our Town, our hotels, beaches, restaurants and our streets are filled with the kindly folks that are looking for a reprieve from the desperately hot temperatures that plague that region of the country during the summer months. Some people say "tourist go home!" I say, ENJOY what we tend to take for granted everyday living in Carlsbad. Bless your heart when you have your left hand turn signal on when going right. Go ahead and jaywalk across Coast Highway, dragging your beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, pails and shovels on the way to enjoy the sun and sand in temperate climes.
Go ahead and drop in on the local surfers while screaming over the falls on your boogie boards. We love your zinc oxide that is smeared across your nose and cheeks. Your neon Hawaiian shirts, black socks with shoes at the beach, and feel free to spread your towel right next to mine, even though there is room with no one near just down the beach. We love you, Zonies! And we are making room for you to enjoy the town we love. Eat in our restaurants, buy from our local shop owners, and thank you for the contribution to our economy. One of California's top domestic tourism market comes from Arizona. so Welcome Tourists! When we see your license plates fill up our town, we know that it's officially summer!
P.S. Please feel free to buy a house, condo or mobile home so you can get out of that heat next year. 
We would love to add to you our population and have you here full time enjoying our beach lifestyle that is unique to our coastal community.
When you come right down to it, we are all just tourists - out seeing the world!
IT'S OFFICIAL - I'M A BLUE TOOTH TOOL
I never thought it would happen...but I'm officially a blue tooth tool. I walk around with this thing on my ear even when I'm NOT driving. Oh, I admit, when they said the po-po would pull you over for driving with your phone on your ear, I panicked a little. I had been trying to get my bluetooth to pair with my new blackberry for quite some time now. I tried the "stereo" head phones that came with my phone. Lame. I tried to scramble with my phone when it rang while I was driving and put it on speaker; only to fumble with it to the point of near disaster when I spotted a cop in my rear view.
Now that someone in my office figured it out for me, I wear the dumb thing all the time. I'm sure it's happened to you. Someone walks up to you and starts talking about seeing you singing kareoke at the Alley the night before, busting your chops, and you flush as you point to your ear...talking to a client. Embarassing. It's also a big pain to now remember to charge the thing every night. I barely remember to put my cell on the charger after how many years??? And what about brain cancer? Have we really checked into this potential danger thouroughly enough to mandate that we either participate in this phenomenon or get a hefty ticket, fine, empounding, jail time??? Big brother ring a bell when you can get pulled over for talking on your phone? I'm still not over having to wear a seat belt by law.
With the random check points that have been popping up all over town, I'm just a little freaked out by all the impositions on my civil liberties. And of course the darn thing never works right - have you ever had to pull over cuz the reception is so bad or lost a few important calls? What's the solution?
Now we're talking!
ROCKIN' SUSHI RECOMMENDATION
How do you spell relief??? S...U...S...H...I BREAK!
After another greueling week of trying to get through this challenging time in the real estate industry, I found myself starting to lose my cool. It's been humid and business is slowwwww. It's not that it's slow, it's difficult. Difficult to get the sellers and buyers to see eye to eye. Another blog for sure...
My daughter, that has been filling in as Office Administrator in my real estate office, suggested we go across the street to the Village Faire and get sushi at a little local place called SUSHI TAISHO.
We chose to sit inside, as it was sticky humid hot outside. The minute we walked in, we were greeted with a cool gust of air conditioning and our ears were tickled by the sweet sounds of Reggae music - just loud enough to take me away from all my cares and troubles.
Anyone who knows me well, also knows that Reggae music is my ultimate favorite. I will go stand in line and find myself in a concert mosh pit to see Ziggy or Steel Pulse anyday. I'm sitting floor at my office right now and listening to Bob and Friends on 94.9 FM. I have also spent much time in Jamaica and plan on repeat trips, this time bringing my two children. But back to the lunch story and what is now a full blown recommendation.
It's cool, the Homeless Roll rocks the house and I also shared some slightly braised sashimi - fresh as the day is long. Gotta have the Edamame; helps with hot flashes, ladies! It's exciting to think that within walking distance I can escape to that place that puts me in the best frame of mind - combining my two favorite things - Sushi and Reggae!
Get out there an make it a great day and when in the Village of Carlsbad, after you pop your head in to say hi to me at Windermere Exclusive Properties, go check out the Sushi Taisho restaurant. They also have a sister site over in Oceanside next to Barnes and Noble and Trader Joe's called Hana. They are celebrating their anniversary and are offering 20% discounts and also offer all you can eat menus. If you come to the village on the weekend evenings, you can sit out on the patio and listen to the music as it waifs up from the Coyote Bar down below.
Needless to say, I went back to work refreshed and in a much, much better mood. I need my strength to pull all these buyers off the fence!
Cheers!
The Real Estate Deva
Some realtor's share pictures of shoddy photograhpy in listings on the MLS. I have always wanted to create a calendar of dogs I see when driving that hang out of car windows in California. This will have to be the next best thing...
Here's a cutie petu-tee at the corner of Tamarack and Jefferson. At first the gal (driver) was looking at me like I was Ace Ventura gone bad. I rolled down my window and told her to check out my website and see the picture I captured of her best friend that was riding shotgun today.
Stay tuned, as I will start to capture some fun shots of the dog days of summer here in Carlsbad and around town.
Cheers!
Sully
The Carlsbad Village office of Windermere where I work, has a new Office Administrator. Meet Shannon Sullivan, my daughter. What started as an internship recently grew into a full time paid position - temporarily anyway.
The previous OA put in her resignation during Shannon's internship, opening up the position. Sweet. I am hopeful that the Real Estate bug will stick, making her a FIFTH generation real estate professional. As a long time area local (32 years in Carlsbad), fourth generation Californian, coming from four generations of Real Estate professionals myself, I can only conjecture how much she would be able to bring to the industry in terms of knowledge and exceptional expertise.
From trading pearls to the Indians, to beaming into new home "pods". That would be quite a legacy. I can't help but wonder what the industry will be like when she is older...and I'm hopeful that she will find the job as rewarding as I have, and my mother and her mother before her, and so on. When you think about it, it's pretty rare that you would find a fourth generation Californian, let alone a fourth generation real estate agent.
Shouldn't you put your most important investment into the hands of a capable professional? I worked in my mom's real estate office when I was Shannon's age. There is no better training than hands on and witnessing the innerworkings of a business such as this. In my case, I was born into the business. It's in my blood. It has grown to such a point that I don't consider real estate my job anymore - it's my PASSION. So it is no longer a job.
It is my goal to go beyond my clients expectations - every time. Here's to looking forward to another generation of helping folks realize their dream of home ownership in San Diego - Carlsbad, specifically. While I'm not the #1 agent in the universe (how many #1's can there be?) but I'll make you #1 while we work together; before, during and after the close of escrow. I answer my own calls and am available literally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. My family and I have hundreds of North County References, so I invite my readers to do business with an area local, putting my area knowledge to the test, and experience Personalized Service on a Whole New Level!
Don't delay - Call Sully Today!
760-208-3382
Statistically, Carlsbad is one of the safest towns to live. As a result, Carlsbad cops don't have that much to do. It's a fact. This is a picture in front of my office today. Apparantly this young gent failed to put his arm out before making a right turn. (I really don't know what he got stopped for). He was chased down first by two bike cops that were later joined by about four more cops and two cars. For a guy on a bike. At 10:00 o'clock in the morning.
I know the city is proud of it's low crime rate, but really folks. Anyone who has gone out on a Friday night can attest there is a cop on every corner. Yikes. On the one hand they want tourists and business to conglomerate downtown in the Village. On the other, there are capacity, cabaret and curfew restrictions that have kept me and many a local off the streets on the weekends.
Work/live lofts are being erected and are sanctioned by the redevelopment office and city hall in the village vision plan. The Chamber (http://www.carlsbad.org/) and CVB (http://www.carlsbadca.org/convention and visitors bureau) are spending thousands to bring more traffic and tourism to the village area. The local pubs and restaurants are paying top dollar to open their businesses and supply a good time with drink specials and live music.
Now we have those live/work folks complaining about the noise and traffic. Of course the city responds in kind with a new "entertainment ordinance" (http://www.carlsbadca.gov/news.html?nid=196 ) and increased police patrol cars on duty.
Who's punishing who here? And ultimately, who is losing? You're assured a good, boring time in Carlsbad; and you better be home before 10:00. And no dancing.
It's like having a child. You can't wait for them to walk and talk, then a couple of years goes by and you're telling them to sit down and shut up.
