Christmas Day in La La LandLa La Land, such a wonderful movie. Didn't you love the dance scene that takes place in the Griffith Observatory? They are waltzing among the stars in the planetarium...it was just so romantic.  So what do you do in LA on Christmas Day? I guess you could go to a movie, or go to a place where movies have been filmed. We decided on the latter and took a hike to the Griffith Observatory. There were throngs of Angelinos, from kids to grandparents and busloads of tourists all enjoying the day and the view.  Griffith Observatory is almost as iconic as the Hollywood sign. It plays an big part in the movies, and is almost a character itself. Take Rebel Without a Cause , James Dean's character tries to impress his friends in the Planetarium, and then ends up in a knife fight in the parking lot. Shortly before his death, Dean had commissioned a bronze bust of himself, which now sits near the front lawn of the observatory.  On our hike up the hill, we encountered many runners. It seemed to be a regular thing for them to run up and down the hill. It reminded me of Jim Carrey's movie Yes Man. In the movie he meets Zooey Deschanel, who plays a woman who organizes jogging group and invites Jim Carrey's character to join in. The scene shows them jogging down some of the many trails that surround the observatory. We thoroughly enjoyed our day in LA, feeling a bit like a tourist and a bit like a local. 
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 A girls love affair with Porsche and a trip to Stuttgart...Traveling from Paris to Wurzburg this past November, we made a quick stop in Stuttgart to visit the Porsche factory. I have had a love affair with Porsche since being a small child. A family friend had a couple of 356's. They were project cars, one a rag top and one a coupe. Most of the time not running. I loved sitting in the rear seat (yes, I was that small) listening to the revving engine and taking in all the smells that old cars have. On lucky days I would get to sit in the passenger seat, propped up by a couple of pillows so I could see out the window.
When you arrive, you are given a tag and time to meet up for the tour. You then have to store your camera, and phone in locked cubbies. There are no photo ops on this tour. No trade secrets to share on your Instagram.  Our guide was fantastic, he was just as enthusiastic as the tour attendees who heralded from all over the world. The farthest coming from Singapore. The tour began in the leather sorting room. Each hide is carefully gone over by hand. The technician maps the flaws on each individual piece which is entered into the computer and bar coded for the trip to the cutting room. The pieces are cut with a high pressure water system so as not to tear the hide.  Porsche is now celebrating it's 70th Anniversary. On display in the museum is a 1953 pre-A 356 driven from Tokyo to Stuttgart a whopping 15,000km over 53 days by Porsche enthusiast Toshiyuki Suzuki. He arrived in time for the big celebration. His car is now on display at the museum. The front passenger seat was removed and a roof rack added for items necessary for the trip.  After two years of searching, and travels all over the state of California, I finally found my dream car four years ago. I am the proud custodian of a 1987 Carrera Targa. While I have been scolded for not driving it enough, I love to start it up and take it for a spin. I never tire of hearing the engine, smelling those old car smells.
Recently we were asked to submit a point of view to an online real estate publication:
Personal letters can win the deal for the buyer who can’t match bottomless pockets of the flippers or cash buyers. What buyers may lack in financial resources, can often be balanced by passion and desire. Sellers are people, too. Many are motivated by more than just reaping the profits of a sale. Most have long personal histories with a home and many have a compelling desire to see their legacy carried forward by the future owners of their home. In our work we have seen countless examples of buyers who didn’t write the best offer or the cleanest deal win out because they wrote a passionate letter about their personal interest in a property and how they might use it in the future. Whether starting a family, seeking shelter from a tragic event, or simply a replace to retire, the well-told story of personal need can touch heartstrings of many a seller and sway the deal in a buyers favor.
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May 2020
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