No More Stuff But...     I think you need to go through some stuff to really appreciate life and understand what it means to persevere, overcome and have faith. I think those tough times make you a stronger person.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Judith HillNo More Stuff But...  Obviously, there's much to be said about "stuff".  Of many varieties.   It was Saturday morning, things seemed pretty typical.  People out and about.  Some with their dogs on a trip around the neighborhood.  Bab... 09/21/2019

On September 16, 2019, PFAR.org reported that an average list price for a home and a condo was $1,899,676 in August of 2019 rose 3.6% from $1,833,753 in August of 2018; While, median listing price for a home and a condo was $1,249,000 in August of 2019, lower 2.4% from $1,280,000 August of 2018 in Pasadena, California.There were 489 active listing of homes and condos in August of 2019 up 0.8% from 485 listing in August of 2018; While there were 2.2 months available inventory of homes and condos in August of 2019, declined 10.1% from 2.5 months of available inventory in August of 2018 in Pasadena, California.An average sales price for a home and a condo was $1,259,305 in August of 2019 down 1.9% from $1,283,441 in August of 2018; While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $995,... 09/19/2019

  An Appreciation Of Accounting Of All Kinds An Appreciation Of Accounting Of All Kinds  It may seem a little odd but I've been called worse than odd at times.  I digress.  I didn't expect to find an appropriate quote from a British composer when I went on a search for some pithy words on the subject of accounting.  But that is what happened when I found the following quote by the man who has been called the Father of the New Complexity movement in music.   Not a typical accounting quote but maybe that combines the best of the subject for me.  Accounting really is much more than the sum of all numbers(or all words in a post) when looking for the right balance.  Some unexpected words may be in order: I suppose that the scope and implications of such forces have rendered my personal accou... 09/13/2019

  Sequels Of Many Sorts  Sequels Of Many Sorts I have been thinking. Recently I saw a marquee on a movie theater announcing the showing of the classic 1949 film Adam's Rib starring Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.  I had other plans so seeing it again wasn't an option but that moment provided the inspiration for this post.   Sequels of all sorts are common.  In movies(reel life in some form) and elsewhere(actual real life).   Every day.  And everywhere.  We see things remade, re-imagined and reinvented.  You can add reinterpretations to this mix as well as things are adapted to fit all sorts of examples.   As you might imagine, this isn't an analogy that works just or film.  It can be seen in many forms.  It's evident in daily conversation.  Maybe it's that person who speaks in an a... 09/10/2019

  On Engineering     On Engineering  There is much to like and even admire about engineering.  The exactness of it. Perhaps it is the idea of problem-solving to the extreme that makes it a bit intriguing. The scientific and technological aspects.  Seemingly so exact.  Or is it?   The solution and the designs so intricate. Innovative. Measured.  Organized.   Systematized. Then there is randomness.  Definitions and terms seem to expand.   And then I wonder  about social engineering.   Manufacturing is more than just putting parts together.  It's coming up with ideas, testing principles and perfecting the engineering, as well as final assembly.                                                                                                  James Dyson Will the wonder ever end?   Likely not... 09/04/2019

 A Bit Of San FrancisoArrived In Pasadena This Week...    A Bit Of San Francisco Arrived In Pasadena This Week... After some time away I ventured to my post office box this week and in it among junk mail and assorted  miscellany, I saw a hand-written envelope with a San Francisco postmark.   Inside was a nice note from Lottie Kendall with congratulations  for being the ActiveRain member who guessed the date closest to when Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP  reached that 2,000,000 point milestone on this platform.   Also inside the envelope was a  coaster with images of many of the city's points of interest from local artisan Tomoko Maruyama.   It reminds me of Lottie's posts where she has shared the colors of San Francisco.   The wonderful architecture.  The interesting sights.  And so... 08/23/2019

On August 12, 2019, PFAR.org reported that an average list price for a home and a condo was $1,901,612 in July of 2019 rose 5.1% from $1,808,553 in July of 2018; While, median listing price for a home and a condo was $1,299,000 in July of 2019, higher 3.9% from $1,249,950 July of 2018 in Pasadena, California.There were 517 active listing of homes and condos in July of 2019 up 2.6% from 504 listing in July of 2018; While there were 2.8 months available inventory of homes and condos in July of 2019, jumped 19.6% from 1.9 months of available inventory in July of 2018 in Pasadena, California.An average sales price for a home and a condo was $1,217,305 in July of 2019 declined 1.8% from $1,239,747 in July of 2018; While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $925,000 in July of 2019,... 08/13/2019

 On Reciprocity   On Reciprocity The word and the concept has me thinking.  Once again.  It's a word and a concept that I have known for a long time.  I distinctly recall hearing about it again when joining ActiveRain.  The importance of reciprocity.  The why.  The whens and the hows.  Much of those early days in this forum are but a mere blur.  I may not always or consistently fully practice reciprocity here.   But there it is and as light bulb moments often do it takes on so many definitions when it comes to this forum.  I digress.  Off onto a tangent.  Anyway.   Reciprocity certainly has plenty of real life implications.  Maybe it goes back to long ago far before AR.  I remember hearing about the importance of the golden rule as a very young child.  Do unto others...  In the real wor... 08/04/2019

On June 10, 2019, Realtor.com reported that in Pasadena, California median list price was $998,000 in June of 2019 slightly down from $999,000 in May of 2019, but unchanged 0.0% or from $998,000 in June of 2018. While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $908,000 in June of 2019, rose 6.0% from June of 2018 in Pasadena, California.Houses stayed 51.00 days in the market in June of 2019 decreased from 52.00 days in May of 2019, but declined from 50.00 days in June of 2018 in Pasadena, California.The median listing price per square foot of a home and a condo was $595.00 in June of 2019 gained from $587.00 in May of 2019, and higher 1.0% from $590.00 in June of 2018 in Pasadena, California according to Realtor.For complete more detailed information about Realtor.com’s latest homes... 07/15/2019

  Ah To The Ides Of July     Ah To The Ides Of July  Perhaps it's a case of being dissatisfied as merely the seventh month of the year.  Or maybe July has an inferiority complex-of-sorts about being known as not much more than the place where the United States holds its Independence Day celebration year after year after year.  Who knows how these things start?  Or why.  Without special commemoration of certain days would we even notice?  Kinda like a tree falling in the forest when no one is around?  Why not claim July 15 as a very special day if we want? I mean it seems "special" days are a given.  Kinda like a participation trophy.  I digress... No longer doomed as an "also-ran" to March with its own and better publicized "ides" event(could it be about that "go fund me" effort?  Who k... 07/15/2019

  Maybe It Was Some Crossed Wires     Maybe It Was Some Crossed Wires   Although I thought I knew the meaning of the idiom I checked the definition of "crossed wires" in The Urban Dictionary to make sure.   I found it to be or become confused, mistaken or mentally disordered(about something).  An allusion to telephone wires being wrongly connected.   Effective communication is not an easy one to master at times I am sure many can agree.  Misinterpretations are present.  Unintentionally and perhaps otherwise.   A bad connection can occur on multiple levels.   You know...stuff happens.   Crossed wires came to mind because effective communication is so important.  I mean communication is clearly a part of our everyday life.  How we speak.  But far beyond that.  A smile.  That nod.   Or shr... 07/12/2019

  On Being Civil  \ On Being Civil   This is not a political post. But I guess it could be construed as such if your mind works in that way.   I think of the reach far beyond that particular world and more of what happens closer to home.  In our own backyard.  And around the corner.  The topic of civility happens here. In this forum. And obviously beyond the border of it.   By the time I stepped foot in high school, there wasn't a class specifically called "Civics" on the curriculum.  I guess that course name had long been abandoned in our district. While it might not have been of interest to all it's one that needed discussion.  Then.  Now.   I digress. So much for civics class and onto civility.   My mind wandered and I found this quote:   Civility, politeness, it's like a cement in a... 06/29/2019

In June of 2019, PFAR.org reported that an average list price for a home and a condo was $1,792,583 in May of 2019 lower 9.4% from $1,998,453 in May of 2018; While, median listing price for a home and a condo was $1,277,000 in May of 2019, down 1.7% from $1,299,000 May of 2018 in Pasadena, California.There were 594 active listing of homes and condos in May of 2019 up 7.9% from 499 listing in May of 2018; While there were 3.2 months available inventory of homes and condos in May of 2019, rose 22.9% from 2.6 months of available inventory in May of 2018 in Pasadena, California.An average sales price for a home and a condo was $1,384,902 in May of 2019 gained 8.2% from $1,280,038 in May of 2018; While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $1,020,000 in May of 2019, increased 12.0% ... 06/26/2019

  Breaking The Ice   Breaking The Ice   This term may have different meanings around the country and during certain times of the year.  But I was pondering things while going through some questions in the ActiveRain Q&A section recently.   While answers often depend on the details of a situation, the location and so many other factors much can be solved or resolved with a conversation.   A meaningful dialogue.  You know, just talking.  One person starts and then another listens, then responds.  You likely understand the concept.  Probably have even practiced it from time to time.  Successfully too I imagine.   It can happen in real estate and in all forms industry-related.  On ActiveRain.  And most importantly, in real life.  Not so difficult.  Well, so it seems.  Breaking The Ice can c... 05/26/2019

In May of 2019, PFAR.org reported that an average list price for a home and a condo was $1,823,230 in April of 2019 down 4.2% or from $1,902,291 in April of 2018; While, median listing price for a home and a condo was $1,277,500 in April of 2019, higher 1.8% from $1,255,000 April of 2018 in Pasadena, California.There were 582 active listing of homes and condos in April of 2019 gained 27.4% or from 457 in April of 2018; While there were 3.7 months available inventory of homes and condos in April of 2019, increased 43.6% or 2.6 months of available inventory from April of 2018 in Pasadena, California.An average sales price for a home and a condo was $1,217,312 in April of 2019 declined 5.6% or from $1,289,843 in April of 2018; While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $944,000 i... 05/21/2019

  And The Subject Was Roses   And The Subject Was Roses   The other day arrived with the sound not of a gentle pitter-patter but somewhat more intense. Definitely not a light rain or just a drizzle.  In Southern California we have experienced more precipitation than usual and most of us are grateful for that.  The usual walk as dawn was breaking that day would  be postponed. In the scope of things to be concerned this really is not an issue. At least I didn't think so. Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns.  I am thankful that thorns have roses.                                                                                                                                                                                                             Alphonse Karr   Late... 05/20/2019

  On Adaptability    On Adaptability  I assume we can each appreciate the importance of adaptability in our lives.  A quick look at the Internet shows us this definition from Oxford Dictionaries that adaptability is the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions.  Easier defined perhaps than is actually practiced in real life.   Let's leave the definition as the goal I guess. As is often my way of discovering and exploring things around me I look to quotes by others for some insight.  Today, I share three quotes from people of diverse backgrounds.    All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability.  The truth is outside all fixed patterns.                                                                                                          Bruce Lee  Adaptab... 05/16/2019

 Something Like Mondegreen    Something Like Mondegreen   I don't know how it happened.  I mean I can't point to the exact moment or the specifics of the most recent example.  Mondegreen is the word(as defined by Merriam-Webster online) used to describe the mishearing or misinterpreting of words.  For me this is typically evident with music but it can occur when writing or speaking too.  I mean this happens all the time mind you.  But enough to be annoying.  And funny too.    I explored this self-diagnosed malady in an ActiveRain post in 2014 -  "Last Night I Dreamt of Some Bagels" .   I still "suffer" from it. Those around me - when not giggling or raucously laughing - are still witnessing it too.  Suffering I imagine in their own way.    These days mondegreen occurs for me while ponde... 05/14/2019

Kickback Friday: we were visiting Vroman’s and look what we saw at the door…. Most of you who read my blog post know that Diane just got back from Boston, MA. We had some errands to take care of and after it we decided to go to Vroman’s  our favorite book store in Pasadena. At the same time, we thought it would be a good time to introduce Holly or dog  to Vroman’s as well.Much to our surprise, we were greeted with a Sign at the entrance door. Well, check it out! Diane and I  were very excited.Now keep in mind our favorite pastime is books and wine. Not that we need an excuse to go to Vroman’s, instead it is just one more reason to visit.Keep in mind the Los Angeles Times Festival of  Books was not that long ago i.e.: five weeks ago, and here we are feeding our addictions, more books to ... 05/03/2019

  Click Here For The Answer    Click Here For The Answer   Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.  Let us not to seek to fix blame for the past.  Let us accept the responsibility for the future.                                                                                                                                       John Fitzgerald Kennedy   It may be too easy to ask questions when a little research and perhaps more importantly some soul searching can lead us to the right outcome.  Maybe it's more complicated than that.  Or maybe it's just that simple.  Straight forward.  Putting all the positives and the negatives on the virtual white board and determine some possible answers.  Brainstorming.    This is not a political post.  It... 04/16/2019