GREG SAFFELL REAL ESTATE BROKER SEATTLE AREA SELLERS & BUYERS

Here we are in mid February when the cold, cloudy and rainy days usually provoke a desire to escape to warmer climates, when Hawaii and Mexico beckon daily. Not this February, maybe other parts of the country are still digging out but here in the Puget Sound region of Washington state the sun is shining through a cloudless bright blue sky. Temperatures yesterday were probably in the mid sixties and I noticed that some of the trees and plants are starting to bloom as if Spring has arrived. This beautiful interlude reminded me of visiting Furney's Nursery this past Summer. I was surprised and amazed at the proliferation of flowers surrounding the nursery building and grounds. I took a few photographs with the intention of sharing them at some point. That point has arrived and I hope you enjoy the experience even though the images are rather small and lack the gentle scents that filled the air that day.

Last weekend was the anniversary of the opening of the very first "motel" in America and the world. Originally known as the Milestone Mo-Tel it opened for business on December 12th 1925 in San Luis Obispo, California. The location was chosen because it was about half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco which was a two-day drive in those days. Arthur S. Heineman recognized the need for such a facility and combined the convenience of a campground with the comforts and respectability of a hotel with the new Mo-Tel idea. The original plan was to include bungalows and attached apartments with baths and showers in each unit and parking outside each room. The overall plan was to develop a chain of Mo-Tels nationwide but that never occurred under Mr. Heinemans oversight. Staying at a Mo-Tel was a luxury in those days and most people just camped beside their car or just stayed home. Now, it's hard to imagine road travel without motels.

Kent single family home sales were down 11.5 % in November from October sales figures. Year over year sales improved 30.8% when comparing sold properties from November 2008 to November 2009. November 2009 saw fewer new listings, solds and pendeds than the previous month. The average sold price was approximately $278,000 as compared to $314,000 in November 2008. Chart copyright Trendgraphix, Inc.

Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies and Pies still look good after all these years. We were near the grocery store check-out lane when I saw an old but familiar friend, Hostess Cupcakes. You know the chocolate cupcakes with the cream-filled centers sold in twin packs everywhere in the world. They still look good so I picked up a pack and showed it to my wife saying "remember these"? She just smiled and proceeded to unload the shopping cart.
I have fond memories of all these after-school treats. I remember stopping at a small store on the way home from school and sharing these Cupcakes, Twinkies or Pies with my buddies all washed down with a Coke. My mother would sometimes wonder why I wasn't hungry for dinner not knowing that I've already consumed a zillion calories that day.
Later that evening and again the next day, my wife was still talking about the Cupcakes and how good they looked. I didn't need much more prodding, so when I was out, I picked up a twin pack for our after dinner treat.
I noticed right away that they were smaller than before, probably to keep the cost down, which was way up from those halcyon days of my youth.
Anticipation was building as I slowly unwrapped the package that evening and handed one to my wife while staring at mine like a kid in a candy store. I guess I really didn't expect it to taste as good as before, but I was shocked at how bad it was. You could peel the entire top frosting off of the cupcake in one limp piece and the cake itself had a strange texture and taste. I know my tastes have changed but I think Hostess has changed a bit too, and not for the better. Needless to say, we were disappointed but relieved that we will no longer be tempted by these colorfully packaged products and our fond memories remain intact.
Have you tried one lately, were you disappointed or is it just me.

My wife's birthday was right around the corner so I needed to decide on a gift. We don't go all out on gift-giving usually just something simple to celebrate the event. I decided that a nice pair of cotton pajamas might be just the ticket. I dropped by Nordstroms just when the doors opened for business. Went right to the third floor and women's lingerie. I found just what I was looking for right away, a very nice all cotton pajama set in pink, by Shimera. I found a pair of soft pink socks to go with the pajamas and took everything to the saleswoman to pay and gift wrap.
I mentioned to the woman that most men probably buy their women sheer silk nightgowns as gifts and I understand why. There is a place for everything, but with these cold winter nights now upon us, cotton is the deal. She said if it was her, she would rather have the comfy cotton outfit rather than silk and appreciated the fact that I was buying what my wife wants rather than what I may want for her. That was an honest observation and I appreciated the comment. She was right too, my wife loved the gift and everyone is happy.
The experience just reminded me of the value of thinking of others. Putting others ahead of yourself, paying it forward. I know this was only about pajamas, but it may illustrate broader areas of life as well.
So gentlemen, learn from my experience and buy her what SHE wants, and everyone will be happy, and you can't have too much of that.