Victoria Murphy ~ Santa Fe, NM

I will come out and say it I am a registered Democrat and that is about the gist of it. I serve as the chair of our local real estate government affairs committee, the vice-chair (incoming chair) of our state associations legislative committee, and finance chair of our county democratic committee. I am also an RPAC trustee. All of this is great since in the real estate committees we do our best to stay non-partisan and address issues which effect property rights.

But boy can it be scary when you get in a car with potential clients and they begin asking those soft political questions. I just smile and tell the real estate committees I sit on but I am very careful not to let anymore slip. In the car with clients is not the place to spew our political beliefs, it is the place to talk up our cities and all the amenties they will offer the future homebuyer. I can tell you I have had a bloodied tongue on occasion just having to bite down on it. But at the end of the day when you have given it your all - you know it was the right thing to do and keep politics out of the home selling process.

Last year in August I lost my daddy. He was a terrific man very loving and with a gap tooth smile that everyone adored. I was daddy's girl of course so was my sister Felicia, and my sister Raquel, and my sister Kathy, and the granddaughter's but needless to say he loved each of us. And he related to each of us as individuals understanding and knowing all the little intricacies that made of each of us so different.

Today is my first father's day without him. So I met my mother, siblings, husband and daughter at his grave site. We all took him flowers from our gardens because he could not stand purchased flowers.

To all of you fathers out there - Happy Father's Day. To all of you who no longer have your fathers - Many happy memories to you.

Yesterday I read an ActiveRain blog titled A Little Ancedote About Strangulation and Baseball. The blog was very touching having been written by a husband whose wife has terminal breast cancer. He spoke of the negativitiy of people and their very hurtful comments when his wife lost her hair due to the chemo treatments. But most of all it was his relaying an experience at a baseball game they attended and her hair was beginning to grow back. The nasty comments finally got to him and he snapped. I couldn't blame him this was someone he loved and wanted to shelter. It is sometimes hard to turn that other cheek when a person has nothing pleasant and only hurtful things to say. It always amazes me how many cruel and negative people there are out there. Whether it be in a store, while driving around or in their blogs - they spew negativity and hatred. I guess I will attribute it to poor upbringing - I suppose their mothers never taught them the simple saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything".

Whether you have been to Santa Fe or not surely you have heard of our incredible eating establishments. Whether you are looking for the locals breakfast and lunch hangout like Tia Sophias or stepping it up several notches to the reknowned Geronimo. You will not be disappointed. I believe so strongly in our restaurants that I have as one of my marketing tools a hand-out which lists many of our restaurants and phone numbers. I will list a few of my favorites below or would be happy to send you the card.

Anasazi Restaurant 505-988-3236 (Nothing is bad!)

Cafe Paris 505-986-9162 (I love their pate)

Clafoutis 505-988-1809 (I love everything and not pricey)

Gabriel's 505-455-7000 (Can I say guacamole - made at your table)

La Casa Sena 505-988-9232 (Love the singing waitstaff)

Rio Chama Steakhouse 505-955-0765 (Great bar and bar menu besides the main restaurant)

The Shed 505-982-9030 (Try the mocha cake!)

Got the idea - I could go on and on and on. Just contact me and I will mail you the card.

I am sure many of you have pulled from your vast backgrounds to help in your business as a real estate agent. I can assure you I have. I have been fortunate to have roots in the Santa Fe area dating back to 1598, and very proud of the upcoming 400 anniversary of our beautiful city. My background has been quite vast having worked in the movies since the age of 13, modeled until I was into my 40's, and worked with our state and city tourism folks to promote Santa Fe. I was also fortunate enough to be employed by numerous companies to travel around the United States and Europe purchasing goods for stores scattered around the country but primarily based in Santa Fe. My political background has also come in handy working in conjunction with our local Chamber of Commerce, Home Builders Association and many elected officials to either defeat or promote legislation and ordinances which would affect our property owners.

This vast background has helped me with my clients, in building my business and most of all in promoting my city and my state in a postive manner. Santa Fe is considered to be a resort community with a heavy reliance on tourism. Often those weekend tourist fall in love with our city and make a committement to either purchase a second home here or make a more permanent move. It is this group I find so invigorating to work with - their stories are a pleasure to listen to as I drive them around while showing off and regaling them with bits of history of the area.

I truly believe it is my past that has helped me become a successful broker, and my love of my city and the positive energy that it has, and this energy will hopefully overflow to all who come to live here or just stop by for a visit.

Remember keep positive that smile is much easier on your face than that frown.