SoulMoxie

Beantown Without The Beans

Hello all! I'm in Boston, so forgive me for the sporadic posting. You'll be hearing and seeing from me on Monday! Have a great weekend.

So True

My Mentor gave this to me when I first began Brown Realty Group. I had never heard it before, but it has boosted my morale on multiple occasions. There is however, a very important verse missing; your dog will  continually piss and shit on your carpet. Clean it up anyway.

ANYWAY

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.  Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will falsely accuse you of ulterior motives.  Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends, and true enemies.  Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.

People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs.  Fight for some underdogs along the way.

What you spend years building may be destroyed over night.  Build anyway.

People really need help, and then attack you for helping.  Help people anyway.

No matter what you do, or what you give, someone will not be happy with it. Give your best anyway.

*On the wall of the 1st Children's Ashram founded by Mother Teresa.

Why I Won't Be Getting A Job At Kiddie Candids Anytime Soon

I just bought a new camera and it is rocking my world. In aswer to your comment, Lara, there is no magic, just great equipment. Read that with a clean mind, please.

I spent about 7 hours yesterday taking pictures of everything from lunch, to ducks, to my dogs, to the wall, to my clients, to the gas pump, well, to just about everything that crossed my path. Lots of excitement in my world. Lots of excitement. 

 

Sam would not cooperate. I begged and pleaded with him to please "hold his tongue".  He just looked at me like "are you crazy?" and "how long do I have to sit here?"

I mean, seriously, have you ever seen such a large, unattractive tongue? It's larger than his head. The worst part is he doesn't even care.

Trooper is a whole different story. Sure, he doesn't have the tongue problem, but how exactly do I go about getting that dumb look off his face?

P.S. Do you remember this? Well, they're back, and I'm not happy. You give them an inch and they take a mile.

Warning: Do Not View On An Empty Stomache. Really.

I'm not much of a foody, but this weekend the food gods were smiling upon me. I started eating Saturday morning, and continued the binge until just a few moments ago when I forced myself to leave an "Iron Chef" gathering. I could go into all of the details, but a picture really does say a thousand words..

The secret ingredient was coffee. The chef's were beyond brilliant! This is some kind of scallop dish, and see those specks? Coffee grounds in some kind of fun sauce.

Ceviche - the best i've had. Coffee is on the melted cheese on the toast...

Cuban Chicken with roasted potatoes..coffee must be there. Coffee colored perhaps?..

Flank steak with sweet potato puree and grilled pineapple. Drowning in the most divine bourbon, barbecue, coffee sauce...

Pork tenderloin with a coffee and (cumin? curry?) rub. A spicy sauce drizzled on top served over wild rice... And just when I was beginning to think potatoes were bland, these little garlicy, buttery critters entered my life. Right next to the most incredible beef tenderloin in a black truffle and coffee rub.

Sorry there are no pictures of dessert. I was inhaling garlic potatoes at that point, or maybe I was laying on the floor rubbing my belly?  And to think I thought of entering myself! I'm not so sure my green bean casserole sprinkled with coffee grounds and french fried onions would have been a stong competitor.

The "Gets" And The "Get Nots"

I haven't written much about my career. Which is a shame, really, because my job is amazingly fulfilling, fun, a lot of hard work, and often hilarious. I've decided to post once a week about the highs and lows (and everything in betweeen) of my career as a Real Estate Broker, and Landlord Extraordinaire (I deserve the caps - I've earned them).

First up, the rental process. It's a strange thing, really. Very similar to applying for a job. Some houses are comparable to professional jobs; most of the applicants have college degrees (or are working toward them), have golden retrievers, ride their bikes to work, and choose to recycle. In this situation, there is always a meeting; sometimes at a coffee shop, maybe at the park, which is really just seeing if our personalities are a good fit. Almost a mutual interview to see not only if I will  enjoy them as tenants, but if they'll enjoy me as a landlord. We usually talk about skiing, hiking, music, or other like things. THEN, there's the OTHER  houses. I liken these to menial jobs. Think McDonalds.  Most of the applicants need the place - like yesterday - because they're facing eviction, which is bullshit because they've never paid late. Their pit bull never barks, never digs, and doesn't have a mean bone in it's body (as it's growling at me). Their baby's daddy is not going to live at the house, but is going to help with the rent when and if he gets a job. All of these stories are told to me within layers of heroic feats of cancer, kids getting teeth knocked out by grocery carts, and all of the odds they've conquered in their lives. Oh, and can I work with them on the deposit?

I had a prospective tenant last night that does not "get it". In a mere half an hour he told us that 1. He had burned a house down 2. Wasn't allowed back because the neighbors were afraid of his (docile) pit bull 3. has four cars on blocks in his driveway 4. had gotten into a motorcycle accident when he was 15, suffered severe brain damage, and has chronic pain in his knee. "They" are still pursuing him for the bills 5. has a great job, but only works 10 hours a week 6. has ruined the driveway and landscaping at his current house, but it isn't his fault 7. can't afford his place because the landlord's are jacking the rent up ($300 less than the rent  we're charging) 8. has a sick baby 9. lived at a hotel until he was kicked out 10. his wife doesn' know how they can afford it, but "there's always a way" and finally can he have some of the furniture from the house if we don't choose him? Strong sell, no?

It's a tough thing, to have to sort through all of this bullshit. I always believe in the good in people and that maybe, just maybe, if I give them a chance and treat them better then they're used to be treated, they'll pay rent this time - they won't lie to me - They'll change. They never do. Which is my I am learning to not be a "tenant enabler". I've become somewhat calloused. I don't believe that all 5 of their kids have severe asthma (as they chainsmoke), and have all had cancer in the last 10 years. I've even learned to walk away in the middle of such stories. Being a Sociology major, this generates major guilt in me. Am I perpetuating scripts in their life? Am I holding them down? Or, do they just not get it? And which came first? Are they in their life situation because they don't get it? Or do they not get it because of their life situation?

thoughts?

Dream: A Visionary Creation Of The Imagination

I've always been a gatherer of famous sayings, and inspirational articles. I love tangible reminders that help me become a better person and remind me of the kind of life I intend to live.

Some of these inspirations have more meaning to me, at different times, depending on my life circumstances, but all of them have helped me through difficult situations and in some way have shaped who I am, and who I am becoming.

I have carried this little "inspiration" with me for 10 years now. I ripped it out of a magazine when I was a freshman in college. I have no recollection of where it came from, but it has somehow made the journey from apartment to apartment, house to house, and every emotional, physical and financial move I've made. I read it often and it always seems to ground me. I hope you enjoy!

Dream: A visionary creation of the imagination

You are in a store. You try on a garment that fits you perfectly. You try on another, but it's too large, it itches a bit, the sleeves drag on the floor. Both garments sell for the same price. Which do you buy?

It isn't a trick question: You should buy the one that fits better, of course. This logic can also apply to the way we decide to live our lives. We know intuitively that there is a life we long to have, a dream we've harbored - sometimes since childhood. But too often we decide to follow a path that is not really our own, one that others have set for us. We forget that whichever way we go, the price is the same: In both cases, we will pass through difficult and happy moments, hours of solitude, and many complex situations. But when we are living our dream, the difficulties we encounter make sense.

You may have heard the parable of the three men laboring in a field of rocks. Each is asked what he is doing. The first man says, "Can't you see? I'm breaking rocks!" The second man replies, "Can't you see? I'm earning my salary!" The third man answers, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm, "Can't you see? I'm building a cathedral!" This lovely story, which my mother first told me when I was a child, illustrates both the necessity of hard work in realizing a dream as well as the need to keep the vision in your mind's eye - even when others don't see or understand it.

The money we receive in return for our eight hours of work each day can be spent any number of ways; the only thing we cannot buy is extra time. So, during the minutes we have, I believe it is better to live a dream rather than to simply dream it. The dream is the start of something greater, something that impels us to make daring decisions. And it's true that the person who pursues a dream takes many risks. But the person who does not runs risks that are even greater.

By Paulo Coelho

A Blessing And A Curse

I am walking distance to some of the cutest boutiques in Salt Lake City. This is great in theory. Right until I walk through the door of any one of them and have to have just about everything I can put my hands on. I made the mistake of going into Hip & Humble a few weeks ago to hang a poster. An hour later, I walked out of the store with a purse, wallet, some organic cleaning supplies, and this unbelievably cute welcome rug...

How is any front porch complete without one of these darling rugs? If you're looking for a cute gift for yourself or anyone you know, trust me, this is the place.

It's All In The Details

"My boyfriend and I have a Nintendo Wii and can't get enough of it."

"I didn't think you had a t.v. How does that work?"

"It's at my boyfriend's house."

"What if you break up?"

"It's totally fine - we have a "Wii-nup"."

Alternative Means Of Exercise

When Jess and I started dating, our whole relationship was surrounded by exercise; running, running, and more running. We were not only training for a marathon, but his crazy dog Trooper, who I often refer to as legs (because that's mostly what he is), needs a lot of exercise.  We established early on that if Trooper did not at least run 6 miles a day, he was sure to get into something. Some days that was a box of pancake or brownie mix (which my carpet still bears witness of). Other days it was my coveted Ralph Lauren down comforter that he tore to shreds.

The running wasn't neccessarily a bad thing - I did have a marathon to train for, but I wondered what would happen in the winter...when I really no longer wanted to run 6-9 miles a day...Would I just have to sacrifice all of the beautiful, material things in my life? So that Trooper could work through his excess energy? Luckily, we found the perfect solution...

We discovered that Trooper not only likes to run with us, but also with our vehicles. Who knew? This is great because we can make Trooper run indefinitely at about 21 mph - for miles - until he has not one ounce of energy left. And me? I'm usually in the truck sipping on a fresca. I love exercise.

Occasionally he gets sidetracked and chases a ground squirrel, or a deer, or a skunk (which was the case this weekend, but that's a different post). After his hunt, he'll quickly resume his position in front of the truck...

On this particular day, Trooper ran about 20 miles like this. Back and forth to the cabin gate numerous times. It is the one type of exercise that Trooper and I both get equally excited about...

Sam? Not so much. He'd rather be in the truck sipping a Fresca with me.

Drumroll, Please...

When I posted this contest, I was worried that only my mom would enter, so thank you all for coming through for me.  There were so many good catchphrases, I wavered back and forth all weekend. One minute I was sure it would be one and the next moment convinced that my blog could have no other catchphrase than another... Tough, Tough Decisions... I'm sure you just want me to shut up and announce the winner...

   "It's good for your soul"

There it is. In all of it's glory. Thank you, Holly Thatcher, for sending me these cute vintage logos (for the original Moxie Cream Soda). I think they are a perfect addition to the blog. E-mail me at Sarah@brownutah.com with your mailing address and I will send your giftcard.

I must give honorable mention to Mel. Your "Daily dose of soul" was a close second. I absolutely loved it.

A big thanks to everyone else! I absolutely loved reading all of the comments. You are all absolutely more clever than I will ever be.