More Busy...

It's Monday again and though August is not even here yet, I can feel fall coming. Dave and I drove some country roads yesterday morning and some of our trees are starting to change colors and it just smelled like summer is winding down.  I don't think Mother Nature is in any hurry and it fact, I think it's just that I love fall so much, I start to look for the signs when it's the next season on deck. Yes, we see what we want to see, as we still have lots of summer left. This week it is forecast that we will see 103-106 through Friday and then we will get a break with 98 on Saturday. I was just reminding Dave that it's not on common for us to make a trip to the river to swim the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. Yeah, we have plenty of fun in the sun left to enjoy here in Northern California.

Last week was jam packed with cooking demos, state fair fun, and friends. Mason cooked on Tuesday and Saturday and both demos were well done. The state fair is fun because there are always good audiences with lots of people. On Tuesday we got there early and spent the day with my friend from social media, Carolyn and her daughter Nicole. We had so much fun meeting in person and spending the day together. I've heard people say that Facebook is a time suck, and twitter is a waste of time, but the fact is, I've made real, life long friends via social media. Certainly, one could squander hours away just chiming in on posts, but I've not only made meaningful connections, I've followed them up with real-life meetings. Julianne in Minnesota, Carolyn in Canada, and Rhonda in Texas to name just a few. Social media does more good than bad in my opinion, but it does require intent and discipline. 

This week is busy, too. Mason has a two day acting workshop in Sacramento and a speaking engagement with Kiwanis in Folsom. Thank goodness he is finally walking. He's still in the boot, but he can walk short distances and we have the knee-scooter for when we have to go a little further. We see the ortho on the 11th and hopefully the X-ray will show that he's healed enough to walk without the boot. As it is, school starts on the 10th and he'll have to wear it on the first day of school.

Real estate is busy, busy, busy! I have one family in escrow who have finished their inspections and we are expecting the appraisal back today. Providing that is where it needs to be, we will remove contingencies and work toward closing in the next 10 days. I have a great property coming on the market on the 10th of August, and I’m hoping that I get an offer accepted today for another couple I am working with to become first time homeowners. I only have one other family to work with to buy in September so I think I need some more clients! Who do you know? :)

Less Busy...

It's been an unusually slow week, and can I just tell you, I liked it. When life slows down and our schedules don't pull us in a million directions, there is time to reflect and think about where you've been and where you might want to go next. I do have to disclose, Dave has not had a slow week, in fact he is working his butt off - all week, all weekend (drill) and then all week this week. It sucks when his schedule has him working 12 days right through. Sorry sweetie, but not much longer - just two more years to retirement! 

Mason is finally walking, finally! It took almost 4 weeks even with the boot the ortho gave him. It may be that he was not willing to get through the nerve sensitivity and pain to see that he actually could walk. I had a conversation with his doctor who said, "Tell Mason to walk through that tingling and stinging, it will quickly go away and he will see he can walk." It was true! Those first dozen steps seemed to be excruciating, but that was it, it went away and he was able to get back on his feet. 

As far as the slow week and the reflection, Mason talked with me about not being chosen for Next Food Network Star Kids and how disappointed he was. I pointed out that him not being cast is a blessing in light of him breaking his foot. If they had cast him, we would have had to decline as he could not have competed. I also do not think I would have quickly forgiven him for intentionally disobeying me and breaking his foot with such a big opportunity looming. In any case, he only has one more year to compete in the kid cook arena and he wants to take full advantage and audition as much as he can. As far as Network Star, it filmed 7/5-7/14 and is airing 8/22, so tune in! With that fast production schedule, they may do it again several times before he turns 13 so he's not all the way out of the race. We'll see.

Have a great week and we are back to busy. I am working real estate like crazy and this week is State Fair week for Mason. He is cooking on Tuesday and Saturday, and we are headed to Alameda on Wednesday to see David and Lisa who are visiting from Mexico.  I'm meeting with my Facebook friend Carolyn at the fair on Tuesday, she and her daughter are on vacation from Canada. It's so cool when we make virtual friends and then we get to meet in real life! Thursday I'm representing the Mandarin Festival at the Chamber mixer and Saturday Mason is back cooking at the fair. Yep, it doesn't stay slow for long on Partak Island!

Does Size Matter With Success? YES!

This week was unusually slow and quiet. Mason is still not walking so we are not doing our usual trips to the river or pool, he's not riding his bike or doing much with his friends. One of his friends came and slept over and it was nice to see him having some fun.

Dave is enjoying his baby and he is fitting right in with our family. I don't think I have ever seen such a foodie dog as Gunner! He is potty training beautifully and even helping to get the old man, Spencer to go potty where we want him to go instead of on the patio.

I've been busy this year working with clients to be ready to buy and sell. Finally, we have reached the point that my buyers are qualified and we opened escrow on Wednesday. My sellers are getting close, too, they are finalizing repairs and the new carpet goes in on 8/9 and then we can list! I also have another family who got the promotion they were waiting for so they are meeting with their loan officer again to get their pre qualification so we can start shopping. My last two quarters of this year should be off the hook.

I came across this quote from 2010, it's something I said during a challenging time. I'm sharing it because I love that my girl friend Juli shared an equally important perspective and not only do I want it in my life journal forever, I'm thinking you will all agree that she is spot on!

"I don't think the important parts of life happen when you succeed. I believe they come when you falter, or fall off the wagon and manage to get back up and stay the course. Getting back on track and seeing something through is far more rewarding than doing something that was too easy to begin with."

Here's how the comments went:

Juli  But it's so much more fun when success comes easily! 🙂

Like · Reply · 44 mins · Edited

Renee That seems to only happen for a select few.

Like · Reply · 1 · 41 mins

Kathy Partak I agree, but I don't think I remember easy successes the same way I do the ones that challenge me.

Like · Reply · 1 · 41 mins

Juli We all have success each day -- some large and some small. I think it's important to recognize them, even when they're small, and acknowledge a job well done. For example, last night I was exhausted and decided to clean up the kitchen instead of continuing on a physically demanding project. I got the kitchen cleaned and floor swept. It was a small success but it was good to recognize that I did it instead of just going to bed. I realize you're probably talking more about big successes like job promotions, successful relationships, reaching goals, etc. but don't forget about the little ones that take place every day. It's good to recognize things that may net seem like a "success" and pat yourself on the back. We all have those. Renee, you did a couple of amazing things like week by making a critical meeting happen AND helping your sister. Most people would have just blown off one of them but you successfully did both and did them well. Kathy, oh my goodness, I see little success happen DAILY with you. Just because they seem to be easy, you should still take the time to recognize them. I know they aren't as memorable as the ones that are hard, but they're still wonderful and amazing. And they add up!

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 18 mins

Kathy Partak Juli  You're the best! I love you and I agree with you 100%!!!!

Like · Reply · 1 · 16 mins

Juli Thanks Kathy. Now I have to get back on the physically demanding large project. When I complete that, I will consider it a huge and memorable success!

Don't you agree, the little successes, though may not be as memorable, are as or more important to acknowledge than the big ones that require lots of energy and work? I do and I love that many of my friends are like minded and remind me to tune in and be present. In fact, if you know me, you know I love ordinary, I love the moments we laugh cooking in the kitchen, the time Dave snaps a photo of me sleeping on the couch with Spencer, or when we all eat something different because nobody wants to cook and we settle in to watch tv together.

Happy Monday! It's 7/11 and that means free Slurpees at 7-11. I am going to take Mason with me to run some errands, grab some lunch out and get a free Slurpee. Make today great and pay attention to the small successes, revel in them and treat yourself to a Slurpee.

**Renee has a website with all the happenings in Auburn, check it out at VisitAuburnCA.com and Juli is an amazing designer of all things - logos, ads, art, you name it, she can create it. Check out her portfolio here.

Happy Birthday Dave!

Meet Gunner!

Last week I noted that there was so much to share I felt like I needed to do installments, so I'm going to pick up this week from last week.

We arrived home from Las Vegas on Saturday and on Sunday it was Dave's birthday. That is reason enough to celebrate but wait, there's more! Sunday was also the day we went to pick up the newest member of our Family, meet Gunner. This is Dave's dream come true and how awesome is it that we get to bring him home on Dave's birthday. It's just the best!

I spent this last week following up on my leads from the licensing show and one cool opportunity is live and happening right now, my RiverLights artwork is up and for sale on Pixels.com. I'm tickled to have my work up and available for sale on all kinds of things, fine art, canvases, metal, phone cases, tote bags, beach towels, and more! Here's the link to my page, take a look and think ahead to Christmas!

Kathy Partak on Pixels.com

I have more images that will be uploaded as I have time, but there are some beautiful images there now, go check them out and please, share them with your family, friends, and on social media.

It turns out Mason's foot is broken, well, fractured and he is not very happy about it. Well, you already all know where I stand on this, he created this and it's a lesson that keeps sending ripples out in directions he could not have imagined it could reach. One really bad decision that just keeps coming back like a chili cheese dog at 2 AM.

That's the big news for now. Gunner has been a total sweetheart and is doing a great job learning to use the dog door and do his business outside. He sleeps in his crate and is pretty much sleeping through the night. All is well at the Partak homestead.