Last Saturday, July 17, 2010, was the 33rd annual Kendall Mountain Run in Silverton, CO. As I found out, it’s definitely for the fit and hardy, but for those of you like me, it can be done with the right mind-set and perseverance. Enjoy this video of my first KMR half marathon.  I can only go up from here, in more ways than one. LOL

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I’m just having fun, now, but if you’ve heard, we’ve had a rash of summer thunder storms across Colorado. Yesterday, at home in Ridgway, one of the biggest downpours, with all the trimmings hit me at home. Here’s a short video I took out my back yard (my first video upload)!

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The 2009 15th Annual Partners Challenge Ride (and Weekend Get-Away) has been set this year for the weekend of September 26-27.   This 2-day, 104-mile mountain bike ride is truly challenging, but a lot of fun, traversing some of the most spectacular mountain terrain and scenery in the country.   It is not a race.  Riders are supported all along the way by volunteers who work at the aid/food stations, patrol the route with sag wagons, and provide bike mechanic services. Click here for more information about the event and course description from last year.  Below is a map of the course.

Partners of Delta, Montrose and Ouray is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that mentors children in our area.   Youth aged 6-17 are referred to the program and then screened and matched with a trained adult volunteer.  The pair make a commitment to spend at least three hours a week together for one year.  The staff of Partners supports this relationship with weekly contact, monthly recreational activities and educational workshops.  Another component of the program focuses on teenagers through Art Partners.  Youth aged 12-17 are matched with a professional artist or crafter in a supported 3-month mentoring apprenticeship.  Partners has been in existence in our area since 1987, providing a huge value to our youth.  Partners does not charge for its services, but rather, relies on volunteers and donations.  For a good newspaper article on Partners, click here.

I am proud that my company this year will be entering a corporate team, which will be made up of 5 riders, including myself.  In addition, the non-riders will be volunteering to work the ride and/or help us to raise funds for Partners.  Our goal as a team is to raise at least $1,500.  If you would like to help us meet our goal, we would truly appreciate your tax deductible donation in any amount.  Please make your check payable to Partners and mail or deliver it to my office at 1245 E. Main St., Montrose, CO  81401, Attn: Partners. 

Alternatively, if you’d like to take the challenge, register as an individual or corporate team to participate in the ride.  The fee for individuals is $300, and for a team, $1,300, limited to 5 riders.  You should be able to download the registration form soon from the Partners’ website at www.Partners-West.org.  As of this post, it is not yet online, but should also be available soon through www.active.com.  Until then, feel free to call me, and I’ll be happy to mail you a registration form.  The ride is limited to the first 100 riders, but there’s no limit on donations!  I’ll keep you posted as I find more online about this event, and also, about my training.  I rode one day in the event 2 years ago, which convinced me I needed a new bike and a lot more training!  I’ve got the new bike, and have started the training.

~Ninah

My agents, Kylee Smith & Betsy Spitzer on Partners’ Ride 2007
coming down Owl Creek Pass, Chimney Rock in background

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This past Thanksgiving Day turned out to be more special than I anticipated.  For me, it’s no longer a big family event, with both my parents now deceased, my siblings and varoius newphews and nieces in other states, and no children of my own, and most of my neighbors with family visitng theirs.  This year, after several invitations, from us to others, and a mix-up in communication with some neighbor friends, my partner, Annabel, and I ended up in Montrose at the home of some dear friends, whom we really haven’t seen nearly enough during this past year.  Like us, Jen and Maree, do not have children or big extended families who live in town.  What they do have, like us, is a big, extended group of friends of various ages, backgrounds, interests, and even some with children. 

There was about 25 of us, and it was a potluck affair.  So, oh, my goodness, was there some food!  I’m still stuffed.  It was great to catch up with friends we hadn’t seen for awhile, and to meet some new ones.  Best of all, it was just a wonderful opportunity to chat, laugh, socialize, eat, drink and be merry, and to forget about all the negativity permeating the news and the work-a-day conversations of the last several months.  So, as I’m still glowing this weekend from a warm and friendly Thanksgiving gathering, I’m re-committing myself to being thankful and saying my gratitudes everyday.  I’m starting with the following.

I am very grateful for:

1.  My health, mental and physical;

2.  My lovely, devoted friend and partner of 30 years;

3.  My warm, energy-efficient, cozy home with awesome views of the Cimarron Mountains, from which to enjoy the first snow showers of the season.

4.  My charming, loyal Airedale dogs, Huckleberry and Shamus, always good for a laugh.

5.  My dear sister, Barbara, in San Diego County, who is never more than a phone call or email away, . . . and who has bought more property in Colorado from me than anyone!

6.  A career that I love and my fantastic team of broker associates–I finally found that something I love to do which means I’ll never have to work again!

6.  The loving memories of my mother and father, who will always be close to me in my heart and a source of strength, and comfort during the holidays and every day.

I hope all of you had a joyful Thanksgiving.  Let the Holiday season begin!

~Ninah

. . . I’m also grateful for rainbows out my front window!

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Well, I’m way behind in catching up on posts, but before the month gets away from me, I wanted to let you know how I did at the annual Imogene Pass Run, held earlier this month on September 6th.  My goal was just to finish, and that’s what I did.  I didn’t make the first turn-around time at mile 7.5, but they let me carry on.  I knew I could finish, and my timing didn’t matter to me.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  About 1,100 runners participated, including my sister, Barbara, from San Diego, CA, and my niece, Josie, from Flagstaff, and Kylee from my office.  We had our own support team in the way of our friends, Annabel, Ann from my neighborhoos, and MJ (also from San Diego), who hiked up 3 miles and met us (well, Barb and me) at the end. 

I have to say this was one of the most physically challenging things I’ve ever done, but what an incredible venue in which to challenge myself.  I felt so pleased and relieved when I finally summitted Imogene Pass at just over 13,000 feet.  But I quickly realized jogging down 7 miles on a tricky, steep and rocky jeep road wasn’t a cup of tea.  Since I knew I wasn’t breaking any records, I decided to minimize my chances of breaking any bones and walked most of the way down after the first 2 miles, especially after meeting up with my friends, Annabel and Ann.  I did, however, sprint in from the last quarter mile.  It took me about 7.5 hours.  My sister made it in at 6:50, Kylee in just over 5 hours, and my 28-year old, 8-week pregnant niece made it in at 3:50!  My training buddy, Sharalynn, was the last to be timed in at 6.5 hours, and even got called for an interview by a local newspaper!  She wasn’t so sure if she liked such notoriety, but like the rest of us, was so pleased just to have finished.  I achieved my other goal in signing up for this event, and that was just to scare myself into training on a regular basis.  The momentum remains and I’m happy to report that I’m still regularly running and walking and looking forward to being in much better shape for the ski season.  I’m even contemplating doing it again next year since I know a lot better what I need to do to train and have more time to train for it.   If any of you are interested, check out the Imogene Pass Run site.  They have race results, training tips, and information already about the 2009 run.  Registration starts June 1st, and it will fill up in about a day.  So, mark your calendar!

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My new friend and fellow runner/hiker-in-training for the Imogene Pass Run, Sherralyn Daniels, and I hiked the Blue Lakes Trail this past Saturday as far as the lower Blue Lake.  This is a popular trail and one I had not done before, but had heard much about.  Actually, I’d seen the lakes from atop Mt. Sneffles when I’d hiked that a couple years ago.  Our approach Saturday was from the trailhead from East Dallas Creek Rd. (CR 7) off Highway 62.  It was a beatiful and challenging hike, 3.3 miles to the lower lake.  The wild flowers were a highlight.  Arriving at the lower lake was like being in a wonderland.  The lake was actually turquoise, not just blue, situated in an amphitheater of steep mountain sides and a cascading waterfall-into-creek from above, fringed by pine trees and blooming fields of wildflowers to the edge of the water.  We stopped for lunch at the lake shore, dipping our hot, trail-weary feet into the icey cold water–that didn’t last long! 

Because we were both under time constraints to get back, we opted not to proceed to the upper lakes, but we did have to discover where the trail continued, since it wasn’t obvious.  We found the trail continued by crossing a huge tree trunk across the creek, which we walked over, then the trail cut a narrow path through waist-high wild flowers and shrubs.  It then went straight up, almost through a creek/waterfall bed, which we scrambled up, climbing now, not hiking.  We made our way to a ridge that continued upwards around and over the lower lake, presenting evermore breathtaking views of the lake and amphitheater from a higher perspective.  We stopped on a rock outcrop to take in the view and discuss how much more training we needed and the concern we had about successfully completing the Imogene Pass Run.  From above, a single, elderly (well, let’s say in her 60’s) woman came trekking down, totally enthused about the flowers and what she’d seen.  She encouraged us to go just another 10 minutes upwards to view a beautiful field of lupine flowers, which we did.

The return trip was just as beautiful, fun, and challenging, and seemed much longer than going up.  We were fortunate to have clear, sunny weather in the shade most of the day, getting into a few sprinkles of rain just as we returned.  Round trip was about 8 miles.  It’s amazing how much longer and harder a mile going up and down hill is than on the flat!  I was sorry I didn’t have a camera with me.  But to get another hiker/photographer’s account of this trail, with some gorgeous photos, click here.  For more info on Ouray County trails, visit www.ouraytrails.org.

I was a bit tired and sore today, which made a good excuse to stay home and do housework and work on taxes–I’d rather have been out hiking again, but did enjoy a brief rainstorm from the safety and comfort of my home. 

~Ninah

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As is all too common, I let work and life’s distractions pull me away from posting to this blog recently, for which I apologize, but I’m back with renewed commitment and enthusiasm.  Just to catch you up on what’s been happening with me, in March, I made a very typical Coloradan escape during the “mud months” to La Paz, Baja California, Mexico.  The primary purpose was to attend a wedding, where many dear friends from San Diego gathered for the affair, so it was a wonderful reunion, as well.  La Paz was marvelous, friendly, beautiful, great weather, good food, and relaxing.  It was a bit of a journey by plane (via Salt Lake City and Las Angeles), but still a lot faster than driving!

Back in Colorado, spring was making an attempt to appear, but we continued to have off-and-on snow showers, even into early May!  Mostly, we’ve had lots of wind, which I’m told is due to the heat hitting the snowpack in the high country.  I’ve also been told that when the snow melts off Horsefly Mesa, that’s when we can expect the wind to quit.  I always thought that was an old wives’ tale, but, apparently, there is some truth to it.  Usually, the snowpack is substantially gone by mid- to late April.  So, unfortunately, that means we’ll probably continue to get wind into late June.  Ugh!!  Good thing is that it appears we’re safe from any more snow, at least, in Montrose and probably below 8,000 feet.  We have had a few nice rain showers, which means everything is greening up nicely around here, and flowers are beginning to bloom.  Even the trees in Ridgway (about another 1000′ higher) are beginning to leaf out.  It’s beautiful, especially against the backdrop of those gorgeous, brilliant blue skies with big, puffy white clouds.

Spring fever has caught hold of me this year like never before, causing me to do some good and crazy things.  First, I decided to take up golf, thanks to the encouragement of some of my avid golfer agents, Nick and Joan Zappa.  So, I’ve gone as far as buying a new set of golf clubs and have had a couple of rounds of golf in very gusty winds at the Cobble Creek Golf Course.  Not so pleasant in the wind, but makes for a good excuse when the balls don’t fly straight!  That’s the good thing.  Then, I got very inspired to get back into a fitness and training routine, which I haven’t done in over 10 years, and it shows 20 lbs later!  My agent, Kylee Smith, a retired P.E. teacher, is my inspiration here.  I committed to do the Imogene Pass Run with her this year in September.  It’s a 17 mile stretch from Ouray to Telluride over the Imogene Pass which is just over 13,000 feet in elevation.  That’s the crazy thing!  But as I told Kylee, I have to be scared into training.   And it’s working.  I joined the MAC (Montrose Athletic Club).  I signed up on Jillian Michael’s website for her online training.  Jillian is best known for being a trainer on the Biggest Loser TV show.  I also bought her DVD’s and, believe me, those work-out sessions do kick your butt!  I started a running regime, and I’m finally seeing some progress.  Kylee and I both ran the Run for Shelter 5K last month and the Black Canyon Ascent 10K (well, I mostly power-walked it) last weekend, both events put on by the San Juan Mountain Runners.  The Black Canyon Ascent was 6 miles all uphill from Highway 50 to the top of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison park entrance, ending at the campground.  I made it without dying and was especially pleased with how well I recovered the next day. 

Of course, the warmer, sunnier spring weather does help one get and stay inspired.  We’re getting into the mid-70’s and approaching 80’s in Montrose, while still cooling down into the 40’s at night, and dipping close to freezing in Ridgway, where I live.  And I still get thrilled by the ever-changing ”real weather” that Colorado offers.

On the real estate front, business has definitely, and fortunately, picked up.  We are fortunate that the real estate market has not been hit hard as in other areas, such as Florida, Arizona, California, and Las Vegas.  Values have remained essentially flat since 2007, and there is a significant decrease in overall volume of units sold.  From my experience, it’s the credit crunch that has had the most effect.  While interest rates are still at historical lows, and some good, FHA, near-100% loans still exist, lenders have definitely tightened up the criteria for approving loans.  Stated income loans, so important to self-employed and investors, have disappeared.  The best advice we can give to buyers right now is that they meet FIRST with a good, local lender and know what they’re qualified to buy, or if they’re qualified at all.  And for our sellers, we expect to have any offer to be submitted with a conditional approval letter (that goes beyond a pre-qualification letter).  It means the buyer has actually submitted substantiating documentation and a credit report has been pulled by the lender.  Even then, we’re finding that loans are not getting approved after being submitted to underwriting.  As one mortgage banker told me recently, it’s as if the underwriter is requiring the loan originator to prove the borrower won’t default, rather than proving the borrower has satisfied all the criteria and conditions of the underwriter for being approved.  Of course, we’re all comparing the current situation with how easy it used to be just a couple years ago to get a loan, when, as the same mortgage banker said, “all you had to do was prove you had a pulse.”  In a nutshell, it’s a great time to buy in the Montrose area, and not such a bad time to sell, so long as the seller asks for a realistic price, which should be at or just under market.  The days of testing the market are over!

Well, I’ve probably included way too much in this one post, but I felt the need to make up for my 2-month hiatus.  I hope all of you everywhere are enjoying a lovely springtime!

~Ninah

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There's a saying in Colorado, "If you don't like the weather in Colorado, wait 5 minutes or drive 5 miles."  That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but not too far from the truth.  Having grown up in Southern California, I am still quite excited about having actual weather as opposed to just climate.  Yesterday compared to today is a perfect example.  Yesterday, we had record highs for this winter season, into the 60's.  It was clear, sunny, and just brilliant.  So, when I heard on the 5:00 p.m. news that by tomorrow morning we'd experience a big drop in temperatures and would be getting a good dose of snow, pretty much throughout the state, I found it hard to believe.  It was even harder to believe as I sat in my hot tub outside around 9:30 p.m., watching a clear sky sparkling with a celestial blanket of stars.  It wasn't more than about a half hour after I went inside to bed that I heard the wind pick up furiously.  It was then I knew something was blowing in.  Sure enough, when I woke up about 6:00 this morning, there was already about an inch of snow on the ground with a light snow shower. 

Well, here it is 10:45 a.m., and the snow has picked up and is coming down pretty hard and steady.  I think there must be another 3-4 inches on the ground.  Okay, so more than 5 minutes has gone by, but I'll bet you anything that by mid-afternoon, the snow will be gone and the sun will be out just in time for me to enjoy a beautiful Alpenglow sunset on the Cimarron Mountains out my front windows.   Well, maybe I'd better not bet you.  We've had an unusually snowy, cold winter so far this year.  Good thing we need the snow-pack and I like to ski!!  It did inspire me to put 2 weather widgets on my blog, one for Montrose and one for Ridgway.  And I can't think of better weather for working on my taxes! 

 ~Ninah

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Hello, everyone!

This is exciting!  Maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but this is my first blog.  Of course, I’ve been hearing about them, and am even subscribed to a couple, but this is my first venture into my own blogdom.  I’ll admit, my primary purpose is as a markeing tool, but just as importantly, I want to interact with the public and for you to get to know me.  I’ve totally embraced the notion that the personal touch and interaction are essential in creating a professional relationship, as well as a social one–they go hand-in-hand sometimes, don’t they?

With a background as an attorney, it’s hard for me to brief, but I’ll try to do so in this introductory blog about myself.  I grew up in San Diego County, daughter of a retired career Marine Corps officer turned attorney in civilian life, and a former career housekeeper and mother of 4 children, who later went back to school, obtained a Doctorate degree in psychology and became a renowned clinical psychologist dealing with the military family.  Unfortunately, both my parents have passed away, but not without leaving me with a huge influence on my life and many, many fond memories.  I was a professional student (having obtained my B.A. in French and M.A. in Spanish) and Jill-of-all-trades, master of none, until I went back to school once again and obtained my J.D. degree and launched a successful (okay, I’m not modest) career as a Certified Family Law Specialist (aka divorce attorney) for 15 years.  Yes, it was stressful and challenging, but mostly rewarding.

Four years ago, I was one of the fortunate few who was able and willing to make a career and lifestyle change, when I decided to retire from family law practice, sell my home and business in San Diego, and move to Colorado to start a new career in real estate.  I moved with my life partner of 30 years, who, fortunately, shared my dream and decision for change.  We ended up buying a lot and building our home in Ridgway, Colorado.  We’ve also bought, owned and sold various properties in both Montrose and Ouray Counties throughout the past 4 years, and I still own a few lots here and there in other states.  I, absolutely, love my new home in Southwestern Colorado.  I believe I have probably added, at least, 10 years, to my life span, with the decrease in stress and increase in physical activity that living in this area affords, such as hiking, biking, skiing, snow shoeing, gardening, horse-back riding, rafting, fishing, camping, and off-road jeeping . . ., and snow shoveling!    Seems as though there are a lot of like-minded residents and transplants here, who have become near and dear friends. 

 I, also, absolutely love my new career in real estate.  It’s always been a passion of mine, and I did a lot of investing while in San Diego, which was instrumental in giving me the financial freedom to make my move to Colorado.  I always struggled about being a divorce attorney and wondered what it would be like to do something I just really enjoyed without question.  Now, I’m doing just that.  In real estate, I feel like I’m a kid in a candy store.  I think, breath, live real estate, and it’s so easy to do so in this gorgeous area on the planet earth.   I hadn’t really intended to become a business owner, again, but the opportunity presented itself out of the blue.  So, since October, 2006, I’ve been the proud owner of CENTURY 21 Action Realty in Montrose.  I’m on a fast-track to learn about real estate brokerage management and development.  All modesty aside, I think I’ve done a good job so far putting together a great group of broker associates with a wide range of knowledge, skill, and approach to business.  What we have in common is that we love what we do and enjoy working with each other and our customers.  Although I’m still fairly active in sales, my primary focus is developing my agents and my company and recruiting the best in real estate to ensure my company continues on the path in becoming one of the premier real estate companies in the Montrose, Colorado area.  Through this blog, I’m very much looking forward to sharing information and advice with both consumers and fellow business owners.   So, bring it on!  I’m very much looking foward to hearing from you and enjoying the benefits of this blog.

 Happy trails! 

 Ninah

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