Higher Energy Use

Giving my baby the name Summer makes for some funny and ironic references in print advertisements.
How does my electricity company know so much about the effort we're expending raising our new child?

Between a rock and a hard place...

Opportunity is coming

I've been doing a lot of reading and market research these last few days.

With more than $1.8 trillion of commercial real estate debt maturing in the next four years, and the limited the amount of capital available to refinance this debt mountain because of the financial crisis, this should give well-capitalized investors a very attractive entry point.

Now the trick is getting well-capitalized. Maybe I'll do a garage sale this weekend :)

Falcon Attacking Seagull

Yesterday we were at a nearby resort and had a great wildlife show. The resort trains falcons to keep varmints and seagulls away from the resort grounds. While sitting by the pool, we witnessed a falcon dive-bomb a seagull who clearly wasn't authorized to use the resort facilities.
Check the video! Somehow, the seagull didn't die but the falcon literally scared the crap out of it.

Exciting Time, Predictions

Great words from Tom Barrack:

We are in the midst of the most exciting time of the last two centuries. Market barriers are falling, local monopolies and franchises are being dismantled, the power and prowess of the old guard is being challenged vigorously by the young guard, and technology is changing every aspect of our lives every minute. Every company everywhere in the world is shoring and restructuring their balance sheets and honing their business models. These are the factors upon which we need to focus.

A few predictions from him:

• Short-term, real estate will get clobbered on all fronts
• Long-term, real estate will be the asset of choice

• Short-term, most types of real estate will not be physically or functionally obsolete
• Long-term, most types of income producing real estate will be functionally obsolete as technology exponentially grows and changes the way space is used

• Short-term, we will take a page out of European Socialistic Policy
• Long-term, American capitalist will return, having thrown away his steel sword for a laser

And his prediction I agree with most:

The future will be determined by our continued trust and belief in people and relationships and enabling them to do what they do best.

I'm a Dad!!

Summer Victoria Kearin joined us Thursday night! She was born at home in Santa Barbara at 8:05 pm and weighed in at 10 lbs 6 oz. She's absolutely perfect and mom is doing great. She's a champ :)

I'll be updating a different blog with some photos periodically: http://summerkearin.blogspot.com/

Going Hippie

We've been getting antsy for our baby to arrive so this weekend we decided it was high time to get a juicer (makes perfect sense, no?). I've never liked eating vegetables unless they're fried, creamed or covered in cheese or ranch dressing.Paige and I have been loving the freshness of fruits and vegetables juiced in the morning. It gives me way more energy than espresso even. Here's this morning's concoction: strawberries, carrots and apples. Yesterday we had kale, red peppers and cucumber. We're thinking of planting a garden. We're going hippie on y'all :)

My Neighbor Shreds

On Tuesday Santa Barbara local Bobby Martinez beat 44 of the world's best surfers to place 1st in the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Bobby is one of the most gracious and humble surfers on the world tour, and in person (he lives down the street from me). When he's in town, he's always hitting up local breaks and it's definitely fun to see him shred in person.