Bebo's Journal

What's Sooo Inconvenient About the US Economy?

It's coming !!!  The great long-awaited discussion about our economy and how it affects us?  Are we really in a recession.  Foxhall chairman and respected world economist Paul Dietrich believes that we are already into the second quarter of a downturn.  Is this what should worry us?  What about the rising cost of fuel, food?  What about the recent drop in home values?  How long can this all continue?

Well, get ready for more depressing news.  On Aug. 21, "I.O.U.S.A.", will come out in theaters.  It created quite a stir in the recent Sundance Festival.  It the is billed as the equivalent of "The Inconvenient Truth" of the U.S. economy.  "The Inconvenient Truth" made us more aware of our shortcomings to our environment.  Now we have to make a choice.  Which will affect us more in the near future - the environment or the economy?  How are we going to make changes that will allow us to benefit the future citizens of this country economically and environmentally?

Here is the thriller to that much awaited movie.

You can start participating in changing the economic future for the future generations of your family - starting with YOU.  Call or email for more information.  (562) 248-0154 or longbeachcribs@gmail.com

Did you know that it's Beautiful Women Month?

Did you know that March is Beautiful Women Month?

Well, it is and that means you !!!

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote
when asked to share her "beauty tips."
It was read at her funeral years later.

For attractive lips , speak words of kindness...
For lovely eyes , seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure , share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair , let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise , walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone...
People, even more than things, have to be restored,
renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands ;
one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.

If you share this with another woman, something good will happen.....,.
You will boost another woman's self esteem, and she will know that you care about her.

Dance On, Beautiful Woman!!!

Lessons from a Sea Creature

According to David Gallo, we have discovered only 3% of what our oceans have to offer.  Marine biologists are scrambling to record the vast information about the animals that live in the seas.  In this video, you will see some amazing data that you may not be aware of.

While watching this video, I became even more aware of how nature adopts to change.  Animals adopt to the environment in many ways - disappearing and becoming part of the background.  It is amazing to me that some of these animals will actually change physical characteristics -coloring, size, shape, or texture and coloring to protect themselves or adapt to the environment. 

How do humans adapt to change?  We usually take flight or face it head on.  Instead, we should take a hint from these animals.  We need to be creative, innovative in finding ways to adapt to changes.  What can we do to blend with the background?  What changes can we make so that we are part of the solution and not part of the problem?  Good things to keep in mind while watching this video from Ted.com..

Happy New Year!! LET'S SALSA!!

It's a New Year!  A time for renewal.  A chance to start over!  The whole world has really celebrated this year because 2007 really sucked for a lot of people.  Here is a dance that expresses the spirit of the New Year.  You will enjoy this one!  It seems to be the favorite dance!

My Gift To YOU for the Holidays

Happy Holidays!!!  Here's a little something my grandkids and I put together along with my youngest son Daniel.  Have fun with it - it will be something you will treasure and remember through the years.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9630804889

                          Your friend,

                           Marie Kletke

Got NO Legs?? Let's Dance !!!

When you find that life just takes you down, just remember that miracles never cease.  We just have to look around us and see these miracles occurring around us.  As a realtor, today's market is challenging but it is an opportunity for change.  Change is hard.  The future, however, holds promise for all of us.  We just have to throw away a lot of our preconcieved notions and embrace change.  On the dance floor, for example, the most common excuse I hear is "I can't dance - I have two left feet!".  I recently posted a video of a man dancing the salsa with one leg.  How about dancing and competing with no legs?!!  Every year, there is a world class competition for wheelchair-bound individuals.  This video will inspire us!!  We can do wonders with whatever handicap is thrown our way.  We just have to look past the challenge now to the future.

Thoughts About Leaving A Legacy

There is much history in my family.  My grandparents from both sides experienced Spanish colonialism, American occupation, Japanese Imperial Rule and both World Wars.  My parents experienced overwhelming fear at a young age fron the atrocities committed around them during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

As young adults, my parents dreamt of studying in San Francisco.  They accomplished this dream and endured seemingly insurmountable hardships to accomplish this dreams.  Now, it is up to me to continue the story of our heroic family - a legacy that will handed down from generation to generation.

And so, I begin. With stories recounting the adventures of the previous generation, the heroes in my family, their accomplishment and my personal experiences - good or bad- with these elders.  I share it all with my children and my grandchildren. 

Three of my children are currently involved in the real estate.  Their exposure to the business is through me and they are still learning the business.  They will eventually experience firsthand the challenges of this business.  They see understand the importance of resilience in the face of challenges.  They will understand the need for creativity - whether it is involves marketing ideas, a flier or a website design.  They observe the benefits of mentoring.  They realize the importance of personal involvement and responsibility for each buyer or seller.

To become skilled future real estate agents, they are learning to make effective cold calls.  This will teach them to communicate clearly and organize their thoughts.  They are beginning to understand the different aspects of goal setting .  This gives them the opportunity to recognize the importance of setting priorities, creating personal boundaries and keeping specific attainable goals in front of them.

Through my stories and the time I spend with them, my young grandchildren are learning about their ancestry and their familial heritage.  They are learning that they too have a role in the future of the world and that they can affect changes now for the future.

This is my legacy.  My children and granchildren.  When they take their rightful place in our society, when they become the caring conscious leaders they are capable of being , then they have truly shared my legacy.

The Beat Beckons You !!!

What is it about Ballroom Dancing and Dancing itself that makes attracts our attention?  Some think it is the movement of the body.  I say it is the beat of the music itself!!

Here Max Kozhenikov and Yulia Zagoruychenko perform to "The Beat".  This is definitely one you do NOT want to miss!!  (If you are wondering, they are performing a samba/rumba routine.  This particular video was an exhibition that they did in Blackpool, England.  The competition in Blackpool is a World Competition and is considered the Olympics of Dancesport or Ballroom Dancing Competitions!)

Sharing is Caring

Thank You so much for logging into this page.  By now you have navigated through the "Living in Long Beach" page.  Make sure your check out the "Long Beach Houses" page also.  Each page focuses on a different topic.  It is the goal of this blog to grow with its readers and contributors.  As new topics surface, we will add more pages for you to navigate through.  Your suggestions and comments will be very helpful in the development of this page.  You have a reaction to a certain topic - feel free to comment.  Want to really get into the topic or you have another topic in mind?  Write your own article. You will start seeing contributors as we progress.  Most of these authors will have some expertise to share with you.

This page will allow you to get to know me better.  Check out articles on different aspects of my thinking.  I welcome your comments.  Some of these articles are meant to elicit reaction.  So have fun with it.  Check out photos of my work. Happy Viewing!!