Gay LA Homes and Lifestyles

Los Angeles Doesn't Get Much Better

A Most Magnificent Monday & Happy St. Patrick's Day!

What an absolutely magnificent weekend it was here in Santa Monica! Wow! The winds whipped up a bit throughout the weekend, but it didn't stop everyone from enjoying the 68-72 degree temps and crystal blue skies. Ahh, to live and love LA!

The highlight of my weekend was most definitely attending the Human Rights Campaign Annual Dinner Gala . And what a Gala it was! The biggest of the ballrooms at the Century Plaza Hotel was the location of what is absoltely considered to be THE ultimate star-studded fundraiser for the Gay Community. This year, celebs like Anne Hathaway (yum), Neil Patrick Harris and Ricki Lake accepted awards and presented honorees. The evening was full of lots of classic gala activities- schmoozing & networking, silent auctioning, live auctionin- from purebred puppies to cruises around the world, drinking lots of wine and dining on hotel chicken. And the people-watching was FAB!

If you're interested in learning more about Human Rights Campaign, click here.

Thank Goodness, it's 2008!

I had a most unexpected new years eve. My neighbors Dave & Alice throw a party to celebrate New Years in London, since Dave and many of his friends are from England. He logs onto the BBC over the internet and plays Big Ben gonging at 4pm our time. Well the afternoon became the evening, and we celebrated new years twice! I drank way too much, and am certainly feeling it today.

I don't know about you, but I am so relieved to have 2007 behind me. It was a year fraught with big challenges for me, mostly around money. The biggest lesson I learned, though, was how unnecessary money is in the grand scheme of things. Yes, it's critical to have in this era. But it is nothing but a tool.  Having it or not does not define us as people. We are no better or no worse as people with or without it. And who we are and how we make a difference in the world is what matters.

In 2008 I resolve to deepen my connections with the Gay & Lesbian Community in Los Angeles. I resolve to deepen my connections with my local community of Santa Monica. I resolve to spend more time on the phone connecting with my past clients. I resolve to spend more time on the phone, in general. My colleague says: "The Money is in the Phone". I see it a little differently. Relationships are in the phone. As a result of those relationships, prosperity flows....Oh yeah, I also resolve to date more!

Here's some great resolutions from the GLBT community and Human Rights Campaign Fund

Any predictions about the real estate market in '08? I think there will continue to be people who need and want to buy and sell real estate. I think there's never a bad time to buy real estate, especially if you're buying for lifestyle. Rents here in LA are over $2500/month for a 1 bedroom apartment! That's not to say you could buy a place for a smaller or equivalent monthly payment...you really can't. But for a bit more, you can be owning and applying over $30,000 a year toward a mortgage instead of paying your landlord's mortgage. If you're interested in getting to know property values in Los Angeles, click here.

Life of a Single LA Lesbian Ain't So Bad

My ex and I had our first date on the Friday after Thanksgiving, 1997. Three years later, we declared our vows to one another on the same day. We loved the fact that our TRUE anniversary was the Friday after Thanksgiving. The weekend of our committment ceremony, we went to Napa Valley and stayed at the most delicious luxury resort...woodburning fireplace, 600 thread count sheets, feather bed...oooh!

That weekend was always one we looked forward to planning something special for...Ugh...

Here it is, 10 year later. I've been "on my own" for going on 4 Thanksgiving weekends, now. I've created a new ritual that fills my heart and soul. I might not be celebrating romantically, but I hang out at home, in my Ocean Park, Santa Monica 'hood and make homemade chocolates and cookies for holiday giftgiving. And, I hang out with my pets and neighbors and their awesome, baby Chloe.

Pretty cute, eh? She's such a delicious baby! And my puppy ain't so bad, either!

Living in LA is like living in Paradise

I've been feeling very blessed lately about living in this amazing city called Los Angeles. And then, just today, my sister emailed me this photo she took whilst out on her sunset walk with her dog, Stella. She took this with her cell phone! 

This shot was taken from the Santa Monica Bluffs looking north toward Malibu.