Albert and Karen, better picture

Ok, I knew I could find another picture of Albert and Karen! This is their professional picture as realtors for Keller Williams Real Estate.

I have to tell you a little story about Albert and in so doing, it will be telling you a little about the kind of people who I like to attract to me, and who will be sharing their stories with you in this blog.

I became a realtor about the same time Albert did, and this is how we met. Time rolls around for Alberts' first annual Keller Williams Appreciation party for his clients, and I, of course, show up to help. I am the greeter at the door along with Tom White. This is a job I am really good at. I just love meeting people.

(for a little aside here to all you mothers, before the party began Albert got us, his helper friends, together and started assigning jobs like cleaning house. I told Albert, "honey, I ain't yo momma. You made that mess, you clean it up. For that matter, I wouldn't even clean up my own kids messes and you can call and ask them!" ;-) Thought all you Mama's out there would get a kick out of that.)

Back to the party. In comes everyone Albert knows, whether they have bought a home from him or not. (And this is before he has met Karen.) One by one, I meet all his friends through the years....through the University of Texas as students, through working for Dell, through working for a Austin based computer start up that crashed and burned, through running, neighbors and new clients. They are a wide variety of people. Some are fit and in shape, athletic like Albert, some are dumpy and plumpy. (I was in shape back then.) Some are rich, some are poor. Some are single, some are married. Some have kids, and bring them, most do not. Men, women, straight, gay. Young, old, multi degreed, no degreed. People from a variety of countries, with a variety of skin shading and an even greater variety of religious back grounds. But they all have one thing in common. They are all really good people.

By nights' close, after I have talked to pretty much all of them, felt their handshake, looked them in the eye, and observed them intermingle with one another, I know this about all of Alberts' friends: ALL of Alberts' are the kind of people who would be with you through good times and bad and who you would WANT with you during those times. How rare is that? Can you say that about all your friends? If you had a party for publicity, which is what this was, and you invited, oh say the 80-100 people Albert invited to this, his first realtor party, could you say that? I hope I can. I try to every day, collect, attract people to me who are exactly like that.

What a wonderful living legacy Albert has...to be always surrounded by people who not only will be there with you through good and bad but who you will want with you during those times. And all of Alberts' friends know this about one another. When Albert found Karen, I realized immediately when I first met her, she is exactly like that as well. No matter what financial wealth he and Karen will accrue in their lifetimes, nothing will compare to the wealth of true friendship they have surrounded themselves with.

And now back to my blog. All of the people I will bring to you in my blog, including Albert, are exactly like that. They are sincere. They don't want you to hurt like they did, or be sick like they were. They don't' even know you. But they know you are going through a hard time with whatever illness/pain you have, they want to be there for you, with their story.

Albert and Acupuncture

Don't you just LOVE this picture? I do. It is of Albert and Karen Saenz. Obviously, in love, LOL. And it is as lovely as the couple really is. I found it on the web, but it has got to be their engagement photo. I thought for sure I would find his realtor picture, but this popped up instead. Yes, the same Albert I have been talking about with the foot injury healed with one acupuncture treatment. I include it to make him more real to you. Here is his actual story:

I discovered the power of acupuncture because of a running injury. I had gone for an all over acupuncture body check a few months before. I am a realtor and the acupuncturist was a client of mine. So, I went, and didn't really feel any difference.

Shortly thereafter, I came up with this running injury. It was plantar fasciatis, the worst possible running injury you could get, other than breaking a bone. Plantar fasciatis takes the longest time to recover. It is the inflammation of the plantar fascia which is located on the bottom of your heel.

Soon, I started getting depressed because I couldn't run. So, I tried everything. I spent over $1000. I spent it on a chiropractor, physical therapy, running doctors, foot doctors, and sports massage. I tried everything. (Albert has insurance, these were co pays.) I was stretching like crazy, using hot/cold treatments, and massaging my foot daily.

After about six months of this, I was visiting my client, the acupuncturist, about a real estate transaction. I mentioned my foot injury. She said, "Oh, well, why don't you let me treat you?" I asked, "Well, how does that work?" I really didn't believe acupuncture could work for a foot injury, but I tried it anyway.

The treatment lasted about 30-40 minutes. The needles were placed specifically to address my foot injury. There was one needle that was right on the affected area of my foot. When she pulled this needle out, I felt the pain escape with it. It was really weird.

For the next two days, however, I was in such pain I called her every nasty name I could think of. And then the third, fourth, and fifth days, I felt more normal. By the end of the week, I had almost forgotten about the injury. About that time, she called me and she asked, "How's your foot?" And I said, "It's not hurting anymore." She said, "don't run on it, let it rest."

Of course, I ignored that advice. And I started running. The injury to my foot was gone. And it hasn't come back.

That was about five years ago. See, ya'll, acupuncture works! If you want to know more about Albert and Austin real estate, this is his blog: http://albertsaenz.wordpress.com/ ...you will find another lovely picture of the two of them together on the lake. Sometimes just finding out more about a person lets you know, this person is real and this (today it is acupuncture) really works for them. That is why I started this whole blog to begin with, to give you real people to relate to, including me, who have been there done that so that you don't have to. I don't want you sick or in pain if there is anything out there that can help you ;-)

And by the way, if you are interested in Austin real estate investment, NOBODY knows east Austin real estate better than Albert. I have been a realtor in Austin. I know Realtors, and I know real estate. NOBODY knows Austin east better than Albert. It is the new hot investment area. Albert and Karen live there and work there. If you want to know more about Karen and her art (excellent, see for yourself) hit her site too ;-) http://www.karensaenz.com/

Inspiration of the Day: (Again from the HAPPY PEOPLE book by David Niven, p.55)
Don't think "what if". Spending your time imagining what would have been if you could have changed some little thing, some little decision in your life, is counterproductive, and leaves you unhappy think about how you can improve for the future, but don't waste your present thinking about how you could have changed the past.

Obviously, Albert really wishes he had seen the acupuncturist FIRST, immediately after his foot injury. But I know Albert. He would NEVER waste time dwelling on that fact. He is just grateful he found acupuncture when he did and wants to make sure you have an acupuncturist you can call on for anything.

As I have often said, and what this whole blog is about, you need a holistic pharmacist (remember, it was Albert who referred me to Peoples Pharmacy), a holistic medical doctor, a holistic chiropractor and a holistic acupuncturist. (and yes, you can be like me and have your medical doctor and your chiropractor also be your acupuncturists).

Recipe of the Day

EASY SUMMER GRAPEFRUIT SALAD

One Jar Pink Grapefruit
One cup raisins
One cup pecans, whole or coarsely chopped

Dump it all in a bowl, mix together. Cover and place in the fridge. Let sit for eight hours. Gotta get those little raisins all plumped up. Serve.

It lasts for a while in the fridge, but is eaten quickly. You can do this the night before to have with breakfast or brunch. You can do the in the morning before rushing off for your day, and serve with dinner at night.











Joke of the Day (and supposedly a true story)


Dear Ann,


I think I can top the person who wrote complaining about the idiocy of the phone company. Talk about garbage in, garbage out!When AT&T split with Bell, we had three phones in our house. The equipment belonged to Ma Bell and the service belonged to AT&T. After we returned all the phone equipment to Ma Bell, we received a bill for $0.00. A few weeks later, we received a check for $5 and a note thanking us. Several months later, we received another computerized bill for $0.00. We called again, got nowhere, so we sent another check for $0.00. A few weeks later we received another $5 refund with the same thank you.This went on every three months for two years. Now we are down to once a year and have given up trying to straighten this out. We just cash the $5 and forget about it.-- Linda K. R. in California

Acupuncture, again

Read this:

"The Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners consists of nine members appointed by the Governor for six-year staggered terms not requiring Senate confirmation. The presiding officer of the Board is also appointed by the Governor. The board consists of the following: four acupuncturists with at least five years in the practice of acupuncture in Texas and are not licensed in this state as physicians; two physicians who are licensed in Texas and are experienced in the practice of acupuncture; three members of the public who are not licensed or trained in a health care profession."

I found this when I kept clicking at http://www.texasonline.com/. If you are wondering about how your acupuncturist is overseen, God bless the Internet, access your state, or country's licensing information. You can find out everything about the actual board members. You can also type in your particular doctors' name and find any complaints against him or her, and if their license is current and up to date.

I know you are scared. You are really sick, and you have been looking for answers and almost given up. Don't give up. Don't give up. If I can get well, with all my many illnesses, this should serve to inspire you to continue on, looking for answers. Acupuncture may not be the whole answer, or it may. You won't know unless you try. Let me repeat that Dr. Dorene Witter said when she has a patient who is really sick, especially if they have limited funds for all the testing, she gets the best results, the quickest, with acupuncture."

The results may not last, or they may, like Albert Saenz with his running injury. One treatment, after months of trying other avenues of healing, and within a week, he was pain free and running again!

Contact your insurance company for coverage information, as well as acupuncturists covered under the plan.

If you have no insurance, HEADS UP, acupuncture may well be the best option to begin with! Think about it.