The Implementer

Great Resource for Women and Real Estate

Someone turned me on to a new (for me) blog today. Here is the link:

http://www.singlewomanhomeowner.com/

It is a Wordpress blog put out by some gals in Carmel-by-the Sea and it is about Real Estate. My initial reaction was that I did not want to hear some women in the privileged enclave of Carmel-by-the-Sea discuss real estate. How could their experience ever be on par with my real estate experiences in Oakland. But I have found that is is chock full of info and they even have stuff for sale.  Check it out if you have a moment. It is really about networking which is one of my favorite pastimes.

California Native

I just learned about a great program at the Oakland Museum of California. Any California Native Baby Boomers out there:

Be A Part of the California History Gallery
Community Event
Calling all Baby Boomers: you ought to be in pictures! As part of the renovation now underway at the Oakland Museum of California, we’re reinventing the California History Gallery, and your snapshots can be part of the big picture. We’re literally putting a face on the growth of California from 1946 to 1964 with a wall of photos of boomer babies. And we want YOU! If you are a boomer or related to one, bring your vintage photographs (of babies or kids up to three). Because we’re the museum of California, we’re looking for babies born in California or who moved here by age three. Bring your photographs to one of our scanning sessions. It takes just a few minutes.

Where? Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Streets Level one lobby, by the museum store.

Questions? Carolee Smith @ 510/238-3639 or Robin Doolin @ 510/238-3442

When? Thursday June 25, 2009 11am-2pm

http://www.museumca.org/global/art/permgall.html

A Cool Tip

Here is something cool that someone passed along to me: www.ecofont.nl.

It is a font designed to use 20% less printer ink. I have tried it and my document looks just fine. It is not recommended to use at font sizes larger than 12. Give it a try; a 20% savings on printer ink is nothing to sneeze at.

Forced Entrepreneurship

I have been of the belief for a while now that the current state of the economy is going to have lots of people exploring the possibility of opening their own businesses. This was the topic of the KQED program “Forum” the other day. If you have a few minutes, take a listen and tell me what you think?  Forced Entrepreneurship 

I started my business about 18 months ago and it has given me an opportunity to do the things I am good at and the things I enjoy. I have been able to support myself and despite a couple of slow months I believe I am on the right track.

I think small business and entrepreneurs are going to have a big impact on reviving our sad economy.

Parkway Theater is Closing

Videoclip from KPIX

The Parkway Theater is closing.
“You could sit on a couch, drink beer and watch a movie. What could be better?” said Lisa Brown, a longtime Parkway patron and Maxwell Park resident. “It’s hands-down my favorite place to see a movie. It’s an Oakland institution. I’m in shock.”

I couldn’t agree more with Lisa. The Parkway has been in Oakland for 12 years and they are another business falling victim to this terrible economy. At least the folks in El Cerrito have some good news: the Speakeasy Theater in EC is staying open.

I heard recently that when the economy is bad, people actually go to the movies more often. It is escapism at its finest. Maybe we are all holding on to our pennies so tightly that we are opting for Netflix instead of an evening out.

More Bills

So I made a change on our ATT bill and cut our monthly bill in half. We were paying $40 per month for a basic package and even that proved to be more bells and whistles than we needed. So I got rid of that and now we really only pay for the calls we make. At this point all long distance calls are made on my business cell phone or not at all.

So last week we get the first bill after making the change and lo and behold there is a charge for some service called Family911.com. What the heck is that! So I call and they tell me I signed up online for this service. Nu Uh! I told them.

My point is that you really need to check your bills. This service was $15.95 a month, plus tax. That could have added up to a lot of money if I had not noticed it. They are removing it from my bill and I should see a credit on my bill before the end of the year, God willing.

Grocery Shopping

I admit I actually like to grocery shop. I know that is not true for many people. Part of what I love about grocery shopping is getting a great deal. My regular haunts are Trader Joe’s, Farmer Joe’s  and Grocery Outlet. I feel I need to shed some new light on Grocery Outlet. If you have heard of this store, you probably remember that it used to be called Canned Foods. And that was primarily what they sold.  In 1992 they changed their name to Grocery Outlet.

I shop there once a week. I am amazed at how many different products they have now. I would say that in the last year they have made an effort to bring in more “organic” products, yes I said Organic. This week I bought organic juices, organic salad dressings, organic beans, organic cheeses and some organic frozen entrees (for 99 cents!). I walked out with 4 bags of groceries, including 2 bottles of wine and spent $68.00.

And don’t get me started on the wine selection. Every bottle is under $10 and I have found some gems. I have also found some duds, but I can do the same at the BevMo’s 5 cent sale and spend a lot more money in the process.

I shop at the GO on Broadway and 29th in Oakland. When I am in the area, I shop at the one in Berkeley, just off University by the freeway. Either way it is like a treasure hunt each time I go. I never know what they might have (or how long they will have it, so I usually stock up).

Are there any other GO fans out there?

Bills Bills Bills

I am sure I am not alone in the quest to reduce some of my monthly bills. Tightening the purse strings, cutting back, going back to basics. My first attempt at this was to look closely at my phone bill. My landline, not cell phone. I use AT&T, not because I like them but because the choices are somewhat limited. I happen to have my DSL with them, as well. So my monthly bill was for home phone and DSL and second phone line for my fax. My monthly bill was $101.00. That felt like a lot of money to me, especially since I hardly ever use my home phone. The telemarketers use my home phone much more than I do.

So after careful review I scaled back to the most basic phone service I could get: Local $13.50 month, long distance $4.00 a month and 5 cents a minute, second phone line $12.00. And $25 a month for DSL. Now we will be paying under $60 per month. That’s almost $500 a year in savings.

I would love to reduce the cost of DSL, so if anyone has any suggestions for a better provider, I am all ears.

Good Eats

I consider tips on good places to eat to be vital resource info. So last night I had an opportunity to enjoy the catering menu at a new place in downtown Oakland: Banyan 14 - 578 14th Street across from the Federal Building. I met one of the owners, Amy, last week at an Oakland Chamber of Commerce event. She invited me to their open house.

WOW - wonderful flavors, especially if you like coconut and Kamfir lime. You could taste the very fresh ingredients in their Spring Rolls, Chicken Skewers, Prawns and Vegetable Curry. The sesame noodle salad was one of the best I have ever tasted.

They are open for lunch so if you find yourself in downtown Oakland at lunchtime or if you work there and are looking for a new lunch spot, give this place a try.  www.banyan14.com

More Good People

Most all of the contractors and service providers and business owners I know have a website. Shockingly there are still some folks out there with successful businesses that do not use the web to promote their services.

So here are a few more people I like that can be contacted by phone:

All Service Plumbing (East Bay/Tri-Valley) 877.904.7378

Hi-Tech Appliance Repair (East Bay/West Contra Costa County) 510.237.9267

Richard’s Appliance Repair (Contra Costa County) 925.837.9421

Daniel Nelson Computer Troubleshoot (Onsite Repair) 510.222.8953

Judy McHugh, CPA (Danville) 925.855.9450

Birds of a Feather Wedding Planning 510.260.4552

D & S Trucking  (Woman Owned Dump Truck Co.) 510.537.2178

Two Strong Women Hauling Services (East Bay) 510.235.0122

More later…