Ending 2009 with a cough and a sneeze...

One more full day of 2008, and (like lots of previous years!) its marked by "cold and flu-like symptoms"... Greg has an upper-respiratory infection, discovered after a trip to the emergency room Sunday, and is dosed up on inhalers and Prednisone... I'm not as bad, but have the next few days off to get back on track. In the meantime, I have been catching up on all the books I have been putting off for one reason or another... Fave authors like Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, Jeffery Deaver, and Sandra Brown all have new books out that I never got around to over the last six months, and some Christmas money came in handy to scoop them all up (Used) on Amazon.com (The BEST way to buy hardbacks, as they can often be snagged for $2-$3). So in just a few sittings, I banged out the latest Stephanie Plum book (FEARLESS FOURTEEN), 7TH HEAVEN (Patterson's latest installment in HIS numbered series), THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND (Jeffery Deaver's latest stand-alone), YOUR HEART BELONGS TO ME (Dean Koontz's latest), and have just started THE BROKEN WINDOW, Deaver's latest Lincoln Rhyme thriller...
So I have been keeping plenty busy non the book front.
DVD-wise, I snagged a few box sets. My love of 80s horror is covered with the 8-disc NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET series, and my classic film fix was satisfied with the 6-disc THIN MAN series. Screwball comedy meets sophisticated mystery with these films, the first installment based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. Myrna Loy and William Powell were the ORIGINAL Jonathan and Jennifer Hart (Hows THAT for Tuesday Night/ ABC-TV 1970s flashback?), in these martini-soaked mysteries set in the fabulous Deco 30s and 40s...
Continuing to fill up my iPod (a new external hard drive was required to hold all that music!), as pretty much everything I own is now on my laptop. Those free/cheap Russian download sites have been awesome, too! I think I own everything now!
That pretty much covers the end of the year hijinks on my end. Not exciting, but no complaints.
Glad to see 2008 almost behind me, a crap year (on every level) I can objectively state. Here's to a better 2009!

Blog Changes/ Update!

Update for the FredsPICKS blog-- I have now chosen to keep this blog strictly "Fred's Picks", and separate the professional, real estate aspect that was present here before. That can now be found at www.marstonvossblog.blogspot.com So now, this site will pertain strictly to updates on things I have been up to, things to recommend (books, movies, music, etc), and anything else that comes up.

Be sure to check out the Marstonvossblog.blogspot.com for all news regarding the Boston real estate biz...

'tis the Season...

As we head into the throes of the winter (yes, that is just around the corner), it’s a nice time to reflect on the past year as part of a thriving business here on Beacon Hill. I started here at Marston Voss a year ago this past Fall, and so much has happened over the course of the ensuing sixteen months. I have met and worked with some incredible people, learned invaluable lessons both about both real estate and working in an office environment in general, and got to see another year come and go in my favorite place on earth, Beacon Hill.

Although I unfortunately have been a commuter these past two years, I love the neighborhood where I have been fortunate to both work and live over the course of nearly twenty years. It still feels like home to me, and it always will (despite that pesky Quincy zipcode I have had of late…). It’s a thrill to introduce potential new residents to this wonderful enclave, and love hearing feedback from clients I have placed here. It is truly a very special and unique place!

As the new year approaches, we can’t help but notice that although the trees that line our streets may now be bare, the wonderful old oil lamps are now decoratively wrapped in garland and bows, and the storefronts are festively decked out for the holidays as well. Because this office is located at the corner of Charles and Revere Streets, we are very lucky to have a front row seat to the holiday magic that transforms this picturesque community into a real slice of holiday Americana. Carolers dressed in the garb of a century ago emphasize the timelessness that is so apparent this time of year, and we are happy observers as well as participants during this one time of year that seems to unite everyone.

I would personally like to extend my own warmest holiday greetings to the residents of Beacon Hill, both new and old, as well as those yet to be. Beacon Hill is truly unique; a “small town” in a big city, unlike any other place I’ve known. Thank you for being such wonderful neighbors, as well as clients. Marston-Voss prides itself on being a thriving and integral part of this community, and on behalf of the office and my co-workers, we wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and ultimately a wonderful and rewarding 2009.

A Novel Idea...

Spent November on my first novel (WRITING one, that is...), and am happy to report I completed a first draft of nearly 60,000 words at this point. Am taking some time away from it for now, as it was a lot of work in a short time span, and then have plenty of rewrites and editing to do.
Participated in National Novel Writing Month (www.NaNoWriMo.org), which was a great motivator and online community that fostered high pressure writing, with deadlines, updateable wordcounts to chart progress and compare with other participating writers, discussion forums, etc etc. If you made it to 50,000 words, you were a winner! So that has been a lot of fun, and a lot of work...