Surviving Tough Times

After being in the top 3% of Realtors worldwide for years, the transition to my salary being cut two-thirds hurt! My expenses and payments on the big house were over $20,000. Washington Mutual/Chase helped me immensely getting my loan modified on my main house; GMAC worked with Shane and was also great to work with. My friends with the smaller banks lost their homes. It pays to stay with the big boys. There needs to be more regulation on overdraft fees. College kids live close to the line all the time and a 7-dollar sushi roll can cost 35 in overdraft fees. Those lessons kids can do without learning! Most of my friends are in the same situation so we have movie nights and BBQs at my house. We will some day laugh at all this I hope.

Everyone thinks something awful happened between Vicki and I. I was sad when I saw that Vicki had said I was toxic on the premiere. I can’t imagine what would have caused her to say that. I hope next week explains why she would say something so mean. When time is valuable, you have to focus on what makes you feel good and what makes you money. I really needed support mentally; I have never been through a depression before. My savior was Rebecca and Tom Ferry my business coach. Rebecca Voss got me out of the house and Christina Cody and John Ellis got me working out. I am still taking Duzoxin! Tom Ferry got me a book agent and a ghostwriter to write a book about my life. It took about three months to shake out of my funk.I felt I was always there for Vicki, through thick and thin and she wasn’t there for me.

Dinner at St. Regis was the first time I had seen the girls in months, and I was upset that Lynne’s beautiful night was spoiled. Tamra and Gretchen both have legitimate beef with each other, but it is time to grow up and move on. Tamra may have started it months ago, but they are both are guilty of taking there troubles with each other to the blogs.

I think Gretchen and Slade are perfect for each other. I wish she would have waited a little before jumping into another relationship, but Slade is a good guy.

About my book, Colton reminded me I am boring and asked who would want to read it. But he got me laughing and competitive to prove him wrong. He doesn’t know my story of Playboy, movies, and TV show’s and living in Hollywood when you don’t drink or do drugs.

At this same time, this summer, a childhood playmate of Colton’s killed herself. Nothing seemed to matter to me then, we lived near them for 13 years, and I couldn’t have been more upset if it was my own child. God Bless Hailey Nelson. My friends all jumped in to support the family - we started a college fund for Tate, Hailey's little brother, in lieu of flowers.

So I just focused more on my mental health and my kids. Shane my oldest was great and reminding me health is everything and money doesn’t matter. Kara got a job to take the pressure off me and applied for student loans - I am so proud of her! She is an amazing, determined girl. Help came from everywhere, even old boyfriends. Allan helped me move Kara’s furniture from Berkeley to UCLA. I was so down I was just going to donate it to charity, the thought of moving a whole house of furniture overwhelmed me. A high school classmate, Paula Zigman, paid for Kara’s summer school, a gesture that left all of us in tears. I hadn’t talked to her since high school, but she followed us on facebook. Uncle Richie told Kara to quit being a Princess and get a job, that caused some issues in their relationship, and they finally just made up on her 21st birthday in October.