I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July Holiday and week. Its definitely one of my favorite holidays for sure. The events of the week in this country definitely are troubling and I pray for our country especially with the upcoming political campaigns – it seems like everyone in this country is on edge and we all need to chill and keep the dialogue open and ease up on the hatred.

With that said, I am very honored and happy to have been selected and appointed to the board of Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona http://habitatcaz.org. I firmly believe that a lot of the problems out there are due to poor housing and the lack of opportunity that many face. As a community of whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc. we can come together on projects that are productive and bring families and people together – building versus destroying! http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/how-a-house-can-shape-a-childs-future/489242/

I am so excited to be a part of this group and hopefully can bring more of the design and building community to this amazing forum.

Tiffany, Isabel, MC, Bella and Sophia at Eddie V's.

I know I live a wonderful life and I am so blessed with a nice home, and beautiful family, supporting wife, fantastic career and business, and work with a talented staff and have the dearest clients. During this 4th of July week I had some time to reflect on all of this. First – thanks for the time to spend with my family and get away! The 4th of July is always great because nearly all of my clients take the week off too so it was definitely quiet and calm. Very appreciated!!!

So this 4th of July I packed up the troops and we rented a beach condo in Ocean Beach in San Diego! Just like the last few 4ths I had all of my girls. My oldest Tiffany flew down from Denver, my wife Isabel flew over from Phoenix, and my two youngest daughters, Sophia and Bella, and I all piled into the Highlander along with a friend each and we were off on our 4th of July adventure.

What a great week! Of course you cannot go to San Diego over the 4th without running into clients and friends from Arizona. In fact, I think half of Arizona including Arizona Governor, Doug Ducey, were all enjoying some down time and cool air in San Diego.

My clients are so wonderful and treat me and my family so graciously. From a fantastic beach party with our clients and good friends, Don and Sharon Ulrich along with Dave and Melissa Mullard and their family and friends, to an evening on the Charles Keller yacht, Just Sit Right Back in Coronado who made the trip down from Marina del Rey with my associate, Tim Mathewson and his fiancé Amber, to running into more Italy travelers, Gicela Dulcich and Julie Horne at the Marine Room in La Jolla http://www.marineroom.com, to finally a relaxing evening at the La Jolla courtyard casa of Erika and Russell Dickey – we were treated like royalty!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Night Yachting on the Just Sit Right Back

Chilling in Ocean Beach with Gicela and Anthony Dulcich

Such a wonderful week, from time on the beach, eating fish tacos and my share of oysters on the half shell, enjoying some margaritas and vino, the Coronado parade, some one-on-one time with the girls including a fund day at Balboa Park with Tiffany, and even squeezing in some time to make homemade pasta with our new and soon coming to market Candelaria Collection Pasta Maker. Nothing better than homemade raviolis!

We made it home last night in time for my good friend and amazing lighting designer http://www.cdltg.com , Walter Spitz’s 60th Birthday. 60 – seriously!!!! Well, all I can say is what a joy it was to be back in time for a wonderful evening at Avanti’s! http://avanti-az.com

Walter Spitz and Michele Watts at Avanti's

What fun and good times – now its back to it – second half of the year here we go!!! Let’s all do our best to share love, tolerance and generosity and let’s all try and make a positive difference.

American WWII Vet at breakfast at Margarita's Restaurant in Ocean Beach

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Happy 4th of July - from San Diego!