[Christina]

[C Lenart]

Hey Christina!

Launched the Fitness Biz last month after I got the insurance policy and all my paperwork from UCLA and ACSM squared away. Got a couple of clients mostly some of the older folks who I played doubles with over the years at the tennis club that I belong to. Most of these people are in their 70's and 80's who need a trainer to motivate them to stay in shape and knows something about how heart and other medications influence the ability to exercise. Frankly, these folks know me as a finance guy and they ask me how to invest their money in the stock market as they know I was an Economics guy from Berkeley. Since I'm starting out, I'll take them anyway I can get them!

As for the internship with Randy and UCLA. I talked to Randy about an internship with his company last year and he said he'd consider taking me on at one of the company facilities for about $12 an hour. Not great money hardly but I'd get lots of experience. When he left for the Bay Area late last year, I e-mailed him and he never e-mailed me back. A few months ago I got an e-mail from UCLA saying that Randy's company was doing an internship with UCLA and I should apply to UCLA to get the internship. Problem is, the pay had now been reduced to "unpaid internship" and I had to pay UCLA over $400 to get the deal. Raw deal! And to beat, Randy's name was listed as the contact with the company. Say it isn't so....

After I got over that, I remembered that Randy had told me that his company did health fair screenings for companies in addition to running full-time exercise facilities for companies. So I applied to do health fair screenings with his company through their website and I got hired with my ACSM credential the same day. I do only blood pressure and consults with clients after blood tests for cholestorol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL are measured. I'm certified to do finger sticks for blood now. Anyway, the company pays me about $20 an hour to do the health care fairs and lavish travel expenses which amount to hundreds of dollars in travel perks to do 1, 2, or 3 day assignments. I made over $800 to do a 3 day 15 hour health care screening in Northern California last month. Decent money. Maybe Randy will find my name on the list of employees doing health care screenings in the future but I got to go with what pays. Too bad...

Anyhow, I had a bit of a rough start doing the Blood Pressure stuff as I had not done any BP's for almost a year and the company's equipment had real small knobs for the BP cuff release. Meant for real small women with real small hands which is who I work with. The stethoscopes were lousy to. Two weeks ago, I bought myself an electronic Lippmann cardiology stethescope and my own BP cuff which set me back a few bucks but it solved the problem. Now the girls I work with get on me for my "fancy-smancy" scope but who cares. LOL

As you can see by the bistro in San Fran, I'm still doing the real estate thing in addition to the Fitness Biz. I love helping and motivating people through their difficulties with their health problems but I just cannot bring myself to give up the wonderful world of Economics and real estate. Just in my blood! No blood cholestorol test required!

Early next month I'm back to the Bay Area to do more Health Care screenings and scavenging for more "deals" on real estate. I'm not sure which comes first anymore.

Too funny..

Great hearing from you.

Curt