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If People Had Barcodes, Wore Their Ingredient Label Proudly.

If You, Me Were Out In The Open Labeled With Barcodes, Ingredient Labels Of What’s Inside.

What’s inside or missing in people we meet, have relationships of all kinds with in life?

Not what you have a gut feeling is inside. Not what they look you straight in the eye and tell you, believe themselves is inside. But the actual ingredients, tendencies, needs today.

What is in too great a supply of things that don’t set well with the way you are wired, built? What is missing and again something in a certain daily supply you need as a must in a relationship? Or what do you have more than enough for two of in this, this and this area. And the other person does too for something you are lacking for the needed daily requirement in a balanced, nutritious healthy relationship? But moderation of what you both need in the right supply to compliment what you already have on board inside each of you. The stuff that makes you unique, tick, shine, the way you need to roll. Not perfect but perfect for you. Custom made. Putting the fun in dysfunction.

And if you knew the good, bad and the ugly relationship nutritional ingredients easily read with a scanner or visually on the side of each and every person, time could be saved. Study the label as they lift their arm that is pasted on their side. Like you and I study them in the grocery aisles comparable shopping.

Sure, the mystery of getting to know someone can be fun exploring the unknown.

But knowing upfront what you need from the other, what you bring to the table for the good of the relationship. It can be argued people grow, change together and regardless of the here and now, can both build toward a shared vision of unity, oneness. From time to time the panels on each, the bar codes would need updating. Because life goes on, experiences happen.

And other people, your relationships rub off in good and not so great ways. Knowing hurt people hurt people. And often don’t always know why. Like if you had critical parents growing up that were not huggers, did not affirm you or make you feel worthwhile. That you could never please. Just seemingly disappoint. That kind of hurt, pain or missing needed childhood “vitamin” would mean your barcode, side panel would spell out “needs extra helping of daily hugs, confidence building and esteem boosting”.

No panel, no barcode, no communication with nothing held back is key. Otherwise you don’t know what is lacking, why the relationship later in life bogs down or stalls. But pretty sure it is the other person’s fault can happen. Thinking, reacting, feeling your way along blindly. Out of control. When the problem is your own to uncover, study, fix rather than coping in unhealthy ways blaming others for the “deficiency”. It takes two to shine. Or get axle deep, stuck in sinking quicksand.

But avoiding unhappy relationship box canyons going in almost sounds like arranged marriages by folks in other cultures that really knew the children.

And helped come along side to tie the knot that stays happily tied because of their experience from day one until the march down the aisle. They know the kids they raised and can predict this will or will not work. But there are surprises because some folks bring out your best… or worse. And the odds makers are not always right. There are flukes.

But for the long term, to know you are investing years to get decades, a lifetime not start, then start again. Not talking dating, but hoping for the rest of your life partner material. If you knew yourself, and matched the stuff that made you with what was needed to make the two of you even better. Too scientific for you? Not just relying on God or being in the dark, having to have faith in this kind of situation?

But ahh, who prints out the ingredient label, properly sets up the bar code for the reader, scanner?

Are we always honest with ourselves, are others we meet always open books, heart’s worn on their sleeves? Or do they pretend, convince themselves they are who they appear to the world to be. Coping the best they can or over compensating and missing true rich, deep happiness, joy, peace. But looking good to most.

Like being trim but not healthy, fit when microscoped. If you could hook up the mechanic’s diagnostics machinery. Plugged in and the reading showing you overheat under pressure. The graph shows capacity to be extra patient under a heavy load. Or prone to blame others when going gets tough. Or exta high levels of being a team player and ability to find the good when others deem situation dire, hopeless, a waste of time.

Information is powerful and quickly cuts to the chase on the likehood of a breakdown and in how many miles.

What to expect and odds of success, failure or going to be a case of just bumping along where both are not getting the maximum out of the relationship. Shown on the scope as here’s your problem. Loud and clear even though the truth hurts. It will set you free. Needs to be seen in black and white clarity. Like it or not.

Maine, a state where you get outdoors every chance you can. You get in tune with you. Know yourself inside and out. And the honest, down to Earth people around you pitch in, tell you things in a nice way about yourself. And are all ears to learn what can run off from your experiences, wisdom too. Maine, find your place in the space called Vacationland.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

July 19, 2012
Maine Soda Production With Lots Of Local Small Bottlers.

Jimmy Ritchie’s grandfather Lyman Drake was one of many local small Maine soda distributors, bottlers.

Used Beyond The Original Pop, Fizz, Sugary Sweet Old Maine Soda Beverage.

His grandfather had the franchise for Moxie, Squeeze, orange Crush and Hires root beer. The flavors offered the Northern Maine soda drinker also featured white and dark cream soda, other local favorites. Delivery from the Houlton Maine soda bottler to as far north as Fort Kent, as far south as Macawahoc, west to Patten meant truck deliveries.

Maine returnable bottles paying a cent or two deposit and the need for pressure washing, steam cleaning the empty soda bottles too.

As a kid he remembers the hard part was getting out the cock roaches, napkins, cigarette butts and even rodents like mice stuffed down inside tight quarters. And when the bottling operation ceased like others including Fitz’s Beverage, most of the bottles were destroyed. So they could not be returned for the deposit at stores if found in the wrong hands.

Jimmy said Houlton Farms Dairy destroyed their returnable milk bottles for the same reason.

To avoid someone collecting the empties from the dump and trying to cash in on the returnable deposit. The Drake bottling operation was on the hill of the same name. Fitz’s Beverage housed in a 100 foot long building less than half a mile up the same road. On the other side of Drake’s Hill. On the way to Canada the old way.

I remember ten cents for a Fitz’s beverage and my Aunt Ruth’s Maine horse farm having a soda cooler where the bottles slide in slots hung by the neck. Submerged in cold water and accessed by lifting up on one of two top hatches. Kinda like an ice cream cooler. Not a door to reach for with an opening to select, pull out the soda by neck from it’s jaws. That released when the coins dropped in the slot registered as the real legal tender. The correct amount.

Houlton Maine tax assessor Tom Fitzpatrick told me about a Fitz’s Beverage truck wreck in Presque Isle that signaled the end of the home grown local soda bottling era. The back wheels of the delivery truck came clean off and the load of carefully bottled soda was destroyed in the accident.

Picking in the potato fields of Maine, during a digger breakdown or during lunch, a mid morning or afternoon break, I remember White Rock soda, Mountain Dew and even Fresca that was being test marketed in Northern Maine. Later the latter was linked to cancer in laboratory rats but what doesn’t cause cancer if enough artificial anything is injected in to a living body’s system right? At levels three thousand times what human’s consume in a normal life time.

And sometimes like this 1957 Pepsi bottle my mom used ironing, to remove wrinkles, the soda beverage container had other household uses.

Besides being returned, replaced with something syrupy sweet. Or for the couple cent deposit as they pile up on the front porch. Or on the stairs to the cellar just waiting to cause a broken neck. Or wrenched shoulder blade trying to catch yourself with a death grip on the railing on the way to the bottom. Surrounded by a pile of empties suddenly unbagged, loose.

Maine, big state, lots of space, find yourself surrounded in the four season beauty. Where you can hear yourself think, figure life out.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

July 17, 2012
Growing, Picking, Selling Maine Farm Strawberries.

When you grow up on a Maine farm, rarely is the crop raised only one or two kinds.

Juicy, Plumb, Ripe Maine Farm Grown Strawberries
Diversification is key and not having all your er…. farm produce in one basket so to speak. The money raised during summers from sale of corn, new potatoes, peas and other vegetables came in pretty handy. Because a Maine farmer’s primary bankroll is all planted, cultivated and hoed into the ground hoping for a bountiful fall crop. Today the cost per acre to grow potatoes depending on who you quizzed on a Maine farm hovers between $2300 up to $3000 per square 208′ x 208′ patch of dirt.

The Maine strawberries we grew were in two smaller fields.

The kind too small for larger equipment to excel on but ideal for hand crops like strawberries. The three and four acre minor league Maine farm fields. Where you grid row off the plants. Train the “spiders”. Lay down straw between the rows to keep the grass, weeds, other choking vegetation down. Under control so the strawberry plants can thrive.

Today’s hot stretch of summer humid Maine weather makes me think of picking, selling strawberries. And in addition to the boxes we heaped up on our knees under the hot sun growing up on a Maine farm, quick trips across the US – Canadian border happened frequently too. Picking up flats, crates of already picked Canadian strawberries to add to the ones we grew and peddled on this side of the US border.

Strawberries stored in the cool, dark old Maine farm house cellar to make them last longer.

Because quickly if exposed to the heat of summer, if left in direct sunlight, the overflowing strawberry boxes would settle. Break down and need extra boxes spilled over them to keep them hilled up, overflowing. Looking desirable for customers that lined the Maine farm house driveway for the local field fresh delicacy of the season.

Today has me thinking about heading across the US – Canadian border, picking strawberries, and visions of fresh pies. Strawberry shortcake, jam and other home made items my Mom would prepare for the family table to enjoy. Up the road from our Maine farm, Cora Brown would make a hefty chunk of change to help their small scale agricultural operation peddling raspberries. Susan my first cousin and Milton Cone her husband still tend the raspberry patch for summer roadside sales. The field patch that lives on long long after the originator that planted it has left the revolving blue and green marble.

Today, Elbridge Emerson told me the you pick price in Canada was around $2.50 per box when I stopped in for a cup of black coffee at Cameron’s Market in New Limerick on the way to work. In the stores I am told around $5 dollars per box is the damage, what you should expect to pay for cash and carry local strawberries. Maybe time to plant some strawberries and apply the wisdom, experience learned raising them growing up on a Maine farm.

Maine Farmers Markets, Local Fresh Home Grown Fruits, Vegetables Video.

We only opened the Maine farm fields one year to you pick strawberry operations. The fourth year when they get plowed under. Everything gets started all over with a new crop planted of Robinsons, Bid Reds or whatever varieties that were big moves, shakers the previous season. You pick, where it becomes a free for all and the gleaners eat three boxes during the picking of one. And pay for the one box that marvels skyscaper engineering in dizzy heights, engineering to beat the system. Get more than your money’s worth much like waddling through the all your can eat buffet food line. For the second or third or more time. Burp. Excuse me. (Turning ten shades of red).

As a small Maine boy with large brown eyes, three older brothers growing up on a farm you learn early a lot about human nature, survival.

And good luck trying to get the pickers to stay in certain regions of the strawberry field. Not going to happen. They are marauders, will head, herd, scamper wherever the greatest concentration, easiest picking areas are in a Maine strawberry field.
Maine. All four seasons in one beautiful natural unspoiled space called Vacationland.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

July 13, 2012
The Little Black Box.

When a plane goes down, what is looked for first? Well, okay, second after any survivors.

The little black box. To explain, provide clues on what happened. What led up to the moment things began to right on schedule go haywire. All wrong.

How well do you really know someone? Including yourself?

Is the raft of life on the river level, upside down, tilted wildly? If a person hides, retreats, protects a heart that has scars, purple spots from earlier struggles, how close are you, any one allowed to get? How much distance for self survival or to avoid greater pain or suffering do you set up around yourself for the same reason? Like a force field to keep any one, every one at arms length or further? To stay in your own little life boat. To keep from sliding out, taken under by the hydraulics, forces of nature in the paddle for your survival down the river of life.

And when the distance is created, maintained because of having to complete something you stand for, that is deeply engrained, or then later from sheer lonely pain once you are done, the other end of the tin can and string can perceive wrongly it all stems from anger. When it all boils down to just the need for silence. Space to take a break from the hurt, ache. It is not a case of why are you hurting the other intentionally. You are just hurting. Only capable of so much. Each is feeling much of the same heaviness from being apart. Getting away from the flame that burns when it is supposed to heat the bones. Be warm and fuzzy. More often then not. Causing greater misunderstanding. Hurt people hurt people and often without knowingly trying to. Surrender.

We live in an age of smoke and mirrors.

Games, spin to manipulate, to speed up the process to get what we think we want or need. With drive through efficiency. But sincerity, honesty, time help others around you get closer. To see your heart as an open book. The little black box pried open. Protective, fireproof, water resistant covering removed. You can not fix, soothe what is wrong if miscommunication, no back and forth face to face happens. Or when lacking back and forth of today’s truth is discussed. Put it out there to chew on, consider. When you bottom out, get broken, are too tired to be defensive, you retreat from scolding. You turn inward to salve the sores when it all spirals back to you are the only one in the room. With guidance, always always from above.

And does low self esteem kick in to cause the image of just the opposite? Oh sure, some folks with a superiority complex actually think they are a legend in their own minds and time. But many that seem together are just the opposite. Partially to not show the world the real person for fear no one would like them. Trying to be what another needs, to make them happy leaves sadness. A hole that does not get fixed. And grows larger.

Mistakes.

Just got the memo. Everyone, I mean everyone makes them. Isn’t the secret to see the truth, not getting defensive and to not keep making blind mistakes? To realize why what you think will help does not work for the other as a solution. Because it does not consider the other person’s feelings totally when they need you the most. What they hunger, thirst for, appreciate.

Everyone wants to feel secure, cared about, loved and that they matter. To be understood and accepted. It is a blessed event when you find someone who is not afraid to show you the good, bad and the ugly. And you do likewise. Simple. So the foundation for the relationship is honest, real, genuine, accountable. Not trying to be just what the other needs and losing yourself in the process. Just doing your best day to day. Trying to improve as you learn more about the other. And yourself in the process from the other. As both open up. Head to the “best is yet to come” stage of the deeper relationship.

Maine, a place with space. Lots of nooks and crannies with drop dead gorgeous natural surroundings, less people and more wildlife. To be the best you can be, to grow, mature, to enjoy life more. The others in it. Get here quick as you can.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

July 3, 2012
Maine State Soap Box Derby 2012 Video

Bill Weber, Zoo Crew Of The Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Gang

This year’s Northern Maine Soap Box Derby race, the 17th annual running dodged rain drops.

The weather cooperated to get the boys and girls from around the state of Maine up and down the hill. To complete heats to advance to create the pair of stock and super stock winners. To head to Akron Ohio to represent Maine in the All American Soap Box Derby world series of down hill racing.

Images from this year’s 2012 Maine state derby race held in Houlton Maine, Aroostook County. Watch the videos and see the “thrill of the hill”. Derby racing is friendly, spirited, and teaches kids about mechanics of a car. Building one, maintaining one and along with parents, Uncle Bob, Aunt Sue or a big brother, sister, how to tweak. How to win and lose gracefully. To have fun with the learning curve like anything else in life worth pursuing.

Fine tuning and developing respect for the gravity derby racing car.

To get to the bottom quicker understanding the laws of physics, need for consistency. The luck of the heat sheet picks, compensating for the weather. And good sportsmanship, as this year’s memorial to Zoo Crew’s Bill Weber pointed out loud and clear to all at the 17th annual race.

Maine 2012 Soap Box Derby Racing Videos.

Maine, small town proud, family oriented. Kids know how to have fun. Adults do everything they need to on the local level to provide the stage. And to enjoy seeing the change from fear of the hill to the thrill, the grin of that long engineered two lane vertical highway. As the derby cars released topside pick up speed. Race along the cones to the electric eye timer at the end. Before everyone screams “brake”!

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
Check out our new red Maine real estate property site link.
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

June 25, 2012
The Paul Harris Rotary Award Came As A Total Surprise.

Pitching In, Volunteering, Service On All Levels, That’s What Paul Harris Fellows Do.

Ever tapped, had the honor to present an award but worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the recipient did not know it was coming?

So the total surprise, caught unaware and “out of the blue” adds to the presentation impact? This week’s Paul Harris Rotary award receipient did not have an inkling, did not see it coming.

For starters, you and I know many people but on just one or two levels.

A co-worker, a neighbor, a service club member all show the public one side of the person. But interviewing family members, others in a person’s personal not so public life give depth, a greater perception into what makes the person tick. Who they are really are, what motivates them, fills them with passion gets revealed with a little digging. How they respond when the going gets tough gets brought out into the daylight too.

I asked former Houlton Maine town manager Doug Hazlett from experience how he would describe the Paul Harris Award recipient and he said “positive, dependable, determined, creative”. A co-worker Dana Wright’s wife Nancy said her husband’s initial reaction to the new USDA worker was formed during instructional meetings the two attended. Dana said he did not pay such close attention to the teacher up front in the classroom but was very friendly, social with those sitting around him.

Labeling him a positive people person.

An important skill if you are a leader, want to get others excited to accomplish something as a group right? Dana also said this person never, never had a glass less than half full and always saw the silver lining, the positive in anything facing him in life.

Greg Palmer told me when contacted this Paul Harris recipient worked on the new Riverside Park, golf course, Meduxnekeag River clean up projects and on the board of Vital Pathways he was always a positive force. Coming up with their slogan of “Making Good Maine Communities Better”. Serving as an area judge of science fairs, helping youth with skiing, sunday school, this latest Rotary Paul Harris Fellow went beyond just living in the community. To making it a better place because of his non-stop, positive hardwork in volunteer service to others.

“No one else has the driving, intense positive spirit, faithful attitude like he does”.

Observations relayed to me by Maine teacher Todd Williard, who this award recipient treated like a second Dad. “Anyone else would have been dead seven times over faced with all the medical set backs, numerous operations that went on and one with his Crohn’s, then cancer treatments. I don’t know of anyone else as God fearing, 100% faithful. Always radiating an “everything will work out” attitude then him”.

His daughter Courtney shared with me …

“Dad has meant so very much to me, our whole family. An incredible father, grandfather, husband to my Mom and really giving all of himself to us. Teaching me numerous lessons in life but there are a few that stand out. One thing that Dad does so well is living life to the fullest, Dad recognized early on in life that life is truly short.” (His mother died when he was fourteen and he helped raise two younger boys with his Dad alone.)

“Dad counts his blessing’s each and everyday, he taught us all to do this too. Dad is so very grateful for everything in his life. Lets me, my husband and our children know how much he loves us, cherishes us. That it’s truly taught me to appreciate each day, to count my blessings too. He lives life with an awesome attitude, so often things could have gotten him down but instead of letting himself or any of us feel sorry for ourselves he reminds us how lucky we are. To stay positive. Often reminding himself and us to maintain the most positive spirit because he knows there are so many out there that are less fortunate. And feels grateful to just be here”.

“Anyone that knows my father knows he has an amazing gift to gab, he can and does talk to anyone and everyone.”

“Treats all as a friend, he knows no stranger and that taught me the importance of kindness, compassion for other’s. So often Dad will start a story and I literally can do the dishes, make a few beds and fold and put a load of laundry away but it’s times like this that I cherish. I am a better person for having the parents that I do. I know this world is a better place because they’re in it. Dad has truly touched so many lives and we’re grateful for him”. His son Chris echoed the same sentiments.

This Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient’s best friend John Holmes writes to his daughter…
“Nice to hear from you!! Thanks for the kind words. It’s easy to be a friend of your dad. There is a reason he was our class President, captain of most of our athletic teams and a friend to all. And is also an inspiration to all that know him. What you guys ALL have gone through is unreal. I know how tough it is on Marion but both you “kids” as well. It is a very difficult situation, with you both having “other” lives now, kids, jobs, and all other that life brings us. Every time I see Don, he ALWAYS mentions you both and how proud he is of your accomplishments”.

“You are lucky to have parents like you do but they are just as lucky to have such good offsprings!! Again, so nice of you to let me know what it meant to Don to have that Championship ball!!! When I noticed it had been “removed” from the trophy case here at Dirigo, I quickly asked where it was. The new A.D. had put it “away” and I asked him for it. Being a member of that team, he allowed me to have it.”

“I brought it home and IMMEDIATELY knew where it was going. (Presenting it to our Paul Harris Award recipient) Glad it has found its last “home”!!! Couldn’t think of a better place!!!! Thanks again for your kind words!!! Take care and know that your Dad will ALWAYS be special to a LOT of people!!!!” Love, Jon

Always concentrate on after the life threatening, scary operations. Just serving to increase his faith not diminish it.

Filled with intense hope for the future and not getting bogged down in the present struggles. Using them to make himself, those around him stronger the lesson here. My observations as a home property neighbor of thirty two years, being in the same church twenty four years is the the echoed always positive person day in and out. No matter what. In public, behind the scenes. Despite numerous cancer operations, treatments, battling Crohn’s disease since age 30, but always reminding there is someone else out there way way less fortunate so chin up, be positive.

Congratulations to the latest Houlton Maine Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient Donald Collins. Who inspires anyone who he touches, meets to step up, stay positive and do more to help others. Maine, less people, but more involved. Find your place in the space of Maine.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

June 21, 2012