Category: Uncategorized

You Are Not Going To Like What I Have To Tell You.

What I am about to share with you, brace yourself, it may be something you just don’t want to hear.

I have got some bad news to deliver. You better sit down. Not sure how to begin to tell you this.

How does that Maine blog post lead in with the H1 bracketed amplification emphasis hit you? Do you tighten up, look away? Wondering what the frig is this all about? You definitely don’t feel like wait for it, wait for it, here it comes.
Flak Happens, Bad News Comes In Lots Of Forms.
Something pleasant, light, airy with a delightful easy to swallow bounce to it. Bright, warm and fuzzing is not the expectation right?

Somebody has died. There’s been an accident, many people seriously injured. The IRS audit team just called.

There’s a registered letter dodging you like a deputy needing to serve you with some legal papers. Or you can sense it is going to be like the “you wait until your father gets home” as a kid. Or a lecture about “now you’re done it, smooth move wedge head” is about to begin. Run for cover. No, you don’t have to sit in the corner or go to your room. Because you’ve done nothing wrong to feel guilty about right? (Pause) I can’t see your eyes. (Pregnant pause) Right?

The older I get, the more I like blunt people.

No punches pulled. Straight forward, no manure spread around the dance in the conversation. No bottle whitened pearly teeth flashed in straight formation while a pitch is delivered. The knife of there has to be a catch slipped between two ribs. Or arm twisting to make you reach for your wallet, purse suggested.

What are you selling? They want something, are peddling some product or service.
Your Neighbors Four Legged, Furry, Curious, Shy.
No arm around my shoulder to pull me close and make me think the guy or gal talking is genuinely just glad to see me. Unless a true family or long time friend. And not out of the blue needs to talk with you about the circles, pyramid, being a seller of soap products and other whiz bang gotta have items.

Straight forward conversation comes from someone busy and as if words cost twenty dollars a piece.

Chose wisely young Jedi and trust the force that is strong within you grasshopper remarked with grandparent wisdom tone style. Candor, being candid does not set well with everyone in the audience. Maybe not enough people are and go apathetic. Or the extreme of don’t want to offend anyone so don’t look at me for any opinions on any topic whatsoever.

Because there are folks that just don’t take very well any constructive criticism or differing opinions. You are with them or against them. Friend or foe happens. It can be the way you and I are judged, labeled. White or black hat wearing. Or some times it depends on the day for the color you see. Like you are a loose cannon. Not sure how they feel with you at the moment and gotta get back to you on that one.
How To Cook Up A Happy Household, Create A Happy, Responsible Family Member.

A friend of mine was a Maine junior high soccer coach.

Kai is a straight shooter. Not just in the job as a now retired US Border Patrol guy wearing green with a 223 rifle. Or out hunting. But in his approach to life. Say it like it is and please return the favor so we are on the same at ease solider wavelength. He has to wear a hat. Doesn’t pick or care about the color. Is his own boss so to speak. Right behind Tina.

A mother was on his back during a winning season where his soccer team did not lose a game. But she was unhappy with him as coach. He was not playing Jimmy, Joey, it does not matter the name. Whoever he was, spending way way too much time on the bench. Developing sores for her, not the kid. He was after all she reminded the coach on a regular basis, his best player. Increasing the volume of her son should be getting more playing field dirt, grass stains to shout out in his uniform this season whine.

After a practice, pulled aside and lighting up a cigar he started his conversation with Mom.

Low voice aside, out of earshot or to observe visually, he let Mom know “Your son is a great kid. You’ve done a super job raising him. But. Frankly, he just lacks soccer talent.” Her jaw dropped. Conversation had a lull. The bottom dropped out and she was speechless. I said whoa. You told her that face to face with a Cuban going? Without pleasure, not delivered meanly, he spilled the beans out of sight of the team that had dispersed. Relayed what she did not want to hear. Not expected, had not considered but believe it or not had to process. To explain why he was not out on the field in the game rather than sitting watching it.

If your conversations, what you write, how you communicate, do you dare to be open and honest? Not provocative, exotic or for show. But because it cuts to the chase. Says it like you mean it, see it. Shooting from the hip. Life’s short, people are busy, be tough skinned, tender hearted. Be kind, be honest. Put all the cards face up, down on the table more than holding them close to your chest. But there are situations where it’s no way feelings don’t get stepped on. Instead of respect and going along to get along, you could end up on the you know what list for the “somebody had to say it”.

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

April 8, 2014
Maine, Simpler Algorithm To Better Living.

Gaming the system and looking for the current algorithm to spin, stand out, be on top.

To unlock the right combination of input variables to get the maximum return. More than garbage in, the same out. Throwing it at the wall and hoping it sticks.

Calculated awareness to plan your moves wisely before taking your hand away. Collecting, holding, discarding, laying down any cards.

It is developing the math, science, computer language technology vision skills to see the big and little picture. Playing the odds. Getting far away from trial and error flying by just the seat of your pants. Trusting your gut forming the tractor tire you wear for life to track the trends. To drive your day to day path making in the creative decision making.
Community Service Volunteering, Working Public Suppers One Maine Algorithm Variable For Simpler Living Joy.

To apply the one by one steps needed by custom chiseling, careful shaving and sanding.

To remove the rough edges, sharp corners of what you build in your backyard garage. Plant, water, weed, feed in the fertile patch of garden dirt where you sink and cover the magic beans.

To match where you live, in your local bubble to the DNA of how the World revolves around you today.

Highly specialized has happened in society as she shifts into a faster road gear, squeezes the gas pedal.

More complicated and needing other people’s technical help, products, services. Being dependent on the Internet to fan the fire. Pour on fuel. Which means expensive if you pay others to keep up by digging deep. Pumping endless streams of quarters, other larger currency to just stay on the beam.

Or studying, determination to adapt, see and understand the changes and apply them to your set of life Rubik’s cube colors. Without becoming frustrated to the point of poor impulse control. Ripping, peeling off the face colors to reapply on a different side square where you herd them to match up to win.

I must say the cup of Joe is exceptional, outstanding Maine home weekend coffee this morning.

Or it’s from watching Captain America on the big silver screen at the local theatre last night’s walk home that got me thinking about algorithms. And how today we run things from the wrong end. Up top down.

Or driven by an industry that scares, manipulates and then feeds on what it creates to control the masses. Exploitation happens and the height of the almighty dollar pile is how you keep score.
Good Maine Food, One More Algorithm Variable For Healthier Living.

Slowly the World, you and I are less of Jack of all trades that Maine is famous for, brimming with in Vacationland. And all the charts like an Albert Einstein in one or just a few areas.

Totally devoid in all the rest we hire out, sub contract to others to maintain and address. Usually the low bidder with the best run operation. Where he and she know the biggest, sometimes only profit is in the expenses. So make it a no sag, no slack fly zone people. Tight is right, red is positive and time is money.

The simple algorithm to gain better, simpler living in Maine reduces, shrinks down any bloated feeling.

Of over stimulation by artificial intelligence. Too much retail therapy. Genuine, home grown, natural patience replaces imitation store bought hurry hurry blur here in Maine.

Because the money is not how we keep score. Or use to flaunt to cause envy in some hoity toity numbering pecking order. No one is labeled, treated, deemed, judged better or worse. Not graded good, bad or both. You are just a striving to improve you like me.

Removed from the equation without Botox, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck procedures.
Self Sufficiency, More Reliance On Yourself. In The Maine Simpler, Happier Living Algorithm Variable String.

It’s a take what you need, leave the rest. No gluttony hoarding like you must have worms.

Or a hungry cancer to feed that eats you up from the inside out. Still all about others. Not vanity or ego, insecurities but the greater good in a small Maine town. That has not changed.

ET heart like glowing brighter than ever inside. Because you feel at home comfortable, in your right place under the sun in the simple Maine small town surroundings.

The strong connection take away from the solo sport of gaming the algorithms by your lonesome. Replacing that busy technical chase your tail work with fire in your belly creative passion. To pour it on that make a difference in other people’s lives.

Awareness of the sparsely populated community’s needs and working in unison. Pulling together in the traces to survive, grow, prosper. Concentrating on what we show and tell in raising our families in the privacy of our Maine homes. Partnered with the collective roles all of us take on out and about in the entire Maine village or burg.

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

April 6, 2014
They Met 37 Years Ago, It Took That Long To Cross Paths Again.

The best job in the World, meeting neat people along with matchmaking properties to fit the folks.

This Maine blog post couple highlighted a guy raised in Brooklyn, two Vietnam War river boat tours. Met a lady on some rest and relaxation from the rice paddies in the hop across the puddle to Australia.
The Car Became The Home, It Happens.
Where Madalyn worked, they first met approaching four decades ago.

They both never stopped thinking of each other.

But life pulled each in other directions. To opposite sides of the blue and green revolving marble.

Not traveling in the same circles or daily paths. And Madalyn proceeded to build a home in the bush. 800 miles from the nearest store and shopping every three months. To avoid expensive local foodstuffs. Off grid self sufficient too. Gutsy lady.

In a tent first with a dog named Tao. A K-9 cross, blend of mastiff and labrador. Raised from a puppy and in a country with nine out of ten of the most deadliest snakes on the planet. That on walks would go ahead, kill a snake it sensed on some internal radar.

But one day coming back into the tent after exploring. That had a lit citronella candle for mosquitoes and black flies. Was hit by the tail of the happy big dog returning to a sleeping owner.

Marilyn had dozed off writing a letter. And when the dog wrote her up, pulling at her in the thick smoke, she just had time to leap out of the tent. Before everyone caught a blaze and a gas tank exploded. Everything including money burned up, destroyed in a flash.

Time to rebuild and until construction moved into the Ford Cortina car. She in front, Tao in back. In the outback, seeing Roos, Wallabees. Shopping at a Coop, places like Sally’s, stores that recycle good stuff someone else used lightly. Or not at all. Never took a shining to. Just not liked, worn and ta da. Second time around Rose deja vu for you to try on. Wear, sport, hang in your closet. To take home paying whatever that color dot represented on the wall chart of unheard of savings. Discounts are easier when the cost of goods is free. No mark up for what the traffic will stomach.

The far away neighbors helped this lady with the big dog in Australia get the materials for re-building.

Which were stolen before being pieced together while parked at the old tent location cleared spot. Hard times, tough lady, interesting experiences in the outback of a country far from Maine. Where Frank says he never stopped thinking about her. She lamented, admitted the same.

The reach out for Where’s Waldo, I mean Frank that Madalyn had used came up a dead end.

Contacted the Vietnam Veterans Center in Washington DC to see if he could be located through the membership. He was not in that group. She cried on the shoulder of a friend the night before that she had to accept Frank was gone forever. He found her through social media tenacity and called the very next morning. Looking for me? Panning, sifting for locations of a missing love online finally hit pay dirt. Got traction.

They worked through the two year green card process. That’s another story. Were married and are here in Maine. Ready to move because one by one taking turns staying with his family mostly in Pennsylvania is getting difficult. Love the kids but everyone wants their own TV channel wand to surf. The old space on the couch to find their personal choice for feeding tube offerings. Will keep you posted on how they make out… her expressions are precious.

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

April 4, 2014
Maine Voices In Your Head, Did Someone Say Meow?

You are a Northern Maine office supply guy and dropping off deliveries.

See the golden arches and out of reflex, with your stomach doing the 10 and 2 swerve. Take a hard right into hap hap happy place. To throw the van in park. Hand gallop into the lobby to order up the usual food fare. Egg McMuffins, one with ham, the other with a sausage snug as a bug in a rug in the middle. Black coffee, and okay, throw in a pair of hash browns in that bag to go go go. Mickey Dees, Timmy Ho Ho’s, Dunk Your Donut, they’re all a big habit in a small Maine town jump start your day where everyone knows your name.
Kittens, Cats Can Make A Maine Home Complete.

It was summer, sunny and when Dave slid behind the wheel and sat munching, slowly emptying the contents of the sack of fast food fuel, he hears sounds.

Voices in his head, but not English. Cat talk, meows mew mew mewing. He sticks his head out the open window, looking for the source. Nothing in the parking lot scan.

Gets out, looks under the loaded van of cardboard boxes. Nope, no felines. Swivels his head in a pan of the parking lot. Makes sure radio is off. Scratches his head. Climbs back in the van, the sounds are coming from inside. Really? He did not remember packing cats for the drop offs today.

Not sounds from a talking card with the watch or hearing aid battery glued inside. That won’t shut off and tucked under the sun visor or in the glove box. On the check off list of where the heck are those meows coming from hunt down. Not from a cell phone ring tone either needing to be silenced.

Finishes breakfast, steps out. Opens up the rear lid of the van and starts removing boxes. Lots of them restacked on the asphalt. To get to the source of the trio sounds. Three kittens crying, the stowaways, hitchhikers located using his eyes and ears detective approach.

Someone had thought Dave looks like a good trusting soul.

Might need a threesome of cats or would sign on to find someone that does. Suddenly the office supply van is an animal shelter and he is in charge of foster care adoption work. What to do? Return the favor and pass the cats along? Other cars with open windows, inside diners ordering up the grub. At first considered but … No. Drowning them like some used to do with no qualms in a burlap sack, a pail of water until the sounds stop? Heck no.

Homes, the cats need probably three of them.

Hate to break up the family. He thought of dropping them off at the Mooers Farm on the County Road thinking the kittens will have a good life there. But instead, heads to the animal shelter on the Callaghan Road. Where today of all days he IS carrying cash. Which never happens because plastic is used to maneuver his way around the circular route in Aroostook County.
Voices Get High Up, Cartoon Sounding When Small Animals Are Around A Maine Home.
To end up back in Caribou Maine at the end of the heavy lifting, driving, delivery to keep office staffs purring. To not develop hair balls that clog, stops operations. And make people want to scratch and claw his eyes out if a delay happens and they run out of office supplies.

Seven dollars a piece for check in, to drop off the three Maine kittens at the animal shelter, humane society. Ever had cats or other animals dropped off on at doorstep? Or put in the open window of your vehicle at 7:30 in the morning like Dave? I have gotten a really neat Maine cat to adopt, take to my home in a real estate sale.

Spay and neuter your family pet so less orphans, animal hobos on the road happen.

Dave had an office cat in his operation where he lived overhead. Did not need more to keep things entertaining or for security after hours at work.

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

April 3, 2014
Open Porches, Sun Rooms, Open Decks And Patios In Maine Homes.

Spending time outside more but closer to the Maine home base.

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to park it on an open porch, use your sun room, the deck or patio more this year? Or to add one if none in your life now? Open air living room, not Maine black bear’s den like seems to be what your body, mind, spirit are craving.
Maine Porches, Free Therapy, Shelling Fresh Peas, Naps Happen Here. Coffee, Ice Tea Tastes Better Here.

Back and forth freely put together talks are one reason.

Not texts, not emails, not during commercials when locked on with the thousand yard detached stare in the recliner or horizontal on the sofa.

Click the power to blip off. Silence. Get away from the tube.

Keep your hands where we can see them and head to bright light, fresh air. Open communication of the special areas to enhance the daily routine and used creatively.

Flowers, Bees Buzzing, Birds Singing, Easy Conversations On A Maine Home Porch.
Growing up the Maine farm home porches got used a lot. Nightly summer conversations and how about a snack to go with the chit chat? Early morning coffee just tastes better when the new Maine day sunshine promises to be spectacular.

With Maine song birds in perfect pitch, weaving their own special solos. Bees buzzing. Walkers to stopping by to say hello and ask how everything is.

You return the same query to get up to speed with the what’s new in pair of lives. The budding, blooming flowers and fragrant greenery adding to the eye candy of just so glad to be in Maine.

Talking about what makes you some kind of happy, grateful living day to day in Maine.

Or sharing what has got your done, worried, concerned. Those conversations in a porch glider, rocker to figure it out. Process it all with family, friends, sometimes alone with your thoughts. With a cold refreshment in your hand and company is healthy. What’s going on in your life is shared. Comparing notes, suggestions from others to factor in your own life direction does a person much good.

No Walls, No Roof, No Ceiling. No Limits. Maine.
Reading scripture to prepare your heart, quiet it or expand it happens easier, more natural on a porch, deck, patio. Space, surrounding you in Maine opens you up. Untangles the knots, helps make you a better blogger. More interesting writer too. (Smile)

Where do you park it when close to home, camp in Maine? What perch kinda outdoors but used a lot daily, weekly, seasonally works best to keep you balanced, feeling alive and pumping?

As a kid you had to be practically dragged back indoors for supper, bedtime from playing outside in Maine.

What happened?

Adults are more fun when time is spent outdoors. You’ve committed no crime, why the self inflicted house arrest? Make yourself go outside. See what you are missing. You are not the best version of you stuck inside hiding out.

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

April 1, 2014
Cabin Fever In Maine, Some Of The Cures.

Unless you are house bound in Maine due to an injury, surgery, extreme old age or a streak of less than stellar weather patterns, you are outside all four seasons.

Sometimes for pleasure. Other times for a labor of love on a Maine farm. Shoveling new fallen snow off the roof of a woods cabin, a lake cottage. Or removing the porch snow load of your dwelling.
Always Outside, Maine Fun Happens Outdoors.
Helping a neighbor or shut in with the same duties around their house with snow loads. But spring comes hard in Maine. Not a clean predictable start like a Labor or Memorial Day signal.

But often the end of a Maine season like winter is the hardest transition.

Because you are ready for spring. But hold your horses. Can’t do outside yard work with those won’t let go go go disappearing snow banks. Where the snow is not white and fluffy, new. But more dirty snow cone, ice mix consistency. So no raking the lawn. Washing off the house grime off. Or starting the gardens of flowers and vegetables. Outside anyway. Can you rent a flame thrower?

The black potting soil, white perlite specs in the brown peat pots. Line card tables, kitchen and glass porch window sills covered in old newspapers. The green peppers, tomatoes are started inside. To transplant into the tilled garden when it has dried out and a seed bed is created for the tasty inhabitants to check in. Many to stay, hang around until the fall harvest canning, preserving routine.

But Maine cabin fever happens when you have skied, snow shoed and sledded, ice fished, pond hockey ice skated enough.

Same with moving, shoveling winter snows to clear driveways, parking lots. Enough. And ready for green grass, spring canoe and kayak races to start populating the weekend calendar slots. Budding trees, early flowers, lilacs and returning spring songbirds as the sunshine is longer, stronger.
Maine Spring Green Itching To Release. Explode When Winter Surrenders.

Wanting, longing to wash outside windows, rake gravel from snow plow trucks off the lawn. To pull out the patio furniture, gas grill and screw on the outside water hose. But not yet.

Some folks decide to zip away for a vacation where the water is blue and green. The music island like with steel drums.

Drinks sweet, rum based. With a leaning umbrella or piece of fresh fruit hitch hiking on the rim. Yeah mon. Nice tourist shirt colors you’re sporting Bub. Or being disciplined to do inside painting, remodeling, wallpaper jobs at the Maine home.
Cabin Fever In Maine Retreat When Spring Teases, Stays Away. Flirts, Plays Hard To Get.
If outside weather means you are in a no fly zone today. Something other than short stints on the couch to watch a movie, sporting event, heavy duty snacking out of boredom.

Take a walk through a small Maine town.

No matter what the current weather. I don’t know about you but I love being out “in the weather”. Dressed for it. But whether a down pour of cats and dogs rain buckets in summer drenchings when the clouds open up wide. A blinding curtain of big, heavy fat snow flakes in sheets, waves.

When you can barely see the hand in front of your face. As you walk to the movies, play production. Window shop without customers to compete with or bump into. Go out to eat in a small Maine downtown during a Maine winter Northeaster. Or windy fall gusts howling with crackling dry orange, red, yellow leaves whipped, stirred around. Swirling as trees get bent over backwards, undressed, stripped of foliage. We live in Maine, not amateurs to weather maps of all kinds. Bring it.

The Maine Maple Syrup Sundays at nearly 100 sugar shacks fill the down time away from work all help. So does time at that Maine camp playing cribbage, making feeds for the family, buddies. While a center wood stove heater or cook stove drives you out. To shed clothing. Makes you leave the outside door open because too many logs thrown into the fire box. And you dream about the next season in Maine when stuck in the in between of one that comes hard after one that does not give up easily.

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

March 30, 2014