Monday, February 9, 2015

The Grammys and Remax Rap

How fitting that 24 hours after I post about the wonderful winter here in the Poconos, I find myself unable to leave my house this morning due to school closings, snow and ice fall...well that's ok because I had an opportunity to scan through my TiVo's recording of the Grammy's last night. It's always nice to know a little about the latest buzz instead of being days behind! I don't think I could sit in the audience through such a long awards show although I wouldn't mind the opportunity to see such a dazzling array of artists perform live! I absolutely love the collaborations between artists that could be considered "unusual". My favorite was Lady GaGa and Tony Bennet ~ what a class act, so much fun to see such different styles blend to produce a fabulous rendition of a wonderful song. It's been said that Tony is "taming GaGa" although I love her wild style and spirit! Then there are "questionable moments" that leave me wondering how celebrities of such caliber can possibly STILL be so attention starved? I refer to the antics of Kanye and Madonna. In any case, in honor of the Grammys, I would like to share a fun side of RE/MAX. Enjoy!

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Winter is Wonderful in the Poconos

I think it is safe to say that if you live in the Northeast, more specifically, in a rural area like the Pocono Mountains, you must resolve yourself to deal with a hearty winter season. I've heard many people who live around these parts (or in nearby New York and New Jersey) say that they hate the winter and plan to move where there is no such thing someday. This is not so easily done by most, with their livelihoods, family and friends preventing them from moving to warmer climates. I happen to love and appreciate all four seasons , so I don't believe that I can do without any of them completely. Perhaps it would be nice to have a shorter winter season, but that isn't going to happen anytime soon (or ever for th
at matter) here in the Poconos. I haven't skied since high school and have become quite nervous about trying it again although the thought has crossed my mind lately. Maybe if I just stay on the "little slopes" I might be able to overcome my fear, but there is always snow tubing, which I really do enjoy. I live right in the heart of "the tourist area", where Camelback ski mountain, Camelbeach waterpark and soon to be Camelbeach indoor water park will be, Mt. Airy Casino and the Crossings Factory Outlets are located. It might seem strange, but our vacation home is just 25 minutes Northwest, in Lake Harmony. That community is where we found we could take just a short drive and partake in completely different types of activities that aren't right here in town. Lake Harmony is one of the few lakes that allows gas powered vehicles, which nets quite a lively summertime scene, but even more special, a fabulous winter one. People ice fish and ride their snowmobiles around this 150 acre lake as soon as it freezes over. Seeing this for the first time was truly magical, right out of a movie scene. Yesterday, I was confident enough in the fact that the lake was rock solid ice, that I took my son out for a walk on it. I could have stayed there all day. It was like no other setting or feeling I've ever had in winter, a new found wonder of the winter wonderland I live in. If you have never walked out on a frozen lake, I highly recommend it!

Saturday, February 7, 2015

What is important to you?

What does the date 7-7-07 and VEGAS have in common? Well, besides a possible connection of 7-7-7 with a big win on a slot machine in VEGAS, the anniversary of my joining RE/MAX of the Poconos was 7-7-07 and the broker/owner of our office has just announced a fabulous incentive he intends to extend to the real estate professionals in my office if we meet the goal he has set forth for us in 2015. Sure, like all sales goals, there is a dollar figure involved, but what is behind that figure is so much more than a number...the number is just a "fact" with no feelings. The REAL deal behind that number is the strengthening of the financial picture for countless home buyers and sellers, who placed the purchase or sale of their biggest investment with a RE/MAX agent from our office. It represents the hours, days, weeks, months and sometimes years that one of my fellow real estate professionals from RE/MAX of the Poconos worked with a buyer or seller client to help them achieve their goals and move on to another chapter of their lives. That figure is proof that RE/MAX is the sign you want and the agent that you need.