Scott Geary's Blog

Top Ten Reasons....

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:50:29 -0500

Why should I be your Loan Officer of choice???

My TOP 10

Reasons to put me to work for you

Number 10 - I offer all conforming and government products including USDA.

Number 9- Available 24/7 for service issues of any kind including price quotes, applications, pre-approvals and other valuable info.

Number 8 - Keen understanding of the value of educating consumers about the process of obtaining a mortgage.

Number 7 - Updated regularly on changes within the industry that I pass on to my business partners and clients.

Number 6- Only transact business in The Lehigh Valley. Where I live and where I'm from. Knowledgeable about the area and loyal to the area.

Number 5 - Competitive rates and fees that are flexible enough to help you to get your deal closed.

Number 4 - Hey, I am really a nice guy!

Number 3 - My team and I bring you over 50 years of mortgage industry experience.

Number 2 - Your concerns are my concerns. On time closings with a satisfied, properly serviced client who will refer us both potential clients.

And the Number 1 reason to partner with me.........

Baby needs new shoes!!!

FHA VA & USDA Specialist

Scott Geary

Direct 484-239-2022

He's a Catahoula Leopard Dog.....

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:48:15 -0500

Whenever anyone asks me what kind of dog Harry is, that's my response. After the inquirer utters "a catwhowho wholaha??" My next response is always to repeat the name slowly and give a brief history of the breed, state dog of Louisiana, used for hunting assistance, etc., etc, etc...... That dissertation is almost always followed by, "he looks like a Doberman." Such is life for Harry, Harry Kalas.

Back in April we stumbled upon the breed on the Internet and were immediately interested. Medium size, sound temperment, short hair (limited shedding!) and really neat looking to boot! A visit to an animal rescue event in Hamberg PA introduced us to Catahoula Rescue Inc. - North East and a wonderful little guy named Bruiser. Bruiser was 3 months old and the only survivor of his litter. Instantly lovable, Bruiser joined us in May as a foster awaiting a forever home. Already at home were a 5 year old Westie, Camy, and a 3 year old Carin named Brutus, AKA, Boo Boo. It just wouldn't work to have a Brutus and a Bruiser in the same house. While trying to select an alternate name, the long time broadcaster for the Philadelphia Phillies passed away, Harry Kalas. In tribute to the man I grew up listen to calling the Phillies games, Harry was named. Harry finally got to meet Camy and the Boo Boo.

Almost from the beginning, Harry and Boo Boo were inseparable. That had nothing to do with Brutus's choice. Harry was just totally taken by Brutus. Had to be where ever Boo Boo was. On the other hand, Brutus wasn't really wild about Harry to start with. I think he kinda grew on him. Harry would have to come to grips with who ran the pack, Camy, AKA the Caminator, 15 pounds of 'don't mess with me I'm the boss' West Highland Terrier.

When Harry 1st arrived he weighed in at 23 pounds of playful, insane puppy. Camy coddled him somewhat and was quick to discipline him when she saw fit. Harry remained submissive to Camy's rule for the first several months, laying on his back, laying Ali-like jabs on either dog who would play. Harry grew to more than 45 pounds and was just having a blast. Until he challenged Camys spot in the pack. Although he outweighed her by 30+ pounds, Camy loves her spot at the front of the pack and will defend that spot to the death. She nearly did!

So, Harry has been separated from Camy and the Boo Boo for the last 5 weeks. It's a real shame because Harry is truly a terrific dog. Obedient, loyal, smart as a whip, playful and eager to please. He just has to lead his own pack. As of today, and for the foreseeable future, Harry is a pack of one. He seems real pleased with that status. I see no reason to alter that state of affairs. He will continue to look for his forever home.

I for one hope he finds it!

There are so, so many animals looking for a forever opportunity. There are rescue groups for nearly every type of breed you can possibly think of, and some you may have never heard of. If you, or someone you know is considering adding a new member to your family. Please consider adopting through one of these fantastic groups all over this great nation of ours. For more information visit http://www.petfinder.com/index.html. There is simply not a better feeling than helping these animals get the treatment and the forever homes they deserve.

My name is Scott Geary, a mortgage professional for over 30 years, serving the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am located in the Lehigh Valley, specifically Allentown. To help you gain the knowledge necessary to make an informed mortgage decision would be my pleasure!

What Was HE Thinking????

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:49:29 -0500

Well last night I watched another in a long line of Presidential addresses I've seen during my half century as a US citizen. Yes, I am lucky enough to be an American and a life long registered Republican (shhh....don't tell anybody). As always is the case, the political party not occupying the Presidential seat spent more time on their keisters than the party in power. Ho - Hum... nothing really new there. The Presidents presentation did seem to lack specifics regarding the entire health care plan. Ho - Hum....that's always the case as well. The house is obviously divided. It seems to me that the President did little to resolve that division. Heck, it almost seemed that he scolded the Republican side of the room while playing up the Democratic side of the room. The speech did little but throw a crumb here and there to the Republicans for participation and ideas, while somewhat antagonizing the conservatives in the house in what seemed every few minuets. The side of the room he spoke to seemed to show that intention. Then HE spoke up! HE made perhaps the largest guffaw I have ever seen in a congressional Presidential address. HE must be a real clown I thought to myself. Eject him immediately. That type of thing just can't be tolerated in this setting. What a clown! What was HE thinking???? He's gotta go I thought to myself. Then I researched exactly who HE is.

HE is Joe Wilson, actually Addison Graves Wilson Sr. a 62 year old Congressman from South Carolina serving in that position since 2001. HE has been involved in South Carolina politics since 1962 while, as a teenager he assisted in the campaigns of Congressman Floyd Spence and later Senator Strom Thurmond. In 1972 HE obtained a Juris Doctor degree from University of South Carolina Law School and practiced as a real estate attorney in the practice he founded in South Carolina. HE also served in the US Army Reserve from 1972 to 2003 when HE retired as a Colonel. In 1984 HE began serving as a senator never missing a statutory session in 17yrs. When Floyd Spence died in 2001, Joe ran for his seat and won taking 73% of the vote. HE had to run again for a full term in 2002 and took 84% of the vote. The point is folks, this guy has a back round as good as anyone out there. After reading up on him, despite this major Boo - Boo, I believe he's the kind of guy we want representing the American people. So......the question is....What was HE thinking????

It's my opinion that the furor over control of the presidency, the house and the senate by the Democratic party has over taken the Republican party. Unfortunately, Mr. Wilson, along with many other strong Republican leaders have been sucked into the 'pissing contest', clouding for them the real reason they are in those positions in the first place. That is to serve the people who elected them. Whats going on now is wrong no matter how you look at it. The campaign is over ladies and gentleman. Please, PLEASE get on with the business that you have been elected for before its too late. What the American people need is healthy debate and well intended exchanges of ideas to make our country better. Cat calls from the peanut gallery and solitary heckles of 'you lie' in absolute silence of the chamber ain't getting it done. People, grow up and get to work! Don't ruin all that you've accomplished in your life by being ' that guy '. Get together and make something happen. Bring ideas to improve the bill. I for one, am tired of hearing whats wrong with it. We've elected folks like you to make it right. Just do it!!!

Good luck getting past this one Mr. Wilson. I think you may need it.

Day Off for Several Students Yesterday

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:28:06 -0500

.......We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I read with interest the Morning Call article on Monday which mentioned that, as a result of the Presidents speech issued to the school systems for grades 1 through 12 to listen to on Tuesday, several people were holding their children out of school yesterday. They could not allow their children to be subjected to the message of the President. As you can probably guess everyone interviewed that was taking this stance was obviously a right winger. Likely regular listeners of Rush, Hannity, Beck and any other hard right babbler on the air waves. How short our memories are when it's convenient for it be to so.

On October 1st, 1991 then President 'Papa' Bush did the nearly exact same thing with a relatively similar message. Although I don't particularly remember the incident (my kids were 7 & 8 at the time and I was logging some serious travel time) I can look back to see what the back lash was. Shockingly enough, the left wingers went just as wild! Most of the backlash was after the fact, audits, capitol hill hearings and the like propelled by the majority democratic congress.

An article by Byron York of the Washington Examiner about both messages concluded with this paragraph, "Lost in all the denouncing and investigating was the fact that Bush's speech itself, like Obama's today, was entirely unremarkable. "Block out the kids who think it's not cool to be smart," the president told students. "If someone goofs off today, are they cool? Are they still cool years from now, when they're stuck in a dead end job. Don't let peer pressure stand between you and your dreams."

The messages from both Presidents were very very clear. Stay in school, do your best, avoid peer pressure, don't give up on yourself, ask questions.......And these are controversial???? Worth keeping your kids home from school for???? Have we gone MAD as a country over these last 20+ years? So divided by our political affiliations that we would deny our children a message given by the the leader of the free world designed to make them better students, better people???? It's so sad it's almost funny. ALMOST!

Tonight the President will speak at 8PM on national television (ABC, NBC, CBS). I am certain the right wingers will watch and criticize everything from the opening 'My fellow Americans' line to the end. Or, just watch 'So Think You Can Dance' on Fox (fair and balanced?) instead. While the left wingers will mindlessly cheer every line the President utters. As I listen, I will remember the days of being inspired via the same medium by Ronald Reagan. When the country needed a patriotic boost, there was Ron at the ready. Others, they'll remember Bill Clinton and his television addresses. When the economy needed a boost, there was Bill at the ready. For both those Presidents, the political parties just did not seem so clearly divided as they are now. Perhaps the growth of the electronic media has something to do with that. Perhaps I just wasn't paying attention. I'm not sure. What I am sure of is that distortion of facts and disagreements based on party affiliations alone at not doing our country any favors. Listen to what is said, watch what is done, work your Representatives to oppose what you must. But for God sake, first and foremost, be an AMERICAN!

The Valley's a Buzz with Music, Cars and Football This Weekend

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:50:29 -0500

Don't bother trying to get a hotel room in the Lehigh Valley this weekend if you don't have one already. There's no room at the Inn because the Valley is bursting with entertainment, nostalgia and action. This ladies and gentlemen is NOT a boring weekend by any stretch of the imagination. Far from it.

In 1984 a music event was introduced in historic Bethlehem's downtown area. It was attended by nearly 182,000 people watching 118 performers of various musical persuasions. Back then folks had no idea of what this 'Musikfest' thing would become. Today 25 yearslater it's HUGE! There are over 300 performers from across the country and around the globe that gather to entertain, playing virtually any type of music you can possible imagine. A few others that you may have never heard before. The food is wonderful and the beverages abundant. The price of admission is right, free. That's right, FREE! Walk around downtown Bethlehem and stop at the various venues or 'Platz', to hear various musical performers provide entertainment absolutely free. Of course for the headliners in the evening you'll need to buy a ticket. This years headline acts include, Crosby Stills and Nash, George Thorogood, Yes, Asia,Pet Benetar, Blondie, The B-52's, Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, Third Eye Blind, Puddle of Mudjust to name a few. I've attended several shows over the years and always enjoyed them. However, the hidden gems are in the free venues scattered throughout the city. For example, some 12-14 years ago I found a band from Atlanta GA called The Floating Men. This band played as rain fell during the night and they played their hearts out. They've been on my play list ever since. Musikfest is truly a place where the miracles fly!

What? Music isn't your cup of tea? How about Antique or Classic cars? In the quaint community of Macungie PA you'll find in its 45th year, Das Awkscht Fescht. Admission is $7.00 for adults and $2.00 for children. This event is worth every penny of the price of admission. Over 42 acres you'll find all makes and models of antique and classic cars. Every time I go I have to check out the 62 Pontiac Lemans (my first car), the 64 Olds 442 (my dads fun car), the 65 Buick Riviera (G-Pops car) and several others too numerous to mention here. Sure, the condition of the cars is incredible. The owners keep these treasures from yesteryear in show room shape. More amazing is the quick trip to various points in your life when the car your looking at transports you to the memories of smells, sights and sounds associated with that vehicle. Heck, you'll even see cars you may not have known were even built. Or, forgot were built. Remember the Nash, the Plymouth Satelite? This is a can't miss event for the auto enthusiast.

If Marching Bands are your thing, for the 31st year, J Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown will host the DCI Eastern Classic Drum and Bugle Corps Championship. The gates open at 5 both Friday and Saturday featuring 11 performances Friday and 10 on Saturday. Bands come from across the country to compete. Although I haven't been to Drum and Bugle competition in years, I live close enough to the stadium to know the music from the bands is exceptional. I remember being really impressed with the show the bands put on. That was many years ago. I can only imagine how the shows have evolved. The Corps performing and competing are:

Blue Devils - Concord, CA

Holy Name Cadets - Allentown, PA

The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL

Bluecoats - Canton, OH

Glassmen - Toledo, OH

Troopers - Casper, WY

The Academy - Tempe, AZ

Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA

Mandarins - Sacramento, CA

Pioneer - Milwaukee, WI

Cascades - Seattle, WA

OK, your ready for some FOOTBALL!!! Over in Bethlehem at the Lehigh University Athletic Fields you find the training camp of our Philadelphia Eagles. Admission to the practices is still free. Yes that's right, I said FREE. The schedule of each day are posted on the Eagles web site. Generally there are what I remember as my favorite practices in High School and College, the dreaded two-a-days! Morning and afternoon practices are most all open to the public. Check the schedule to ensure your not planning on attending a closed practice. For an Eagle fan this is a can't miss event. 2 years ago I went to check out this rookie line backer from Nebraska, Stewart Bradley. After watching 1 day of practice, I knew this guy was the real deal. Now, he's our starting middle line backer and I believe a rising star in the NFL. This years target is a draft pick from Virginia Tech playing corner back, Macho Harris. Tell me a better football name than Macho Harris! Now lets just hope he's really good. That name is just too much fun!

So there you have it! So now there is absolutely no excuse not to get out and about to enjoy all that the Lehigh Valley has to offer this weekend. Perhaps I'll see you at one of these events. Just look for the guy with a funnel cake ....er, a sausage sandwich......ah, make that a frosty cold adult malt beverage....Scratch that, I'll wear my eagles tee shirt and green plaid pants. If you see me, say hi! Have fun! Be safe and enjoy!

Ain't this Valley great????

Be a good Boy Scout! Earn your Mortgage Merit Badge!

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:17:34 -0500

Good God has it been a long time since I was an entry level 'Tiger' Cub attending meetings in the church basement down at 15th and Chew in Allentown. Other than learning some pretty neat stuff as I completed the assignments from Tiger to Wolf to Bear and finally Webelos. I remember the fun my friends and I had doing all sorts of things that helped us grow and contribute to our community. Yeah, we were boys so there was allot of yelling, rough housing and sweating too! We drove our Den Mother Mrs. Crownover nuts! Another story....another time. Over all these years since, the Scout Motto has always stuck in my head. Sure, sometimes I'll forget it and enter the occasional situation, oh....how would you say......by the seat of my pants.....winging it......dealing with it as it pops up.........NEVER are the results as good as if I had simply followed the Scouts Motto. 2 little words make all the difference in the world:

Be Prepared

So you're considering either buying a new home or refinancing your existing home. Your knees are knocking as you read the horror stories on professional web sites like activerain, or social web sites like lets say Facebook. It's on the nightly news on the tube, it's in every newspaper and magazine you read. It's as hard as it's ever been to get financing. Calm down a little bit please. I'll let you in on a secret, but you have to promise to use me as your loan officer. Let me whisper in your ear, before you make application for you mortgage........

Be Prepared

Obtaining a Mortgage isn't really all that difficult if you've taken my advise. 99% of the issues delaying a loan closing can be easily avoided if you follow the Scouts Motto prior to meeting with your Loan Officer. See, a mortgage application (called a 1003) reads a tad like a book. In other words, it unfolds the story of what you are trying to do, who you are, your income source for repayment and what assets you have available to get the transaction completed. Hopefully your Loan Officer has helped in your preparation of the documents you'll need to gather to ensure the story told on your 1003 has a happy ending. If not, here's a few items that might help you too.

Be Prepared

For your employment, you'll need 2 years of history, preferably with the same company. You might be shy of 2 years with the company you're with, yet have 2 years in the same field. With the proper supporting documentation you'll likely be OK. A written explanation of the reason for employer change that will be supported when the verifications of your employment are done will go a long way to helping your loan process go smoothly. You'll need to supply the last 2 years of W-2's along with pay stubs covering the last month (weekly last 4, bi-weekly last two, etc.). Should you be self employed, you'll need 2+ years of self employment with personal and / or corporate tax returns covering those 2 years. A signed year to date P & L is another likely requirement. If you have rental properties, annuity income, disability income, etc., documents supporting the income, leases, award letters, etc. will be needed. Proof of receipt of the income can usually be found on your bank statement direct deposits. If not, photo copy the next check you receive for verification.

Be Prepared

The assets you list on your application including those to be used to complete your transaction must all be verified. Recent statements covering 2 months will be requested with your loan application. Any larger than normal deposits will need to be explained and documented. Please don't think that you'll use funds from a credit card advance to close your loan. That's not going to work and may deal your closing a crushing blow. If you are using gift money from a relative prepare them to supply verification of ability to do so along with a letter confirming that the gift is not a loan. You'll also need to show that money going into your account. Once you have entered into an agreement of sale, postpone other larger purchase items until after your loan closes. I tell all my clients to leave the bank accounts alone and spend little if any money. I always recommend a steady diet of Spam and Kraft Mac&Cheese until the loan closes. That usually gets a chuckle, or a questioning look depending on ones familiarity with the lovely meat product known as Spam.

Be Prepared

Understand that when additional information is requested during the processing and underwriting of your transaction that time is of the essence. The speed with which you supply documentation may have a very large impact on how timely your closing occurs. If we did our job up front, there shouldn't be anything more we need to supply. However, if a request is made we need to respond as quickly as is possible.

Be Prepared

Real Estate financing can be overwhelming to many people mostly because a mortgage is something most of us only do a few times in our lives. Nobody can be an expert at something doing it once every 15 years can they? That's why it's important to select an experienced, knowledgeable, involved and informative Loan Officer to work for you. A real pro will not only tell you what is needed, but explain why and the impact that information has on your transaction. A real pro will explain every fee item you'll find on the Good Faith Estimate so you'll know exactly what you're paying for and why you're paying it. A real pro will keep you informed every step of the way.

Be Prepared

If you need any help selecting a Loan Officer whom you'll feel comfortable with, I have a short list of candidates I could provide you with. With the right loan officer and the proper supporting documentation with your application, you're prepared! You'll be closing on time without any angst what so ever. Don't forget to invite me to the house warming! I love those parties!!!!

I Think I've Lost My Voice in Government......

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:13:56 -0500

With all the chatter and the press relative to the Capitol Hill health care reform progress or lack there of comes a feeling of being akin to a mushroom. You know the one that goes, I just stand here in the dark while crap gets thrown on me. I have had this feeling on many issues that go before the house and senate, including those that have impacted the very industry that have funded my children's and my life for the last 35 years.

2 years ago, I reached out to my congressman, a neighborhood pal whom I grew up with and have known for nearly all the years I have walked this earth. I really don't remember the bill number, but I emailed Charlie telling him my concern and opposition to lets say HR &#!*. Additionally, I had several others of the old 'Berks St' gang email him as well, voicing there concerns. We all received back a canned email response, that although he was glad we voiced our concerns, he'd have to vote for the proposed bill because that is what his constituents wanted him to do. HUH????? At his finger tips was a person he knew darn well has relied on the mortgage industry to support himself for over 30 years. Oddly enough, a constituent in his district no less. Never once was I contacted, let alone personally responded to about the bill that changed the face of the industry!!! Guess who I am voting for in the next election he runs in??? But it doesn't really matter does it?

National Health care reform has been an issue in presidential elections for the last 60 years. The only one that really made it look like they tried to do anything about it were the Clintons. Hilary seemed to be charged with coming up with a plan that lost steam 6-8 months into Bill's 1st term. As I see it, that was it! Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, Reagan and the Bushes all talked about it in their election campaigns. Nothing was ever done. Now, it looks like SOMETHING is going to happen. It's just that I am not too clear on what, and how it will effect me. Sure, the Republicans will tell me it'll raise my taxes and increase the deficit. The Democrats will tell me that's hogwash, you won't feel a thing. More political rhetoric, lacking in substance, clarity and transparency. Of course, if I read the bill I'm sure the legalese would be dizzying at best. Attorneys and our government........But that's another subject for another time.

Then it hit me!!!

Over the years I have faithfully gone to the voting booth in nearly every election be it local, state or federal. On occasion, local referendums are voted on. Things like, should we fluoridate our water, should we protect our farm lands, should we build a war memorial, etc. etc. etc. If that's possible on a local level, then why not a national or state level? This health care reform bill is an outstanding example of why this should be a public vote and not something my congressman votes on because his constituents (that he never talks to or educates mind you) want him to. Who better to decide than the total of the American public??? Give us all the information possible. Show US the bill. Explain to US factual data that has lead to the bill. After a particular period of time, let US vote on the bill and every amendment to it. That will leave you with a health care reform plan that will address the needs of the popular vote. None of these garbage addendums than we need 1 million dollars for some non-sense medical center that Gov. Billy-Bobs contractor cousin is slated to build. Oh no, that stuff just disappears! All health care reform, all the time, nothing else in it!

Do you feel you know enough about the health care plan in the making? If senators and congress people vote for their constituents, how do they do it? Somebody told me its by polling. I'm in my 2nd century and my memory has not yet failed me. I do not ever remember being part of any poll other than the one that asked who I intend to vote for. Is a national vote on issues critical to Americans something that would interest you? How about clarity of language in bills that are proposed so that even an average Joe like me could understand? I'd love your feed back!

Sincerely

An American who has had enough of politics ruining our country! Wanting public servants to actually serve!

Life, Death and Taxes!

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:34:52 -0500

The American Revolution was nearly entirely based on the perceived unfair taxing practices of England's King. After the smoke of the revolutionary war cleared and the tea in the harbor was sunk, we Americans were free from the rule of England. Freedom to worship as we pleased. Freedom to live as we pleased. Freedom to govern ourselves as we pleased. Freedom from the unjust tax burden placed upon us by England. Life as we knew it then...it was good great.

What brings this up you might ask. A client of ours has been trying to refinance the property they live in for quite some time. Trying to take advantage of the lowest interest rates available since they've been paying on their and their mothers mortgage. Mom died in 2004. 6 months prior to her death, Mr. and Mrs. Customer were added to the deed of the property. They were on the mortgage note when it opened in 2003 (likely to assist in qualifying), not the deed. When Mom died, she had a couple hundred dollars in her checking account. That was the extent of her assets. Oh, yeah, and the home which she owned with her children.

There was a Last Will and Testiment, the executor of which was Mr. Customer. The checking asset and property were to be his and his wifes. Closed case, done deal, lets move on. No, wait! As any good son would do, Mom had a few obligations which needed to be paid. There were always the expenses from a proper burial to cover. So, Mr. and Mrs. customer opened a 2nd mortgage to cover those expenses. From there they moved on carrying forward the fond memories of Mom, and all she had meant to them and done for them. Until last week that is.

See the average Joe doesn't really know everything they need to about the procedures we are required to follow when a loved one passes on. The trauma of the event and all that surrounds it is sometimes totally over whelming. Having lost my father 26 years ago, I totally understand how that works. There was about a 2 week period where nearly everyone who spoke to me sounded like the teacher in Charlie Browns classroom. Wah, Wah, Wah......But, in your state of weary mental capacity and diminished if not non existent judgment capabilities, our government begins the ticking clock for payment of Inheritance taxes! No matter how little your worth, when you leave this earth to meet your maker, those of us left behind are confronted with yet another tax bill, the final tax bill for you for which YOU are personally not held accountable to pay!!

We are trying to help the customer resolve this issue by pointing him in the right directions. Unfortunatly, the tax, interst and penalties will be rather sizable considering the clients current financial situation. A truly distressing chain of events for some one who made an error borne of nothing more than a lack of understanding Inheritance Tax and what is procedurely required. I feel very bad for this couple.

I also feel very bad for us collectively, American Citizens. Why you ask? The very crux of what we viewed as a problem causing us to revolt over 233 years ago seems to plague us more and more each day. Pennsylvania is proposing a .05% tax simply to allow us to balance the budget due out this month. Wish I could just hit up my friends for cash when my budgets out of whack! But they promise to return to current levels after only 2 or 3 years. Sure they will. Like checks in the mail, I'll respect you in the morning and that other one!!!! Occasionally, I wonder exactly how much of every dollar I earn I really get to keep. Sure, I know that about .30 cents of every dollar is withheld in my paycheck to pay the appropriate taxing authorities. I'm just wondering if I calculated the rest of the taxes I pay against my wages, (kind of like a 'Truth in Lending' Disclosure) what that number would look like. Throw in my property taxes, my privilege to work tax (love that one), sales tax on consumables, tax on fuel, smokes, alcohol oh wait, I'm not sure of what those taxes are. They aren't disclosed anywhere that I know of. Add in the tax we pay on our phone bills, electric, gas, oil, cable......errrr.....I'm overloaded!!!! Maybe I get .45 cents on a buck!&(!*#&!

A flat tax MAY be the solution. I'm not sure. I still like the idea of a 'Truth in Taxation' disclosure with each payment of tax dollar. Example, I go get gas at the local Wawa. A big sign tells me exactly how much of my $2.41 (going down!) will go to the Feds, the State and the Local governments. I've smoked for 32+ years. I know it's bad for me. Yet our government feels that the tobacco industry needs to warn me on every pack. How about letting me know what taxes I'm paying?? Perhaps THAT would help me quit smoking!

Rates Are Going Through the Roof.....Not Historically!

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:19:40 -0500

Perspective and perception have an enormous impact on how each of us process information we receive. Over the last week and a couple days, many of my Associates have verbalized or written the above Blog title phrase on occasions too numerous to mention. After all, only 10 days ago, a 4.5% rate with no discount points was within reach. After a few days of wild secondary market activity causing some of the largest single day increases I've seen in my career in this business, that 4.5% is but a distant memory. Rates have sky rocketed, gone through the roof.......I think not!

Having lived through the late 70's and early 80's probably shapes my perspective. In 1983, I closed on the purchase of a home in York County Pennsylvania at a fixed interest rate of 8.5%. The national average at the time was nearly 13%. I was tickled to death to get that rate. The average interest rate throughout 1981 was nearly 18%. In 1984, the averaged peeked at nearly 15%. Now there you have a truly legitimate sky rocketed, gone through the roof rate scenario! At 8.5%, I was really fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Although the higher rates would not have deterred me from buying a home, they certainly would have limited the type of home I was going to buy.

Over the last several weeks many folks happened to be at the right place at the right time, taking advantage of fixed rate mortgage money that hasn't been seen in over 50 years. (In fact, I believe that my parents bought their house in 1958 and financed using a mortgage with a fixed rate of 4.00%.) To some, the lower rate offered an opportunity to buy a little more house than they may have originally qualified for. To others, the lower rates offered reduced payments or mortgage terms that were of greater benefit than when they began the search to refinance their existing mortgage. Bully for them! Yet another group is feeling very left out right now. The group that elected to wait until rates dropped lower (you know your out there). Also in that group are the folks that needed to do some preparation work in either credit issues, cash to close issues or documentation gathering issues. Some might say that this group lost out on an opportunity. I tend to disagree.

Having bought and sold houses for 30 years of my adult life probably shapes my perception. Over that period of time the average annual interest rate on a fixed rate mortgage has been below 6.00% only 5 years (2003,04,05,08,09). That means that during 83% of that 30 year period, rates have been over a percent higher than they are right now. In fact, prior to 2003, fixed mortgage rates haven't been below 6.00% since 1965. Look one step further, and you find that rates in that same period have been below 7.00% only 5 of those years (1993,98,99, 2001,02). So average mortgage rates have been above 7.00% in 67% of the last 30 years. In fact from 1971 to 1993 the average mortgage rate never broke 7.00%. Rates have gone through the roof? Nah, hardly! Lets just cross our fingers that history (1977 -1984) doesn't repeat itself. It can't. Can it????

Perhaps after reading this either your perspective or perception of the current interest rate situation has changed. Perhaps it hasn't. Either way, I am sure we could agree that if you are thinking of buying or refinancing, the time to act is now. With interest rates available still in the 5.5% - 6.00% range, you're still better off than a slew of people over the last 50 years. And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls and children of all ages, is a GOOD thing!

Save a Pooch! There's Many to Choose From!

Thu, 14 May 2009 14:47:52 -0500

Anyone who knows me can tell you I am a dog guy. Yea, some will just tell you that I'm just a dog. They don't really know me that well! I'm talking about the folks that have known me since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Throughout my life, seems I have always had at least one canine companion, sometimes a few more. As a tike, there was Andy, a standard poodle who I believed at the time to be as large as a bear. Then came Alec, a mutt who was my best friend as a pre-teen. Some think I named my son Alex after him. How foolish of them. His namesake was Alexander 'Sandy' Koufax, not Alec my 4 legged friend. As a teen, THE Baron entered the fold. A large Doberman Pinscher that loved when my friends visited. Always lovable and engaging on the way IN the door. Always ready to take a bite of you when you left. I hung out with about 8 kids that lived in my neighborhood at that time. The Baron had a piece of everyone of them. After I left for college and during my apartment years, with the exception of visits home to see the parents and The Baron, I was dog-less. That was likely a good thing.

Once I planed to marry and start a family, I quickly bought Sheena (yeah the Ramones tune) before the major life changes went down. Sheena was a Golden Retriever who helped raise and protect my 2 children for 14 years. She was undoubtedly the best dog I ever had. Smart as a whip, obedient always, and loyal to the family. After Sheena finished her job as family entertainer, soother and protector I swore I would never get another dog. The leaving hurt too much. Shortly after, a close friend asked if anything ever happened to him, would I take Bandit, his 5 year old over weight Springer / Retriever mix. "Sure I would", but nothing ever happens to 40 year men, don't talk so stupid. Weeks later he died of liver failure. His parents were quick to remind me of how great it was that I offered to take Bandit. Reluctantly, Bandit was added to the family circle. For over four years, Bandit was a solo act in the Geary household. Until Camy, our West Highland Terrier arrived. A puppy brought into the house at only 10 weeks old. She was about the size of Bandits head. He took to her immediately. I think he was responsible for house breaking her. Camy is certainly the #1 dog in our house. Was even when Bandit was still living. Later on, the love of my life got involved in Terrier Rescue, specifically Col. Potter Cairn Rescue, helping to transport fostered and adopted dogs. It was a rewarding experience to say the least. We wanted to do more so we offered to foster. I hear lot of people fail in Fostering 101. So did we!!! A little over 2 years ago, Brutus joined Bandit and Camy as the families four legged contingent. Brutus has let say, some issues. Even with that, he's Camys best friend and a loved member of the family.

Camy and Brutus will be getting a new member of the clan this weekend. See, a grown man walking 14 pound dogs is foreign to me. I had never had a dog that small. Since Bandit died, I wanted another larger dog. Well, after 2 years of searching, Bruiser is on the way. Bruiseris a 4 month old Catahoula Leopard Dog, from the rescue group of the same name. I am told that's the state dog of Louisiana. This is Bruiser in a photo of when we met him He's about 30 pounds now. He should grow to between 60-70 lbs when full grown. Then there were 3! Should be an interesting weekend!

If you, or anyone you know is considering getting a dog this spring. Please consider adopting a dog through one of the many rescue groups in your area. A great place to start is the website Petfinder.com. Seems most all rescue groups post on this site. So if your looking for a particular breed you'll find it here. There are so many animals, not just dogs, that come from all different types of bad situations that need homes. Brutus and Bruiser both came from puppy mills, where cruelty is in no shortage. My mothers dog Lex came from a home that had too many dogs. Other dogs are placed in rescue from broken homes, displaced residents, or simply by folks that weren't ready to make the commitment needed to own a dog. The thought of all those animals being simply 'problems' is totally untrue. Many of these groups are looking for help saving, transporting and fostering animals as well.

In 4 years, we have saved 4 dogs. Bandit, Lexi, Brutus and now Bruiser were, are or will be much better off because of it. Not only does it feel good. It's been BIG fun as well. Please consider adopting before buying. You'll be glad you did!

My Mom Rocks - Redux

Thu, 07 May 2009 12:33:41 -0500

OK, so this is simply a republication of last years Mothers day tribute. I just don't believe that I could do any better. Shortly after Mom read this, she fell very ill. Her weight dropped to only 80 pounds. She endured nearly 3 months of hospitalization for testing and finally surgery resulting from Crohns disease. She lost several feet of her intestine, yet it bothered her more to miss work! She has since fully recovered and gained over 35 pounds of much needed weight. She's still motoring and of course, still ROCKS!

Sunday marks yet another celebration of terrific Mothers everywhere! Often times, my mother reminds me of the fact that she indeed brought me into this world. For that single issue alone I am forever grateful. My father on the other hand often reminded me of his part in me being here, bringing me into this world, along with the fact that he could take me out just as easily. He always had the ability to bring sunshine and clouds all at the same time. But my Mom, she was, is and always will be the glue that holds everything together. Her strength, commitment and support has been a motivating force as well as an inspiration in my life. Heck, I'd go so far as to say my Mom is my hero. Or simply, my Mom rocks!

50 years ago my Mom gave birth to a 9+ pound baby boy. Although I am sure I was the apple of her eye, I was born with a clef palate. In 1958 this was, and likely still is, a very delicate medical birth defect. Surgery was completed shortly after my birth. Often times Mom spoke of how terrible she felt, watching her young son go through the trials and tribulations of the operation. She was with me through the whole ordeal. In the 50's it was likely that Dad was the wage earner, while Mom took care of the house and family. So it was in my house. From birth through 5th grade, Mom was always there. Diner was at 5:00. Being late was simply not tolerated. Nor would I ever disrespect Mom by being so. While I was in 6th grade, Mom decided it was time that she contributed to the household budget. She took a job as a teller with 1st National Bank of Allentown in 1971. The bank has changed from 1st National, to Meridian, to Corestates, to First Union, to Wachovia over those 37 years. At 70, Mom still shows up to the same bank she's been at all these years. She's offended by those who question why she still works. After all, retiring would mean that she wouldn't get to see many of the banks customers she calls friends. I guess 37 years of friendships keeps her going. She loves her job, but really loves the people more. Now that's commitment!

1983 was a year of highs and lows for the entire family. Especially for Mom. In March of that year, at 46, my father suffered a massive heart attack at the kitchen table over morning coffee and the news paper. He died on the spot. We were all devastated. My mother lost her best friend since high school and her partner in life. I did my best to be strong for her. Yet in retrospect, she was much stronger than I. Even though I was 24, Mom handled everything. Not because I couldn't. Just because she wouldn't let me. Unfortunately, Dad was really my best friend too. He listened without judging, he offered advise, only when asked for it and he covered for me so as not to get on trouble with Mom. He was tough, intelligent, funny. Just a great guy. We all hurt badly. I am sure Mom hurt worse. Yet hardly did she ever let on. Now that's strength!

On Halloween, October 31st of 1983, my daughter was born. Mom lived in Allentown, while my wife and I lived in Kingston PA, about an hour up the turnpike. An hour after Shannon arrived, my Mom arrived to see her 1st granddaughter. I always thought that Shannon was a gift from god to help my Mom redirect her attention from my Dad to a new bundle of joy. Mom didn't want to be Grandmother or Gramma, Nana would do just fine. She took all of her vacation and stayed with her family for the next 3 weeks. Smiling the entire time, and running to take care of every need of her new grand kid. A year later, in October of 1984, Mom pulled a repeat performance when our son Alexander arrived. For 25 years, Mom has spent a good portion of her time and energy being an active, yet unimposing part of her grandchild's lives. Now that's support!

Our family is not, nor have we ever been, the most affectionate family on this earth. To this day, hugs look uncomfortable and goofy. Kisses on the cheek rarely if ever happen. 'I love yous' are exchanged infrequently, probably not enough. That's just the way things have been, are, and likely will be. On Sunday, for one day, that's going to change. My Mom's getting tons of hugs and kisses, with a heavy dose of 'I love yous' thrown in for good measure. Because my Mom is an exceptional woman. Because my Mom is my hero. Because my Mom is the best! Because my Mom rocks!

Happy Mothers Day to every Mom everywhere! Enjoy your day to the fullest!

A Few of the Things I Am Positive About

Wed, 06 May 2009 15:47:23 -0500

Late last year, in one of my final blogs of 2008, I wrote that in 2009 all my blogs, reads and comments on Active Rain would be positive in nature. After a year and a half or so, the negatives were just too draining mentally and emotionally. I have maintained that commitment as I have passed on any blog that appears to me to be negative from the title. If I am duped into reading one that mislead me to begin reading with a somewhat positive title, I stop immediately and go on to the next. I have not blogged since February. As my mother always taught me, if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. Comments that I have left are always grateful and positive in substance. After over 4 months of the new year, I think I am doing a real good job of maintaining my new years promise.

So...... here are just a few things that I am positive about thus far in 2009:

I am positive that our industry lost many, many good people over the last 2 years or so. Recently, I have contacted several of them who have embarked on new careers in Auto parts sales, Counseling people through non-profit organizations, banking, payroll services, insurance sales, etc. Good for them! I know that there are many people who have suffered greatly as a result of the changes in the industry. It's good to know many were resilient enough to take up new careers and fresh starts. It's also great to know that those of us who are still on board have what appears to be a brighter future ahead of us.

I am positive that money for buying a home is still plentiful and available. I really feel good that under the current products and programs that are available, purchasing a home is not the impulse buy it was for several years from the early through mid 2000's. We, as working Americans, are learning once again the value of credit, savings, stability and planning as they relate to buying a home. Finally, it seems that many of us are again looking at home ownership, like your drivers license, as a privilege and not a right. In some cases renting is a great option. Heck, might be the only option for some. I honestly never thought that the American Dream related to owning a home. In fact, I'm not sure any natural born American knows exactly what the American Dream is since we've lived it since birth and have little if anything to compare to. Talking to several friends who weren't born here will take you a long way towards understanding what we have and what the American Dream really is. Seldom does home ownership come up early in the conversation, if at all. Freedom, Rights, Liberties, those are your biggies.

I am also positive that this is the best beginning to a year I have personally had since.....wait, let me look....Good God, 2004!?!? I have been so fortunate to work with so many clients who understand and genuinely appreciate an experienced, knowledgeable, professional loan officer to handle their mortgage needs. Seems the participants from both sides of the deal in every transaction bring their A game to allow each home sale to progress to the closing table smoothly. I have worked with listing and selling agents that I haven't worked with in years. These are seasoned pro's who eat and sleep real estate. On only one occasion was there an individual who was unprofessional, rude, and insulting. But.....like Mom said..............

Commitment, Serious Commitment

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:52:16 -0600

Last week, I had a client shopping for their first home whom I attempted to hook up with one of my favorite local Realtors. Randy the Realtor met the potential buyers and reviewed the 'must haves' and the 'like to haves'of what their first home would be like. Then Randy the Realtor began the multi-list search, looking for the perfect home, in the right price range for these folks. Emails and phone calls were exchanged all week long in preparation for what was to be a weekend of home shopping. These people couldn't have picked a better time to buy, nor a better, more customer commited Realtor. Life as we know it is grand.

I expected a call over the weekend for the pre-approval that we had already prepared for the buyers. That call never came. The call that did come was from another Realtor, 1st thing this AM, looking for mortgage commitment for the buyers. MORTGAGE COMMITMENT??? You mean pre-approval right? No, no I was told, this Realtor only accepts offers with mortgage commitments. I relayed that would be virtually impossible as the credit application itself is inclusive of the property details that the buyer is using to secure the loan. I was quickly told that this Realtors lender of choice always supplies a commitment who seems to have no problem doing that. When I pressed to find out who that lender was, the answer was akin to the old 'none of your bees wax' retort that many of us used as children. This conversation was in fact over.

The next call I made was to Randy the Realtor to find out what in the devil happened. Seems the client called him Friday evening and said something came up and that they would need to reschedule, PERHAPS next weekend. Randy the Realtor was somewhat upset that his schedule for Saturday and Sunday was pretty much shot by this blindsided cancellation. Next I called my clients to find out what in the devil happened. Seems they had driven by a West End property Friday afternoon they were attracted to. This property was listed by another Realtor, whom they called right from the sign. As the office was only several blocks away and the listing Realtor was coincidentally in, he offered to meet them at the house for them to see it. My clients of course feel in love with the place. Over the weekend, this Realtor attempted to coerce my clients to meet with their in house mortgage professional so a bid could be written then and there. Committed to me, my clients offered that they were in fact pre-approved and would write the deal Monday after thinking it over Saturday and Sunday then speaking with me on Monday. Why did they not contact Randy the Realtor to have him show the house they had found? Sadly, they never gave it a thought. Despite the meeting, phone calls and emails, seems their commitment to Randy the Realtor was virtually nil.

Randy the Realtor is now mad at me! We've exchanged clients for years so I am sure this too shall pass. But I can't help but wonder, Why is it that commitment is expected when it's not warranted? Why is commitment is lacking when it seems it should have been established? I faxed the pre-approval letter to the intrusive Realtor this morning. According to my clients, they are still being pressed to meet with the Realtors preferred source to obtain a mortgage commitment to accompany the offer. Needless to say, they are now somewhat uncomfortable with this Realtor, since I have explained what a mortgage commitment actually is. They are prepared to walk away should the pre-approval letter be insufficient. Seems they may not be committed to buying this home after all.

Mortgage Loans Can Be ........... Like Whisper Down the Valley

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:32:23 -0600

Surely you remember as a child, when you were at a birthday party, in school, a family event or perhaps just killing time with several of your closest friends participating in that lovely, entertaining game of Whisper Down the Valley.

As I recall, there was a ton of laughter at the end of every transfer of information from the 1st person whispering, to the last person in line who had to repeat what was relayed to them. 99.9% of the time, the information was totally erroneous. Often there was no resemblance from the initial message given to the 1st person once the last person told the group what message they got. It could start like, "Barbara and Bobby are having steak diner tonight at their aunt and uncles house." and end up more like "Battling an bobbing all the steeples might fall on the ants, monkeys and the mouse"??? At which time everyone would crack up laughing at the guy at the end.

Well, we aren't children anymore.

When it comes to inforo that effects what is for many of us THE single largest investment we have made or will ever make in our lives, our house, FACTS are enormously important. The beauty of the Internet is that those FACTS are readily available. Of course, the ugly part of the Internet, is that opinions can masquerade as 'FACTS' in blogs that look allot like this one. Those of us in the Home Loan industry try really hard to shift through information we receive so as not to perpetuate the scary adult version of Whisper Down the Valley. Our professionalism, pride, concern for our communities and integrity dictate that we can only relay FACTS to our clients, current and future, personal contacts and public dialogs. For the most part, every mortgage professional is trying their best to operate under the same 'code of ethics'. However, like in any business, rumblings start and people run with them as FACT, not totally understanding the entire story. Kind of like when Truman held up the newspaper proclaiming Dewey the winner of the presidential election the morning after. Somebody got a big story and ran with it. Opps! If Mickey D's had a fry pit back then, the guy who made that decision was probably working there after that agressive error.

Folks, it's not as simple to choose a Loan Officer as it may appear. They may write incredibly well. They may have a book in publication, a radio show, television appearances and the like to their credit. All seemingly wonderful endorsements to their expertise. They might appear professional, carry themselves well, be incredibly charming. None of that should be the deciding factor of who you choose to be your Representative in a mortgage transaction.

You probably have interviewed your Realtor, your Daycare provider, a Doctor or 2, your Dentist, even your Physical Trainer. Well, interviewing your Loan Officer is equally important. Can you expect them to deal in FACT? Will you be a victim of the adult version of Whisper Down the Valley? Will they relay information both positive and negative with prompt concern for you as a person? Do they fill you with feelings of trust, competence, professionalism, empathy, and concern? Do you feel they are listening, actually listening to you? Do they make you feel important, like the single most important thing they are doing right now? These are the most important things to look for in a Loan Officer.

Nearly everyday, I peruse the blogs found here in the Rain. Many are seriously terrific. They just bleed care and concern for the clients they are trying to attract. However, several others are based on here say and misinterpretation of FACT as they are heard from sometimes 3rd, 4th and 5th parties. It's really not their fault. The mortgage industry has become far more complicated than it was as little as 1 1/2- 2 years ago. Yet, if there isn't a point of reference for the information your are digesting, be very skeptical as to the validity of the message. Don't let yourself be a victim of a bad game of Whisper Down the Valley.

That's-Right-I-Said-Obama (part II)

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:50:04 -0600

On a cold, rainy night back in April of 2008, my favorite person the the whole world and I went to hear the message of one of the Democratic Candidates for President. We are an unlikely pair, her a stauch Democrat, me a life long Republican. Unknown to us at the time, we were listening to the future President of the United States, Barack Obama. The next day, I was compelled to post my feelings on the event. Surprisingly (I said a life long Republican) I was incredibly moved. If you'd like, Click here to see that post. I received more comments for that post than any I had ever done. Many good. Some not so much so.

Tuesday, the gang and I here at the office spent about an hour or so of the day in the conference room watching the historical event of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. Just like FDR, JFK and Regan before him, he is facing many very serious challenges as he enters the White House. Just like those former Presidents, he has been and continues to call upon the strength, energy and resolve of the American people to rise to the occasion of rebuilding, retooling and renewing our beloved country. We the People has seldom in our history meant as much as it does today. Together, we Americans can achieve greatness. We always do!

Based on what has transpired since that cold rainy April day, I believe this President to be the real deal. The call to action was peppered in the inaugural address. This portion of the address laid it all out there for each and every American:

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

WOW! Now I know that the new President will have his detractors (Limbaugh, Hannity just to name a few). Yet I can't help but wonder that if you are truly a 'Great American', how can you argue with the message? I'm not sure of what happened today in our nations capitol. I am sure that day 1 was pretty impressive, with several results from a days effort. With the support of the American people, many of whom have never been politically involved before, there are great things in store for all We the People, as well as the 44th President of the United States. It's days like these that I am certainly proud to be an American.

This Grove Can Not Be Interupted

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:33:43 -0600

Me Me Me Me Me......ahem, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Children of all ages. A proclaimation of sorts is about to follow. We are talking the here and now folks. 2009, the year for cheer!What will eventually go down in history as the best year of the last 50. The year when folks understood the rules, worked hard and smart to become experts at what ever endever that they pursue. The focus of each day is simple. Do the right thing, take care of everyone you come in contact with and remain positive in all that you do and say. Even the 'nasty's', when delivered properly can in fact be positive be it in the short or long terms. It's a great day to be alive! Make the most of each of them!

Having said all of that, I will avoid many posts that I have in the past avidly perused. Titles similar to these always seemed to peek my interest in the year gone by:

"Now I'm Really Mad", Anything with "Rant" in the title, "Whose to Blame for this Mess", "Is Anyone Successful Anymore", "Where Did Everyone Go", and my personal favorite, "The End Is Near".

No more for me. Never again. Nope! Just keep things positive for me thank you. I am on a roll that just can't be stopped. A groove that is endless, with the momentum of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans combined. After entertaining so much of the underbelly of what is the social media, I have had my fill. We have exactly what we have. It's time to deal with it. Make the chicken salad from that other stuff and move on. Life's to short. I feel like I have wasted over a year looking at everything from so many different angles. Reality says there is only one way to move forward. Positive, full head of steam, with no external influences cramping your style.

I have a terrific life. A partner who loves me and supports me. Kids that I am very proud of. The best mother a guy could possibly ask for. Friends that are always positive, fun loving and entertaining. And a career that knows no bounds, offering daily opportunities to come in touch with many truly outstanding people. Oh yeah, I also happen to be the best loan officer I know! 2009 is going to be fantastic!

PA Week In Reveiw

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:02:20 -0600

Nine days into 2009! Hooray! I trust everyone is off to a rip roaring start to what promises to be a very interesting year. The holiday season proved to be a HUGE distraction from my AR activity. This week, despite being incredibly busy, I was able to sample many of the fine 'blogation's' of our Pennsylvania Active Rain Members. You, of course, are invited to join the PA Week In Review group simply by clicking here. Posting to this group will aide us in our efforts to get more recognition for all the outstanding bloggers within our great commonwealth.

2009 represents somewhat a rebirth for me. A fresh slate, a do over, an opportunity to avoid the negative pitfalls that many of us fell pry to in the year gone by. A chance to re-commit to everything positive, all that is good. Our communities are one of those positive, good things. Civic pride is always evident through the members of Active Rain. I know folks in Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona etc. have all probably had a Hersey Bar or a Kiss at one time or another. Lauren Krady of Lancaster gives everyone a tad more insight to The Sweetest Place on Earth, Hersey PA. I know I'll be there when the new museum opens. The smell of that town is just out of this world. There are several gorgeous areas throughout our great state. Berks County is in fact one of them as highlighted by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ in his prose SOLD on Berks County. It would be terrific to see many more highlighted areas that cover the great commonwealth we live in. We'll be looking for them!

PA has many talented writers who provide us with the chuckles we sometimes need to lighten our load. Unfortunately, these laughs can come through personal hardships presented in a humorous light. Jeannie Kontis of Lancaster & Lancaster County threw her back out on Monday. On Tuesday she asked us for Back Pain Remedy Suggestions while reminding us of how to smell like diner. Too funny!!! Hope all is better for you now Jeannie!

Active Rain provides a vehicle by which we can share our experiences and help each other learn from each of those occurrences. The folks that share these life events are generous to do so. Roseann Annis of Prudential Homesale Services Group in Camp Hill shared her Epiphany at the Settlement Table. Among other things, Roseann seems to confirm the 2 ears one mouth theory of interaction. You'll love her unbridled enthusiasm! Susan Mangigian a West Chester PA Realtor RE/MAX Preferred shares with us funky name thing that happens to most of us on occasion in He was nice... who did you say that was again? I am certain that a celebrity truly enjoyed hanging out with someone new who had no idea of who they actually were! Susan wrote this to make us feel we were right there with her!

How to best use Active Rain and recommendations for improvement are blogged in abundance throughout the country. We in PA have scribes that share their insight and wish lists as well. June Lewis a Realtor® at Northwood Realty in New Castle,Pa Lawrence Co shares with us her questions and answers via some self evaluation relative to her effective use of Active Rain in So Much Thought Give to a Little Change in the Back Office. While Karen Rice from the frozen tundra surrounding Lake Wallenpaupack (brrrr....)shares her 2009 Wish List for Active Rain in a short, sweet, to the point, and oh, by the way, just like June's post, Featured!

2009 is well underway and the PA blogging action is off to a great start. These folks are truly creative, inspiring, informative and entertaining. Just a tip of the iceberg as to what PA has to offer. We'll be back on January 16th with the next installment of the PA Week in Review. Until then, remember to Blog early, and Blog often, while checking out the hot bed of blogging talent the Commonwealth of PA has to offer! Don't forget to post to the PA Week In Review Group. Have a fantastic weekend! Be safe and stay warm!

Go EAGLES!

PA Week In Reveiw

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:33:17 -0600

The concept of PA week in review, pirated from a friend in lovely North Carolina, is designed to gain more exposure for the talented bloggers of the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Karen Riceof WEICHERT, REALTORS® Paupack Group makes a great point in a members only blog standing on a soap box in the great northeast. There are several talented writers in PA, of which Karen is one, who should get more recognition. There are also folks that are new to this forum which could use guidance and ideas in maximizing this vehicle of networking and marketing. Hopefully, this group will achieve both. Join the group here!

The cross section of writers and topics we have in PA is truly remarkable. For wit, creativity and strength of faith, my pick is Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari. He's been a tad under the weather lately and was looking for some input for cold remedies. What a guy! Really, spoken like a true guy! If you live in the Lehigh Valley, Nazareth area in particular, need an occasional laugh, need some local info on happenings, or information on horses Brigita McKelvie is your gal. Her knowledge of horses and the info she shares is terrific. Here is some Horse Trivia right here for you. If the idea of this post is to help out new comers then Castellum Realty in Lancaster posted these 65 things a Newbie doesjust in the nick of time for the week in review! The blog even recognizes several resourceful contacts right here on AR. Although I haven't read too much of Laren Brady's work here yet. Her blog on Cooper and Metal Theft is timely, considering what going on out there!

Where's the Christmas stuff??? June Lewisof New Castle gets us headed in that direction. She asks the AR community, would you share your christmas tree?Sure, I'll share my Christmas tree, once I get it up on Christmas eve. By the way June, yours is gorgeous! Susan Mangigian of West Chester brings us the Ghosts of Christmases Past rememebering special relatives during holidays gone by. You'll love the South Philly flair Susan has! Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari shares a hilarious video that every Realtor must see and hear! Fran seldom uses Youtube, but he made an exception here! Done to the tune of Santa Claus is coming to town, this is too much! Perhaps next week there be some photos of local Christmas lights and other holiday themed stuff. Can't wait!

Have a terrific holiday everyone! Remember to Blog early, and blog often, while checking out the hot bed of blogging talent the Commonwealth of PA has to offer! Don't forget to post to the PA Week In Review Group. Have a fantastic weekend! Be safe.

CALLING ALL PENNSYLVANIA PROFESSIONALS...Did I Just Add You As An Associate?

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:20:48 -0600

If you are in Pennsylvania, chances are, I just added you as an Associate. I've got a friend in North Carolina who came up with a NC Week in review idea. The effort she is making is an attempt to promote the talented bloggers in North Carolina for added exposure and of course Featured Blogs.

When you are FEATURED, you get more exposure, so she wanted to create a way for the good folks in North Carolina to get FEATURED! Liking that idea, I've decided to duplicate it in our great state.

Once a week I will do a PA Week In Review. The first one will be next Monday, December 15th.

I'm just going to highlight the best blog posts I can find from The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on a variety of topics. My goal is to also find some new folks, who might not get what AR is all about, and kind of help them along!

We have MANY counties where no one has ever posted more than how to find them on Facebook! Ouch! That can't be good for ANYONE! We need promotion!

The only way to see who posted items during a given week, from within the STATE, is to add everyone as an Associate! Sooooo... I've been busy adding you! I haven't finished yet, but I've completed nearly 3 quarters of the state, so if you are reading this, and you haven't been added by me as an Associate... please let me know!

Now's the time to get creative Ladies and Gents! Let's get some posts done on WHERE THE BEST CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ARE (In Allentown, Lights in the Parkway are pretty neat )! in your area. It really doesn't matter what you write about. I just want to encourage the really good work that's being done here, and to give the "newbies" a place they can find examples of what they should be doing!

Hey! I'm excited about this! Once the AR Gods fix it so that you can "search" by States, I'll be looking for helpers! To join the Group, please click here.

I need your help Active Rain : Just one moment of your time

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:05:41 -0600

I'm re-posting this by way of Midori Miller in Daytona Beach FL having Re-Blogedit. I've not done this before, so I hope it's right. I also hope you are as moved by the story and disturbed by the funding statistics as I was. Please take the time to sign the petition and re-blog the original post. Our kids need us!!!

"The National Cancer Institutes federal budget was $4.6 billion - all the 12 major groups of pediatric cancer combined, received less than 3%."

Doesn't our children deserve more? What about the future??????? Please sign the petition below and reblog the original post..and do what you can to make the moment count!

Via Anita Beach - Real Estate Professional Maple Valley, WA:

I'm going to put myself out there and be pretty venerable, but here is goes....

My 12 year old daughter is battling a horrible disease as some of you may all ready know, if you don't, I posted a blog a few months back that you can check out if you want. If not, she has a malignant brain tumor and as her mother, it's a very hard thing to deal with. I can't kiss it and make it better, so I try to do everything that I can to be an advocate for her and many other children that have to go through it.

The purpose of this blog is to help bring awareness to such a horrible disease. I have met some amazing people through this jouney that continue to be helpful and supportive. With the permission of AJ's Dad I am posting the following petition to help bring awareness to Childhood Cancer. All I am asking of you in return is to read the petition and sign it to help us reach the goal! Anyone with an email address can sign it, please take one moment and sign the petition and let them know that I sent you.

This blog is a great resource for me and I'm hoping to tap into the generosity of my fellow bloggers and help bring awareness at the same time. I hope by posting this blog I get signatures for the petition and I also get a real since of camaraderie from my fellow bloggers. Won't you please sign the petition - don't make me beg!

MY GOAL IS TO GET 100 PEOPLE OFF OF ACTIVE RAIN TO SIGN THE PETITION!!!

Did you know...

Childhood Cancer is the #1 killer disease of our children, more than from asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and pediatric AIDS combined!

1 in 300 children will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20!

Each year 3,000 children die and 35-40,000 are in treatment

The National Cancer Institutes federal budget was $4.6 billion - all the 12 major groups of pediatric cancer combined, received less than 3%.

YOUcan help make a difference - won't you please sign the petition

Like a Bad Penny, Somethings Just Don't Go Away

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:06:56 -0600

Just now I jumped on line only to see what new blog's might appear from some of my favorite people here on Active Rain. At a glance, my home page seemed entirely normal as I went to pull down my favorites to make the appropriate selection. Suddenly, a cold chill swept my body as that glance caught a glimpse of an old nemesis of my children. Like a train wreck, I just had to look. The title went something like 'Certain products are expirienceing increased sales, even during this troubled economy'......

AHHHHHHH!!!! My body began to shake!!! Makes perfect sense though. Nearly 20 years ago, twice a week it was my responsibility to cook diner for my kids. They had to be somewhere around 5 or 6 years old at the time. As anyone who knows me will attest, my culinary skills are .....how do you say......non-existent! The menu for these diners was incredibly limited. There were the Mrs. Paul's fish sticks with corn and french (is that PC now?) fries, umm, yumm!!! Toasted (yeah, I know most call them grilled) cheese and soup, how exciting!!! Or, my kids least favorite, Spam and cheese, buttered noodles and peas. Nobody leaves the table until your plate is clean! Hmm....maybe that's why the dog was so over weight??? I always thought that fried anything with cheese on it was terrific. My kids thought other wise. That meal could be made for less than $4.00!!! Spam - 1.29 Caned Peas - .59 Bag of Noodles - 1.50(talking late 80's folks!), walla! A meal fit for a.....well, perhaps the dog! To this day, the kids (now in their mid 20's) will run from the room IF Spam is mentioned. In fact they both say that the mention of spam on the Internet makes them nauseous. GREAT, another way I have damaged my children!!

To this day, as I speak to applicants preparing to purchase a new home, my advice is to leave all assets as they are. Live very frugally until the loan is closed. Only spend what is absolutely necessary. In fact, I hear Spam is real cheap, and not that bad with cheese on it. This is always greeted with nervous laughter combined with a look of disgust. Of course, I mean it in absolute jest, the Spam part. Yet, seems most folks are, as my children are, repulsed by the mere mention of this mystery meat. Yet, Spam lives on. Just like that bad penny you can never seem to get rid of.

I don't know what I'm eating for din-din tonight. But I am absolulty certain that I know what I'm not!

My name is Scott Geary, Brokering Mortgage loans in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and all of Pennsylvania.

Thanksgiving Day Observations and Oddities

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:34:04 -0600

Thanksgiving is a special time......

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday of the year. It is a fantastic celebration of all things thing we have to be thankful for, yet seem to forget in the day to day bustle of life. Family, friends, food, beverage are all evident in this one day celebration. No gifts, no real rules, just a feast enjoyed with those closest to us. A time to remember Turkey Days gone by and those folks that were in attendance in our earlier years. A time to eat to our little hearts content. Once the table is cleared and the dishes are done, some will move to the family room to watch football games that very few people actually care about. Others will move to the living room, chatting about this and that. In each case, the contest in our house involves who will be the 1st to 'nod off'. That person has on one or more occasions been yours truly. Some other observations and oddities:

More people I know HAVE to eat twice on Thanksgiving than don't - I was victim of this bizarre torture in my early years as a husband and father. We would have to eat at my Grandparents at noon, then my in-laws six hours later. Both were full course meals. Both complete with hostess's who would be incredibly offended if you failed to consume what they considered to be reasonable amountsof food. In the 'nod off' contest, the early game was of course won 100% of the time by Gramps. While the late game was always dominated by my father in law. Since the kids were small, I was not a factor early on in my Thanksgiving Day career.

Early Thanksgiving Day pick up games are a thing of the past- Prior to the arrival of offspring, AM football games were a staunch tradition in my life. High School games on Turkey Day had been gone several years. SO, at 9 AM, the Berks St. boys would meet at Cedar Beach for the Turkey Day Classic. Cold as all get out, in either a frozen, or incredibly muddy conditions, 16 - 18 of us would pick sides and go to town. Full contact, complete with trash talking and cheap shots. It was HUGE fun. Year by year, the numbers dwindled, until the tradition expired. In a conversation with my pal Bino this weekend, we agreed if we attempted to revive it, only he and I would show up. One on One football is no fun.

The Oil used when deep frying a Turkey will power your diesel - Unbelievable to me, yet true, as long as you don't mind smelling like the Burger King fry pit while your driving down the street. This I learned a few years ago, while watching a friend pour his deep fryer remains into a can, filtering it on the way in. "What you doing with that I ask?" "Gonna pour it in my RAM" he tells me. Really thought he was joking. Oh no, he was moving with purpose, directly to his pickup, and poured it in. I was shocked! I've never had a deep fried turkey. I hear they are fabulous. I guess this is another benefit to preparing them that way.

Why are so many plates left with remains, yet everyone wants desert? - Every Turkey Day, I am charged with clearing the table. Scraping of plates must be completed on the majority of those being removed. When I ask if folks are done, often times I hear, "Stuffed, couldn't eat another bite! That was terrific Beth!" (she is an excellent EXCELLENT cook!). This usually occurs with at least 3 quarters of the table. Yet, when the question of Pie and ice cream is raised, everyone is a taker. Pumpkin, Apple, Mints Meat, whatever, just like the Van Halen song says, Everybody Wants Some...... Shortly after the 'Nod Off' contest begins!

Although the competition may be fierce this year, I expect to be in the running for the 'Nod Off' Championship. Of course there may be some stiff competition from Beth's parents, my mother, and perhaps an aunt and uncle. I'll need to be on top of my game to pull this out. A belly full of turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pies and several 'frosty cold adult malt beverages' should make me a favorite. In case you missed it at the top, here it is again...

Have a great Thanksgiving to all my friends on ActiveRain!

Stimulus.....I Got Your Stimulus, Right Here!

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:19:38 -0600

From Websters on line - STIMULUS : something that rouses or incites to activity: as a: incentive b: stimulant 1 c: an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)

Thanks Websters! I just knew hand outs to failures wasn't in the defination! All these references to the economic stimulus lately has got me to thinking what the actual definition of the word was. Just as I suspected, perhaps the word our government and our media is using relative to jump starting our economy is perhaps just a bit dramatic, a tad off color. If not that, then certainly a poor choice of verbiage, seeing that any effort to stimulate our economy over the last several months seems to have missed the mark completely. How about economic CPR? Nah, kinda morbid. I got it! Campaign EGA, economic government assistance. Nah, that offends the right. There has to be a better title than economic stimulus for the unstimulating activities going on now. Perhaps Publishers Clearing House or Ed McMahon could come up with the name.

Remember those 300.00 - 1200.00 checks you received back in the spring??? Who was stimulated by those checks? I wonder how many of us could actually tell anyone what we actually did with those pennies from heaven?? Better yet, what percentage of us spent that money on a utility bill, groceries, or some other recurring monthly expense, vs. treating ourselves to, oh, I don't know, a new TV, an exotic vacation, a new car, anything that is NOT a recurring expense. Sure, there are those that banked that small wad. Now that really helped the economy didn't it?

Then we have our friends in the banking industry. That seems to be working out well! A small local bank advertised today in the Morning Call that they declined the governments offer for stimulus payment. Actually, in bold letters, they said NO THANKS, when they were offered the stimulus. As I read it, I thought to myself, cleaver marketing gimmick! There's no way a small local bank was even part of the mix on this plan. How creative! WRONGO! Seems that every bank was offered some portion of the stimulus pie. Virtually every bank in this great country of ours had the opportunity to be stimulated! This morstle of info was confirmed by a couple friends of mine with other local, small banks. Yeah!! Goody for them!! They got a few million dollars!! Pennies from heaven!! Wasn't it on 60 Minuets that the CEO for B of A said they didn't NEED the money?? As of now stock in that bank is trading at 14.96 / share, off a 52 week high of 47.00. Hmmm....Was that statement directed at share holders, consumer confidence, employees...... I don't know, but the numbers seem to say differently.

Now we have the auto industry sending up the flairs in efforts to be stimulated as well. The arguments have begun as to whether or not our government should dig into the coffers and bail out the US auto makers. I really don't think we should. But, if Vegas is taking odds, I'm betting that the checks will be out soon! We can't let the auto makers fail! Who will the banks make loans to without automobiles to finance. The banks stimulus will join with the auto makers stimulus and we'll have a large portion of our economy stimulated beyond belief!!! HOLY COW I NEED A CIGARETTE! Is failure in big business an option anymore?

Today I filled the tank of my Jeep Grand Cherokee with a smile of satisfaction on my face that I have not had a the fueling station in many, many, many months. As I watched the dials roll my mind was racing as to what I would do with the extra 40.00 that I was 'saving' on this fill up. 1.99 per gallon will do that to a guy. I don't know how it works, and frankly I don't really care. I filled up my tank from fumes to capped on 42.00. How can it be that only a month ago, fuel was over 3.00 / gallon, 4 months ago fuel was over 4.00 / gallon. And now, normalcy at 199.00. It's not my position to understand the wonders of fuel prices. I am simply in wonder of them. As much as I bitched when a tank cost me 85.00, I am now lost in the bliss of a 42.00 fill up. That my friends is economic stimulation! Every Tom, Dick, Harry, Theresa, Dorothy and Hilda can relate to that!

Almost Over Now.....or NOT.

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:10:13 -0600

It is done. I have exercised my right as an American to vote. It's a private matter for me, one of which I will not disclose to any individual. OK, my significant other, my Mom and my kids are the exception to that rule. But that's it. No one else will be privileged to know which button I pushed. I don't have a 'MY GUY'. Regardless of who wins, I believe the agenda from November 5th on must be that AMERICAN citizens rise from the grassroots and force, not ask, FORCE our elected politicians to do whats best for US. Not Big Business, not Iraq, not Joe The Plumber, not Gram pa Moses, US, the everyday average AMERICAN that works hard everyday, does the right things, searches for the AMERICAN dream. US, as in the United States of America. US as in We the People. US, as in the guy in the cube, desk, truck, assembly line, construction site next to you.

The time is now to cast aside the Republican or Democratic Kool Aide that many of US have been consuming over these last many months and show our patriotic pride in making this country work for US. Electing officials is only HALF the battle. The other half facing US is being active in how our government is run long after these officials are put in office. The majority of issues facing our great nation have neither a Republican or Democratic label. Although parties would love US to believe that issues like Health Care, Taxes, Abortion, Energy Independence and the like are best served by their particular party. The reality is folks that these are issues that concern all AMERICANS. The folks that need to act are US. I use the Health Care issue as just one example. In every election since Richard Nixon, Health Care has been an issue included in both political platforms. That goes back nearly 40 years !%&*%^*@#!*!!!! Still standing as an issue today because US lets each election pass without demanding some resolution to the issue. In the meantime, the cost of health care for a family has surpassed $1000.00 monthly. Without action by US after this election, that cost will continue to sky rocket when, during the next election, the issue will be brought up again as a major concern. Anybody see a patern here???

Today I volunteered our office as a campaign center for telephone work for a group of McCain supporters. Watching them work the phones is truly amazing. The passion with which they are pushing for their candidate is terrific. The enthusiasm in thier voices is more obvious than the nose on your face. I just wonder, is this really all about US, or just about him (Obama or McCain)? Are we really involved because of the best interests of our country, US. Or just because we're committed to seeing our guy win? Will there be an US after the election is over? Will we finally hold our elected officials accountable for doing what's right for US? Or just wait another 4 years to do it all over again?

Perhaps an US Party is the answer.........Please, if you've been active during the campaigns, please be as active afterward, without regard to party affiliation. If you haven't been active, your probably rested up! So please join US in making our elected officials do their jobs, working for US!

It's great to be an AMERICAN!

Yo! Over Here! Ramblings!

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:50:43 -0500

What a weekend! Leaf removal, an auction, a golf tournament, sporting events on the tube......I need a few days just to recover from the weekend! Over the course of the last 2 days, I had several thoughts I'd like to share. Ramblings if you will:

Why is it that leaves on my property don't seem to simply blow away? We are surrounded by trees, everywhere you look is a tree or trees. Woods all around. Yet leaves just fall and stay put! They don't blow any where, like back into the woods for example, or just in a pile in one section of the lot. Oh no..... they have to be blown, picked up, mulched by the mower, etc. and moved back into the woods. Back from whence they came. For 4 - 6 weeks a year, I really dislike the changes our proprety goes through.

Why does Governor Rendel sit on the Pre-Game and Post-Game shows for the Philadelphia Eagles? There are 2 NFL teams in Pennsylvania, the Eagles and the Steelers. Why can't he be on the Steelers Pre and Post game shows? Him being on the desk for that show drives me ape! OK, so he was a season ticket holder to the Eagles games from back in the Franklin Field days. That makes him an expert football analysis? Does the Governor really have time for this? Is it appropriate for him to be on that show? I think he should just concentrate on handling the states affairs. With him doing that, there is more time to hear from some one who knows the game. Ray Diddenger for example.

Why is it that people attend auctions to buy things they don't need from estates that are selling things they don't want at prices that reflect the undesirable nature of the goods being exchanged? Sure, there are some things that pop up that are 'real good buys'. Bigger ticket items that usually require a phone call to a friend or family member with a truck to move for you. That's one of the reasons I never bought a truck. I have a Jeep and still get those calls. The 'lot boxes' are really what I'm talking about here. The auctioneer usually starts with, "The next item is a box lot of candles and holders. There's a couple nice ones in here! Do I hear $10.00 for the lot? Lets start at $5.00.... how about a dollah?" The auctions usually end with a bunch of folks moving boxes of unknown stuff in to their cars. Cash to trash! All fodder for some yard sale in the not too distant future. They are fun though!

Why have a golf tournament in October? For those who don't play, leaves are evil. Just see the first observation above. It's a tad chilly in October as well. It can be a real challenge to find your golf ball in July and August, let alone October. I honestly believe there is a conspiricy between leaves and golf balls. More places to hide for the balls. Depending on placement of your shot, it can be impossible to sort though hundreds of leaves simply to find your ball. Just drop another and away you go. I always keep my Titlist Pro V's at home at this time of the year. Opting instead to play all the Top Flites I have found over the golf season. It's always amazed me how I lose Pro V's (4.00 / ball) and find Top Flites (.50 / ball). Sunday was my last golf of the year. Hate playing in these conditions. Plus, I'll be too busy moving leaves for the next several weeks. HATE THEM LEAVES!!!

Why are some folks so crazy about sporting events? I am guilty, as are many people I know. My circle of friends refers to this weekend as PERFECT. Flyer's won two games after losing their 1st 6, Eagles won, Penn State won and the Phils won 2 world series games. They can clinch a second World Series Championship in the storied 100+ year history of the club. They won their first 25 years ago. This could be great! Nobody parades like Philadelphia! Yet, when I awoke this morning, after this PERFECT weekend, my actual life is oddly similar to what it was when the weekend started Friday evening. My bank account balance is slightly less than Friday night. No changes to my home, family or friends. Still have a stunning girl friend (i think). Come to realize, no real impact from this PERFECT weekend. But boy oh boy, this is fun! One in and we're done!!

I'm Scott Geary, and I approved this message.