'Now Hiring: Government Dog Musher to Work in Alaska'
Now hiring: one dog-musher to work for the federal government in Denali National Park, Alaska.
The National Park Service is looking for a new kennels manager, a job that includes overseeing a 31-animal dog kennel and mushing through the Alaskan wilderness on a dog sled.
So what kind of dough does a dog-sledder bring in? Between $33,477 and $66,542 a year, according to the LA Times.
Karen Fortier, a Connecticut native who held the post for nearly 10 years, calls it "a great job." "There's really nothing that quite compares to being out on the trail in the middle of winter," Fortier said. And summer is tourist season, which means three daily hourlong interpretive programs for hundreds of visitors a day. This summer, more than 50,000 tourists stopped by.. Does anyone want to move to Alaska?
Make it a good day!
Best,
Shari Roberts-Osojnak REAL ESTATE ONE Chelsea * Dexter * Scio Township * Ann Arbor, MI
Carl and I just came home from seeing the new movie, Amelia, which is based on the life story of Amelia Earhart. Hillary Swank plays Amelia. Richard Geer is her husband. Airplanes -- and a love story combination. Can't beat that! We liked it, anyway. My husband and I are both aviation enthusiasts. Go see "Amelia" if you like this sort of thing.
That's not what I wanted to share, actually.
It's dark. While driving into our driveway, we spot deer in our headlights. Two deer, sacked out for the night in our backyard. It's November 15. The first day of deer hunting season in Michigan (guns). Guess the deer know they are safe with me! What a sight. Maybe I should put up a sign: Shari & Carl's deer B&B. Unfortunately, the only thing we have to feed them for breakfast is what fell from the birdfeeder. I suspect they will be happy with that.
Eat your hearts out, deer hunters! :)
Best,
Shari Roberts-Osojnak, Associate Broker,GRI, ABR, SHS, Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource, pretty good Apple pie baker (just thought I would throw that in)REAL ESTATE ONE Chelsea * Dexter * Scio Township * Ann Arbor, MI
The other day my husband asked, "what does Twitter mean?" I'm sure lots of business people don't know how to use it. As usual, I'm sharing what I know. This is a very helpful blog. Enjoy!
Shari Roberts-Osojnak, Associate Broker ABR, GRI, SHS, Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource. 734 475-3200 Shari@ISellChelsea.com
REAL ESTATE ONE Chelsea * Dexter * Scio Township * Ann Arbor, MI
If you’ve been hesitant to sign up with Twitter, or signed up with Twitter and don’t have a clue what to do next, this video series is for you.
If you are afraid of embracing Social Media because it is too technical for you, don’t worry, my video series is made with you in mind. I have distilled all the Technology down to lay-person terms and tested it on some folks who are really scared of the Social Media revolution, and now they are using Twitter!
If you have not seen Part 1 on Listening, watch it first. It can be found at the following link:
The Screen Below is the Video For Part 3 on Tweeting
Part 3 of the Series is all about ‘Tweeting' on Twitter. Once you've been on for a short while and observed good and bad behavior on Twitter, you'll want to generate some of your own tweets such as linking to your blog, or a great blog article, sharing your area of expertise with others, tweeting photos, or Engaging with other users. If this is foreign to you, then you need the video!
This is the recipe for Sweet Baby Jack Carrot Cake I promised you.
You will use butter, for greasing pans, and flour for dusting pans. It makes 4 thin layers. You will want to make the day before, since it requires refrigeration before serving. Cut it while it is cold for best results.
To begin: Preheat over to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour 4 eight inch cake pans.
Cake: 2 c self-rising flour 2 t ground cinnamon 2 c granulated sugar 2 (4-ounce) jars strained carrot baby food 4 eggs 1.5 c vegetable oil 1/2 c golden raisins (optional) Mix together the flour, cinnamon and sugar in a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and blend well with a handheld electric mixer for about 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Toothpick should come out clean. Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes before inverting onto lint-free dish towel, or waxed paper, and allow to cool completely.
Buttercream cheese Frosting: One stick softened butter 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened 1-2/3 c confectioners' sugar 1 t pure vanilla extract Mix all ingredients with handheld electric mixer and blend until smooth and creamy. Frost layers, top, and sides of cooled cake. Stack layers so that the top one is rounded up. We like a few freshly ground nutmeats as a garnish. (optional)
Makes a delicious "light/fluffy, yet moist" pumpkin-flavored cake. Pretty when served.
Let me know how you like it!
Shari Roberts-Osojnak REAL ESTATE ONE Senior Housing Specialist REALTOR®/Associate Broker, GRI, ABR, SHS Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource Shari@ISellChelsea.com
Making dreams come true; Helping people find new lives and make fresh starts. Ann Arbor, Chelsea, & Dexter, MI Direct: 734-475-3200 http://www.askShari.net http://www.ChelseaNeighbors.com "Of all the decisions you will face when buying or selling real estate, there is NONE more important than the person you choose to represent you."
Last week President Obama signed into law an extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit.This extended the deadlines and added a new $6,500 credit for people are not buying for the first time.
Several provisions in the bill became effective immediately:
1) Homebuyers who owned their primary residence for five out of the last eight years can claim the $6,500 tax credit for purchases made after November 6th.
2) The extended income limits in the bill are now applicable for both first-timehomebuyers and repeat homebuyers.
3) The extended income limit for couples filing jointly is now $225,000. The credit phased out over the next $20,000 in income.
If you, or someone you know, qualifies for this, please give them my name. These are extraordinary housing opportunities.
Best,
Shari Roberts-Osojnak, Associate Broker GRI, ABR, SHS, Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource REAL ESTATE ONE Chelsea * Dexter * Scio Township * Ann Arbor, MI
Fannie Mae Announces New Program For Homeowners Facing Foreclosure
Fannie Mae will allow homeowners facing foreclosure to stay in their homes and rent them for as long as a year (extensions beyond a year are possible), as part of the government's latest effort to help troubled borrowers, while keeping more foreclosed properties from hitting the housing market.
"The Deed for Lease Program provides an additional option for qualifying homeowners who are facing foreclosure and are not eligible for modifications," said Jay Ryan, Vice President of Fannie Mae.
Hope you enjoyed the beautiful weekend. Today is to be nice, again, and then I'm not sure about the rest of the week. Maybe some rain.
I'm sharing the notice I received this morning from my local Board of Realtors. This isn't going to help everyone, but it will be the light at the end of the tunnel for many. Another year to stay in their home will bring new opportunities for a brighter future.
If you, or someone you love needs confidential help, please ask. I will do what I can to point you in the right direction. There are options to consider.
If you haven't checked out my Chelsea web site, please do. Lots of good information there, including a job search page, FREE coupon opportunities for local businesses, and an interactive community calendar to post your events. www.ChelseaNeighbors.com
Best,
Shari Roberts-Osojnak, Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource, REAL ESTATE ONE Chelsea * Dexter * Scio Township * Ann Arbor, MI
Wow! Hubby and I have been reviewing our will, which was carefully drawn up in 2005. Evidently I had questions, because it has never been fully executed. Sooo the good news is that I worked with a lawyer, and drew up a will. The bad news is that I still haven't signed it! (is anyone smiling yet?) Sure hope the rest of you don't do things this way. I have the ability to over-think things to the point that they don't get done at all. Lots of things in my life are 99% complete. They are "perfectly incomplete," though. You have to give me credit for that! (lol) Well, thankfully, we haven't needed our wills. I will make an appointment with Patrick Conlin soon! Next time you see me ask if I kept this promise.
Did you know this? The other thing I discovered today, and want to share with you, is regarding social security. Here is how it works: The Social Security Administration allows seniors who have started taking their monthly benefit to stop their benefits and start again later. You simply repay the full amount in benefits received to date with NO interest, then you "re-start" your benefit at a later date (and probably a higher amount) as though you had deferred taking their benefits in the first place! For example ... if you began receiving benefits at age 62, but then changed your mind and wanted to wait until age 70 to begin collecting benefits. Using this strategy, you could increase your Social Security payments by more than 70%! This comes from a good source, so I take it to be true. If it applies to you, or your loved ones check it out. I'm definitely passing this on to one friend in particular, who has waited until age 70.
Hope your day is going well. I need to be out of the house early tomorrow for a Foreclosure Sales class in Troy.
Cheers!
Shari Roberts-Osojnak, Assoc. Broker * REAL ESTATE ONE * Chelsea/Dexter/Scio/Ann Arbor, MI * 734 475-3200
FREE FINANCIAL LITERACY SEMINAR - please share the information!
I wish to openly thank the Senator, and share a letter I received from Senator Carl Levin. (I will abbreviate and paraphrase.) This is good information. Please pass it on to anyone you know who may be able to use it.
Senator Levin thought I might be interested in knowing about Save Your Savings: A Free Financial Advice and Counseling Session that will take place on Monday, April 13, 2009 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Social Sciences Building on the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus located at 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, Michigan. Congressman John D. Dingell and Levin are co-hosting this workshop in collaboration with a group of federal government agencies and local consumer advocacy organizations.
Many Michigander's have been taken advantage of by confusing or crooked financial schemes. Information will help them make sound decisions when it comes to their future finances. This is a free seminar. There will be financial counselors on site to provide free one-on-one advice when the event is over.
The seminar is open to the public; there is no charge for parking in the structure located on Monteith Boulevard on the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus. Campus maps and directions can be found at: http://www.umd.umich.edu/maps_directions/ .
If you want more information on this financial literacy seminar, please call Senator Levin's Detroit office at 313-226-6020 or Congressman Dingell's Dearborn office at 313-278-2936.
Shari Roberts-Osojnak, Associate Broker, REAL ESTATE ONE.
FORECLOSURE-PROOF STRATEGY (SHARING):
I expect mortgage rates to go down as low as 4%, and then begin to climb indefinitely. (Just a guess, but a pretty educated one, based on years past.)
It may be a good idea to poise yourselves for one last refinance when it gets to 4%. Planning ahead will help you take advantage of the opportunity.
Make sure your new mortgage is stretched out for a minimum of fifteen (and preferably 30-40) years. Try to get a new mortgage that will allow one interest rate reduction during the life of the loan, upon your request. (just in case) This is pretty common place.
Why? A strategy like this gives you an option to regularly pay down the principal BI-WEEKLY, if you are able, but not be in jeopardy when/if there are tough times ahead with sickness or job-loss.
The beauty of this strategy is a very low "required" payment, and lots of options for early payoff.
Because I care,
-mom
Shari Roberts-Osojnak,
REALTOR®/Associate Broker, GRI, ABR, SHS
REAL ESTATE ONE.
Chelsea * Dexter * Scio * Ann Arbor, MI
Shari@ISellChelsea.com
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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