SCRAPPLE!!!!! YUM!!!!!!

I have often been asked about SCRAPPLE  by out of towners, who are more interested in having a Cheesesteak than some scrapple, but they have heard about it, and think that perhaps they should try it.

I find people here are pretty split on it: they like it, don't like it or would never try it. Of course there are always the fear mongers out there that tell everyone else that it is made from pigs lips and tails. Of course, it is made from "spare" parts, but more than lip and tails plus corn meal, flour and seasoning.

The package at the super market

It has a texture like a country pate with a light pork flavor; I prefer the ones that have less black pepper. Habbersett is definitely my favorite supermarket brand. I like the overall texture and seasoning best. Then, there is the issue of cooking. I prefer for it to be pan fried. Many diners, however, deep fry it. It is okay deep fried as long as they do not overdue it.

There are many ways to eat it. Many people like it with ketchup, some with syrup and I like it with poached eggs on top.

scrapple with poached eggs on my plate at my diner

Don't let the naysayers frighten you! When in Philadelphia, give it a try!

WIKIPEDIA ON SCRAPPLE

I Got My IMAC Back! Arrivederci PC!

I have been away from my Blog for sometime.... my IMac died.  Well, RIP no more!

I love my IMac!

I love Apple Computers. Unless, you are really, really, really techie, it is the way to go and well worth the money.  I am not horrible with computers, but this latest version of Windows just did me in. My MLS required, until recently, the use of Explorer. Thus, I was forced to keep a windows computer to do my real estate work.

The last one I purchased has Windows 7..... Ugh... what an awful experience! I was freezing and rebooting more than getting anything done. And although almost everything I was doing on the web, I was constantly taxing the CPU.  Productivity became very difficult. Even opening and email was time consuming.

My Cat, Birdie AKA Albert P Birdman

So, I decided to face the music and spend some money. So, I took my IMac to the Apple store. I had assumed, and was correct, that it was the hard drive. I cannot really blame Apple for this failure. I believe the failure was due to my cat leaping from a shelf and knocking the IMac and himself to the floor. I believe that was when the computer failed.

It is an entirely different conversation, but the way the Apple store treated me was incredible. What an awesome company! If anyone has any doubts about spending the extra money, don't! It is worth it!

So, now that I can be productive again and easily, I can blog more often. I may be out of strict real estate topics, but will try to keep writing.

Newsletter February 14, 2010 (Link)

Happy President's Day!

Presidents' Day

"Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day(sometimes spelled as Presidents' Day or President's Day). As Washington's Birthday or Presidents Day, it is also the official name of a concurrent state holiday celebrated on the same day in a number of states." Wikipedia (more)


If you are off on Monday,
Things to do!!

George Washington Carver

Academy of Natural Sciences

November 14, 2009-February 28, 2010

Body Worlds 2 & The Brain
The Franklin Institute

October 17, 2009-April 18, 2010

Coming Up!!

Philadelphia International Flower Show

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

February 28-March 7, 2010

Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris
Philadelphia Museum of Art

February 24-April 25, 2010

Ancient Rome & America
National Constitution Center

February 19-August 1, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

"Saint Valentine's Day (commonly shortened to Valentine's Day) is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished." Wikipedia (More)

5 QUICK & EASY VALENTINE'S DAY DESSERTS
TOP TEN LAST MINUTE VALENTINE'S GIFT IDEAS

Groundhog Day

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL PICTURED HERE

"According to folklore, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks." WIKIPEDIA

GROUNDHOG DAY: The Official Website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency

What is included in the Federal Tax Credit?

How do I apply for the tax credit?

Top ten Frequently Asked Questions

Home Buyer Tax Credits

Tax Credits Provide Outstanding Opportunities for Home Buyers

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions About the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Frequently Asked Questions About the Move-Up/Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit

Buyer Resources

IRS

Special Rules for Members of the Military, the Foreign Serviceand the Intelligence Community

Key Information

CODE BLUE

Everyone has been complaining about the cold and CODE BLUE we have been under. I am not criticizing people for complaining; it is cold. But this was the first time I saw this....

A tree with a scarf. I walked across Rittenhouse Square this morning to spot this beauty. It looked hand made to me! Are the other trees jealous?

MUMMERS PARADE 2010 Misc Photos & Mobile Uploads

MUMMERS 2010 Ferko String Band

MUMMERS 2010 Fralinger String Band - FIRST PLACE

MUMMERS 2010 Quaker City String Band

MUMMERS 2010 Greater Kensington String Band

Mummers 2010 Hegeman String Band

MUMMERS 2010 South Philadelphia/Avalon String Bands

MUMMERS 2010 Woodland/Polish Amercan String Bands

Combating Internet Comps

I am writing this piece to my REALTOR® friends. I have run into this issue over and over again, and perhaps, it is more problematic in a place like Philadelphia, where one street or two blocks can make a dramatic difference in real estate price and value. You have to know the blocks and streets to understand the pricing.

The issue, which I have run into, is clients/prospects running comps on Internet sites such as Zillow and Trulia. They tell me my judgment is wrong and give me evidence from these sites, which is not valid. The sites are furnishing properties, which are clearly not comps if you know the area. It can pull properties, which are less valuable or more valuable.

Now, I can run a CMA and have done so, but it is expressed that I am perhaps choosing the properties that suit my purpose. Yesterday, I told the client that the only thing I left out were 2 bedroom houses, and that I was showing all other closed properties.

So, I decided to waste some time and played around on the two aforementioned sites. I pulled the two following properties. The values supplied were generated by Trulia.

10XX Mollbore Terrace sold $225,000 10/13/2009
Similarly recently sold homes is $241,500

27xx South 12th Street listed $220,000
Similarly recently sold homes is $145,250

Now, each, of these houses, sit on a cute little square. In reality, the 12th Street property, in terms of land, is a little more valuable. It is closer to stronger neighborhoods. Also, the 12th Street property is larger. Now, I understand the sale price and the listing price being different. The 10XX Mollbore property has higher end finishes. How does Trulia, however, have such a large discrepancy in the "recently sold homes"? The "recently sold homes" should essentially be the same for each property, and they are not. I am looking at over a $90,000 discrepency. To me, it makes all of their statistics suspect.

Now, I have run into this issue more than a few times.

Driving and Walking

I have been wanting to write something on this subject since sometime last week. I know it is in no way related to my self named topics here in this blog, but feel I need a little bit of a rant!

PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING AND DOING?!?!?!?!?

How much of a hurry are you in? How distracted are you? REALLY!!!!

This past week, I was almost hit straight on, as a pedestrian, in a relatively empty parking lot. I was walking through the lot, when a woman made a sharp turn in my direction and never looked straight ahead at me. I was really surprised. I saw her, but did not expect her to make that turn into the parking spots like that. She was looking at the stores. She looked at me at the last moment and jerked the wheel. She did not look the least bit phased. I WAS!!!!

As a driver, I saw endlessly stupid and dangerous moves by pedestrians and drivers. I saw more than usual. Is everyone really in that much of a hurry? Is it worth endangering your own life and lives of others just to get somewhere a few moments faster. It is not a good way to get on the six o'clock news.

Please, SLOW DOWN!!!! And use your turn signals.

FACEBOOK Friend Requests and Hackers

I want to start by thanking one of my FACEBOOK friends for posting the names of two people identified as hackers on FACEBOOK and sending friend requests. They are a nuisance, and frankly, I don't get it!

Twice, I have had hackers pop up on FACEBOOK Chat. Both times they told me they were stranded in London, a sad story and needed money. The first one, I thought was my FACEBOOK friend, and I deleted him. Sorry Buddy! The second one had the same story, but they chose someone from my life. First, I have not seen her since 1984. Second, I know enough of about her that she would not be reaching out to me for help from London. Third, it was September, and she has children and would not likely be there at the start of school.

Of course, we have all had the hackers send messages and videos from our accounts. I hope by now, we realize it is the hackers at work. I once deleted another friend due to hackers. It was the first of many notifications that said I was reported for putting up objectionable comments and/or pictures. Sorry to that woman too!

There is another thing for my women FACEBOOK friends to look at. I have a lot of friends on FACEBOOK. Of course, I don't know all or them nor do I communicate with all of them. I was not able to get into my friend requests for several days. It was apparently one of those FACEBOOK problems we all know about and experience. I could address them on my phone, but not on my computer. I waited.

Some time ago, one of my FACEBOOK friends notified a group of us that this one particular man had only women friends, and they were all Realtors. I don't know what that fetish was about. I don't really care what it was about. I simply removed him.

Today, I went through the friend requests, which have built up. There were forty. Out of the forty, there were clearly two men that had no connection to me or a few women, and both had only women friends. I am not telling you not to accept these gentlemen as friends, however, I did not. I just question their motivation.

The other thing that troubles me is a lack of a picture, or some image other than a face. It is FACEBOOK! Generally speaking, I will not accept a request with no picture. If I know you in person, I will, but I will still go to your profile and make sure it is you.

Be careful friends, but don't be frightened! There are great people I meet through this vehicle all of the time!