Raeford, North Carolina - Landlubbers version of sky diving.  If you would like to escape the mundane pleasures of life such as walking over hot coles in your bare feet, I offer for your consideration a trip to Raeford, North Carolina.  “Why”, you may ask, “would I want to go to Raeford, North Carolina; especially if I had to drive more than a mile to do so?”.  Because, it is the home of (drum roll and clash of cymbals) Paraclete XP SkyVenture.  XP SkyVenture is a three story, 12,000 square foot facility that contains a specialized wind tunnel for indoor skydiving plus three recreation rooms and a snack area.  The idea of having a snack area in a facility like this is, in my opinion, like having a hot dog shack next to a roller coaster, but I digress.  So, if you would like to fly around like an astronaut without going into space or be a pseudo Golden Knight without bailing out the back end of a military transport this might be just what you are looking for.  It certainly won’t be the same old, same old.  I must admit that my calculations for what makes a good real estate investment fail me on this one but then again I don’t know the math of the business and the guy who built it has been financially successful in other businesses so - -.  The facility is reported to have cost a cool $10 million.  You will need to be certain your bank account is in good shape before dashing off to enjoy the simple pleasures of hurricane force winds in this pleasure dome.   A half hour will set you back $400 while a full hour can be had at the bargain rate of $700. To get to Xanadu, pardon me SkyVenture, from Raleigh take I-40 to I-95 south.  Follow business I-95/U.S. 301 into Fayetteville.  Take a right on Grove street, left at Bragg Boulevard to U.S. 401.  West on 401, right on Brock Road to Paraclete.  Paraclete to XP SkyVenture at 190 Paraclete Drive.  For more info. call 888-475-9386 and/or try www.paraclet-exp.com.  If you are flying in from the West Coast or from out of the country to try this out and would like more info about the area call me at the telephone number given below or send me an email at the below address.  Somehow I don’t think this is what Sinatra had in mind but what the hay - whatever makes your motor go. 

John Fish (919) 696-3474    Email: Marvmax@mindspring.com   Website: www.JohnFish.com 

A great many composers from all music venues have had the ability to turn out one symphony, opera or song after another that have found favor with the public at the outset and, in many cases, even gained in popularity over the years.  Other composers may only gain fame or acclaim for one or two compositions during their life time and some have written compositions that only gained respect and demand after they were no longer with us.  So what, you may ask, bring this to mind?  I’m glad you asked. 

In the Arts and Entertainment section of Sunday’s Raleigh News and Observer (12/17) there is an excellent article by Matt Schudel of the Washington Post.  In it he discusses the making of the TV program “A Charlie Brown Christmas“  and the composer of the program’s music Vince Guaraldi.  The producer of the program, Lee Mendelson hired Vince to do the music because he wanted adult music with a jazz flavor that would fit the various moods of the program’s theme and establish a music identity for each of the characters (Charlie Brown, Lucie, Lynus, Snoopy, etc.) and not the mindless cartoon sound effects that are usually used in such productions.  Lee had heard a tune Vince had done that had gained some popularity called “Cast Your Fate to the Winds” and felt that something of a similar nature would translate well for the Charlie Brown program.

It should be noted that the CBS network execs, with customary exec brilliance, were certain it would be a failure.  In fact Matt reports that during the screening for the execs the program was greeted with silence.  One of the animators was also in attendance and was evidently somewhat in his cups.  He stood up and said, “You guys are crazy.  This is going to be around for a hundred years.”  It isn’t reported whether he was around much longer or not. 

For me the music from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and as played by the Vince Guaraldi trio captures all of the many elements of Christmas and the Christmas season in ways as few other selections do.  It is quiet obvious that Charles Schultz always knew what Christmas was all about, Charlie Brown found out what Christmas was all about and Vince Guaraldi created music with a depth of feeling and understanding that was, and is, truly unique.  So, if the music from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is all Vince is ever remembered for I think that will be a substantial statement and one any composer could be very proud of.  I suspect that Matt Schudel feels the same way about “A Charlie Brown Christmas” or he would not have written this piece.  Thanks Matt.  Incidentally, if you don’t have a CD of the music from the program it is still available so you shouldn’t have a problem getting one.

Speaking of Christmas music, if you enjoy the brilliance and power of a brass section without equal and a richness of orchestration that is second to none I recommend another CD to you that also stands the test of time; it is Stan Kenton’s - Kenton Christmas.  You won’t find it in local stores but you can look it up and order it through www.cduniverse.com.   I wish all of you a very merry Christmas.

John Fish  (919) 696-3474   Email: marvmax@mindspring.com    Website: www.JohnFish.com

With all the unbelieveable garbage that is being cranked out for movie goers for Christmas season viewing and with the television and newspapers spewing out their never ending murder and mayhem stories rather than the “good news” what a relief it was today to see a TV news type show , of all things, that had a marvelous lead story.  The SUNDAY MORNING TV program featured a story about the Muppets.  Most of us, in one way or another, have grown up with or around the Muppets.  However, the sheer magnitude of the effect of the Muppet characters and the their “lets all live together” approach and the effect it has on children and the adult world as well is almost beyond belief.  The Muppets programs and variations of it are seen in two-thirds of all the nations of the world.  While the creator of the Muppets, Jim Henson, is no longer with us and has long been out of the Muppet picture, it’s too bad they couldn’t at least have mentioned him.  Long years from now when someone is again trotting out a list of the 25, 50 or 100 people who have had the most impact on us during the last 100 years, it will be the real blockhead who leaves Jim off of the list.  Then again, perhaps he has been on such a list currently and I have missed it.  If so, I apologize to the lists author.

John Fish  (919) 696-3474   Email: marvmax@mindspring.com   Website: www.JohnFish.com

Cary North Carolina - It is always a pleasure to see good friends prosper.  Last Wednesday, Tim Sweeney and Mark Rein (Epic Games) rolled out their new video game offering, “Gears of War“.  The game was exclusively developed for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game player.  The Reviews have been excellent.  In fact, Yahoo Games calls it the best 360 game of 2006.  Great going guys I hope you have a blockbuster!

John Fish  (919) 696-3473   Email: marvmax@mindspring.com   Website: wwwJohnFish.com

North Raleigh flower extraviganza.  If you love flowers, if you are a photographer always looking for something worth photographing or if you are just interested in a relaxing, fun afternoon I would highly recommend the annual Poinsettia Open House at Raleigh’s Homewood Nursery on November the 18th.  This is an annual event and those of you who have previously been to it wouldn’t miss it for anything.  Those of you who haven’t - listen up.  Homewood Nursery has an annual display that has to be seen to be believed.  They have thousands of Poinsettias of all kinds and colors and they display new varieties as well as those that already have an established market.  Homewood also, has a wide variety of Christmas items on display that are well worth looking at as well.  They ply you with live music, punch, coffee and cookies so - eat, drink and be merry for it is a great way to kick off the Christmas season.  Homewood Nursery is located in north Raleigh at 10809 Honeycutt Road.  For more information call them at 919-847-0117

If you would like a sample of what you may expect to see send me an email and I will emails you photos I have taken from previous years. 

From previous posts you know that if you have a serious interest in moving to the Raleigh area I stand willing to show you the area and to introducing you to what the Raleigh area has to offer.  Yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending the day with a delightful lady from Ohio who is considering a move to this area to escape Ohio winters and to take advantage of the variety of cultural activities this area has to offer.  Will this be the city she decides to move to?  I don’t know but I think it was a day well spent for both of us.

ATTENTION!!  As you know, the north Raleigh Keller Williams Realty office has moved to 9121 Anson Way.  One exciting aspect of this move, for me, is that our office building has a conference/meeting room that will seat at least 80 people.  I intend to take full advantage of the room and our location to do more of the seminars I have done previously and, for that matter, to expand both the kinds and number of those seminars.  For those of you who have properties to sell and who would like to find out how you can legally escape paying taxes on that sale, or sales, I will be doing a 1031 Exchange seminar in January.  If you would like to attend and would like more information call me at 919-696-3473 or send me an email at marvmax@mindspring.com.  An email would probably be better as I can schedule to call or email you the specific date and time once they have been set.  ALSO, for those of you who are thinking of building your dream home and would like to see how the design and pre-building process works, I will be doing a seminar with a gentleman who is probably this area’s best know home designer. It should be an evening of interest and information you will not want to miss.  Again, use the above telephone number or email address to advise me of your interest.  Finally, for those of you who are first time home buyers, those who want to buy but think you can’t (for whatever reason), and those who have just plain “had it” with apartment living and with building no equity value by paying rent - I will be doing a seminar that will show you how to get the job done.  As with the other two seminars, use the telephone number or email address to advise me of your interest.  He (or she) who snoozes - loses.  As these seminars usually fill up, the more rapidly you advise me of your interest - the better.

John Fish - Cell phone (919) 696-3474   Email: marvmax@mindspring.com   Website: www.JohnFish.com 

On September 29, the new ‘Flyboys’ video game will be released.  However, you don’t have to wait until then to preview it.  A free download is available at flyboysgame.com.  IEntertainment Network of Cary is colaborating with MGM in a deal that will see the producers spend $50 million to promote the ‘Flyboys’ move and which will let IEntertainment Network fly along with it.  While the success of the game depends to a considerable extent upon the success of the movie, the movie’s producer, Dean Devlin, has previously had winners with ‘The Patriot’ and ‘Independence Day’.  Thus, IEntertainment’s CEO J.W. Stealey is confident that ‘Flyboys’ will be another winner and that both companies will benefit by its success.

John Fish (919) 696-3474   Email: marvmax@mindspring.com   Web Site:  www.JohnFish.com