Friday, November 30, 2012

A Glass Of Wine And A Straw

Today I came home from work and found out my husband was working late. Good for us, bad for me!

I hadn't worked in over a year and have been sick with a fever and sore throat for two days! I just got a job and every night I've come home so far, my darling husband was there to cook and take care of me.

Well today there was no such luck! All the dishes and pans were dirty and all I wanted was to sit and have a glass of wine. Never mind that I was also starving. So my solution was to put my wine in a tall glass with a straw. Well wouldn't you know, I finished all the pans and dishes and the glass of wine.

So next time you think you need to make a choice, give it some thought and you just may come up with an awesome way to multitask!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Yelled at on Second Day!

As I was watching training videos on the computer at work I decided to take notes. After about 15 minutes I hear my boss from behind her cubicle yelling, "stop texting, stop texting, stop texting" she then comes out from behind the cubicle and I realized she was talking to me. I was flabbergasted! I didn't have paper or anything to write with, so I used my note app on my phone! I hadn't realized what it looked like!

After I told her what I was doing. She said "oh, okay. You didn't seem like that kind of person, to text at work! I guess everyone isn't into technology. But it sure was nice to know I could take notes without having paper!

Later on at break she said, "are you reading those notes you took?" And I said no. After thinking about it, I think she was sarcastic and I don't think she believed me about taking notes!

Monday, November 26, 2012

A Home Inspection Is Worth Every Penny!

Yesterday we went to have our house inspected with our new realtor.  The first time we saw the house it looked dirty and smelly, but we could deal with that for $149,900.  But we would never buy a house without a home inspection.  Our realtor called someone she works with and he met us at the house.

When we got to the house he was already there standing out front.  The first thing he pointed out to us, was rot in the front from termites, which were still there.  He then went on to explain how termites work.  As we walked around the outside of the house he noticed the front stairs were unusable, the back concrete stairs were falling apart and the bottom riser was way to high.  In the back they had put lawn chairs in front of spaces in the basement that they had closed up with plywood and the gutters were fixed with caulking that had turned orange.

As we went inside he noticed that most of the windows had no storm windows and the new windows were so thin and cheap that we would probably end up also replacing them!  The front door was inside a bedroom.  Another bedroom smelled like smoke, and the third bedroom had water stains on the ceiling.

In the basement there was mold.  The washing machine was hooked up to an outlet that was good for a hair dryer, but not a major appliance.  The "new" heating system only had a replaced motor from 1999. The oil tank was leaking.  And for some reason the realtor had to tell the owner to make sure there was oil in the tank so we could make sure the heat was working.  So she put very little in.  How were they heating the house?

When we first saw the electrical panel we were excited because they were breakers.  But come to find out, when he took the panel cover off, it was all done wrong with too many attachments.

There was a mobile home vent under the sink in the bathroom (illegal), ungrounded kitchen outlets, asbestos pipe insulation in the basement, iron rot in the cast iron pipes, and lead paint all along the perimeter of the house where they scraped it to make it sellable.

We figured out that with a 203k loan, that it would have ended up costing us $200,000 and it wouldn't be a $200,000 house after we finished.

Our realtor said we could bring our price down, but it was too much to take on.  (I didn't mention everything).  And when we got home, I checked the listing again, and it was down to $99,000.  Our realtor had talked to the owner and re-listed the property taking out "updated electrical" and adding in rehab loan, all in a matter of hours.   Then she emailed me 9 other properties.  Now that's what I call efficient.

We are going to see one tonight.  We are finally happy with our third realtor and happy with our inspector.  Who, by the way, gave us a $75 discount.


Saturday, November 24, 2012

Weirdest Symptom I've Ever Heard Of


Mildew/Mold Poisoning


Other Symptoms

  • Other symptoms include excessive weight loss, an irregular heart beat, brittle nails, temporary loss of fingerprints, joint muscle stiffness, seizures, infertility, miscarriage, changes in menstrual cycle, night sweats, numbness in the face, cancer, bruising or scarring easily and chronic fatigue. Individuals who have been exposed to mildew poisoning can also have hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis. These symptoms should not be taken lightly because different symptoms have different effects on each individual. People who do not treat these symptoms can die from mildew poisoning.Read more: Signs of Mildew Poison | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_5798439_signs-mildew-poison.html#ixzz2D99P0kJj

    How does someone loss their fingerprints?  So if you have mold poisoning it is the best time to commit a crime.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

An Hourly Thanks

Today on this wonderful day of Thanksgiving, my husband and I have decided to say one thing we are thankful for each hour! Is anyone else up for the challenge?

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

54 Things I've Learned In 54 Years!

Today is my 54th Birthday and I have been thinking about my life and what I have learned. I thought I would share some of my insights with my readers. I have learned:

1. Family IS always there for you no matter what.
2. All you need to clean when company is coming is your kitchen and bath!
3. What you say is way more important than what you wear.
4. No matter what your age, you can always find a date.
5. Cell phones, social networks and computers are fantastic and horrible.
6. You should always be aware of your surroundings.
7. Like the book says, you really don't have to sweat the small stuff.
8. The library is still a pertinent place to go.
9. Recycling is not that hard to do.
10. When you're raising children all ages are challenging so ask for help.
11. You can buy better clothes at the Salvation Army than at Walmart.
12. Cell phones counteract rage while waiting in a long line.
13. There is someone just for you, even if you don't find them till you're 45.
14. My parents really can be nice people.
15. You can survive your childhood and your children's childhood.
16. Black Friday is my least favorite day of the year.
17. You can drop friends from your life that suck the life out of you.
18. Dogs make the best friends.
19. Meditation is a necessary part of life.
20. Living on autopilot is dangerous and not very fun.
21. You can drink wine everyday and be healthy.
22. Doctors get paid too much and do too little, I would rather have a nutritionist/trainer.
23. It's very easy to say I Love You to the ones you care about.
24. Hugs are way underrated.
25. Vinegar CAN clean everything.
26. Getting rid of Blue Laws completely, is wrong.
27. You can teach yourself anything if you can read.
28. Watching children or dogs play can get rid of any bad mood.
29. Everyone just wants to be heard. So really listen when someone is talking.
30. Being vegan does not mean being healthy.
31. You really don't ever forget how to ride a bike.
32. You never stop being a Mother.
33. Closets are important.
34. Country music has a song for everything that has happened in your life.
35. You can get a good job without going to college.
36. Everyone needs to go on at least one road trip with someone they like.
37. God is everywhere so you don't have to go to church to talk.
38. Bookcases are a very important piece of furniture.
39. Christmas movies are good anytime of the year.
40. Having money does NOT make you happier. Knowing what to do with it does.
41. Listen to all the experts, pick what you like and leave the rest.
42. Football is pretty easy to understand.
43. No is an easy word to say!
44. You can go through life without using paper towels.
45. Getting things for free is always fun.
46. Wireless headphones can save your marriage.
47. Raking is great exercise.
48. Even when you clean up after your dog, you will always step in something.
49. Blueberry's make me happy.
50. Leaf blowers were the worst invention ever.
51. Your children can teach you things.
52. You don't have to shave your legs after 50. (It stops growing.) TMI?
53. There are people out there that will help if you just ask.
54. And last, but not least, my children turned out pretty good even though I wasn't perfect.

Have A Fantastic Day Everyone!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Crazy coincidence Part 1

I was watching a recorded episode of Jay Leno because Tim Allen was on. It was from a few nights ago. When it was over, I deleted it and was on regular tv and there was Tim Allen again. I thought I was still on The Tonight Show! It was Home Improvement! How odd!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Why Do People Let It Get To This?

Beautiful home with great size yard and an awesome price. But we can't buy it because the copper pipes are missing and FHA won't approve that!

MLS:71418825

How do people let it get to that point? Can't they rent it for a reasonable price before they can't afford it anymore? Or sell it for a low price before people tear it apart! I guess I won't understand unless I'm in that position.

I hope people have learned their lesson on buying things they can't afford? Buy only what you can afford on one person's salary. I know two people can lose their jobs, but that's less likely!

Rent costs more than some mortgages so buy a smaller home and pay it off quicker.

At my age, buying a house is a lot different because I know I won't be moving a few more times. And I want it paid off before I'm 84 so double payments are a must! I'm definitely not buying something I can't afford, but also at this age, it's hard to look at fixer uppers!



My Husband Is The Best

All I had to do was mention once that I wanted a birthday week and not just one day! Since then everyday he's done something special. Breakfast in bed, a scratch ticket, a coffee & croissant! And he comes home saying where's my birthday girl!

I know most people like to forget about their birthdays the older they get, but for some reason the older I get the more I like to celebrate them.

I told my husband it's because as a kid I had to celebrate it with my sister who was born the day before me six years later. But now I enjoy being born near each other. It makes us like twins.

Have a beautiful day everyone! I know I will!


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Cool Ways To Save Money

Go online and check out some restaurants that you like. Then sign up for their cards. Then for your birthday you will get special things!

So far I've received a medium size DUnkin Donuts coffee, free breakfast at IHop, free burger at Ruby Tuesdays, a free entree at the Chateau with one purchased. I plan on going to P.F. Changs for my birthday dinner, so I just signed up for their card. Just in the nick of time because my birthday is next week!

Have fun and get your free stuff! It's cool!

Henry Van Dyke

Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang the best - Henry Van Dyke

Monday, November 12, 2012

Time To Start Fresh

This weekend was the last straw. A home we saw about a month ago came back on the market and our realtor never told us. So I called him because he was the one that showed it to us and I thought that was the right thing to do.

We didn't need to see it again, just put a bid down. So he wrote up the agreement for our bid and emailed it to me. The first one had our wrong town written down so he redid it and emailed it again. This time he emailed it a different way and I wasn't able to print it. Then I got the great idea to have him put 0 in the down payment spot because the sign in front of the home said buy with $0 down. He finally did that and I was finally able to print it out.

Today was the day he was to come to our house and get the signed agreement and a check for $1,000. So I waited for his call. When he finally called he said that when he talked to the homes realtor, he said we need to put 2-2.5% down instead of just $1,000. He also said that we would have to pay for the inspection (which I don't know why he was saying this because we knew this for months now)! And he said we would have to wait 90 days before we knew if we were getting the house because it was a short sale. It sounded like he was talking us out of it. He told us the other day it would take at least 3 months and on the paperwork it said closing was in March 2013!

So after a long rigamarole of him mumbling about the transaction, I said forget about it. We will put this house behind us. I then proceeded to tell him that we were changing directions and trying to qualify for a 203k loan (rehab), because most of the homes we've seen need lots of work. This was also my way of telling him we were going a different way in realtors. But he didn't get my hint. He said to call him when I find something. Hey wait, isn't he the realtor? Shouldn't he be finding me stuff? He works part-time because he's retired. He might sell 1-2 houses a year and he's telling me to call him when I find something. That was the last straw.

WE ARE GOING WITH ANOTHER REALTOR. I AM PREDICTING THAT WE WILL FIND THE PERFECT HOUSE FOR US IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH! And the best part about our new realtor is, THEY will be doing a lot of the searching!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Helping Elderly Parents

Our parents put up with our crazy childhood and teenage years, then we need to put up with their craziness when they're older! Hoarding is one of the things. They feel like they're losing everything so they hold onto the past! We need to gently persuade them that they will feel more free getting rid of things holding them to the past!

I was very proud of my Dad today. He is a hoarder of books and all reading material! He gladly said yes we can give away at least two thirds of his reading stuff!

We need to feel what they are going through and be gentle in getting rid of their things. If we stay connected with them they will need to be less attached to things and more into making new memories with their family!

Friday, November 9, 2012

My Job

I want to thank everyone that has been reading my blog. This is how I earn a living because I wasn't able to get a job for the last year. Finally I found a job, but will continue blogging. A little about me: I live in a basement apartment with my husband and my two mutts that I adopted from an Illinois shelter. I am house hunting, but would definitely love to renovate a church, but for some reason they won't let us get a 203k loan that would help us renovate. I'm hoping to come up with interesting things to entertain my readers. If there is anything you want to know about, have any questions or problems, just let me know and I will see how I can help you out. Thanks again, Ruth B.

Your Dreams

If you are at a dream job and it is not your dream, change your life and follow YOUR own dream! Let the person who's dream it is, have the job!

By Joseph Campbell

The privilege of a lifetime is to be who you are!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Afraid of Smart Phones

My husband is the type of person that never ever wanted a smart phone. He had the kind that just made phone calls because he said, "that's what phones are for"! I, on the other hand, will use any kind of new technology you give me even if I don't know how to use it.

Since I got my smart phone I play a lot of games, get on FB, check maps and read my mail every 5 minutes. My husband was actually getting jealous of all the time I spent on my phone. So when his contract was up this year I kept saying, "Get a smart phone"! To be more specific, get an iPhone! The iPhone 4 was free at the time because the 5 had just come out.

So we went to the Verizon store and he bought the iPhone 4. It was like a little kid getting his first toy. I could not believe how happy he was and how much fun he was having with it. He is not very tech savy. He doesn't even use his email account on our computer so I was a little worried.  I downloaded a few of the apps I use like Words With Friends so we could play games together when he's at work and I downloaded a few quiz apps so he would have something fun to do while waiting in the morning. 

Today he came home from work and showed ME an app that he had downloaded (all by himself) and I was quite impressed. It was something I had never heard about called Around Me.

Now he is not so upset when I am sitting around playing with my phone because he can do the same thing and knows how much fun it can be. I did give him the FB app and setup an account for him and put some friends in there, but he still isn't into the social networking facet of the phone. But I bet that someday, I will open up my FB page and there will be a post from him. Even if it is only on my birthday saying Happy Birthday!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Around the Country Laws On Ballot

Los Angeles passed that you must wear condoms while doing porn.

Arizona does not want to own the Grand Canyon. Want the Feds to care for it!

Colorado and Washington legalized Marijuana. Oregon failed it

Massachusetts legalized medical marijuana!

Massachusetts passed right to repair! (which to me was a stupid question to even have)

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Voting

Waiting in long lines could work for the democrats because they're use to waiting for things in long lines!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Dogs Off Leash?

As I'm sitting here in South Boston two dogs, rather large at 75 lbs are unleashed. But behaving rather well! I still think they should always be leashed because anything could happen. Some people are truly afraid of dogs.

Do Not

Do not tell me to meet you at 12:30, change it to 12:00, then still not be here by 12:17! All I have to say about that is WTF? And no phone call or text! We need to give you our info, but you don't use it???

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Town Crime Statistics

I was looking for a towns crime rate on A Trulia map! It's a great site to check that stuff! But then I checked further to see what crimes were happening in that spot! Most, if not all were motor vehicle issues! Which made me think that you really need to investigate when it says crime. A really nice town to live in will have police pulling cars over for speeding and checking licenses!

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Vice Presidents

I was just wondering why the President has never picked a different running mate for their second term as President? I really don't like Joe Biden! He has always seemed a little out of it to me! I never understood why Obama picked him. And now, after four years of talking without thinking, I think he should be fired!

Have they ever gotten rid of a Vice President before a President? Well I think it's about time they start!

Note: this in no way says what party I am affiliated with!

Caution Signs

Would I feel compelled to hit this trailer if there were say, children or dogs in the trailer? I think everyone should put caution signs on their vehicles! Like, caution I text while driving, caution I don't use a turn signal, caution I just had a few drinks, caution I make left hand turns from the right lane!

It would make everyone aware of our slight driving imperfections and give us something to read while in traffic instead of reading our cellphones!

Friday, November 2, 2012

What Realtors Are Really Saying

Looking online again for a house. I've been noticing some click words like, cozy means small, elbow grease means tons of work, near public transportation and great park means lots of noise and on a busy street. But this sentence really got to me. It said New 3 BR septic 1999. How can the word new mean anything else but new? I would have written it as "septic was put in in 1999"! Lower on down the page it says "Sewer Utilities: Inspection Required for Sale, Private Sewerage - Title 5: Buyer's Responsibility Disclosures: Short sale subject to 3rd party approval; Sold "as is"; Title V buyer responsibility. So please, posters of any real estate, please don't be stupid enough to think we will fall for your deceptive quaint wording. We are much smarter than you realize. And in the future, remember that NEW means just that NEW. Putting it in front of a year that is 13 years ago, does not make it better.

They Need To Sell It.

I just saw a listing for 3.1 acres in the town I now live in. It is only going for $58,000, and most half acre lots go for $150,000. It says buildable area in rear after drainage ditch crossing. If I was the listing agent I would say, "Great place for your castle. Already has the beginnings of a moat in the front yard, just build your drawbridge and you're all set." Doesn't that sound much better? Added note: As I'm writing this, it is saying that buildable is spelled wrong. It is driving me crazy because I've checked it. If anyone knows of another way to spell that word, please feel free to let me know. Thanks for reading. And clicking my ads so I can afford to move.