The neverending Saga of Housebuying

Well, here we sit, a little over a week from closing day. I have my end tied up on a pretty bow. Picked a Home Warranty company, got my letter of credit because the mail can't manage to get a letter 20 miles to me, change of address forms printed out and ready to turn in, pets shots updated and new address logged into their files, more boxes, and things at the bank are almost ready for signatures. Even talked Clueless One down from a tizzy over temporary interest rates.
So what could happen now? Well, a bit of background.....we made a bid on the house, the seller came back and wanted 12,500 more. Okay, he indicated it would put him in the hole otherwise. We get his appraisal from April and shows it was worth 33,000 more than our first bid. We are fine with that. Then today we get our appraisal that the bank ordered for the loan. Yeah, guess what.....it appraised at only 1,000 more than our original bid. The whole purchase is up in the air now. My Real Estate Agent sent him the appraisal and will discuss it with him. Either we accept the over priced house purchase, dump the house purchase, or the seller has to accept the lower price for the house. What is in our favor on this is the fact that the seller has already moved out and is anticipating not having to make a mortgage payment next month. That is why they are selling the house....got in over their heads.
I am deflated. I just had to hand the whole thing over to God. Maybe God only wanted us to pay the amount of our original bid, and this is his way of getting us there after all. I don't know. All I know is that it isn't anything I can do anything about.....so it's up to Him.

Quick post

The day is about to start full speed again, so thought I would knock out a quick post of what it going on. 16 days to closing now. We had an inspection and now have to hammer out problems with the seller. I have to get my house packed up, line up a mover, and iron out the tons of things that have to be taken care of when you move 3 hours away after living in one area for 20 years. Oh, and I am doing this house buying detail all by myself. There is a lot on my plate because hubby is about 5 hours away working. I think if there is just one more glitch, I will start tearing my hair out. The immature jackass neighbor's are a mere laugh now.
So, a few little peaks at the house.

Pleasant Lane....so charming!
Cubedog: that front fence is DIEING for your vintage roses!

A gazebo out the back door, there's a mug next to the coffeepot, grab a cup and join me.
Cubedog: wisteria-'nuff said.

The living room, looking into the dining area. Not crazy about the green walls, but easily fixed.
Cubedog: you need Grandma's big cast iron kettle on that stove.

Very lovely dining area....and real wood cladding on the ceiling. The door just out of sight on the left leads to the gazebo.

Do a half turn from the previous picture and there is a nice sized kitchen. That door at the end leads to the very large butlers pantry, then turn right in there to the laundry room. At the other end of the laundry room is the entrance to the Master suite that will house my father in law. Private, with it's own kitchenette.

At the end of the day, it will be wonderful to soothe my aches and nerves by spending time in the hot tub, listening to the frogs living in the little pond that is in front of the swing. Ahhhhhhh
Cubedog: you might want a screen on the house side of that hottub. Its kinda in your FIL's front yard.

It's genetic

Did I tell you that the oldest kid and his family went to Destin Florida for a week's vacation? From the pictures, it looks like they met her mom and stepdad there. They had a wonderful time....but family history will always win out.
First, they drove there from Oklahoma.....leaving Yazoo City, MS about a half an hour before it was nearly wiped off the map by a tornado. While in Florida, they stayed at a condo on the beach. They both managed to get their winter white skin burned to a crisp. Then they spotted this from the balcony.

Can you see it? Son said it was a good 9 foot. They did NOT tell the short one, knowing she would not even want to go down to the beach again, much less stick a toe in the water.
Then on the way home the next weekend, they hit all the tornadic storms in Arkansas....even believe they saw one. I am soooo happy they got home safely. I just got my soda bottle of beach sand from kid. He sent enough that I can make a nice small bottle of it with label to go with the others....and still have enough to stick my toe into beach sand. aaahhhhh.
Sadly, kid and family are now moving to Virginia. Oh well, on the bright side, I can do genealogical research there when I visit. I may even get to visit the Atlantic Ocean....never seen that one.

Oh, and ps.....who are all those people, why are they here, and how did they find us!!!! I'm gonna go hide in the cactus patches so they can't find me. ;-)

Love, da Otter

Debate

Interesting. In presidential debates, everyone seems to think you have to have a winner, as in high school.
So...if you tune in to liberal media, they polled themselves and say Biden won. I heard that after the debate, Brian Williams did a lot of blathering until someone rushed him a list of Palin's mistakes. I guarantee you that they didn't fact check Biden.....who hallucinated on over 14 points.
Too bad most people get their "news" (read "opinion") spoonfed to them by far left-wing liberal media. They believe what they are told to believe...period. No independant thought allowed. Sad.
Cubedog: I was listening to the 'post-game' analysis on talk radio the next day and someone was waxing poetic about how Dick Morris handed Allen Combs his ass on a plate. Oh, I do wish I had seen/heard that. I'm sick that the one time that the media commentary AFTER a debate woulda actually been entertaining, I missed it-cuz I just HATE that crap. I recorded the debate because I thought it would be the only way I would get to hear what was said (because after the 1st Prez debate I heard nothing). But I believe I have heard all the clips of the highlights. People had just better watch out in 2012.

More Ike developments

We have 4 evacuees now, we are getting 4 more tonight. D'ya think I can get assistance from Red Cross?

We got out earlier and checked out damage around the 'hood.

This guy came around and scraped the crud outta the gutters so the street was passable.

Next door neighbor's.

We are very blessed-this coulda been us.

Otter: Do you think maybe HOA will be cruising at first light monday....making lists of who needs to be sent a threatening letter about the uprooted tree in their yard......shingles off roof.....yeah, get that done in one week or we will sue you!
Can you imagine your HOA in Galveston. Dear Homeowner, We noticed your house is missing. We strongly suggest you find it and put it back within two weeks or we will be forced to file suit against you for breach of HOA contract.

Morning Report

Cubedog and family are okay this morning. She tries to update here but her power will flicker off just as she is ready to post. The eye seems to have gone right oven downtown so she may not have an office to go to. They are in the hurricane right now on the west side of it and have the high winds and rain. She said a few big limbs down, but that is it so far.
On the other hand, we have a brother that lives on the northwest side of downtown and may be experiencing the eye fury right now. We won't know how he is until he checks in with our mother.
Things are pretty bad down there and liable to be horrible by the time the hurricane passes and they can assess damages. Please keep the area in your prayers.
Otter out.

Good Morning

I awoke this morning to sun streaming through the blinds.

Go th http://www.khou.com/ , Video/Mobile tab and watch David Paul's video forecast.
I have a guest bedroom full-groceries all over the kitchen cabinets. I don't know when they got in - I crashed at 2:30 pm. Oh, and there is a Chi-wennie on my kitchen table.
Speaking of pets, all the girls are afraid of 'outside'. So am I, it feels creepy out there.
The sun is shining, there is a slight breeze, but the air is THICK and HOT.
Now I understand the description in the novel about the 1900 hurricane. CREEPY. Like the whole world is holding its breath.

This is what the back looks like right now. Peaceful, eh?

Otter: It's 10:20 and I am in the open area between the clouds of the cold front and the first outter cloud bands of Ike. I didn't realize what was causing me pain the past few days until Mom called a bit ago and asked if I was hurting. Caught between two low fronts is not a comfortable place to be.

I strongly suggest your call your mother. She called me right after I checked in here and I told her updates of company but she thinks we talked on the phone. She emailed brother and he feels he will do fine.

I have my puter on, watching here and weather sites.....and my tv tuned to Weather Channel. Mom says Fox is covering it well, so will check there too.

You have a ChiWeenie on your table? That is what Beanie is.....brown weenie body with chihuahua head and legs.

Cubedog: I just took her outside. She looks like Gretchen with long legs. Everyone is still sleep, so I don't know her name yet. I emailed Mom, guess I'll call, too.

It has begun

It has begun

Went out at lunch for food and a pack of smokes. Took 1/2 hour to get the smokes. Everywhere people are crowding the streets, jamming up the gas stations, all these people with fear as their constant motivator.

Got a voice message from BigDog: Come home noooowwwww. The Zombies are everywhere. I need help with the reloading!

Yes, they are zombies, but instead of "Braaiiinnnsss". these are moaning something more like: "Gaaaasssss", "Waaattteeerrr", "Plywooooddddd".

Otter: I find it strangly fascinating that a cold front over me is sucking in the super low of the hurricane toward us. There must be some physics extended, mind sucking explaination for it.

Ya'll laid in plenty of water, pet food, and smokes for the event, didn't you?

Cubedog: I am letting BigDog "batten down the hatches". I figure he knows better than me how that's done.

Blogging Ike

Looks like we are going to get a 'little' visitor. As of the last report I got at 7 this morning, the most likely landfall will be directly south of the house. The projected path from there, put the eye passing right over the house. They are predicting sustained winds at 80-90 mph with gusts to 110.
I will be home tomorrow posting pics and bloggin as long as the electricity holds out.
Remember, run from the water(storm surge), hide from the wind(shelter in place)-we will be doing the later.
When BigDog and I were discussing evacuation plans last night (in case the house is uninhabitable afterwards) and we were making oflist of 'must packs'. You shoulda seen the look I got when I said, "Yarn, and losts of it." Priceless. Then I reminded him that it was either that or I was gonna be whacked out on Xanax.
It is currently 9:30 am and I'm at the office-there is no word yet as to whether the office will close tomorrow. Even though the mayor, in this morning's news conference, urged all employers to close their offices tomorrow. Its a 'wait and see' attitude around here. I think the HPs(Higher Powers) are betting on this turning into another Rita and missing us all together.

Otter: I will be here with you. I have nothing else plannned, but think maybe a bit of cleaning up in the guest room and studio in case you have to bugger out and park here. We could toss the cats in the studio with a pan and food and make inaccessible anything that they could ruin by peeing on it.
May I suggest you seal all yarn and fabric in plastic bags just in case. It may seem like a lot of trouble now.....but a good thing if your roofers don't happen to have been up to par, or Ike decides to smack you upside the head. Did you get the flooding from the backyard into the living room solved? Can't recall, but sure hope so.
Cubedog: Remember, its YOUR studio my yarn peeing cats would be inhabiting.......maybe YOU should put things in plastic.....

Too funny

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/08/07/one-nation-under-a-new-obama-salute.html
this is a classic example of state art produced under Mussilini and Franco

The Dangers of Living on Interstates

So I was sitting outside last night, enjoying the cool evening...knowing a hot day would follow...and it did....when I noticed a copter in the night sky, oddly quiet but well lit. I found it strange because we never see helicopters at night.
This evenings news brings the answer (and yes it was pretty darn close to 100 degrees). Seems there was this fugitive from Florida that had a little accident "a few miles west of town" and took off across ranchland with a shotgun. That copter flying over my house with lights on was a night vision bird looking for the bad guy running from the law with a shotgun. Hello! This is the second time in the past couple of months that there have been creeps setting off major manhunts around my tight section of the interstate!
Seriously considering a police scanner radio. I want to at least know when to load the gun and not leisurely lounge outside in the evenings like a sitting duck!!

ps. we need to discuss how you put cool pictures in. I need the picture of a maddog.

CubeDog: this is how I do it:1)search engine "maddog", click on IMAGE tab, choose your image, save to your 'puter. 2)when creating a post, click on the picture next to the checkmark(spell check), browse to your image, load 3)move image to where you want it within your post

Seriously scary stuff out in BFE, but then, that's just another "day in the life" over here.

can't make this sh*t up

I just got these from a friend across town. These were taken this week on US59.

That's a 12' ladder.

ok so maybe we aren't a "world class city", but you'd think people could show SOME class.....

You might be a redneck if......

All this guy needs is "JUST MARRIED" scrawled across the back windshield.

Fruit loops......I am forced to share my world with fruit loops.

More Proof? how bout this:

I would love to pitch an hour long comedy to Comedy Central; working title "CSI: H)&*^$*n".

After loosing accreditation, credibility, face.....and fighting and spending (our taxes) back to credible....or at least open for business, our local crime lab did it again. The person running it was giving her subordinates answers to the licensing tests they are required to take. She resigns....and lands a plumb job with the state lab.. WHAT?????

Otter: Okay, I live in way West Podunk and even I haven't seen anything so ridiculous, or at least worthy of being pulled over and ticketed.

State lab? Okay, you are just trying to scare me! Not funny :(

Happy Freaking Valentine's Massacre Day

Well, last night, I stopped by the grocery store to get cat food. I picked out a $4 bunch of flowers and some chocolate covered strawberries for Bigdog because I've put him through hell lately.

I got home and presented them to him and he said, "I bought you flowers(a dozen pink roses)."

Then he reached into the frig and brought out a Stawberry mousse/chocolate confection. "I'm trying to butter you up." (Oh God-what now)

"Why?"

"You want the good news or the bad news first."

"Hit me with the bad news."

"I got fired."

"WHAT???????" Actually, I think I buried my head in my hands and said, 'Oh, Christ'.

"Yeah."

"And the 'good' news would be......?"

"I got a new job...making more money....closer to home. Go out on a project next week."

Happy bloody Valentine's.......

The Heart of Darkness

AKA: The Sit N Knit Holiday Gift Exchange
The rules were simple enough. Rummage ones stash. Find yarn that needed a new home. Enclose an appropriate pattern for said yarn. Simple, right?
Well, I shoulda sat this one out. Really. 18 bags on the table, 18 chances to get something just lovely, odds; 18:1 for disaster. Thursday was my lucky night. Shoulda bought a lotto ticket on the way home.
Eighteen hopeful faces sitting around clutching their little numbers that indicated the draw order. Everyone noisely harrassing the current recipient in a malenge of good-will and comradery.
Seventeen sock knitters.....
Yes, I, the lone non-sock knitter stood to make my choice, smilingly enduring (and enjoying) the ribbing of others. Which to choose, which shiney bag would be enhancing my stash-ahhhh, that one, no that one, no.....ok, just close your eyes and grab, good....now return to seat tightly clutching the slippery, glossy homage to the pionsetta.
Return to good-natured ribbing of others. 16,17,18....Yeah!
Madness ensues with everyone digging and squealing at once. What do I got, what do I got.....
That's right.....sock yarn. It is a lovely variegated called "Strawberry Patch". And a sock pattern. O crap.....be gracious, make a joke, do something quick...that must be the giver staring intently at you. Of all things I coulda said, "Wow, stands to reason-since I'm the only person here who doesn't knit socks!" was probably the most powerfully stupid thing I've said in at least a couple of weeks. I could have laid odds on what happened next. There was the sock knitter's chorus of , "Oh, its easy.""Oh, you can do it.""You'll love it."
Yes, these are exactly the same phrases used by crack-heads to get others to do crack....
I've never told anyone, but secretly I didn't WANT to knit socks. With all those wonderful sweaters, etc. out there waiting to be created in my limited 'stick' time, I just didn't WANT all that time to be eaten by socks.....
I cast on my first sock this morning.......

Wanna new drug

Huey would be soo proud. I found a new drug. Its called Creme Brulee. It tastes like heaven and has real staying power. It stay on your belly, it stays on your hips, it stays Under your chin.

Since I probably would never put in the effort to actually cook up this drug in my own kitchen, I thought I was safe ( i could just see me opening a "Brulee lab" ). Then, woe is me, at the grocery store I found that some evil dairy conglomerate has created a lactose-free coffee creamer...in Creme Brulee flavor. I am lost....utterly lost.

Sooooo.....I take it that I should never taste any?

CubeDog: In the immortal words of Monty Python: "Run away!!!!!!!!!!!"

second verse/same as the first-with gusto

Well, I'm back. I thought yesterday would be the worst of it, but no. I wake up this morning to full-blown, paper bag worthy, "I am the Elephant Man" swelling. What is really wonderful? The paperwork says, "Sometimes it takes 72 hours for the swelling and bruising to be fully realized."


OMG! Something to look forward to! And if you are reading this and saying to yourself , "Oh dental work-yeah you're gonna have a little swelling." Let me tell you....until you have had your cheek pulled over you ear and hung there for 2 hours, you can't even imagine. The closest thing I can think of is plastic surgery without the cutting.


I kid you not, the fluid is all the way up in my eye socket. The great part of all this is that the actual work site doesn't hurt-well, everything is relative... What? No pictures? You could do a really groody up close and personal.....or not. I am waffling on the fence about whether I want to see that or not.
Cubedog: Hmmmm, let me think about it.....uh,no.

I DID have a post all ready to go Friday..then I got may face remodeled. So back to the fun stuff!


Since I have been in this "World-class city" I have seen just about every motor vehicle imaginable-at least the ones legal to drive on US streets, but Friday morning took the prize.


I have seen Lamboghinis, Mazerattis, Rolls Royces, Lotus', super stretch limos, stretch Hummers, and even Target's parking lot security use Segways, but this...I mean.....

Its called a T-Rex. It is a 3 wheeled motorcycle, with 2 seats, a roll cage, a windshield, and a steering wheel. No, it is not a trike. The single wheel is in back. The price STARTS at 49k. They are hand-made in Canada, can go up to 150 mph and get motocycle gas mileage.

Otter: OMGosh....a bike I could actually ride! Do you think the other half would let me ride along with him on the Harley in that thing? Somehow I don't think so.

Cubedog: I think it is the only way I could keep up with any Bike big enough for BigDog AND I could carry a fuzzdog.

When this thing pulled out in traffic, I just had to get a closer look. I actually took photos of it with my phone, but sadly I can't get them to my computer.

Pulled into traffic? You mean there is one loose out there already? Well, ought to smack my forehead....of course your city already has one in it...probably two.

Cubedog: Yep there's a couple in town, Heck, there's a DEALER in town.

I have seen some pretty bazaar things on that interstate, headed your way. I will have to keep my eye out for this one. Surely somebody is going to get in that thing and think "road trip"!

Proof positive that just about anything can happen here.

I think I need a haircut

Its been all of 8 weeks since my last cut. What started out as a cute, modern, youthful cut based loosely on Ashlee Simpson












has somehow morphed into:

About 25 yrs too late.......

Otter: You know you wouldn't mind the hair if you could have the body she once had. OH, oh, and Ashley has the cut I always wanted! Just spike it up a bit on top and it looks like a "Rod Stewart" cut. Hmmmmm......

Otter again: Ugh.....posted this, reread it, and realized I have dated myself. Woe!

CubeDog: Thanks for cleaning and clearing up this post. Oh hell honey, I'd take Farrah's body NOW. gotta be better than what I look at in the mirror!

Color me scared

This situation just popped up on my radar screen. Course this was reported on Nov 21st, but what can I say, I was preoccupied: (I've blocked out names and places to protect MY anonymity, but this was a true, local news report)

XXXXXX COUNTY, Texas --
Xxxxxxx police started testing unmanned aircraft and the event was shrouded in
secrecy, but it was captured on tape by Local # Investigates.
Neighbors in rural Xxxxxx County said they thought a top-secret military venture was under way among the farmland and ranches, some 70 miles northwest of Xxxxxxx. XXXX Local # Investigates had four hidden cameras aimed at a row of mysterious black trucks. Satellite dishes and a swirling radar added to the neighbors' suspense.
Then, cameras were rolling as an unmanned aircraft was launched into the sky
and operated by remote control.

You know the type-like the US Military is using in Iraq and Afganistan.

Xxxxxxx police cars were surrounding the land with a roadblock in place to check each of the dignitaries arriving for the invitation-only event. The invitation spelled out, "NO MEDIA ALLOWED." XXX Chief [H. H.] attended, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and dozens of officers from various police agencies in the Xxxxxxx area. Few of the guests would comment as they left the test site.

All a little "Conspiracy Theory" for ya? Well, there's more:

News Chopper # had a Local # Investigates team following the aircraft for more than one hour as it circled overhead. Its wings spanned 10 feet and it circled at an altitude of 1,500 feet. Operators from a private firm called Insitu, Inc. manned remote controls from inside the fleet of black trucks as the guests watched a live feed from the high-powered camera aboard the 40-pound aircraft.

Apparently this was all supposed to be 'hush-hush':

"I wasn't ready to publicize this," Executive Assistant Police Chief [M.M.]said. She and other department leaders hastily organized a news conference when they realized Local # Investigates had captured the entire event on camera.
"We still haven't even decided how we were going to go forward on this task, so it seemed premature to me to announce this to the media," [M] said. "But since, obviously, the media found out about it(read;o crap-we've been made), then I don't see any reason why just not go forward with what we have so far."

Oh really? Do tell.....Ms. [M.M.] (Emphasis added)

[M] told reporters the unmanned aircraft would be used for "mobility" or traffic issues, evacuations during storms, homeland security, search and rescue, and also "tactical." She admitted that could include covert police actions and she said she was not ruling out someday using the drones for writing traffic tickets.
A large number of the officers at the test site were assigned to the department's ticket-writing Radar Task Force. Capt. [T.R.] insisted they were only there to provide "site security," even though XXXX cameras spotted those officers heavily participating in the test flight.

Y'know, I thought we had laws in this country about this sorta thing...you know the ones...the ones that are supposed to protect the citizens against a police state. Oh yeah, ITS CALLED THE CONSTITUTION!

Wait for it....

XXX leaders said they would address privacy and unlawful search questions later.

riiiiiggghhhhttt...apparently at some point AFTER they set themselves above the FEDERAL GOVT:

Xxxxxxx police contacted XXXX from the test site, claiming the entire airspace was restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Police even threatened action from the FAA if the Local # helicopter remained in the area. However, XXXX reported it had already checked with the FAA on numerous occasions and found no flight restrictions around the site, a point conceded by [M].

I really think OUR local yokels need a good swift kick in the arse.