HAPPY TO BE FROM IOWA

My strongly worded email

2009-11-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

Hello Homeq,

I understand a local real estate agency was able to squash our short sale.

Another appraisal opinion was offered, and Homeq saw reason and agreed the short sale price offered was a good deal, But because of the wrench thrown in by Edina Realty and their asinine BPO, the buyer has backed out. Our agents are scramblinig to find another buyer, but your agency (Edina) has informed us that it's all over tomorrow.

We have experienced a horrendous job and income loss after many years of faithful mortgage payments. Immediately we contacted Homeq, but have gotten nothing but vague and ridiculous answers, indifference, lies, and the age-old run-around.

I am asking that Homeq do at least one decent thing in this nightmare: just sell as quickly as possible and call it a short sale - thereby keeping a full foreclosure away from our credit rating.

It's the absolute very least you can do, which would be the most you've done so far.

You can be fully assured I will be contacting newspapers, congress reps, senators, and anyone else who will listen to this tale of cruel corporate policy.

Sincerely,
Mnmom

It's done

2009-11-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

Anne Laue at Edina Realty of Northfield, MN has had her way.
That's Edina Realty
1281 Bollenbacher Drive
Northfield, MN 55057
Main: (507) 645-4491
Toll Free: (800) 646-4491
Fax: (507) 645-5109

She effectively stopped the short sale of our home, and it will go into foreclosure. Their office will then sell it for far less than the short sale offer, and even FURTHER away from the offer we made the mortgage company last year.

But hey, they'll keep the whole commission, which is what it's all about right? Who I am, a poor working stiff trying to salvage a tiny slice of a credit rating when a few thousand dollars of commission for a large real estate company is at stake?? How are our million-dollar companies supposed to survive when greedy little families like mine irresponsibly find themselves laid-off?? Since we made the bone-headed decision to be good homeowners and taxpayers, why should we expect any mercy when someone needs a commission?? Or needs a giant loss that their tax guys can use as a write-0ff? I don't have any lobbyists working for me, so what did I expect anyway? Reason? Fairness?

Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

UPDATE: I wrote a "strongly worded" email to our mortgage company late today - they emailed our real estate agent and told them to "keep finding buyers and don't listen to Edina Realty". I have officially fallen down the rabbit hole.

Random thoughts for a rainy November day

2009-11-03T14:41:00.000-08:00

1. I hear there's another Sarah Palin book coming out. Fits the American pattern. Take something that's mediocore at best and just keep producing it. Like Kraft dinners.

2. I'm homesick. I miss my house and I want to go home. Grief is a process - a process that really sucks.

3. How do vegetarians resist the juicy salty rich smell of cooking meat?

4. The amount of people who love me confounds me greatly - I'm not that neat.

5. It's our 19th anniversary today! We celebrated by having the cable guy show up and fix the TV.

6. Twin #1 is in a musical this weekend and I haven't purchase tickets yet. BAD MOM!

7. I need my physical surroundings in order - the chaos here is not good for me.

8. I wonder if the Universe wanted me in a tiny kitchen so I'd learn to slow down and not make such a freaking mess.

9. Cupcake is on the mend! So far H1N1 has been doable.

10. I really like my job - I'm very lucky!!!

We're In!

2009-11-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Our move went quite well.

First we were totally blown away and humbled by the help and support on Saturday.

Here's a run down.

1. The following people showed up to lift, tote, and schlep almost all day and deserve a huge shout-out: Ken #1, Ken #2, Kathy, Kody, Dale, Tom and his truck, Amy #1 and her truck who amazed me with her physical strength, teen friends Mark, Easton, and Joseph.

2. The following brought things: Amy #2 brought pop, cookies and a housewarming gift. Phil and LuAnn brought hot cookies, Jane also brought hot cookies, Lucy helped unpack and brought a giant carafe of coffee from the local coffeehouse. Jeanne brought a bag of crackers, cheese, and sausage then ran home because her youngest has H1N1.

3. And even THIS:
Kathy not only schleped all day, but made a warm lunch for all involved. It was a sunny but chilly day.
Cousin-but-more-like-a-sister Sarah brought her trailer and pick up, and hauled box after box and plenty of heavy furniture. Then helped us settle in that night.
Vicki brought a pot of chili, cornbread, salad, and ice cream bars on Sunday.
Laura spent most of Friday afternoon helping me pack, and cleaning out the frig.
Deana came over despite a nasty case of Lymes Disease to offer moral support. For Deana this is huge - just driving across town wipes her out.
Sister Shirley and her daughter came up Sunday to help unpack. They brought a great lunch with them and bought us some curtains to cover the laundry closet.

Our cupcake stayed at a friend's house Saturday after trick-or-treating but came home sick the next morning. I'm pretty sure it's H1N1 - her school is full of it. Poor thing has a huge headache and a fever, but Ibuprofen keeps it in check.

But otherwise, a very successful move. Now bring on the good luck!!!

The Big Move

2009-10-30T15:55:00.001-07:00

The Big Move is tomorrow!!

We've already moved lots of little things, and tomorrow is all the big chunks. We'll be sleeping in Tiny tomorrow night.

This move is filled with sorrow and hope. Sorrow to leave my house, but hope about putting bad karma behind us and looking forward.

The new house is small, and finding a place for the necessities is a real challenge. Today one of my best friends, Laura, spent all afternoon with me boxing up the kitchen. Get this - she even cleaned out my frig!!! I absolutely hate that chore. How's that for a good friend??

So I will be without computer for a few days. Hope to be back online by Tuesday.

Migraine

2009-10-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

I left work early with a migraine. I haven't had one of those in years. The lights were like daggers, every noise was like a jackhammer, moving my head was like labor pains.

Anyone else get these?

I think all the stress I'm under brought it on. Luckily for me, mine are not the 24-48 hour marathons that some people go through. I came home, loaded up on drugs, and slept.

I'm hopeful this was the "breakdown" my mental state needed to deal with all this crap. I just felt "something" coming on, and am relieved that it wasn't a murderous rage through Edina Realty with a shotgun, a Glock, and a machete. I mean, I don't even own any of those! Imagine the planning involved!

On the Edina Realty note: no word yet on the appraisal review by the mortgage company.

Local Kid goes Abroad

2009-10-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

A local recent HS graduate, Sam E., is on a year of Rotary exchange in Japan. This kid is amazing - smart as a whip, funny, engaging, and really going places. The fact that he doesn't speak Japanese isn't stopping him one bit. I predict you'll be seeing this kid on a national political stage someday. You read it here first.

I didn't know until today that he's blogging while living with a host family. Check out his adventures in fishery school!

Doing a year abroad through Rotary is almost expected of high-achieving HS grads here. Is it my imagination or are current teens just a bit more focused than we were?

Halloween Carols

2009-10-26T19:01:00.001-07:00

2009 Halloween Bummer

2009-10-25T21:00:00.001-07:00

I love Halloween - I have since I was a tiny kid. But this year is a bit of a bummer. We're in the middle of moving, and the big push will be Halloween Saturday. So I can't decorate, and we'll barely have time to carve pumpkins. I'm NOT giving that up - move or no move.

I think my brother actually WORE this costume once.
Love how it's FLAME RETARDED!

As a kid, I loved the creepy weather around Halloween, and our local cartoon show (Dr. Max out of Cedar Rapids Iowa) would get us in the mood with old scary cartoons. Waiting those long hours after school and through dinner was like torture. You'd start to hear other kids hitting the streets and you were just SURE that if you didn't get your costumed-ass out there, you'd miss all the candy.

My favorite treat was popcorn balls - remember when people would actually give you homemade stuff?? I lived for the popcorn balls. And some weird old coot was always pawning off Bit-O-Honey or black licorice. Blech!

We'd plan our costume for months. Usually it was something my Mom put together, but once in a while she'd let us pick out something at Ben Franklin. Remember those cheap-ass things? They were in shreds by the end of the night.

My 1st sister and I, probably about 1968.

I've made some great costumes for my own kids over the years too:
One year I made the cutest little witchy capes and stuffed giant witch hats with newspaper for the twins - they were almost three - they were the most adorable things. Another year I made them "troll" costumes by sewing up a big dress out of camo fabric, shredding the hem, and adding patches. Then we messed up black wigs and added sticks and leaves. When youngest was 2, we dressed her all in white: sweatshirt, turtleneck, and sweatpants. Then added pink bunny ears and a fluffy tail.

Costumes here can be difficult. It's usually about 30 degrees which makes the princess or the ballerina outfit a real challenge. Every year there's some kid in tears because he's got to wear his winter jacket over the coolest outfit ever.

There's not enough room to tell you about Halloween in college. For a bunch of poor kids we had some great costumes. One year my best pal and I went as the "Bruces" from Monty Python. No one recognized us, until later when we were stumbling home and guy dressed as Godzilla said "G'day Bruce!". We screamed and laughed and became his best friends. My sister once wore the perfect rendition of a giant bag of weed, complete with a tissue paper doobie twisted high above her head. We dressed one friend as Colonel Sanders, but we needed a KFC bucket to complete the look. When we walked into the local franchise, I thought the staff was going to collectively pee their pants.

I do love Halloween - I'll just do it up even BETTER next year!

Showing the True Colors

2009-10-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

Is it my imagination, or is the core of the GOP getting meaner with each passing day?

Blocking a rape victim's rights to report the crime to the proper authorities.

Screaming "Communism" at the idea of healthcare for all.

Advocating the assassination of a sitting President.

Hating on the sick and the elderly.

Shouting out during a Presidential address like a common baboon.

Intentionally spreading vicious lies about the opposition.

Cheering when an American city does not get the Olympic nod.

Spewing venom when an American receives the Nobel Peace Prize.

They aren't even TRYING to hide behind the Compassionate Conservative label anymore, are they?

Idiot or Stress? Challenge #2

2009-10-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to our next installment of IDIOT or STRESS?

Through all this new job-moving-house sale-recession business, I've been neglecting my supper duties. Actually I've been neglecting all the cozy-Mommy duties.

So today I get up early, throw in some laundry, pack a bag supper for Twin #1, and put a chicken dinner in the crock pot. Then I head out for a full 7-hour work day.

After work, I pick up kids, and go to the grocery store.

Then we head home for our dinner.

Only to find I never plugged in the crock pot.

You tell me. IDIOT or STRESS?

This had better be a Halloween Prank

2009-10-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

You've got to be freakin kidding me!!!!!!

Our mortgage company has turned down our short sale.

YES! Turned down a legit buyer with cash in hand, and no contingencies. After the agent AND the appraiser agreed it was a great price given the current value of homes in our area.

Here's the kicker - it's all because a local real estate agent told them she thinks she can sell it for $40G's more. Yes, that would be the extra $40G's we offered them LAST FREAKING YEAR!

This agent either:
1. smokes more crack than an LA pimp.
2. has a buyer interested, and wants the whole commission to herself.
3. or stands to make more money selling a foreclosure.

Either way, how completely unethical to trash a local family's credit for a few thousand dollars. And she WON'T sell it for more. All the homes surrounding this one are going for less or sitting empty, and winter is coming on.

Should I give you the name, phone number, and email of the snake?

Because sometimes you just need to bitch

2009-10-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

New things and old things that make me cranky. I can't be positive ALL the time.

1. 107.1 FM has let Kevyn Burger go for no apparent reason. This is the woman who invited me on her show and let me do my silly ranting and raving. She's an exceptional woman and I can't even begin to understand this decision.

2. Breast Cancer sucks. A friend has been diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer. In the breast cancer world, IBC is a most horrid demon. She has 3 kids from about 7 to 15. She's a tough woman, and if anyone can fight this beast she can. But pray/think/send love for her anyway.

3. Snow and cold in October. A friend's blog sums it up best.

4. Moving. The house is ripped up, boxes everywhere, nothing looks or feels cozy.

5. Why can't kids put their dishes IN the dishwasher?

6. Why must my teens spread their homework, sweatshirts, etc. all over the couch AND the kitchen chairs?

7. Johnny C and I are just bugging the living bejeebus out of each other. I'm sure it's the stress.

8. Because of the move, I'm not decorating the front porch for Halloween - and I just LOVE Halloween!! Maybe I should just do it anyway.

9. Nothing over the counter can stop the congestion in my head and ears. I'm ready for some street drugs - whaddya got?

10. The GOP has stripped away all pretense of Compassion and is doing the full-court mean. At least the beast is finally unveiled. They just really hate the poor, women, blacks, hispanics, the sick, etc. don't they? Must take a lot of energy to keep all that hate aflame.

Petless

2009-10-12T18:47:00.000-07:00

We are now officially a no-pet family.

Yesterday, after much wrangling, we got the scaredy-cat into a carrier, and she went to my friend Mary's farm. There she'll happily hunt mice in all Mary's outbuildings, and befriend Mary's pot-belly pig, 3 dogs, and 4 other cats. The scaredy-cat wasn't adoptable so the Humane Society wouldn't take her. Luckily Mary wanted a good mouser who didn't need affection. Scaredy Cat to the rescue!!!

Anyone want to adopt the most adorable cat ever??? Go the the Rice County Humane Society and click on "Adoption Information" and see our cat May. She needs a really good home - she's tiny and sweet and loving and oh-my-breaking-heart I want her back.

All the cat paraphernalia is going into the garage sale pile.

In a strange way, I'm rather relieved this is all over and decided. No more pooper-scooping. No more smelly cat food. No more vet bills. No more worrying when they don't come home at night. No more chewed up bird bodies in my path. And mostly no more cat hair.

How did a dog person end up like this????

Interesting Morning

2009-10-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

We woke to find the above all over town. Yes, that would be actual snow, on October 10th. For you folks who think Minnesota is like this year round, I'm telling you that just ain't the truth. Our falls can be beautiful, and our normal temp for early October is the low 60's. Not the low 40's we're having today.

When cupcake woke up I said, "Hey Honey, look outside!"
She did and said "SNOW! Jesus!"

Rounded up my pumpkin crop for a group photo. No, my bench isn't painted white - that's the snow that was supposed to melt soon but isn't. These pumpkins were quite satisfying to grow. If you have about 12-20 square feet of dirt to spare, I highly suggest planting these lovelies.

Here are other interesting happenings this morning:
Our new landlord is selling some lovely furniture. My neighbor, Lang, who is Vietnamese and speaks very little English is interested. I'm helping "broker" the sale. I love this neighbor and we discovered that another relative of hers lives right across the street from our new rental.

Dropping off Twin #1 at musical practice and noticing she's become quite attached to a pair of leopard print leggings I used to wear 1989 - 1992. I was quite the fox, let me tell you. Have to admit the extra 3" on her legs make them look a lot better.

I have another cold but I swear my complete obsession with Emergen-C is holding it to a minimum. I mix a packet with a bit of Gatorade or OJ about 3 times a day when I start to feel that sore-throaty feeling. This was not a paid endorsement. Wish it were though.

Just Don't

2009-10-08T19:15:00.001-07:00

When your ten-year-old daughter and her friend ask if they can make brownies, and they PROMISE to clean up, say NO. Unless you want to hear the following:

3:10 pm - "MOM! Where's the big green mixing bowl?"
3:11 pm - "MOM! Where's the cocoa?"
"What??!!"
"No, it's not there! We're out! You have to drive to the store and get some!"
"Oh, you mean in THAT cupboard. Why didn't you just say so?"
3:13pm - "MOM!!! How do we measure this oil?"
"We don't have that kind of measuring cup!"
"Oh, you mean THAT glass measuring cup that says PYREX in red letters."
3:14pm - "MOM! Can I use potholders to wipe up broken eggs from the floor?"
3:17pm - "MoooooMMM! I forgot to lock the mixer before I turned it on!"
3:19pm - "MOM!!!! Why is the batter so runny?"
3:20pm - "MOOOOOOMMMM! Will you come here and put them in the oven?
The oven is too hot!"
3:22pm - "MOM! How do we set the timer?"
3:23pm - "YES MOM! I said we'll clean and we will . . . . . . . . later"
4:20pm - "Yesssssssss, I cleaned up. I didn't spill all that flour, cocoa, and sugar on the counter"
4:21pm - "Well, you didn't tell me I had to wipe down the mixer too!!!!"
4:22pm - "Mom, we're going to go ride our bikes, can you listen for the buzzer?"
4:47pm - "Geez Mom, all you had to do was wash a few dishes and wipe down the mixer. Why are you so grumpy?"

It's no wonder some mammals eat their young.

Question of the Century

2009-10-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

I say it's CAR-mul, with a barely audible short "a" sound in the middle. Like it's meant to be. The way most honest and wonderful people say it. The pronunciation that reflects the buttery goodness of it. That conjurs images of homemade waxed-paper bundles that create feelings of safety and world harmony.

Some very weird people and advertisers say CARE-a-mel, which is just so wrong on so many levels that I stress out just thinking about it. Which makes it sound like something concocted in the back room of a local Wal-Mart, for mass distribution to area Kwik Trips.

Which one are YOU?

May have to rethink my scorn

2009-10-05T20:59:00.001-07:00

OK, I may have to stop making fun of Brett Favre and his lack of decision-making skills. Because that was one DECISIVE win over the Packers.

We're survivors

2009-10-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

Yep, life is pretty hard right now but don't worry.

I'm a survivor!

My family and I will emerge for this challenge bigger and better. We're going to pare down and live lean. We're going to focus on what's really important - meaning each other and our friends and family.

As long as we have a kitchen table, and a campfire, we'll be fine.

As long as we have a safe place to lay our heads at night, we'll be fine.

As long as we have a roof over our heads and some food in the oven, we'll be fine.

This situation is temporary. Hope is alive and well. And to tell the truth, it's not the worst thing that's ever happened to anyone and I should really just quit my whining about it. Occasional pain is part of life, and I've had a lot of it lately, but I'm still here, still laughing, still smiling, still loving my husband and kids.

Life is still good, and beats the alternative.

What's worse than a broken heart?

2009-10-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

Here's what's worse; watching your child's heart break.

We had to turn our cats over to the Humane Society today. The rental doesn't allow cats, and we couldn't find them homes. So we put our loves in the kennel and gave them up.

It was so much harder than I anticipated. God Help Me I fell in love with those stinkers. They followed me everywhere outside, and loved us as much as cats could. I'll miss their placid faces watching me garden. I'll miss their soft purring. I'll miss their unconditional love.

But by far the hardest part has been watching my 10-year-old cupcake fall to pieces. She says it's like a bad dream, and she wants to wake up. Feels like abusing your own child. How do you explain this to a child? How do you rip her living furry soft loves out of her arms because you can't afford them, and can't take them to a rental? How does she forgive us?

Why Universe????
Why take away my husband's job, then our livelihood, then our home, now our pets??
I seriously want some answers . . . . now.

The Decision is Made!!!

2009-09-28T14:02:00.001-07:00

We've FINALLY found a rental! The kids have taken to calling her "Tiny" because that's what she is, tiny. But the place is adorable and like new. The owner had renovated and tried to sell, but lucky for us . . couldn't. Tiny is about 1/2 mile north of our current place, so not much disruption for the kids. We'll be downsizing for sure, as about 1/3 of our stuff will be in storage.

These photos give you an idea - the furniture belongs to the owner - she was staging it for sale.

It has 3 small bedrooms, 2 full baths, and 1 powder room. The backyard is big enough for that all-important campfire. The garage is one stall, so we'll just have to make that work. And starting this weekend, Johnny C. will be building a mud room.

This is the master bath - I'm so short I can only see myself from the neck up. Perhaps that's for the best!
The sad part is that we can't bring the cats, so we're trying to find them homes. Our emotions on this point swing back and forth between relief and grief. Much like leaving our current home. Talk about stress on the life-change scale!!!

The entire kitchen/eating/living area. We'll have to get creative. Right now we're building (yes, building) a long dining table that will use cabinets for a base = more storage. We've also got these groovy mid-century modern loveseats that will go in the sitting area. Luckily there is a family room in the lower level for the big comfy couch and TV. And we have to get the piano in there somewhere. Putting it in storage is out of the question!

So there you have it. Let the move begin!
On to the next adventure!

The Hawkeyes may just kill Joe Pa

2009-09-26T20:44:00.001-07:00

Once again, the Iowa Hawkeyes have been the sliver under Joe Paterno's pinky nail! Tonight we beat them 18-10 in a rough game at the Penn State home stadium. The Nittany Lions just couldn't catch a break against Iowa. Like I said last year, Iowa continues to be the raspberry seed in their wisdom tooth.

Joe Pa goes to sleep and has nightmares filled with Hawkeye fans! No matter where they're playing - the black and gold hordes follow them. Taking up the good seats, smiling their corn-fed grins, being all happy, and giving the "white-out" a black eye.

Between the trapeze bars

2009-09-25T20:32:00.001-07:00

I'm between the trapeze bars . . . .
That's a phrase my sister uses about these stages of life when you've let go, or been pushed, from a position of comfort and you're hanging there, just hanging there, not knowing if you'll grab the next bar, fall into the net, or crash into the hard earth.

Waiting for the economy to turn
Waiting for a rental decision
Waiting for the water to boil
Waiting for the heartburn medication to kick in
Waiting for Johnny C to get out of the shower
Waiting for the cats to come in for the night
Waiting for either twin to call and say it's time to pick them up
Waiting for the dryer to finish
Waiting for the tide to come in
Waiting for health care reform
Waiting for some good news
Waiting for Michael to give me the disc he burned of "Glee", and to see his Europe pictures
Waiting for the next Netflix to arrive
Waiting for payday
Waiting for the kids to put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher
Waiting for a break

Old Women Rock!

2009-09-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

If you don't already know them, please let me introduce Margaret and Helen. Two old broads who can tell it like it is. And they've got quite a following! I've been reading them off and on for two years, and am now finally adding them permanently to my blogroll.

You're welcome!

You are going to get SO SICK of me!

2009-09-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

I know you're getting sick of hearing about our housing situation, but it's all I can think about right now. As soon as that is decided, I'll get back to bitchin and moaning about politics and other annoyances.

Here's our options now:

1. The tiny house I mentioned last time - we'll give them an answer by Friday.
2. A rambler in the country that needs some work but is on a drop-dead beautiful acreage, and I've always dreamed of a nice country setting just outside town. This is it. But on various summer days it may or may not smell like turkeys and pigs, both of which reside within one mile. Haven't seen the inside yet.
3. A huge victorian with a nice yard and large garage. Haven't seen the inside yet.
4. A cute little split level that has great room, but needs some walls removed and new paint throughout. In the same neighborhood as the tiny house. It's up for auction Wednesday, and an investor friend might buy it and rent to us until we can get a loan to buy it.

This is killing me. I'm one of those people who needs home to be all settled and nice. Not disheveled and with all my favorite things in boxes. How long they'll stay in boxes is anyone's guess. Am I too materialistic? I just want to have my Dansk dishes and my Mom's china available for use.