Just found out that our house 'might' close Tuesday and to make the deal work we only get $500. I busted my ass making that house a good place and to take what amounts to a $13,000 loss ($6k for the realtors and $7k in upgrades) on it just chaps me.
If anyone who reads this rant is considering buying in Tucson in the ghetto south of Broadway, please feel free to drop by for a good pimp-slappin'.
Our next house may be a rebuilder, but it damned sure won't be in the crap part of town.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
House/Cold/Rainy
We're still on hold with the house. We're waiting to see what the bankers say about the appraisal and the fact that the market price for the house is where our deal is currently at. If we're lucky we'll get enough out to cover the moving truck - minus fuel, of course.
It's been cold and rainy here and it's an odd switch to go from 315+ days of sunshine to maybe seeing the sun once a week or two....kinda like Seattle, but without Microsoft.
CP is enjoying her new preschool and having her grandparents and cousins within arms reach most of the time. CP's school has pets and she got to hold the hamster today which was a big hit with her. It's a good place and the LW said that whenever CP's sad about her departure, one of the girls will always pick her up and snuggle her.
I'm getting accustomed to having Bass Pro Shops just up the road. Sheeesh it's nice. Tonight while we were there (getting a work belt for me) they fed the fish in the freshwater tank. At first it was nightcrawlers, but then they started tossing live fish (shad?) into the tank. CP loved it! There was all kinds of fast action for her - it was even more fun than the elevator!
Another big hit for us has been getting Shatto milk in glass jugs. The chocolate is, well, just like the chocolate milk I used to get as a kid - so thick and perfect that it sticks to the walls of the glass forever..... Ohhh....and the Costco here...isn't clogged with snowbirds!! It's amazing...you just walk right in without bumping into anyone!
It's been cold and rainy here and it's an odd switch to go from 315+ days of sunshine to maybe seeing the sun once a week or two....kinda like Seattle, but without Microsoft.
CP is enjoying her new preschool and having her grandparents and cousins within arms reach most of the time. CP's school has pets and she got to hold the hamster today which was a big hit with her. It's a good place and the LW said that whenever CP's sad about her departure, one of the girls will always pick her up and snuggle her.
I'm getting accustomed to having Bass Pro Shops just up the road. Sheeesh it's nice. Tonight while we were there (getting a work belt for me) they fed the fish in the freshwater tank. At first it was nightcrawlers, but then they started tossing live fish (shad?) into the tank. CP loved it! There was all kinds of fast action for her - it was even more fun than the elevator!
Another big hit for us has been getting Shatto milk in glass jugs. The chocolate is, well, just like the chocolate milk I used to get as a kid - so thick and perfect that it sticks to the walls of the glass forever..... Ohhh....and the Costco here...isn't clogged with snowbirds!! It's amazing...you just walk right in without bumping into anyone!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sprint Churn
The term churn = turnover rate of customers. We're with Sprint and have been since I worked there back in 99, but since their coverage in Gardner is crap, we'll probably be bailing soon for Verizon. We're waiting right now to see if the rumors or a Verizon iPhone come true in the coming year. We figured out last night that we could get an iPhone right now, ditch the wireless card, use the iPhone as a modem and still come out $50/month ahead of what we're paying sprint right now. That company seems to be circling the drain and I wonder how long it'll be before it's sold off so that the CEO can keep his golden parachute. Sad that it's a hometown company and it's run by jackoffs.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Appraisal
...this time around $97k. (Previously $118k and then two weeks later $85k)
Current deal price $107k
Defecit $10k
Realizing that you bought a house too close to the ghetto - priceless.
Update: The appraisal report also says that the cover to our $1600 electrical panel that was in perfect condition when we left has gone missing and that there are exposed wires.
Current deal price $107k
Defecit $10k
Realizing that you bought a house too close to the ghetto - priceless.
Update: The appraisal report also says that the cover to our $1600 electrical panel that was in perfect condition when we left has gone missing and that there are exposed wires.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tucson Federal Credit Union
With a slogan like "Better Than a Bank", you'd think that they'd do all that they could to live up to it. Well, at least for the Speedway branch, they do pretty well. The Pantano branch and their fraud department, well, they're the 'slow' cousins that live out back in the trailer.
I got a call a few days before we moved about a suspected charge and told the person on the phone that it wasn't mine and that it wasn't authorized. Great, two days before a major move across the country, I don't have access to any money. Well, the LW still had her card and we were going to be together. That $700 fraudulent charge - "it'll have to sit there for 10 days while we investigate". WTH?? Provisional credit for a good customer who doesn't bounce checks, usually carries at least a $1000 checking balance, has maintained 5 accounts including a business account for more than 4 years, and has borrowed and paid off at least 3 loans? NOPE! I basically got the dual middle finger salute when I asked for a provisional credit on my account while all of this got sorted out. Luckily, I had just sold a dirt bike and had that much sitting in the savings account, but what would have happened if all of my account had been drained? Wait 10 days while my bills start bouncing and overdraft/NSF fees pile up? Better than a bank? Don't think so.
It gets better.
After I went in, waited in line three times (hence the Pantano Branch comment above), filled out the 5 page notarized affidavit and even signed 5 times on one of the pages - the charge that I had originally been called to ask whether or not it should be authorized - cleared on my account followed by another fraudulent charge. Now, after we've moved, I've got to go back through the 5 page affidavit shuffle again. Of course, it asks for the card number - yeah, the one that was canceled, chopped up, and thrown in the trash. I guess, if you're a victim of fraud you're supposed to frame the damned thing and hang it on a wall so you can access the number for the paperwork later.
If you're dealing with Tucson Federal Credit Union, the only reliable person in the place is Jeff B., one of their loan officers. If you're dealing with anyone else, expect the worst and hope for the best.
I got a call a few days before we moved about a suspected charge and told the person on the phone that it wasn't mine and that it wasn't authorized. Great, two days before a major move across the country, I don't have access to any money. Well, the LW still had her card and we were going to be together. That $700 fraudulent charge - "it'll have to sit there for 10 days while we investigate". WTH?? Provisional credit for a good customer who doesn't bounce checks, usually carries at least a $1000 checking balance, has maintained 5 accounts including a business account for more than 4 years, and has borrowed and paid off at least 3 loans? NOPE! I basically got the dual middle finger salute when I asked for a provisional credit on my account while all of this got sorted out. Luckily, I had just sold a dirt bike and had that much sitting in the savings account, but what would have happened if all of my account had been drained? Wait 10 days while my bills start bouncing and overdraft/NSF fees pile up? Better than a bank? Don't think so.
It gets better.
After I went in, waited in line three times (hence the Pantano Branch comment above), filled out the 5 page notarized affidavit and even signed 5 times on one of the pages - the charge that I had originally been called to ask whether or not it should be authorized - cleared on my account followed by another fraudulent charge. Now, after we've moved, I've got to go back through the 5 page affidavit shuffle again. Of course, it asks for the card number - yeah, the one that was canceled, chopped up, and thrown in the trash. I guess, if you're a victim of fraud you're supposed to frame the damned thing and hang it on a wall so you can access the number for the paperwork later.
If you're dealing with Tucson Federal Credit Union, the only reliable person in the place is Jeff B., one of their loan officers. If you're dealing with anyone else, expect the worst and hope for the best.
SMTP Note
To the members of the fam who have sent emails to the business address and not received anything back - I haven't found the SMTP address/pword for Ma & Pa's ISP yet. Gmail works like a champ though.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Downtowner
We (P,K,LW, Me, CP, & ET) went down to the Downtowner for breakfast this morning. Last night at the sleepover/campfire cookout, the LW promised that she'd walk the kids down for breakfast. Well, they were up early and ready, so we walked and the kids rode the tricycle and the bike down to the cafe. It was a hoot and I'm sure that CP will be on the balance bike or the blue bike very soon so she can keep up. They had a blast! It was a lively start to a beautiful day. I even got to wear shorts today for the first time in weeks.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Hmmmpf
Well, the big one down by the park was a bust. It's bank owned and stripped down to the studs. Evidently the previous owner/rehabber wasn't too smart since all of the crown molding and other woodwork that sets this style of home apart were ripped out or sawzalled completely off and covered. Sad, just sad what silly people do to these old houses.
We found another one that we'll look at soon. It's a short sale, so it may or may not go. The only thing so far is the street parking, but we know people in the concrete bidness. Who knows.....
I think that CP has spent her last bit of time at the Olathe YMCA. She doesn't want to go in the mornings and that's just not like her. When we were in T-town, she'd go running out the door to get in the car to go. She doesn't like sleeping where she is now. If I'm going to pay what is essentially a 2nd mortgage payment a month, she'd better be really happy. The LW and I decided to call it today and I don't think she'll go back tomorrow to finish out the week.
We found another one that we'll look at soon. It's a short sale, so it may or may not go. The only thing so far is the street parking, but we know people in the concrete bidness. Who knows.....
I think that CP has spent her last bit of time at the Olathe YMCA. She doesn't want to go in the mornings and that's just not like her. When we were in T-town, she'd go running out the door to get in the car to go. She doesn't like sleeping where she is now. If I'm going to pay what is essentially a 2nd mortgage payment a month, she'd better be really happy. The LW and I decided to call it today and I don't think she'll go back tomorrow to finish out the week.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Off
Off from work again and we'll be heading down near the art museum to look at a big house that's for sale. We wonder if it might be too close to the hood to rent, but it's close to the art institute, UMKC, and Rockhurst College. The taxes on it aren't too much more than what we were paying in Tucson for a 2/1....did I mention that it's an 8br/6ba 3-story? The houses that you see on the map that are west of the park are in the 800k-1.5 mil range.
CP isn't really liking the YMCA. She doesn't like taking naps there and I think that the 'teacher' is dismissive of her feelings. This morning the 'teacher' told the LW that CP's crying was just "putting on a show" and that CP was fine when the LW left yesterday. I don't really want someone with an associates degree in early childhood prerequisites dismissing my kid's feelings. She's bright and she's accustomed to having people listen to what she says. We'll see, but we may be back on the hunt if she's not happy by the end of the week.
CP isn't really liking the YMCA. She doesn't like taking naps there and I think that the 'teacher' is dismissive of her feelings. This morning the 'teacher' told the LW that CP's crying was just "putting on a show" and that CP was fine when the LW left yesterday. I don't really want someone with an associates degree in early childhood prerequisites dismissing my kid's feelings. She's bright and she's accustomed to having people listen to what she says. We'll see, but we may be back on the hunt if she's not happy by the end of the week.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Full Weekend
This weekend was packed full of family outings, sugared up kids, and a visit with extended family from out of town. Saturday we did some running around with CP and enjoyed her meltdown in one of the Olathe Target stores. Yayyy!
We ended up over at Planet Sub - the place we went on my first introduction to the LW's sister and father. Of course, it was after the soccer game where my would be nephew kept kicking the crap out of other soccer players instead of the ball too. CP got to see the firefighters who had been eating run out, suit up, and take off in the fire truck before going in to eat. We ran into a girl that the LW had gone to HS with and had a good time talking to her. Hopefully that'll lead to a play date of some sort because one of her girls is the same age as CP.
After that it was off for the Halloween stuff with the cousins. Wow...those kids were funny and they all scored big on the candy. I'm working on the photos now, but it's taking forever because I have a full 2G card with stuff from before the move that I haven't had time to get unloaded/processed.
Today we took off early to go to Carrollton to visit Gramma Great, Aunt Lani, and the rest of the Backes siblings. It was a good day and CP really enjoyed the time outside picking up pecans. We cracked some later and she loved it. It was a good evening drive back across the corn and soybean fields.
We ended up over at Planet Sub - the place we went on my first introduction to the LW's sister and father. Of course, it was after the soccer game where my would be nephew kept kicking the crap out of other soccer players instead of the ball too. CP got to see the firefighters who had been eating run out, suit up, and take off in the fire truck before going in to eat. We ran into a girl that the LW had gone to HS with and had a good time talking to her. Hopefully that'll lead to a play date of some sort because one of her girls is the same age as CP.
After that it was off for the Halloween stuff with the cousins. Wow...those kids were funny and they all scored big on the candy. I'm working on the photos now, but it's taking forever because I have a full 2G card with stuff from before the move that I haven't had time to get unloaded/processed.
Today we took off early to go to Carrollton to visit Gramma Great, Aunt Lani, and the rest of the Backes siblings. It was a good day and CP really enjoyed the time outside picking up pecans. We cracked some later and she loved it. It was a good evening drive back across the corn and soybean fields.
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