Good news: The closing went through fine, we got the house! Yay!
We moved in just under the mild ice storm. Yay!
Our cable modem and service crapped out on us, but luckily our neighbors, both of them, have completely unprotected wireless networks. Yay!
I won't be able to check emails and stuff for a day or so, until the cable is fixed.
So, my realtor suggests calling the lawyer handling the closing to find out what the exact amount I should bring (via certified check) would be.
"Ahh, yes, Mr... Kitkowski, right? Here it is. You need to bring in a certified check for... lessee... $54,649.07."
Yeah, I just about shit my pants.
Turns out there was a "Heh, little misunderstanding". They got the loan information for the 80% mortgage, but hadn't received the paperwork for the second mortgage yet. Called my mortgage guy, great guy, but apparently there was some last minute changes that needed to be made (no change in the price or rate or anything, just the lender). So he called them and worked it out.
But for about 10 seconds I sat there holding the phone, my knuckles going white, my head screaming (as this was a nightmare that I ACTUALLY HAD a few times recently- Something not working out right in the end, something that I forgot to do, some critical step that I missed, etc) trying to figure out what the problem was. Luckily I picked up on the fact that that was roughly the amount of money for closing PLUS the amount it would be if I didn't have the second mortgage.
"Hmmm. I think there's some sort of misunderstanding..." I began. I don't recall much after that. The rest of work was me doing my work, making numerous address change calls (credit card, etc), utility install calls, etc on the side. It's 10 hours later, and the adrenaline rush finally wore off completely, I think. I can sorta eat now.
Tomorrow I'll call the lawyer back and find out how much to really REALLY bring this time. We'll probably end up swinging by Wachovia on the way to the closing at this rate. I hate when details get hung up and have to fall together at the last minute. I'm assured that everything's fine, but everything won't be fine until I get the keys to the house, move in on Saturday, and sleep there one night without the house exploding or getting sucked into a singularity.
Went to the doctor today for a followup on the wrist (light tendonitis- the computer geek's curse). Hand's pretty much fine, now, though.
222. Lost one pound in 2 weeks. Acceptable, since:
1) We don't move until next Friday, wherein I will create my Gym and begin, in ernest, The Routine
2) I am a lazy bastard. It got cold out (freezing) and that became my handy excuse for not running in the AM.
But, it's slowly happening. I pulled out my Excel Spreadsheet Exercise thingy, and am... well... following it every other day or so. It's pretty simple stuff at this point: Pushups, Chinups, Situps, Jogging. When I move, though, I expect a frenzy of movement and activity.
Also, just scheduled a 90 minute session at La Therapie in Cary for my "Vacation Week After Moving", so things are falling into place. Got my nightguard adjusted this AM, hopefully less migraines when I wake up in the AM, we'll see about that.
Kinda rambling at this point, so I'll quit while I'm ahead.
Back when I bought www.coffeefag.com as an inside joke a year ago to celebrate my buddy Scott from work, who is one coffee-drinking mutha, I planned on doing more with it. I just got my 30-day renewal notice. I think I'm just going to go ahead and let it go...
Goodbye, coffeefag.com. Goodbye.
The Death Sentence has been issued for the Ford Taurus. 1994 model, bought in 2001 for $2K less than the Blue Book rate at the time, from a family leaving the US. You served us well. The transmission folks said:
1) Happens all the time with the Ford Taurus.
2) It would cost $1600-1800 to replace.
Not that we're cheap or don't have the cash, but for that money we can either get another great used car or put it towards a new car. So goodbye Taurus. It still runs but is on its last legs. Now we decide whether to donate it to NPR, sell it to a junkyard, or put it on sale for a car buff who wouldn't mind screwing around with the transmission...
Maybe I'll buy a new bike this weekend.
Yesterday I started getting noises coming from the engine of my car when I started it up. Turns out to be a transmission problem, which can range from a few hundred dollars all the way up to scrapping the car (If it costs more than 1K we'll just either give it to NPR or sell it to a junkyard). That will leave the two of us with one car.
I've been wanting to rid a bike to work for a while now, maybe it's time to start looking for a good mountain bike... 1K buys me wheels, 90 minutes of exercise a day, plus there's no gas or insurance to worry about. It's starting to sound better by the minute.
...and just as I saw that, I look outside: The spring-like sunny day has been overtaken by storm clouds. Looks like it might get bad. There will be days like that if I get a bike...
223. 223? 223.
Wow. That number symbolizes a lot of things, but mostly getting my fat, flabby ass back into the gym. I've been using kg and miscalculating. I will be 180 by next holiday season. I was planning on waiting until I move, when I build my home gym, but drastic numbers call for drastic measures. The new exercise plan goes into effect today.