Katrina's Nonsoapy Journal

May 7, 2004
10:30am

Today is the day! I can't believe it's finally going to be over! I am so very excited! This all only started the end of February, which is two and a half months ago, but it seems like forever. I can barely remember living in the old house, not imagining that the owner would decide to sell it. Now, not even three months later, we're closing escrow on our dream house. I have lived here for just over a month and I still love it every single day. Other than the remote location (which of course, has its benefits and I am growing more used to it every day) and the tiny kitchen (grrr), it is absolutely perfect. I am so grateful to be here and so glad that situations have worked out for the sale to go through. The interest rate is terrible and the payments are high, but that is something we can renegotiate later. I also am noticing that after two months of being on the market, our old house still doesn't have an offer on it. The average selling time in that area is 5 days after its put on the market.

Our landlords managed to suck up all of our security deposit on one thing or another, but did a lot of "& misc," which I don't appreciate. I want an accounting of every dime of our money that was spent and we have a call in to request a more detailed itemization. Also, Eric noticed that the property manager was outside of his required 21 day limit for letting us know how the deposit was being handled, which means they forfeit any right to it and have to return the whole thing. Normally, I would have some ethically snigglings about it because we do legitimately owe for some things (I didn't clean the oven, stuff like that), but these people treated us ONLY within the absolute boundaries of legalities. When we asked them things like "You knew two weeks before we were told that the house was going on the market, why didn't you give us a heads up after three and a half years of tenancy?" they would answer with "It's not personal, it's just business. It wasn't our place to tell you." They must have said that about 4-5 different things that would have been very easy for them to extend a professional courtesy and they couldn't be bothered, simply because they didn't have to. Now, when Eric tells them that we will be getting our entire deposit back, I'm sure they'll be saying things like, "Are you kidding? That house needed cleaning! The carpets were pulled up! After you were late on rent TWICE?" Eric can say, "It's nothing personal, it's just business." How fast it comes around!

The realtor selling our old house never responded to my letter informing her of the thefts and now I have to decide whether or not to press forward by calling the licensing board and company that handles the lock boxes. My realtor told me that was the course of action to take. Part of me says to write it off and part of me says to follow through, especially since she couldn't be bothered to even reply to the e-mail or snail mail letters I sent.

So today we sign and on Monday, the sellers sign and on Tuesday, it all closes and is a done deal. Fortunately, we have no mortgage due in June, so that will give us a month to recuperate. We also learned that we owe the sellers an additional $600 for rent of this month, prorated until the 11th. Expenses keep cropping up out of nowhere.

This is what my two calla lilies look like now that the deer found them. The patch of dirt is where my new, colorful callas have been planted. I wasn't convinced they would come up this year. Still not sure. It's very sad to go from the pictures below to the pictures above.

I miss my lilies very much, but I also recognize that with the first ones being stolen and the last ones being eaten, it's altogether possible that my time with them is finished. Like with any dear friend, I can recognize when it may be time for them to leave my life path, but I sure do miss them. The bulbs are in there, so I'm sure they'll come back to visit. Meanwhile, I plan to work on a deer fence. In the mean time, a garden is likely out for this year. Ah well, things are going to (I hope) be more stable and relaxed next year anyway.

Wow! This mountain misery stuff blooms! Little pretty white things!

We also have these little yellow things everywhere.

The big oak trees to the left are the ones that just last week, Eric was saying, I wonder if these are ever going to bud? :) I love the little tippy top things on the pine trees. This one is about 25-30 feet tall. Love the zoom feature!

Handsome boy!

DAMN! The mortgage company just called and said there's a mistake on the title papers and they'll call on Monday and "let us know" when we can come in to sign. What a disappointment. I am going to presume that the delay is in our favor, but now the rent racks up even more. :( Eric is really sad.

Guess I should go cheer him up. I guess I'll have to work hard to not have a tense weekend in the house. Having Joe and Sandra here will help. They're a nice distraction.

Gonna go pout, be done with it and clean my house. Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
K

Life it seems so difficult
But yet the silence speaks
Within a quiet whisper
I find the love I seek

Being all alone now
Reflecting in this peace
I see a circle flowing
Knowing it will increase

Time in life so precious
With all our hopes and fears
But there beside the ripples
Smoothness now appears

I see my own reflection
Yet I am not alone
All of you are there for me
Such love my heart now owns.

UPDATE, 11:30AM

Well, we found out what was going on. :( I turns out that while preparing the title papers for today, the title company learned that the sellers have allowed the house to go into foreclosure to the tune of $16,000 (yes, that's THOUSAND) and until that amount is rectified, the house cannot be sold. That is $16,000 OVER what the house will be sold for. The loan officer is trying to work some magic to make it happen and we will know more about it on Monday. Meanwhile, we're in limbo and the rent for the month is accruing, which will have to be paid in addition to the closing costs. The interest rate isn't really something that worries us. It's just getting the house locked in that's so critical. Talk about the last minute. We were due to leave for the signing in about an hour. Of course, US coming up with the $16,000 is more miracle than even St Jude can handle, I think. We have to hope some miracle comes through to make the paperwork fly. We really need your prayers to get this to happen. I think if I have to move again because the house forecloses over something that isn't even our doing, I'll likely shoot myself.

I am going to continue to believe that the delay will be in our benefit and that the lender, broker and seller can work this out and the deal can go through. Meanwhile, I intend to have a wonderful weekend with my son and daughter-in-law.

Hug your mom!

Love,
K

Look! This came in as I was writing my update:

Two traveling angels

   *Keep reading to the bottom of the page -- don't stop at the feet (You'll see).*

   Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.

   The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room.

     Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.

       As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

   When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."

   The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.

   After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

   When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

   Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

     The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?

   The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused.

   The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.

   "Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.

"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."

   "Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.

   Things aren't always what they seem."

   Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things
   don't turn out the way they should. If you have
   faith, you just need to trust that every out come
   is always to your advantage. You just might not
   know it until some time later...

It's an oldie, but wow! Talk about timing!!

Love,
K