Repairs

We've lived here 25 years. Yesterday an orange tag was left on our door knob. The city will be replacing the curb across the bottom of our drive. No question it needs to be done.

The tag said the driveway would not be usable starting today at 7am! Later in the afternoon Bob flagged down a worker and ended up calling the city department.

The work may or may not happen this week. It's more likely it will happen next week.

I feel it was rude to tell us June 30 and then admit it might be 10 days before they tear out the existing curb, frame up and pour the new one. Then there's the cure days before the driveway will be available. At least we were notified.

We leave tomorrow and return July 12. July 13 one of our cars will need to be available for Bob's next business trip.

In the end, we are parking the old red van out on the street with the orange tag visible in the windshield. If the drive is not available July 12, Bob will take the gold van and leave me with the lovely red van. I'm more comfortable leaving the old beater out there without a garage door opener. I doubt anyone will bother a 1996 scarred minivan.

'til later

Another Chance

Bob and I met with a banker at PNC yesterday. He took about 25 minutes with us and answered our questions.

My biggest frustration was that no longer could we transfer from our passbook savings account into our checking account either on line or over the phone. Plus, paying our Visa card issued by and listed on line with PNC easily or schedule a payment in advance.

The passbook has been replaced with a money market account. This morning I transferred some of those funds and paid the Visa bill. I still can not schedule a payment ahead but maybe this will serve us just fine.

We were anxious about our business pre-printed deposit slips but the bank will route the transaction to the correct account.

Plus, Bob's pension is a direct deposit. We have a form coming to establish the correct routing number and account number but will not complete this important task in time for his next expected pension deposit. The banker said it will also be redirected to the correct account.

The controlling person within me will be checking online daily to assure funds are where they need to be, when they need to be.

'til later

Hit Me!

It's been said that picking stock is like playing roulette and investing in general is like playing craps.

Gamblers struggle to leave the tables whether they're winning or not.

They are like the government spending our way out of this recession, teetering on depression. Uncle Sam has tunnel vision. Spend and explode the debt. It's almost as if he doesn't care about the future. The next bet will be the big winner.

I don't like living with this gambler. I see no common sense way that anyone can buy their way out of economic problems. Will we be led into inflation problems or deflation problems?

So many are against profits. How can they be for these huge debts?

'til later

Banking Disappointments

Bob and I are going to the bank tomorrow and meet with a personal banker. There are several issues that we need clarification on.

We can not pay our Visa credit card bill with a future date through online transfer.

We can not transfer $ from our little passbook into our checking account on line.

We may not be allowed to use the pads of deposit slips for our little company since the account number has changed.

We were mailed a debit card with reference to "this replaces number xxxxx". We've never had a debit card.

You get the idea. So far PNC has not been a good replacement for National City.

'til later

Rates Lowest

In 2003 Bob's brother and his wife relocated and purchased a town home about 25 miles from here. They were thrilled the mortgage rates were so low. They qualified for a 6.25% loan.

When Bob and I relocated here back in 1985 interest rates were some of the worse in history. We bought down (paid a chunk of $ for every portion of a % reduction) from 12% to 9.75%.

It was announced yesterday that 15 year mortgages are available for 3.94% APR! And yet there remains little activity in house sales. You can imagine the lack of activity back in 1985 but now house prices have fallen and mortgage costs have too.

Maybe it's those little things like confidence and jobs.

'til later

Marital Bliss

I am awaiting delivery of something I purchased on line after seeing an infomerical on TV early one morning. I am hoping it will help our marriage.

Bob prefers to vacuum the floors and does not dust well. Our machine has great bristles but poor suction. It kicks up dirt but more often than not the particles are blown out the back as the machine is moved forward.

Bob seems oblivious to these as he works his way forward into a room. I suggest (strongly) that he start in the room and work back out of the room. I know if he does, he'll see all the debris accumulated.

He doesn't take my suggestions easily. I am not an effective leader. So small dirt is caught and particles are raised up and scattered.

A new vacuum is on its way. Light weight, swiveling head, on board attachments.

I'll let you know if the Shark Navigator is a "Bob" worthy machine. I hope it is. He has no idea I have ordered this marital aide.

'til later

War Genius

General McChrystal is a smart and disciplined soldier. There's nothing in his record that would indicate he would grant an interview and be sloppy about what he disclosed.

Mark my word. This is a genius move, a war move. A fake out.

Today we will find out if Obama leaves him in place with strong restrictions or relieve him of duty. We should know by tonight the fate of this hero.

In a world where things are not protocol at all, this could be a great ruse.

'til later

ps-In this world, the president can fire executives in car companies, ignore an oil spill without a scar, and demand government spend twice what most of us ever imagined on entitlements.

Fremont NE

There's a town in Nebraska that has decided they needed a new law even stronger than Arizona's in regards to illegal people.

It is against the law in Fremont to hire or even rent to an illegal alien.

Strong intent. I just wonder what issues they have experienced that led them to create this new legislation.

'til later

New Bank

This week is our first week as customers of PNC Bank. We started banking with MidAmerica Savings in 1985. It changed to MidAmerica Bank back in the 80s. A few years ago it was purchased by National City bank. I told you about our experiences with that transition.

PNC acquired National City about 18 months ago. A week ago yesterday all branches were closed and reopened on Monday as PNC.

Unlike before, all of our accounts have new numbers. We've been told we can use up our supply of old checks. This will take us better than 2 years. It's cheaper to order 3 boxes of checks at one time than one box per year.

I have one problem with PNC so far. We have our Visa credit card through the bank and usually pay on line via a transfer of funds. I believe we can still do that but we can not do that using a date in the future. I have to wait until the day I want to pay the bill and then go on line and transfer funds.

PNC offers a bill pay feature and they say it's free but trying to set up the Visa bill didn't make me feel confident. I think I'll go visit my local banker this week. I have other questions about bank cards we received.

'til later

Foreclosure Sale

It's very difficult to purchase a house in foreclosure. Someone near to me has made an offer on a house before finding out it was in foreclosure. It gets more difficult. The realtor went on to discover that there are 2 banks holding liens.

Without an accepted offer, my friend has been asked to pay for an appraisal. He's already given his earnest money and set a date of resolve. He has asked for a firm contract, accepted by all parties, within 6 weeks.

There are 2 weeks left on his time schedule and little hope. He and his wife have accepted an offer on their current home and will close in 6 weeks. They may be in crunch time by the middle of July.

It would seem to me that if a house is listed, doesn't sell, a much lower price is established....and then a counter offer to the one offer made....it should already be settled that a contract would be entered into.

I'll let you know how that works out for Ryan.

Til later.

Too Much

There's so much going on and I need my outlet! And I'd enjoy some feedback.

Yesterday I was witness and so were you to the end of our republic. Our dictator has taken assets from an entity owned by thousands of shareholders. The funds will be put under the watchful eye of our dictator's friend for the purpose of helping the small people along the gulf coast.

Now with his taste of power heightened, King O is on to increasing all of our power costs. Cap and rape, cap and tax, or any other fancy title O decides will be passed by the end of the summer.

Will our dictator allow our fair elections in November? Quite likely; however, after that his lame duck group will pass legislation that will leave us completely under O's control.

Long live the king.

'til later