Yeah, so the housing market in my neck of the woods has dropped 12.5%.
On Monday, my property's individual value will have dropped more than 20%, when I drop my price one more time, this time, a full $7K at once.
No, I did not start out priced over value. I started out right in the middle of the range for what this property was worth, at that time.
So, yes, Virginia....it's just that bad.
Plus, now, part of the deal is that I will pay part of the buyer's closing costs.
This basically indicates that, not only am I going to lose everything I have invested in this property, but, in effect, I will sweeten the deal by offering to pay someone else's expenses for buying it.
I will walk away from 7 years of home ownership WITH NOTHING. Nothing.
I had hoped to, at least, close with money enough in my pocket to pay for moving.
Now, that is simply not going to happen. Keeping my price high enough to allow for that has pushed me out of the market.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I miss my husband
...that's sort of become a mantra for me. It's only been a little under a month since he left the last time, but it's getting harder and harder to deal with.
No one has viewed my property since before election day, despite 3 more price decreases.
The realtor has done some additional research, so that our contingency plan can go into place, if we don't have an offer by June 1. That would be one year on the market, and after that, something needs to happen, if it hasn't already.
Reviews and raises are over at work, finally.
I got a better raise than expected, in an economy that's not really allowing for decent raises, if they happen at all. I know of more than one person who has had to take a pay cut in order to keep working.
The other good news is that I got to have a sit down with my boss that lasted much longer than usual, and I got to speak my mind. That really needed to happen. I've been there for 6 years, and I THINK my boss understands and respects me.
He doesn't actually DO that for most of his employees.
Anyway, the very first thing he did when I closed the door at the beginning of our meeting was apologize.
I knew it would be a positive experience after that.
The weather has eased up a bit for us around here. No major snow falls for over a week, and the deep freeze hasn't gone as deep.
The sun has been out this weekend, even though it's only in the single digits outside today. It's still nice to see the sun.
I am making soup today with the other ham bone from Christmas eve.
I hope it turns out OK.
I've never made split pea soup before, and I am making it my own way, of course, like I do everything else. Fortunately, my experiments work out deliciously 99% of the time!
I wanted to make potato leek soup, because I find it immensely comforting....but then, I remembered the ham and bone that had been in the freezer for a month, and should be used SOON...so....
Here's the recipe!
Paula's Golden Split Pea and Potato Soup
2 C yellow split peas, soaked over night and drained
1 large ham bone (i used the femur from the Christmas Virginia Ham)
1 celery rib, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 sweet onion, chopped
2 med. golden potatoes, chopped
3 leeks, washed, trimmed, and chopped
diced ham (again, left overs from Christmas...about a cupful)
water
butter for saute`
seasoning as needed
Saute` onion in butter until translucent. Add ham bone, soaked peas, celery, potatoes, and carrot. Add water to cover (about 8 cups).
Bring to a boil, then cover and lower to a simmer. Cook for at least 2 hours, or until all veggies are soft, and any meat that was left on the ham bone is falling off.
Add leeks, and cook for an additional 20 minutes or so. Remove ham bone, and any large pieces of meat that may have cooked off of it. Dice the meat, and set aside with the other diced ham. Discard bone.
Cool soup enough so you can work with it without getting burned if it splashes you. This is also a good opportunity to skim off any unwanted fat.
Put through a ricer, or puree with a stick blender. Add diced ham, reheat, and serve!
If you desire a chunkier soup, only puree/sieve half of it.
No one has viewed my property since before election day, despite 3 more price decreases.
The realtor has done some additional research, so that our contingency plan can go into place, if we don't have an offer by June 1. That would be one year on the market, and after that, something needs to happen, if it hasn't already.
Reviews and raises are over at work, finally.
I got a better raise than expected, in an economy that's not really allowing for decent raises, if they happen at all. I know of more than one person who has had to take a pay cut in order to keep working.
The other good news is that I got to have a sit down with my boss that lasted much longer than usual, and I got to speak my mind. That really needed to happen. I've been there for 6 years, and I THINK my boss understands and respects me.
He doesn't actually DO that for most of his employees.
Anyway, the very first thing he did when I closed the door at the beginning of our meeting was apologize.
I knew it would be a positive experience after that.
The weather has eased up a bit for us around here. No major snow falls for over a week, and the deep freeze hasn't gone as deep.
The sun has been out this weekend, even though it's only in the single digits outside today. It's still nice to see the sun.
I am making soup today with the other ham bone from Christmas eve.
I hope it turns out OK.
I've never made split pea soup before, and I am making it my own way, of course, like I do everything else. Fortunately, my experiments work out deliciously 99% of the time!
I wanted to make potato leek soup, because I find it immensely comforting....but then, I remembered the ham and bone that had been in the freezer for a month, and should be used SOON...so....
Here's the recipe!
Paula's Golden Split Pea and Potato Soup
2 C yellow split peas, soaked over night and drained
1 large ham bone (i used the femur from the Christmas Virginia Ham)
1 celery rib, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 sweet onion, chopped
2 med. golden potatoes, chopped
3 leeks, washed, trimmed, and chopped
diced ham (again, left overs from Christmas...about a cupful)
water
butter for saute`
seasoning as needed
Saute` onion in butter until translucent. Add ham bone, soaked peas, celery, potatoes, and carrot. Add water to cover (about 8 cups).
Bring to a boil, then cover and lower to a simmer. Cook for at least 2 hours, or until all veggies are soft, and any meat that was left on the ham bone is falling off.
Add leeks, and cook for an additional 20 minutes or so. Remove ham bone, and any large pieces of meat that may have cooked off of it. Dice the meat, and set aside with the other diced ham. Discard bone.
Cool soup enough so you can work with it without getting burned if it splashes you. This is also a good opportunity to skim off any unwanted fat.
Put through a ricer, or puree with a stick blender. Add diced ham, reheat, and serve!
If you desire a chunkier soup, only puree/sieve half of it.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Grrr
Sometimes, the people I work for just REALLY PISS ME OFF.
Earlier this week, D and I confirmed that he would be coming to town the first week of May for the Dead concert in Chicago.
This might be the next chance we have to be together, because of the expense of travel.
Yes, it's true...we might have to wait 5 full months between visits this time.
SO, I put in a request for that week off from work, and I was turned down.
It seems "the princess," the one I had to cut my effing HONEYMOON short for--because she could not be asked to come in on a FRIDAY-- already had that week off.
It wasn't just that simple,though....the boss called me into his office, and sat me down at his desk and showed me the calendar.
Just like he did when he ALMOST took away my one day off around the holidays, when my husband was in town. I had to beg my boss to let me take ONE EXTRA DAY, while others were off the whole week. I explained to him that I had not seen my husband for three months, and that it's the holidays, and that there are 3 other managers working that day, and many others who could pitch in to help on that one day....
So, anyway....because I had already requested the Tuesday and Wednesday of that first week of May, before the princess put in HER request, he "let" me keep those days, just like he "let" me keep ONE extra day off during the holidays. But the rest of the week? No way. Even though there will be two other managers working that week.
THEN, this morning, I was outside, in LITERALLY 20-below cold, trying to get my car drivable, so I could go to work.
The clock was ticking, and, even though my car started fine, and I had started out with PLENTY of time, there were other issues that made it impossible to drive it, and I was running the risk of being late.
First of all, the windows were covered with what I refer to as "perma frost."
This is the kind of frost that forms in sub zero weather that is virtually impermeable. No amount of scraping removes it from automotive window glass! In fact, the scraping only seems to make it more opaque, and does not remove ANY of it.
Seriously!
Anyone who lives in a climate where the weather does this can testify!
So, I was waiting for my heater to "loosen" it a bit, so I could get a start and scrape it off.
Can't see out? Can't drive! Period.
Not only that, but my car door also froze OPEN. The grease that lubricates the latch was, literally, frozen. As I said, it was twenty degrees below zero, that's fahrenheit!!
Let's see, 20 below, 40 below wind chill....car door won't close....Hmmm.....nope, not going to drive 10 miles to work with an open door!!
So, it was past 7:30, and after 20 minutes outside in these conditions, I was still not yet able to drive my car, so I called the office to tell them I'd be late.
The woman who takes these calls is sort of an enigma.
She's our version of an "h.r." person, and she's the boss's secretary, and she's also someone who just seems to believe that she's above ALL of us.
She doesn't really have a title, but she is, in effect, "over" all of us. If she DID have a title, I guess it would be office manager.
So, there she was, in her warm office, having gotten out of her warm gas-guzzling S.U.V., after her short commute.
Said S.U.V. was in her warm three car garage all night, which is attached to her warm multi-million dollar McMansion, with the freakin MAID!!
...and there I am.... outside, quite nearly freezing in 20 below cold, TRYING to get my car so I can drive it to work.....calling to tell her I might be late....
and she chooses that moment to question my ability to manage one of my jobs at work.
WTF??!!
Now, I have noticed, in no uncertain terms, that I have been treated differently at work ever since I got married.
They have taken work away from me, and have given me SHIT jobs.
They have either refused to grant me my vacation days, or argued with me about taking them....and now this???
I was LIVID!!!
I have changed NOTHING about how I do my job. I still show up, and work my ass off, and do the best job I can, because that's who I am.
I just don't get it.
Reviews come up next week, in theory. THIS ought to be interesting.....
Earlier this week, D and I confirmed that he would be coming to town the first week of May for the Dead concert in Chicago.
This might be the next chance we have to be together, because of the expense of travel.
Yes, it's true...we might have to wait 5 full months between visits this time.
SO, I put in a request for that week off from work, and I was turned down.
It seems "the princess," the one I had to cut my effing HONEYMOON short for--because she could not be asked to come in on a FRIDAY-- already had that week off.
It wasn't just that simple,though....the boss called me into his office, and sat me down at his desk and showed me the calendar.
Just like he did when he ALMOST took away my one day off around the holidays, when my husband was in town. I had to beg my boss to let me take ONE EXTRA DAY, while others were off the whole week. I explained to him that I had not seen my husband for three months, and that it's the holidays, and that there are 3 other managers working that day, and many others who could pitch in to help on that one day....
So, anyway....because I had already requested the Tuesday and Wednesday of that first week of May, before the princess put in HER request, he "let" me keep those days, just like he "let" me keep ONE extra day off during the holidays. But the rest of the week? No way. Even though there will be two other managers working that week.
THEN, this morning, I was outside, in LITERALLY 20-below cold, trying to get my car drivable, so I could go to work.
The clock was ticking, and, even though my car started fine, and I had started out with PLENTY of time, there were other issues that made it impossible to drive it, and I was running the risk of being late.
First of all, the windows were covered with what I refer to as "perma frost."
This is the kind of frost that forms in sub zero weather that is virtually impermeable. No amount of scraping removes it from automotive window glass! In fact, the scraping only seems to make it more opaque, and does not remove ANY of it.
Seriously!
Anyone who lives in a climate where the weather does this can testify!
So, I was waiting for my heater to "loosen" it a bit, so I could get a start and scrape it off.
Can't see out? Can't drive! Period.
Not only that, but my car door also froze OPEN. The grease that lubricates the latch was, literally, frozen. As I said, it was twenty degrees below zero, that's fahrenheit!!
Let's see, 20 below, 40 below wind chill....car door won't close....Hmmm.....nope, not going to drive 10 miles to work with an open door!!
So, it was past 7:30, and after 20 minutes outside in these conditions, I was still not yet able to drive my car, so I called the office to tell them I'd be late.
The woman who takes these calls is sort of an enigma.
She's our version of an "h.r." person, and she's the boss's secretary, and she's also someone who just seems to believe that she's above ALL of us.
She doesn't really have a title, but she is, in effect, "over" all of us. If she DID have a title, I guess it would be office manager.
So, there she was, in her warm office, having gotten out of her warm gas-guzzling S.U.V., after her short commute.
Said S.U.V. was in her warm three car garage all night, which is attached to her warm multi-million dollar McMansion, with the freakin MAID!!
...and there I am.... outside, quite nearly freezing in 20 below cold, TRYING to get my car so I can drive it to work.....calling to tell her I might be late....
and she chooses that moment to question my ability to manage one of my jobs at work.
WTF??!!
Now, I have noticed, in no uncertain terms, that I have been treated differently at work ever since I got married.
They have taken work away from me, and have given me SHIT jobs.
They have either refused to grant me my vacation days, or argued with me about taking them....and now this???
I was LIVID!!!
I have changed NOTHING about how I do my job. I still show up, and work my ass off, and do the best job I can, because that's who I am.
I just don't get it.
Reviews come up next week, in theory. THIS ought to be interesting.....
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Snow day
When I got up this morning, there were over 8 inches of snow already on the ground. I had to dig my car out and take it to the dealership for it's 35K mile inspection.
I have heard plows out in our parking lots here. This is a good thing. They have not been doing a very good job this year, so far.
Anyway, the service techs at the car dealer found lots of work that was needed on my car, which I had suspected they would, because of changes in performance.
The front brakes had been making grinding noises, and pulling to the left. Alignment was off when I would cruise on the straight and narrow. One of the tires was wearing unevenly, so there was a "thumpthumpthump" sound when driving. There was a funny sound coming from under the hood once in a while.
So they diagnosed lots of stuff, and a porter brought me home. They will pick me up this afternoon, when it's ready.
It's still snowing. Has not stopped all day.
I had hoped to get out and do my grocery shopping this afternoon, but, with the snow, and the fact that I am not really feeling up to par, I will probably not bother doing that until tomorrow.
This afternoon, I will just get my car and come home.
So, anyway....what was wrong with the car?
The drive belt was cracked, which was probably the funny sound coming from under the hood occasionally.
The brake rotors were about a quarter inch thick with rust, and the tires were dry rotting and almost without tread (they were the factory originals...it surprised me that they only lasted 35K miles, but what do I know). One of them had worn unevenly, and was causing the thumping.
Each of the tires, in it's own way, was a blow out waiting to happen. All that would be needed was a pot hole...and around here, in winter, the pot holes are on the attack!
I was getting tired of always sliding on the pavement in this rough winter we're having, anyway. I had started to refer to my outings as "automotive figure skating."
I had also grown tired of having other drivers flip me off, and honk at me, because of me sliding uncontrollably into their lane!!
Go around a corner, and keep sliding sideways, and hope no one is in the other lane. Yeah. Plus, there was NO traction pulling away from stops, or trying to go up hill, or, sometimes, just trying to move forward in snow on flat ground.
The new tires will help with all of that 100%, I am sure.
I recall my first winter with this car, and how THRILLED I was with how it handled in the snow. I had NOT exactly forgotten that. I know it's supposed to be better than it's been!
Last year was borderline. There were some tense moments, but it did OK.
But, this year has just been plain bad.
In fact, when the forecast is bad, I have been getting a ride to work with a co worker, because it's been scaring me to drive my car when there's "stuff" on the pavement.
At first I thought it was just because this winter has already been worse than ALL of last winter...but then, it's become more and more obvious to me that something was not right.
I was even skidding the other day because there was frost on the dry pavement.
So....as much as it hurts, financially, it was time. Past time.
Good thing I have lots of room on my credit card. Today's repairs are costing me over $1300.00.
I freaked out about that at first. Even made a fool of myself when I cried in front of the service rep at the dealer. BUT, he knocked about $1000.00 off of my total when I burst into tears, so I guess that's good!
Oh, and they're also replacing the air filter and the heat/ac filter, and only charging me for the parts.
Because, you know, I cried.
I have heard plows out in our parking lots here. This is a good thing. They have not been doing a very good job this year, so far.
Anyway, the service techs at the car dealer found lots of work that was needed on my car, which I had suspected they would, because of changes in performance.
The front brakes had been making grinding noises, and pulling to the left. Alignment was off when I would cruise on the straight and narrow. One of the tires was wearing unevenly, so there was a "thumpthumpthump" sound when driving. There was a funny sound coming from under the hood once in a while.
So they diagnosed lots of stuff, and a porter brought me home. They will pick me up this afternoon, when it's ready.
It's still snowing. Has not stopped all day.
I had hoped to get out and do my grocery shopping this afternoon, but, with the snow, and the fact that I am not really feeling up to par, I will probably not bother doing that until tomorrow.
This afternoon, I will just get my car and come home.
So, anyway....what was wrong with the car?
The drive belt was cracked, which was probably the funny sound coming from under the hood occasionally.
The brake rotors were about a quarter inch thick with rust, and the tires were dry rotting and almost without tread (they were the factory originals...it surprised me that they only lasted 35K miles, but what do I know). One of them had worn unevenly, and was causing the thumping.
Each of the tires, in it's own way, was a blow out waiting to happen. All that would be needed was a pot hole...and around here, in winter, the pot holes are on the attack!
I was getting tired of always sliding on the pavement in this rough winter we're having, anyway. I had started to refer to my outings as "automotive figure skating."
I had also grown tired of having other drivers flip me off, and honk at me, because of me sliding uncontrollably into their lane!!
Go around a corner, and keep sliding sideways, and hope no one is in the other lane. Yeah. Plus, there was NO traction pulling away from stops, or trying to go up hill, or, sometimes, just trying to move forward in snow on flat ground.
The new tires will help with all of that 100%, I am sure.
I recall my first winter with this car, and how THRILLED I was with how it handled in the snow. I had NOT exactly forgotten that. I know it's supposed to be better than it's been!
Last year was borderline. There were some tense moments, but it did OK.
But, this year has just been plain bad.
In fact, when the forecast is bad, I have been getting a ride to work with a co worker, because it's been scaring me to drive my car when there's "stuff" on the pavement.
At first I thought it was just because this winter has already been worse than ALL of last winter...but then, it's become more and more obvious to me that something was not right.
I was even skidding the other day because there was frost on the dry pavement.
So....as much as it hurts, financially, it was time. Past time.
Good thing I have lots of room on my credit card. Today's repairs are costing me over $1300.00.
I freaked out about that at first. Even made a fool of myself when I cried in front of the service rep at the dealer. BUT, he knocked about $1000.00 off of my total when I burst into tears, so I guess that's good!
Oh, and they're also replacing the air filter and the heat/ac filter, and only charging me for the parts.
Because, you know, I cried.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Dead
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god...."The Core Four-" the four surviving members of the Grateful Dead, are going to tour this spring, with other musicians filling in the roles of the departed Dead.
Chicago is on the schedule.
WHOOOP!
Chicago is on the schedule.
WHOOOP!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Restful weekend
The weather has given us a bit of a break, ever since it was 58 degrees last weekend. No ice, no snow, no sub zero temps.
It's been nice. Of course, we all know that it will be temporary! It is, after all, January in Chicagoland!
Went downtown last night with most of my family. The "C" contingent was there, not the "H" contingent. We went for barbecue at The Fireplace Inn, and then spent the rest of the evening laughing our butts off at Second City.
I'd never been before, and it was a TREAT! My only regret was that I did not buy myself a t-shirt!
This weekend has been about resting, and regrouping, after the holidays. I made a batch of one of my oldest soups (butter bean), meaning one of my first self-developed recipes.
I've done cleaning and tidying. I've dropped the price on my place YET AGAIN....
and I've slept. Two nights in a row of long, restful sleep. That will do me more good than anything else, right now.
I miss my husband, but we have made some goals for ourselves, and we have some things to look forward to in the Spring.
It's been nice. Of course, we all know that it will be temporary! It is, after all, January in Chicagoland!
Went downtown last night with most of my family. The "C" contingent was there, not the "H" contingent. We went for barbecue at The Fireplace Inn, and then spent the rest of the evening laughing our butts off at Second City.
I'd never been before, and it was a TREAT! My only regret was that I did not buy myself a t-shirt!
This weekend has been about resting, and regrouping, after the holidays. I made a batch of one of my oldest soups (butter bean), meaning one of my first self-developed recipes.
I've done cleaning and tidying. I've dropped the price on my place YET AGAIN....
and I've slept. Two nights in a row of long, restful sleep. That will do me more good than anything else, right now.
I miss my husband, but we have made some goals for ourselves, and we have some things to look forward to in the Spring.
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