A few weeks ago, I had a dream that I had broken my left "bird" finger. Of course, it was only a dream. I even mentioned it to Mom and Dad, saying that if I need to have trigger finger surgery again, I bet it will be my left "bird" finger.
Last night, I dreamed again that I had broken that finger. And when I woke up, that finger was bent over and locked. I got it straightened and it locked a little as I bent it a few more times. I took Advil then, and I haven't had any further problems with it today. The knuckle is a little sore now, but it's been good all day.
So we will see what happens tonight.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Skeeterette
OK, so remember my old, nasty little bosslet, Skeeter? Well, I must be working with his big sister. When the season first began, it was fun. We worked hard, as truck after truck brought so many carts of plants that we could hardly keep up with finding homes for them on shelves. In fact, lots of times we had carts all over because there was no shelf space. We all did everything, arranging, watering, putting away. Then the end of May came, and with it came a new "live nursery specialist". <sigh>
Let's just call her Skeeterette. She is slightly younger than me, and came to us from Texas (where the market was completely different, for one thing). She is loud and rude, and she apparently knows nothing - I mean nothing - about plants. She told us that she was a seasonal at a store in TX 18 months ago, but now she tells everyone she has worked for the company for two years. IN two years (2013 and 2014), maybe, but not FOR two years. Anyway, my main gripe with her is that she is so ignorant. She consistently puts sun plants in the shade and vice versa, she does not seem to grasp that certain kinds of potting material do not hold water well, and no matter how often or how much you water them, they will not stay wet for any period of time. As time has gone on, she has become increasingly hostile to me, and at this point she either ignores me or talks down to me. I can't even tell you how many times she has talked to me as though it was my first day and I was somewhat slow. Irritating as hell, especially from someone so stupid. She is a total control freak and it has gotten to a point where I am afraid to do anything, like putting things away, because I know she will come behind me and change it.
A couple of times it has really come to a head. In one instance, we were told by a manager to put small palm trees against the fence and the larger ones on a low table. We installed signage above the small ones, on the fence, and everything was approved by the manager. That night, she came in, swapped the two sizes around, tore down our sign, and threw it in among the small palms. In the morning, we put it back the way it had been. When she came in in the afternoon, she blew a gasket, demanding to know WHO kept doing this, changing what she did. When I told her that the mgr had told us to do it that way, she went stomping off to him to see if I was lying. A few minutes later, she came back, but said nothing to me. Then about 20 minutes later, she told me, in a very, condescending way, that we had to put the small palms by the fence because the big ones would get knocked over by the wind. I said I knew that, that's why we were told to do it that way in the first place.
The other day, she came in and found me checking my (company) email, and asked if I was watering. I said yes, that is what I was supposed to do. Then I went to refill my water bottle. When I came back, I told her that I had been told that I was now on weekday team, but was assigned to garden until they no longer needed waterers. She barely let me finish my sentence before she cut me off, saying her boss had told her all about it. So I asked why she asked me if I was watering. She completely ignored me, turned to another guy, and started a different conversation with him. So I asked again why she asked me if I was watering. She then turned back to me and snapped, "Nancy, I am helping Kevin right now. I was just thinking out loud, that's all, just thinking out loud!" She was still calling me by the wrong name two months after she came (we had words about that one day, too). She can't ever be wrong, or ever apologize, by the way. She just acts like it's no big deal. She called our only black employee by the wrong name repeatedly, and when she was corrected she just waved her hand, like "so what". She also bought everyone a Gatorade one day, but didn't buy him one, even though he was standing right there.
Today, it poured rain most of the morning. The other waterer ended up going home mid-morning because he was soaked and cold. I was outside working, though, and didn't know he had gone. One of the other managers came out looking for Skeeterette, but I said I had no idea she wasn't in the house plants, where I had last seen her. When she finally reappeared, she was carrying a huge coffee. I asked if she had been at lunch, and she said yes, she had gone to get coffee. I told her she might have mentioned to me that she was leaving, since I was alone in the department, but she said, quite snottily, that she had "told everyone". Funny - there were three different people looking for her - plus a truck driver waiting to unload - who didn't seem to know where she was. I guess they weren't "everyone", either.
I have complained to HR about her attitude toward me, but she told them she thought I was "out to get her" from the beginning (which, I admit, is sort of true, but for good reason). One of the other knowledgeable waterers left instead of being assigned to another area because he simply could not stand to be around her one more minute. The company wonders why we have so many write-offs and don't make sales numbers. Maybe they should take a look around at the wrongly placed plants, and watch her as she discounts stuff randomly for people, even at the checkout! They haven't asked for a discount, she just gives them one. Now she has some customers trained to ask for a discount. They aren't getting one from me. Anyway, I will only have to work with her for a few more weeks, two of which I will be gone. Then it will all be on her. Once there is no one else to cover her butt it will be very apparent that she knows nothing. I really hope she won't be out there next year, or I might have to reevaluate whether I want to do it again. It's really a shame because, even though it was tough, it was really fun in the beginning. We had a great team and we all got along. She has ruined everything. You know it's bad when even people from other areas complain about her and her attitude and her big mouth. She has only one known ally in the store, another ex-Texan in flooring. The assistant store mgr in our area tends to side with her, too.
One little funny: As I was leaving today, she was outside on the fork truck, and she hollered to me to ask the seasonal guy to come unlock the gate so she could get back in. I found the guy and told him she needed him. He said, "You know, you could walk really slowly if you want." I think he thought I had to go back out. I told him I was leaving, I had passed the message, and now it was up to him, so he meandered along, going the opposite way from the back gate, and I assume he eventually got out there (he's obviously not a fan, either). As I passed the back door, though, with her still outside the gate, I saw it start to pour rain again. Heh.
Let's just call her Skeeterette. She is slightly younger than me, and came to us from Texas (where the market was completely different, for one thing). She is loud and rude, and she apparently knows nothing - I mean nothing - about plants. She told us that she was a seasonal at a store in TX 18 months ago, but now she tells everyone she has worked for the company for two years. IN two years (2013 and 2014), maybe, but not FOR two years. Anyway, my main gripe with her is that she is so ignorant. She consistently puts sun plants in the shade and vice versa, she does not seem to grasp that certain kinds of potting material do not hold water well, and no matter how often or how much you water them, they will not stay wet for any period of time. As time has gone on, she has become increasingly hostile to me, and at this point she either ignores me or talks down to me. I can't even tell you how many times she has talked to me as though it was my first day and I was somewhat slow. Irritating as hell, especially from someone so stupid. She is a total control freak and it has gotten to a point where I am afraid to do anything, like putting things away, because I know she will come behind me and change it.
A couple of times it has really come to a head. In one instance, we were told by a manager to put small palm trees against the fence and the larger ones on a low table. We installed signage above the small ones, on the fence, and everything was approved by the manager. That night, she came in, swapped the two sizes around, tore down our sign, and threw it in among the small palms. In the morning, we put it back the way it had been. When she came in in the afternoon, she blew a gasket, demanding to know WHO kept doing this, changing what she did. When I told her that the mgr had told us to do it that way, she went stomping off to him to see if I was lying. A few minutes later, she came back, but said nothing to me. Then about 20 minutes later, she told me, in a very, condescending way, that we had to put the small palms by the fence because the big ones would get knocked over by the wind. I said I knew that, that's why we were told to do it that way in the first place.
The other day, she came in and found me checking my (company) email, and asked if I was watering. I said yes, that is what I was supposed to do. Then I went to refill my water bottle. When I came back, I told her that I had been told that I was now on weekday team, but was assigned to garden until they no longer needed waterers. She barely let me finish my sentence before she cut me off, saying her boss had told her all about it. So I asked why she asked me if I was watering. She completely ignored me, turned to another guy, and started a different conversation with him. So I asked again why she asked me if I was watering. She then turned back to me and snapped, "Nancy, I am helping Kevin right now. I was just thinking out loud, that's all, just thinking out loud!" She was still calling me by the wrong name two months after she came (we had words about that one day, too). She can't ever be wrong, or ever apologize, by the way. She just acts like it's no big deal. She called our only black employee by the wrong name repeatedly, and when she was corrected she just waved her hand, like "so what". She also bought everyone a Gatorade one day, but didn't buy him one, even though he was standing right there.
Today, it poured rain most of the morning. The other waterer ended up going home mid-morning because he was soaked and cold. I was outside working, though, and didn't know he had gone. One of the other managers came out looking for Skeeterette, but I said I had no idea she wasn't in the house plants, where I had last seen her. When she finally reappeared, she was carrying a huge coffee. I asked if she had been at lunch, and she said yes, she had gone to get coffee. I told her she might have mentioned to me that she was leaving, since I was alone in the department, but she said, quite snottily, that she had "told everyone". Funny - there were three different people looking for her - plus a truck driver waiting to unload - who didn't seem to know where she was. I guess they weren't "everyone", either.
I have complained to HR about her attitude toward me, but she told them she thought I was "out to get her" from the beginning (which, I admit, is sort of true, but for good reason). One of the other knowledgeable waterers left instead of being assigned to another area because he simply could not stand to be around her one more minute. The company wonders why we have so many write-offs and don't make sales numbers. Maybe they should take a look around at the wrongly placed plants, and watch her as she discounts stuff randomly for people, even at the checkout! They haven't asked for a discount, she just gives them one. Now she has some customers trained to ask for a discount. They aren't getting one from me. Anyway, I will only have to work with her for a few more weeks, two of which I will be gone. Then it will all be on her. Once there is no one else to cover her butt it will be very apparent that she knows nothing. I really hope she won't be out there next year, or I might have to reevaluate whether I want to do it again. It's really a shame because, even though it was tough, it was really fun in the beginning. We had a great team and we all got along. She has ruined everything. You know it's bad when even people from other areas complain about her and her attitude and her big mouth. She has only one known ally in the store, another ex-Texan in flooring. The assistant store mgr in our area tends to side with her, too.
One little funny: As I was leaving today, she was outside on the fork truck, and she hollered to me to ask the seasonal guy to come unlock the gate so she could get back in. I found the guy and told him she needed him. He said, "You know, you could walk really slowly if you want." I think he thought I had to go back out. I told him I was leaving, I had passed the message, and now it was up to him, so he meandered along, going the opposite way from the back gate, and I assume he eventually got out there (he's obviously not a fan, either). As I passed the back door, though, with her still outside the gate, I saw it start to pour rain again. Heh.
Plans in Place
Woohoo! Lynda got me a hotel room at the Westin in Key West for next Thursday. At first she couldn't get a room for that day, so I said Wednesday would be OK. But the following day, there was a room available. Yay!! So I called Key West Express and booked my ferry ticket. Parking is now $9.00/day, which is ridiculous but there is nothing to do be done about it. At least the ticket is covered by the holiday voucher I had (which was set to expire this December).
So, I will leave Monday morning at about 5:00 AM, meeting up with Mike in Atlanta at dinner time. I will spend the night near Atlanta, see my other friend, HJ, then go on to Bradenton. Then I will have the rest of Tuesday and all of Wednesday in Bradenton. I'll take the ferry to KW on Thursday, getting there about noon, and I will have the rest of that day and all of Friday (till 5:00) in KW, then take the ferry back, and be back in Bradenton by midnight. Then I will have Saturday in Bradenton, and leave VERY early Sunday morning to come home. It's a whirlwind trip, but it will be nice to be away for a few days.
Now it's time to make the lists - things to get done before I go, things to take, food I want to get to take with me on the road, CDs I want to take, etc. I'm looking forward to seeing how the car does on the highway. I know from the short drives I have done so far (Springfield, Decatur) that it's very quiet on the road, but I want to see how the mileage is on the highway. Off to list-make!
So, I will leave Monday morning at about 5:00 AM, meeting up with Mike in Atlanta at dinner time. I will spend the night near Atlanta, see my other friend, HJ, then go on to Bradenton. Then I will have the rest of Tuesday and all of Wednesday in Bradenton. I'll take the ferry to KW on Thursday, getting there about noon, and I will have the rest of that day and all of Friday (till 5:00) in KW, then take the ferry back, and be back in Bradenton by midnight. Then I will have Saturday in Bradenton, and leave VERY early Sunday morning to come home. It's a whirlwind trip, but it will be nice to be away for a few days.
Now it's time to make the lists - things to get done before I go, things to take, food I want to get to take with me on the road, CDs I want to take, etc. I'm looking forward to seeing how the car does on the highway. I know from the short drives I have done so far (Springfield, Decatur) that it's very quiet on the road, but I want to see how the mileage is on the highway. Off to list-make!
Monday, September 8, 2014
Knees News
Whenever Kym begins a conversation with, "OK....." I know it's not going to be a good conversation. So, OK. I have to have some knee surgery. It's actually an arthroscopy on my replaced knee, in hopes of relieving lingering pain when going up and down stairs and tightness when bending it. "Scar tissue impingement", they call it. So, surgery is schedule for Oct. 6, a Monday. I will have a followup appointment that Friday with the PA, John, who will release me back to work. On the following Monday I have to go to therapy to remove the stitches and evaluate whether I am in need of any actual therapy beyond that. Years ago, when I had the arthroscopy that started the gradual downhill slide that became the replaced knee, I was on crutches for three days, so I need to make arrangements for some new crutches (I think I can rent some from Schnucks). I have approval from work to be off that week, but beyond that I just don't know. I hope I won't have to be off any longer than that.
I'll be gone next week to Florida, and then I'll be back to work for two weeks, the first of which is inventory week (and I have been promised extra hours). Then I will be off for the surgery. So I think, if I got my timing correct, I am looking at one more "regular" check, then two one-week checks, which isn't great.
When I went to the doctor last week, I also asked him about my left knee. It clicks and pops and locks so much sometimes that it's almost nauseating, but it rarely hurts. In my mind, there must be something they can do - short of a knee replacement - to stop the catching and clicking. But he said he doesn't even want to talk about that one until we get the other one fixed. I agree with that, but what he actually said was he didn't want to talk about replacing the other until the first was fixed. Uh, I wasn't planning on going that far.....
But now that I have had time to think about it, maybe it makes sense to think about getting it replaced (after the right one is fixed). I definitely don't want to do it if the right one stays this way. I don't want to limit myself to the condition of my right knee on both sides, you know? Even if the left one is creepy and clicky, I can still kneel on it and bend it all the way. I have committed to walking part of the Camino in 2016, probably October. But let's say my left knee stops being clicky and starts being clicky and painful - that's a problem. So I have kind of been thinking about this timing:
1. Fix the right knee now.
2. Work tax season at the tax place and summer at the garden place.
3. September-ish, get left knee replaced.
4. Work tax season at the tax place and summer at the garden place, then go to Spain in October.
In order to make that happen I am going to have to really bank money during this tax season. Luckily, I am starting from a position of relative financial comfort, but I need to be diligent about building up some savings. And, of course, that means I can't consider Spain next year, which I kind of wanted to do. But right now, I just have to get past the Oct. 6 surgery and see what happens.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
NSC+DMV=LUV
If you were to google "people who love the DMV", this might be the only entry you would find, but I think I can say today that I do. Since the new car, I have been noticing how really awful my license plates have gotten. They are from 1995, my first new car on my own (Escort wagon). The front one was slightly crinkled in an accident in the PT Cruiser when it was about six months old. A kid ran a stop sign and though I tried to miss him, I hit his back bumper. No damage to him (of course) but my car needed a new bumper. The plate is scuffed and faded, but readable.
The back plate numbers have become puffy with rust under the paint, and, though I have tried to remove them, there are several years' stickers under the current one. My sticker expires in December, and quite often it is beyond cold when I have to apply the new one. (Even though the PT was bought in June and the Outlander in August, I am stuck with my December sticker because I have transferred the plates from car to car.) I have had problems several years trying to get the new sticker to stick, since I have no warm place to put it on. One year it even fell off after I applied it in the bank parking lot, becoming unusable in the process, and I had to go straight back in to the bank for a different one (which I then took home and put on in my garage - sheltered, but still not warm). And I can't tell you the number of times there has been panic when I remembered on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 or 2, that I forgot to get a sticker. Another $100 expense is not something I generally need at Christmas time, either, especially one I forgot about. Never buy a car in December!
So, I needed new plates.Who wants to go to the DMV for me? Anyone??
I decided to look online to see if they could be ordered that way, and of course, the form that I needed was not available online. <sigh> So, it was off to the DMV on the day after a three-day weekend, when I figured they would probably be busier than all get-out. Imagine my surprise when there were parking spots right in front of the door - regular ones, not the ones marked for people taking driving tests! When I walked in, instead of standing in line to take a number to stand in another line, I walked right up to the counter! My number was 22, which is my favorite number - and they were currently serving number 20! And the best parts were yet to come.
I had seen online that a replacement set of plates was $9, with a replacement sticker at $20. The new plates will automatically come with a new sticker; there was no avoiding that. I had thought maybe I could just hold the new plates until renewal time, but no. Oh well. I asked if there was any way to change the expiration of the sticker, and she gave me wonderful news. When I come in to get a new December sticker, I can instead apply for an extension of up to four months! It costs $8/month, but it gets me to an April expiration date - way better, both weather- and money-wise. For a mere $32 I will never again have to stand in the subzero wind chill, trying to scrape off old, frozen stickers and get the new sticker to stick and stay stuck. Score #1!
The new plates can take up to 90 days to arrive because I want to keep my same number. I wonder what they do for the expired sticker to get you from December to April to avoid being stopped? Anyway, I stood there, waiting for her to tell me how much it was going to be, and she told me that because they were "defective" plates, not lost or stolen, there was no charge! Score #2!
Total time from walking in to walking out with the knowledge that I have spanky-new plates and an anticipated April expiration date on the way, 15 minutes. 15 minutes!! It took longer than that to drive over there. Hmm, what will I do with the rest of my morning now? :)
The back plate numbers have become puffy with rust under the paint, and, though I have tried to remove them, there are several years' stickers under the current one. My sticker expires in December, and quite often it is beyond cold when I have to apply the new one. (Even though the PT was bought in June and the Outlander in August, I am stuck with my December sticker because I have transferred the plates from car to car.) I have had problems several years trying to get the new sticker to stick, since I have no warm place to put it on. One year it even fell off after I applied it in the bank parking lot, becoming unusable in the process, and I had to go straight back in to the bank for a different one (which I then took home and put on in my garage - sheltered, but still not warm). And I can't tell you the number of times there has been panic when I remembered on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 or 2, that I forgot to get a sticker. Another $100 expense is not something I generally need at Christmas time, either, especially one I forgot about. Never buy a car in December!
So, I needed new plates.Who wants to go to the DMV for me? Anyone??
I decided to look online to see if they could be ordered that way, and of course, the form that I needed was not available online. <sigh> So, it was off to the DMV on the day after a three-day weekend, when I figured they would probably be busier than all get-out. Imagine my surprise when there were parking spots right in front of the door - regular ones, not the ones marked for people taking driving tests! When I walked in, instead of standing in line to take a number to stand in another line, I walked right up to the counter! My number was 22, which is my favorite number - and they were currently serving number 20! And the best parts were yet to come.
I had seen online that a replacement set of plates was $9, with a replacement sticker at $20. The new plates will automatically come with a new sticker; there was no avoiding that. I had thought maybe I could just hold the new plates until renewal time, but no. Oh well. I asked if there was any way to change the expiration of the sticker, and she gave me wonderful news. When I come in to get a new December sticker, I can instead apply for an extension of up to four months! It costs $8/month, but it gets me to an April expiration date - way better, both weather- and money-wise. For a mere $32 I will never again have to stand in the subzero wind chill, trying to scrape off old, frozen stickers and get the new sticker to stick and stay stuck. Score #1!
The new plates can take up to 90 days to arrive because I want to keep my same number. I wonder what they do for the expired sticker to get you from December to April to avoid being stopped? Anyway, I stood there, waiting for her to tell me how much it was going to be, and she told me that because they were "defective" plates, not lost or stolen, there was no charge! Score #2!
Total time from walking in to walking out with the knowledge that I have spanky-new plates and an anticipated April expiration date on the way, 15 minutes. 15 minutes!! It took longer than that to drive over there. Hmm, what will I do with the rest of my morning now? :)
Monday, August 25, 2014
Quick Up-To-Speed
There are a couple of blogs on Blogger that detail a couple of trips in recent years to Spain and elsewhere, so I won't rehash that.
April 15, 2014 10th anniversary at my tax prep job. This year I did just over 300 returns.
April 16, 2014 Beginning new seasonal position in the garden center at a major home improvement store. The season will end this Sunday, and I will transition into a permanent, part time position for the winter, until it is once again time for the garden season. The pay is decent, I haven't had any unemployment income this year, and I get a raise starting on Monday.
Kym is still living here with Blitz. Chad lived here for over a year, but as of June is living with a new girlfriend in Atlanta. They seem to be getting along well, so I hope it lasts.
I have spent this summer fixing up things around the house. Had two trees removed early this summer (the big spruce that was threatening the foundation, and the ash in front of Kym's window, which had died). In their place, I planted an emerald green arborvitae, which I love. The city came and took out the dead maple on the boulevard, too. Also took out the evergreen under the front window (it did not survive last year's brutal winter) and replaced it with three variegated boxwoods. Having a very small patio put next to the deck to accommodate my new gas grill. The home improvement store's employee discount has come in quite handy all summer!
A New Life All Together
I know I have said it before, but it is amazing just how quickly lives and fortunes can change.
On Monday, two weeks ago, a dear friend called me and said that he was having some problems with a sort of depression, and he would be out of the loop for a bit (which worried me a little) - haven't heard from him since then. And later that same day, the brilliant comedian and actor Robin Williams was found dead, an apparent suicide. While this understandably shocked everyone, it has raised the discussion of depression issues in the media. I hope because of this, my friend will seek some help, too. For some reason, maybe because of my friend, Robin Williams' death really hit me hard, and it's still hard to believe.
Just a week or so ago, I was lying awake trying to figure out where I was going to come up with the rest of the money for the real estate taxes. Even if I haven't borrowed from it "temporarily", it's a short time from the first payment in June to the second one in September. Then you have from September to June to come up with next year's. (This happens automatically for me out of my pension, and I really should just pay the whole thing in June and be done with it, but I hate giving the county any money ahead.) Anyway, I have also gotten just a little behind on a couple of other things, and was mulling over all of this and trying to juggle like I did in the old days. When do my paychecks come? What are the priorities? What can I put off a week or two in order to make a more important deadline?
So, between the sadness for RW, worry about my friend, and money issues, I wasn't having the best week. I finally decided that I should go get a small signature loan to pay the taxes and give me a little breathing room. I went in to the bank to sign the papers, and while I was there, the woman asked if I had ever thought about taking some out of my home equity line to pay off all of my credit cards, and also take advantage of lower interest rates. I hadn't wanted to deal with the hassle of appraisal and all of the expense of a refi, and I told her that. That is when my world changed. She said that since my most recent refi was within 10 years, there was no more involved than filling out one paper and signing it. What?? So I asked how it would change my payment or terms of my loan if I were to do that. It seems that I could have enough money to take care of everything....and my payment would stay the same, due to the lowered rate. Again, what??? And the remaining 15 years on my 20 year mortgage....would change to a 15 only! So why not?? She needed an hour or so to do the paperwork, so I said I would come back the next day.
Overnight, I thought about another little problem.....my aging PT Cruiser. I had shopped around for another car, but couldn't foresee affording one, so I resigned myself to just fixing whatever happened as it came along. (In January, I had to have the engine replaced - the ENGINE.) I figured whatever happened would be cheaper than a car payment (which I couldn't afford, anyway). I was beginning to suspect that it was due for a big transmission problem, too - and the A/C hadn't been working. I was planning to go to FL for a week or so in Sept, but wasn't sure I could trust it to get there, so how do I arrange that? What if I borrowed enough more to make a down payment? With no credit card payments, I could afford a car payment if I was careful. So, off I went to the dealer to talk about a car that I had seen and loved, but not driven - a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE, built right here in Normal, IL. As I got into the car to test drive it, the PA on the lot was playing "Walking in Memphis", and I had the feeling that this could actually be my car. Turns out, it was.
The next morning, I called the bank to ask what would happen if I added $5000 to my request and kept the payment the same. It will add not quite two years to the term, so that's not bad. So.....ultimately, I ended up with a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE, mercury gray (a dark, metallic gray), with a panoramic sunroof with "mood lighting", satellite radio, fancy stereo with a 10 in subwoofer that Chad is drooling over, CD, Bluetooth, touch screen media control with additional controls on the wheel, seven air bags, and a backup camera. It has no keys, just clickers. You only have to have the "key", not insert it anywhere. No need to even get it out of my purse to unlock the doors. Very similar in size to the PT, but taller. Slightly smaller cargo area, though. The payment will be a very manageable $289 for 72 months. And, of course, I could pay it off sooner.
So, to recap:
Sunday, Aug 17 - with bills looming, an aging car, and the idea of maybe going to FL in Sept, I applied for a signature loan to get the taxes taken care of.
Monday, Aug 18 - with newly refinanced house at a lower rate and money for a down payment, I purchased a new car. Transportation problem solved for FL, too.
Tuesday, Aug 19 - down payment made, and the car is mine.
I honestly feel like I won the lottery. How can it be that in the space of two days I can be out from under all debt (except the house, and now the car), AND have a new car? It is just incredible to me, and I am really, really grateful. Of course, I won't turn down the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes if they come around on Saturday......
On Monday, two weeks ago, a dear friend called me and said that he was having some problems with a sort of depression, and he would be out of the loop for a bit (which worried me a little) - haven't heard from him since then. And later that same day, the brilliant comedian and actor Robin Williams was found dead, an apparent suicide. While this understandably shocked everyone, it has raised the discussion of depression issues in the media. I hope because of this, my friend will seek some help, too. For some reason, maybe because of my friend, Robin Williams' death really hit me hard, and it's still hard to believe.
Just a week or so ago, I was lying awake trying to figure out where I was going to come up with the rest of the money for the real estate taxes. Even if I haven't borrowed from it "temporarily", it's a short time from the first payment in June to the second one in September. Then you have from September to June to come up with next year's. (This happens automatically for me out of my pension, and I really should just pay the whole thing in June and be done with it, but I hate giving the county any money ahead.) Anyway, I have also gotten just a little behind on a couple of other things, and was mulling over all of this and trying to juggle like I did in the old days. When do my paychecks come? What are the priorities? What can I put off a week or two in order to make a more important deadline?
So, between the sadness for RW, worry about my friend, and money issues, I wasn't having the best week. I finally decided that I should go get a small signature loan to pay the taxes and give me a little breathing room. I went in to the bank to sign the papers, and while I was there, the woman asked if I had ever thought about taking some out of my home equity line to pay off all of my credit cards, and also take advantage of lower interest rates. I hadn't wanted to deal with the hassle of appraisal and all of the expense of a refi, and I told her that. That is when my world changed. She said that since my most recent refi was within 10 years, there was no more involved than filling out one paper and signing it. What?? So I asked how it would change my payment or terms of my loan if I were to do that. It seems that I could have enough money to take care of everything....and my payment would stay the same, due to the lowered rate. Again, what??? And the remaining 15 years on my 20 year mortgage....would change to a 15 only! So why not?? She needed an hour or so to do the paperwork, so I said I would come back the next day.
Overnight, I thought about another little problem.....my aging PT Cruiser. I had shopped around for another car, but couldn't foresee affording one, so I resigned myself to just fixing whatever happened as it came along. (In January, I had to have the engine replaced - the ENGINE.) I figured whatever happened would be cheaper than a car payment (which I couldn't afford, anyway). I was beginning to suspect that it was due for a big transmission problem, too - and the A/C hadn't been working. I was planning to go to FL for a week or so in Sept, but wasn't sure I could trust it to get there, so how do I arrange that? What if I borrowed enough more to make a down payment? With no credit card payments, I could afford a car payment if I was careful. So, off I went to the dealer to talk about a car that I had seen and loved, but not driven - a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE, built right here in Normal, IL. As I got into the car to test drive it, the PA on the lot was playing "Walking in Memphis", and I had the feeling that this could actually be my car. Turns out, it was.
The next morning, I called the bank to ask what would happen if I added $5000 to my request and kept the payment the same. It will add not quite two years to the term, so that's not bad. So.....ultimately, I ended up with a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE, mercury gray (a dark, metallic gray), with a panoramic sunroof with "mood lighting", satellite radio, fancy stereo with a 10 in subwoofer that Chad is drooling over, CD, Bluetooth, touch screen media control with additional controls on the wheel, seven air bags, and a backup camera. It has no keys, just clickers. You only have to have the "key", not insert it anywhere. No need to even get it out of my purse to unlock the doors. Very similar in size to the PT, but taller. Slightly smaller cargo area, though. The payment will be a very manageable $289 for 72 months. And, of course, I could pay it off sooner.
So, to recap:
Sunday, Aug 17 - with bills looming, an aging car, and the idea of maybe going to FL in Sept, I applied for a signature loan to get the taxes taken care of.
Monday, Aug 18 - with newly refinanced house at a lower rate and money for a down payment, I purchased a new car. Transportation problem solved for FL, too.
Tuesday, Aug 19 - down payment made, and the car is mine.
I honestly feel like I won the lottery. How can it be that in the space of two days I can be out from under all debt (except the house, and now the car), AND have a new car? It is just incredible to me, and I am really, really grateful. Of course, I won't turn down the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes if they come around on Saturday......
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