Surprises and Money
June 18th, 2008 at 11:46am Conscripted Cherry
I opened my mailbox yesterday to find an envelope from my mortgage company. Not normal but not Earth shaking, until I opened it. Inside was a $75.00 check. It was one of those computer generated ones that uses an entire sheet of paper, and has lots of space for an explanation, but nothing. Well, there were some internal codes, but nothing that could be interpreted by a normal person. Got online last night to see if I could figure out what was going on and it was a refund on my escrow. I think I would have preferred that it be applied to my mortgage, but I’ll take it and recycle it back. Yep, the mortgage payment is going to be $75.00 bigger in July than usual.
I already pay more than my actual payment is supposed to be. I apply an additional $28.17 toward my principal each month. It’s not an enormous amount, and it won’t get my mortgage paid off ten years early, but it’s a little something, that at the end of the year actually saves me a couple of hundred in interest, which over the life of a thirty year loan can be big money.
I wish I could say that this is something I was so smart as to come up with myself, it isn’t. My parents have done something like it for years. In fact they managed to get their thirty year loan paid off in just over twenty years by applying a little extra each month to the principal. Does anyone else do this? Not just the mortgage, but other things that over time add up to big savings?
My current favorite blog is Get Rich Slowly a money management blog. I’m finding money management being at the front of my mind more and more since I bought the house. No one warned me of this.
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111 Comments Add your own
1. Conscripted Cherry | June 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I admit it- my post was rambly. Okay, I’m over it now.
2. GatorPerson | June 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Yes, I did that with our last mortgage. I think I remember it was for 20 or 30 years. Doesn’t matter. I figgered out what the monthly check needed to be to pay it off in 10 years. Don’t remember now, but it was within a month or so of what I calculated. That way we weren’t committed to the 10 years to the bank and could slack off if we needed to.
For those CBs who have never considered this. The extra payment goes straight to the principle; so you’re paying off the REAL loan, not the interest.
I’ll be glad to calculate for anyone, if you’re interested. No, I won’t tell anyone, even myself. I can’t remember numbers for very long; so your number secrets are safe with me. Huh! I could do a spreadsheet where you put in your loan amount and interest rate and current payment and months of payments to go and fiddle with what you want to pay to see what you might want to do. And email it to you so it’d be a do-it-yourself-er.
AFTER THE PORTLAND SUMMER SOLSTICE!
3. Mary | June 18th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
That sounds like a great idea, thanks CC!
And GP, your idea sounds good too.
Plus, I like that blog — hadn’t run across it before.
4. Marcia in OK | June 18th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
CC - You’re showing great restraint.
GP - I may take you up on that offer of help. My stuff is all a mess since my divorce. I know that paying breaking a payment into 2 installments per month is supposed to help cut back on interest. But, I’m not sure i could figure out how to cut my mortgage down by a decade. Would you be able to calculate how much time would be shaved off the end of the note if I was only able to “round up” monthly payments by $80-$100?
Scope - Please let Jenni know we are thinking of her.
To all the CB job seekers - good luck . . . something great is on its way.
Travel safe to all the whack.
I’ve added chocolate dipped strawberries to the buffet table and some dark chocolate hershey kisses, and a few assorted types of chips and dips.
Party on.
5. me | June 18th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Nope. My mortgage payment is big enough as it is. I probably should, but i like to eat.
I got one of those escrow checks last year. Then they went and raised the escrow payments by $10. As opposed to using the money they sent me. Something to do with money presented at closing versus actual mumbo-jumbo legal crap.
Is it Friday yet? This time Friday I’ll be whacked.
6. McB | June 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Nice surprise, CC. I got one of those refund checks a little while back, too. I actually called the mortgage company to make really really sure it wasn’t going to come back to haunt me some day.
Things I’ve done to save money … at work they have two programs we can take advantage to set aside part of our salary before taxes. One is for health benefits and one is for commuting costs and I’ve done both since the first day they were offered. I save myself a few hundred dollars a year that way. I also sock away money in a 401k. For each pay raise I raise my contribution one percent. Doing it right then means I don’t get used to the extra money so I’m less likely to miss it, while at the same time I’m securing my future.
I refinanced my mortgage about 5 years ago. By refinancing at a much lower interest rate I was able to get a 15 year mortgage (as opposed to the original 30 year) and it only costs me about $20 more a month. That’s a big savings in interest.
And, silly as it sounds, I dump spare change in an old milk bottle. You’d be surprised at how it can really add up. Some years it’s amounted to about $80 and I usually put it towards Christmas shopping.
7. McB | June 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
off topic, but …
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080617/sc_space/seeahugemoonillusionwednesday
8. CMS | June 18th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
A whack is happening on a full moon? Keep that bail fund handy
9. glamour-geek | June 18th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Reading the Get Rich Slowly blog about credit card debt made me realize how much I took what I learned from my parents for granted. I can remember seeing my father balancing my parents’ checkbook TO THE LAST PENNY when I was little. He still does it. So do I.
When I started college, there was a deal from one of his credit cards to get me a credit card with a small maximum with him as security and then later spin it off to me independently as I learned to take care of it properly. I still have the same account. I have occasionally needed to run a debt, but have almost always, for over 20 years, paid it off every month. In return, I have collected frequent flier miles and gone to Italy twice, upgraded to Toronto once, gone to Toronto once and flown myself and beau to Toronto first/business class once.
When beau and I talk about money, he takes my alloted amount for a 401K into consideration. I don’t even consider that money that I have. It’s written off already and it’s not up for question on spending. I am looking forward to being reemployed so I can max out my 401K again.
I have, for several years, written down in a spreadsheet everything I spend every month. When my tax bill came this year (yikes!), I amortized the amount over 4 months and considered the money spent already, so I could have that back in my “cushion” fund by the end of those 4 months. The end of that is the end of this month. And I applied for unemployment the day after my last day of work, because you can do it online and over the weekend.
So right now, my savings account looks fat. That said, I don’t know how long I have to live off that money and there’s no income, so I’ve cut my monthly expenses way, way down since the layoffs were announced. By almost 1/3. I still go out to dinner with beau, but it’s on the cheaper side now. Beau has been kind enough to treat us to a nice dinner now and then.
And this stuff must have been instilled early. I just never think of it because it’s second nature. Yay parents!
Though really, my father says “You should live just slightly above your means.”
10. BCB | June 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I’m planning to reduce my mortgage principal and interest expense by selling the house and paying off the entire thing. Soon. But yeah, back in the Good Old Days, I used to add whatever payment I could to principal each month.
For those of you who were wondering, JenT’s son says she made it through surgery just fine. However, this is the rather, um, rambunctious middle child, so I’d better edit the report just a bit. This is what I understood from the conversation:
There was a slight delay while they negotiated terms with the Mother Ship to get it to leave the operating room. But after that things went more smoothly and they successfully removed most of the brain. Well, the parts that were causing all the trouble, anyway. Of course, they did have a bit of a problem determining which of the eight heads was supposed to be operated on. I think they only had to open up three or four before they found the one with the malfunctioning brain. As a bonus, they did also manage to remove the foot that was lodged rather permanently in one of her mouths. She’ll be so happy about that, once she wakes up. She’s still sedated, which is to be expected with this kind of thing. They should be able to remove the leg and arm restraints in a couple months. Then they’ll have to see whether she is able to feed herself. And walk. And talk. And drive without running into anything. They say she should be Just Fine in a year or two. I say they don’t know her very well if that’s the prognosis. I’ll give you more updates as I get them.
11. CMS | June 18th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Thanks BCB for the JenT update. Any news on the prospect of typos?
12. BCB | June 18th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
*snort* I think they left those intact. I hope they’re giving her some good drugs so I can laugh at her when I talk to her. She made her DH promise not to let her get on the internet until she’s coherent. HA! We’ll never hear from her again.
Got to run, DS wants food. Geez. I just fed him yesterday . . .
13. Kay T | June 18th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Ha! Saving money. Just this morning I was envisioning myself as a little old lady who spends her retirement time looking for deals on gas (hard to do), etc. I am the type who can’t throw out a sliver of soap or a bottle of shampoo until I am pretty sure EVERY LAST DROP is out.
GG, I too have never thought of the 401(k) monthly deduction as my money to spend, which is why retiring is possible. I am used to living on so much less!
For awhile I was rounding my house payment up, but I had gotten out of the habit. Thanks for the reminder.
14. BCB | June 18th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Okay, so this is how insane Jen is. I sent her an email earlier and figured she’d read it maybe Friday when she came home from the hospital. But no. Apparently she has smuggled her transponder into the hospital and she emailed me back five minutes later. It didn’t make sense because I don’t think she was using real words, but whatever. Then she called me. She was eating jello that she described as being “not very jello-y yet.” They have given her some very good drugs. I’m still laughing. She’s fine.
15. glamour-geek | June 18th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
How you know Kay T is in law: she actually puts the () around the k in 401(k).
So…since parties here are calorie-free and bringing things to them involves no shopping or cooking, I’ll bring a genoise. I love making that cake and it’s SO yummy.
Maybe I’ll make a crumble tonight. It must be healthy, it’s got oatmeal and raspberries in it. The butter, brown sugar and flour can’t count for much, can they?
This from the girl who keep saying she wants to fit back into her jeans, but dinner was both early and light…
16. GatorPerson | June 18th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
All packed. Shutting down to grab a wink or 2 before my 4:00 AM wakeup call. See some of you soon. Other CBs tidy up the B&G, please if the camels make a mess while you all are partying.
17. Mary | June 18th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
The good news: the futon has left the kitchen.
The bad news: it’s stuck in the hall and won’t move.
The ugly news: I’m trapped in the office until I find a way to shift it.
18. cbpen | June 19th, 2008 at 12:43 am
I am trying to cut down on things since the downsizing. I have…except for books. and chocolate. sigh. I will hate to give those up.
It wasn’t a buttery yellow moon, it was lighter than that, but it wasn’t as light as lemon yellow sherbet. hmmmmm.
My 401k is still there. I would lose so much if I tapped into it. And it’s already not worth as much as it was thanks to the recessing economy. I dump change into the drawer. I told my kids that’s my retirement fund. And I will soon be cashing that in to pay bills. I am like gg. My savings account doesn’t look that bad, but (BIG BUT) I will soon be living off of it and it won’t last that long. Something has to give, doesn’t it?
Hey, I saw that moon tonight. I don’t care what the geek on that web site says, It was huge, It was a golden yellow and it was beautiful. I may wax poetic about it for my writing session for today.
Maybe I’ll bring lemon sherbet to the party. It’s refreshing. And summery for the solstice. (YIKES!! I just thought of something, don’t wiccans dance naked in the moonlight on the solstice?? And aren’t CBs liable to try ANYTHING once??? Keep that bail money handy.)
Guess I should start doing the resume shuffle.
Have fun at the PNW Whack A Do.
19. orangehands | June 19th, 2008 at 1:40 am
well, my mom is trying to off my dog, my friend’s turning into wolverine, and the moon was gorgeous.
my mom gave my dog a pill she thought belonged to the dog. turns out no, it was one of hers. waiting for her to throw up (we gave her some stuff so she would)
my friend (from the car accident) is getting a metal plate in her hand.
the moon is self explanatory
anyway, love to everyone, i’ll see some of you very soon, and i left some fresh cookies in the pantry for the rest of you. hope those of you going through not such good times get some better ones. and glad btuda and jent are ok. hi over here kay t. and yes, i’m going to RWA
20. McB | June 19th, 2008 at 8:51 am
The invasion has begun. CBs across the continent are even now boarding or waiting for flights. Portland, here we come.
21. Mary | June 19th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Oh crap, I forgot to warn Portland
22. McB | June 19th, 2008 at 9:32 am
BCB - thanks so much for letting us know how well Jen-T is doing. So glad to hear they didn’t mess with the brain the typos are stored in. She just wouldn’t be the same without them.
23. glamour-geek | June 19th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Mary: get out of the office yet? Heh.
CBs arrive, knock on Mary’s door, have to break it down to go rescue her from the attacking futon. Sounds like a good way to start the weekend…
24. me | June 19th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Breaking News: Portland-area merchants report an unexpected 90 percent increase in retail sales. Most stores report they are completely sold out of shovels. In an unrelated incident, the Portland Zoo reported breakouts from the flamingo, alligator, mole, and camel exhibits. The only evidence left behind was a trail of salt, which, when investigators followed it, led to the missing animals in the romance section of Powell’s. Film at 11.
25. K.L. | June 19th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Glad to hear that JenT is enjoying her drugs, and that everything went well. Maybe the doctors gave some drugs to the Mothership as well.
I set up my house payments so that they are automatically withdrawn twice a month, (half payment twice a month) with about $100.00 extra going into the principle each month. It really is amazing how much faster you can pay off the house with just a little extra each month.
I have to take DD 10 to Costco to pick up her glasses, then I can get my packing done. I also have to finishe rereading Lover Revealed. DD10 has to get her bottom bunk cleared off, as there is a rumor that a certain CB will be hanging out overnight after the Whack on Sunday.
WooHoo. Fun will ensue very soon.
26. orangehands | June 19th, 2008 at 11:39 am
ok, dog is ok, but was with her most of the night so a little tired. hence late, late start. sorry. (don’t worry, i’m mainlining tea during the drive)
anyway, safe trip for everyone making it today, and safe tri[p fpr eveeryone making it any of the other days
see you soon
and for those manning the grill, there’s cookies in the pantry and some fresh strawberries in the fridge.
thanks KL and lou!!!
bye bye bye
27. McB | June 19th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Something I do that I don’t think is common. Well, probably a lot of things, but specific to finances … I write out a check for half my mortgage at each pay day, then I send in two checks together each month. It’s psychological: once I write the check I consider the money spent.
I got so very little done at work this morning it isn’t funny. That’s okay, ‘cuz I get to leave in 18 minutes for the airport. Don’t worry, Mary! We’re coming! We’ll save you!
28. cbpen | June 19th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
It’s kinda quiet in here. Helloooooo? Guess I’ll just snack a bit while I look around. (munches cookie in one hand and strawberry in the other) Are there any CBs left? (opens attic door) Are there any lurkers up there? sigh. Guess I’ll sit over here in the corner and wait…Ooooo…there’s a man in a kilt back there. I’d better keep him company ’til the leftover Whack returns. Mmmm delicious. (The strawberries dipped in chocolate, of course.) The rest of you take your time. I’ll keep him entertained…and any Spartans that show up too.
29. me | June 19th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I’m still here. Plane doesn’t leave til tomorrow and I’m still at work and I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE, I want to be there. But since I’m still here, I’ve got the Spartans. You’ve got the rest of the weekend to play with them, after I’m gone. If they’re still in any condition to play, that is.
30. McB | June 19th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
at the airport. Bag checked. Restaurant found. Margarita ordered. Vacation started.
31. cc | June 19th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
ooh, just realized i get the best of both worlds- a party here and a party there since i don’t get in until saturday evening- rocks to be me
just got done with the esophageal scope- they use conscious sedation so I’m feeling hung over, but the doc said everything looks good so I’m much relieved
32. glamour-geek | June 19th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
CC: glad the doc is happy with your tests. I almost said scope, but she belongs to all of us.
Is there anything BESIDES alcohol and sugar at this party? Where are the potato chips??? I want potato chips. Ah, here they are. Lots of them. Help yourselves. Yum.
Maybe I just want potato chips because I went to the gym this morning and it’s quite warm and chips are nice and salty. After a brutally icky 9 degrees below average Sunday and Monday, we are back to warm and sunny. Yay!
So I have a phone screen today at 2pm. Between yesterday, when I was reading up on the company website to be prepared, and this morning, they have rolled out a new site. Now _there’s_ a great topic of conversation for the call…
I also have a phone screen tomorrow at 4pm. And I REALLY need to get a move on getting the resume out to other places…I know, cbpen, it’s not fun circulating the resume, but it’s gotta get done, huh?
I know my old job left me exhausted and worn out, but applying for jobs is no fun either.
Where are my lottery winnings already???
And hand back those potato chips!
33. Marcia in OK | June 19th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Just stopped in to drop off more ice and extra chips. Just in time I’d say.
Back to doing the sales tax filings. UGH! See ya’ll when I’m done.
34. cbpen | June 19th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I suppose I should leave the kilt for awhile and get back to the resumes. sigh. I don’t WANT to go to work. (Looking for a job is one of the worst types of work out there.) I want to play with the kilt. sigh. Okay, okay, I’m taking a dab of every kind of nosh with me and two, no, three pitchers of peach bellinis to go. And PLEEEASE don’t wear out the Spartans or the kilts while I’m gone. Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho, It’s off to work I go….
35. glamour-geek | June 19th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
So funny I had to share. Yeah, I’ve heard of this before, but I heard something about it on the radio today and had to go hunt it down:
Business Buzzword Bingo
Can I have one of those bellinis? They sound yummy… Not the whole pitcher, just one champagne flute.
cbpen: post bellinis, maybe we could play buzzword bingo with our cover letters and resumes! Hah!
The sad thing is, I bet they’d get a lot more interest if we did. Sigh.
36. cc | June 19th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
cbpen- the gentleman in the kilt is an accomplished typist- feel free to take him with you so you can dictate and he can do his keyboard magic on your resume
I have the cutest little corndogs, served with honey mustard, potato chips, and fiddle faddle- yes, we did have an opening for a baseball exhibit, why do you ask- And I know y’all well enough to know you’re not offended by the extras
37. Mary | June 19th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
It is gorgeous in Portland today. If anybody who’s coming hasn’t left yet, throw in some flip-flops and sun-tan lotion!
GG, I can relate. My job is putting me through a wringer, so that I’ve started to daydream of being laid off. But the view from either extreme is no fun, as you and Pen remind me. I wanna happy medium!
CC, you mean you’re not bringing the man-in-a-kilt to the party? Damn. Oh well. Please call when you get to the Max stop, or even a bit before so we can all be lined up cheering when you step off the lightrail.
38. K.L. | June 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Sounds like the cat herding has begun. I can’t wait for tomorrow.
39. Christina | June 19th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I want a big plate of nachos. Who has the nachos?!?
40. Louis | June 19th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Did someone change the plug for the popcorn machine?….
No…there it is….hmmmm…right where it was last time.
Couple of minutes and popcorn ready.
I’m off to sample the strawberries.
41. Marcia in OK | June 19th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Christina - just Ring the Bell (pull the gong thingie) for the Cabana boy. He’ll bring the nachos pronto.
42. cbpen | June 19th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
The kilt is indeed good with his fingers (typing, you in the corner get your mind outta the gutter) Speaking of men in kilts: I can’t believe I missed the Highland Games in Fort Wayne last weekend. sigh. I usually go and just watch the kilts go by. I get a REAL scone like my aunt used to make (not those hard triangle things you get in coffee shops.)
Well, I have to go to sleep (and dream about kilts maybe?) I have two computer workshops tomorrow. Looonnng day. At least for someone who is semi-retired. I still like the sound of that better than downsized.
43. Lou | June 20th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Hi All… OH and edelweiss are at my house right now. Have been since earlier, but are singing kareoke (sp?) with DH.
We will hit the road tomorrow about 8 am and will see y’all around 6 pm or so.
ROAD TRIP!!! Woot…
Have fun at the B&G party!!
44. OH | June 20th, 2008 at 12:28 am
*drops off aspirin and potato chips*
I’m guessing later than 6pm, but not sure….
45. Pam | June 20th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Kareoke was great!! Lou’s DH is really really nice. OH and Lou aretoo but then I wouldn’t have expected anything different!! Have checked in with DH and everything is fine at home
*leaving more wine for you all*
Hugs
46. Mary | June 20th, 2008 at 2:40 am
I’ve met more CBs! They really do exist. I’m starting to believe most of you are real people who live and breathe in real life. Amazing.
I drove into a parking lot this afternoon and saw a woman I’d never met walking the other way. I looked at her, she looked at me, and we recognized each other as CBs. Kinda neat how that works.
drags out the pole and dusts it off
There, now you can get some aerobic exercise in while you’re partying.
Please don’t hesitate to encourage the camels to eat that shag rug.
47. Christina | June 20th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Marcia–You want me to pull the Cabana Boy’s gong thingie?!?
Ok.
48. cbpen | June 20th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Christina: Can I watch?!!
On Good Morning America, they said today is “officially” the happiest day of the year…How do they know there’s a Whack A Do in the PNW???
Well, need to head off to my workshops….
49. BCB | June 20th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I think I must have fallen asleep on the couch last night. Why do I have guacamole dip on my, um . . . hmmm. Never mind. And I thought it was just a nice dream.
If I make it through this work day, I might just go into hibernation for a while. No wait, I can’t. We’ve gotten past the talking stage and I’ve actually got workers coming to DO SOMETHING this weekend. Oh joy.
50. Theresa | June 20th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Just popping my head in the door to say hi before I head off. I stashed some chocolate - both milk and dark of various flavors - behind the bar. It’s from my local neighborhood chocolate shop, so enjoy!
Mary and the PNW whack - see you tonight!
51. Theresa | June 20th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Oh, and also dropping off a few more men-in-kilts
that I coercedwho graciously agreed to come along. I wanted to make sure that there are enough to go around.And sorry, they insisted on bringing the bagpipes.
52. cc | June 20th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I’m still stuck on pulling the cabana boy’s gong thingie
am recovered from yesterday’s medicine induced hangover! I wasn’t this bad after the last big CB party- oh well
bcb- what are you having men do at your house this weekend? Are any of the men the really nice, good looking one from the deck building?
53. RSS | June 20th, 2008 at 9:51 am
groan. She stumbles in with her hand pressed to the small of her back. Shouldn’t have polished the pole to such a bright shine. Refilling the dips and adding a key lime dip for the strawberries. And made up a batch of mini lemon chess pies. Not quite as much kick as a lemon drop GG but tangy.
BCB–Thanks for the update on JenT. Glad she’s doing well.
Can’t wait to hear more about the whack a do.
54. Christina | June 20th, 2008 at 10:21 am
cbpen–Uh…pulling the cabana boy’s gong thingie is a rather private matter. I’ll tell you the details later.
55. BCB | June 20th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I just stuck my pen into a carton of yogurt. This does not bode well. Wonder if there’s any ink in that spoon that I set on my desk? And I have to pay sales tax today.
CC, no this is a different guy. They all seem to have their specialties. The one coming tomorrow is the one who is young enough to be my son and has a rock hard body that you’d have to see to believe. Not that I’ve seen it; he wears tight t-shirts. The guy coming Monday is the one with the deep Scottish accent. You know how some guys have that kind of voice that it doesn’t matter what they say, you’d agree to anything? He called this morning to tell me when he’d be coming and I answered the phone and he said my name, that’s all. And I said, “yes.”
Not sure why all these guys are married. It’s not fair.
Now I have to clean off my pen and get some work done.
56. K.L. | June 20th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Sounds like the B&G party and the PNW Whack are starting off with a bang. I’m packed, and will only be putting in a half day at work today. Gotta take DD10 to her speech therapy after lunch, then I hit the road. Hopefully, i’ll get to Mary’s by 6:30 or so. WooHoo.
57. glamour-geek | June 20th, 2008 at 10:50 am
The phone screen yesterday? Maybe not so much. Both the position and the salary are a bit junior (I was NOT planning on taking a pay CUT from my last, underpaid position!, nor was I planning on having even less responsibility!) but I have told him I’ll think it over over the weekend because it gives me the opportunity to see how TWO more phone screens go today. The first is with a company doing extremely cool things, the second with a company I’ve known about for a good long while which could be interesting. BOTH are for “director” positions, which is very nice.
And then I woke up this morning to my cell phone ringing…a recruiter asking me what I was looking for and if I was still looking, because he saw my resume online… Probably nothing will come of that, but it’s always nice that someone noticed.
And of course, there are still the two I interviewed with in person last week.
cbpen! If you are going to pull gongs, do it in private at least!!!
58. Mary | June 20th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I thought you were supposed to bang a gong and pull a thong. The other way round just sounds sarong, somehow
)
GG, that’s an encouraging sign that so many people are calling you. I wish they didn’t have to play games with offering low salaries. I’ll cross my fingers and say a prayer that the director positions work out. (Gee, I didn’t know you were into acting… call my people and we’ll do lunch.
59. Mary | June 20th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Where is everybody? I don’t usually spend a weekday near the b&g, but I thought there’d be a lot more people here. Are you all sunk in slothful slumber, like slugs? (Say that one 3 times quickly.) I thought the party would be in full swing and you all are slumped over the tables in a stupor or something. Except for that one figure in the back, dancing on the pole… whoa! watch out there. I didn’t know you could teach a camel to use a pole like that
60. RSS | June 20th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Blame CMS and Cary for that Mary. They’re the ones who train animals. And I wasn’t in a stupor. I was checking out the grain in the table. It required close attention.
LOL BCB. Hope the pen still works. Your contractor guys sound interesting. Let’s build one to order for you:
Take one Scottish accent
Tack on one rock hard body
And interestingly attractive face
Make sure he’s not married
And has enough age to give him wisdom but is still young enough to make him energetic where it counts.
How does that sound?
61. BCB | June 20th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Yes.
62. BCB | June 20th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
8)
63. Diane(TT) | June 20th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Sorry, I only get a bit over an hour each day on the computer at the library (I could probably get more, but I’d have to go out, sign back up, etc.).
So, I get my email done, then drop in here, and MAY have time to make a comment.
The party sounds a bit desultory, but fun - and many yummy things, of course.
I’m going to get to work tomorrow on Triple Citrus Mojitos - I’m doing a Pampered Chef party on Sunday afternoon, and the simple syrup’s gotta cool. I might, also, have to try one, to make sure it’s good.
I made the bases for two kinds of strawberry ice cream yesterday, and will probably do another, maybe tomorrow - I can only freeze one per day, due to the constraints of the frozen cylinder, but I’m not demolishing a quart each day, so that’s OK>
Anyway, I’m glad that people are having fun here and in the PNW - I hope the weather continues to cooperate, but am sure you’ll have a wonderful time, regardless!
I like bagpipes - but can we turn them down a little?
Two minute warning - must sign off now!
Oh, and I’m BCB here - until I remember to sign myself properly, so if she starts sounding oddly scattered, pedantic and unemployed, maybe she is I.
64. RSS | June 20th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
LOL BCB
Sounds like a great recipe Diane. You should make it for us at the B&G sometime. Hope it’s a successful party.
Going dark for a couple of days. Have fun everyone. See you next week.
65. Marcia in OK | June 20th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Hi - I.
Hope the whack is traveling safely.
Those of us left behind are resting quietly so that we can sufficiently party the weekend away.
66. Louis | June 20th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Three digit heat here in So Cal.
Staying in front of a fan with a good book….with a check on the B & G now and then.
Party on!
67. Mary | June 20th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Help help my house has been invaded by all these neat cheerful laughing people
68. BCB | June 20th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Well, this was another long day. The president is in town — someone here still believes his presence will be a campaign boost — and his plane landed about 5:00 just in time for rush hour. Normally that would not be a problem for me, but today I had to drop off something at our accountant’s office on the way home. Except they closed half the roads between here and there. Grrrr. Good thing I know my way around. And also know alternate routes.
**We now interrupt this non-party with a problem.** I need advice. I’m thinking about buying a laptop. Thought I wanted to get a Dell. Because I’ve never had a problem with a Dell. But after talking to some young geek guy at Best Buy for a half hour, now I’m undecided. He’s a Mac fan, but I do not want one of those. He insisted that if I ever decided to “change my lifestyle,” (yes, those were his words) it would be easier to accommodate that with a Mac, because a Mac can do everything. Pffftt. Kids. Any lifestyle change I make is not going to involve a computer. His next two choices were HP and Sony. He also says Vista is now fixed, except it won’t happily transfer data from programs that are more than about six years old. Not sure I believe him about that being the only remaining problem. I’ve never heard anything good about Vista. Soooo, does anyone have any advice? About laptops. Not the lifestyle change thing.
69. BCB | June 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Mary, that whole “neat” thing wears off once they get comfortable. Though they do all make their beds in the morning. And rinse out coffee cups.
70. Lori | June 20th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I didn’t use ay coffee cups, so BCB must not be talking about me. (Yes, I’ll just keep telling myself that…)
I’d recommend buying a Mac. *evil grin*
Okay, I actually do know quite a bit about buying a laptop, but my brain refuses to speak to my fingers anymore. So I’m going to go collapse under that table over there and do NOTHING. If you see a cabana boy or gong with my name on it… send ‘em over please!
71. glamour-geek | June 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Beau talked me into a Mac when I got my new laptop and I like it, but there are challenges trying to do things that are compatible with Windows–there are solutions for that, but not always what you want to face.
REJECT VISTA at all costs. I haven’t heard a good thing about it, I have heard it’s got lots more problems than your little sales boy indicated.
I will recommend this: go to alatest.com and see what the ratings say. It’s not user ratings, alaTest aggregates all the professional ratings from print and online publications, then gives a score and a trend upward or downward or the same as to where that score is going in comparison to other products. See what they say about Dell, Sony, Lenovo/IBM, etc. At least it will be a good research tool.
BTW, alaTest also covers consumer electronics (printers, phones, etc) so you can search for TVs, phones, whatever and then narrow your choices by brand, price, etc. They don’t do the reviews themselves, just collect the from the other sources out there, so they’re agnostic.
I know the founders from a previous job, and they’re pretty good guys.
72. glamour-geek | June 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Huh. My link didn’t work. Sorry about that.
http://www.alatest.com
73. cbpen | June 21st, 2008 at 1:23 am
Whew! What a day. What a life. I had the day long workshops and while I was there I got three calls. One for a reference for a job seeking friend (we are looking for much different things so we don’t have to worry about giving a reference who has applied for the same job…did that make sense???) Two was my son asking me if I could go and pick up E! That worried me a little. I couldn’t bear to think of him sitting at Day Camp and no one going to get him. They found someone else to go. Three was someone wanting to set up an INTERVIEW!! YIKES! I don’t get any calls for forever and then (when I am incommudicado [sp?] I get three fairly important ones.
So pour me a gigantic strawberry daq and send a bagpipe playing kilt this way. Maybe I can pull the kilt’s gong thingie
That really did make me smile. I needed some silliness.
I think I want some strawberries and whipped cream too. That should go well with the kilt…and the daq.
I am not sure but I think I hear lots of laughter and jabbering coming from a general northwesterly direction. hmmmm.
Party on, Whack, party on.
74. cc | June 21st, 2008 at 8:29 am
cbpen- my heart is going out to you- but an interview call is good- they did leave a number, right? and now you’re armed with all the new knowledge you gained at these workshops so watch out world!!!
75. McB | June 21st, 2008 at 9:07 am
there is entirely too much jocularity in here. Where do it come from? I was sure all available forms of merriment were being used up here in the PNW. And that tone in BCB’s voice that you here is shock from finding out that our momma’s raised us right.
Well Dr. T must have left all the kilt clad lads here because I helped with her luggage last night and it wasn’t near heavy enough for even a small Scott, though possibly she meant a small Scotch.
At one point yesterday 10 people on Mary’s patio were discussing the same book. I love these people! Rumour has it that the holy shrine of books, Powell’s, is on the itinerary today. Cue celestial choir. We may never get out of there!
76. Diane (TT) | June 21st, 2008 at 10:25 am
Hmm, this time, my default identity was McB, which would also have been fun, but no. This library thing has its ups and downs.
I love my Mac, and have been a Mac user for 10+ years, but it is not compatible with my Pampered Chef software! I almost never get any supplemental applications (then I would have to think about it - I like my computer to be in the background of what I’m doing, not the forefront, which is why I like the Mac), so that’s never been an issue before. And PC stuff still often seems lame and way too cumbersome for me.
But I may have to buy a laptop PC for the Pampered Chef business anyway. My director says “you can take it off your taxes”. But, hmmm. I still have to figure out what to do and lug the damn thing around. Hey, BCB, let me know what’s good, huh? Just so long as it has a CD drive (for the Pampered Chef software, and a USB port or two for everything else, I’m easy to please.
So, on a financial note, obviously, one of the things that I do to save money is not buy new things. OK, except clothes and cookware, I freely grant that I buy those. But not as much as I would if I weren’t careful about buying new stuff! And books, of course. Gotta buy books.
I’ve never had a mortgage, but I did buy some stuff (sofa and refrigerator) “on time” when I got my first real job. And very carefully figured out the payments for “12months, same as cash”, since their cute little payment coupons set you up for 24 months repayment - and about 25% interest!. Which is not the same as cash, really. I paid off my student loan early (I did not have one of the super-low interest ones, but more like 8-9%, so worth getting paid off), and I saved money towards my new car on a withdraw-it-before-I see it basis, once I had my first car paid off. Which made buying a second car relatively painless, though I could not afford the Prius I was longing for.
But my parents always made it clear that there were incentives to borrow, but that it was important to be careful about it, and to realize the interest costs of money, so I get that. Now, if only I knew where I was going to live, and knew I was going to live there for several years, I might like a cute little house. Of course, it’s embarassing to realize that lots of people had whole families grow up in spaces roughly what it would take to house my clothes and cookware - and that’s before the books and actual furniture!
It’s strange to realize that, at my age, my parents had two kids in college! And a second mortgage, but they got both paid off within a few years of us graduating. Partly because they almost never bought anything new as long as the old thing still functioned.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!”
77. Diane (TT) | June 21st, 2008 at 10:29 am
Oh, and I’m so glad that you’re having fun and talking about books (perhaps you can tell that my email was relatively scant today?). I had a “you can’t judge a book by its cover” experience, with the Jim Butcher “Dresden Files” novels. Jenny recommended (I think it was she, I know it was on Argh) the James Marsters audiobooks, but the library didn’t have them, and I didn’t get around to trying the actual books, because - I was intimidated by the covers. They looked dark. I can do dark, but I do like some leavening.
Well, I finally tried one, and it was a lot less gloomy than a lot of stuff I read - and had a lot more humor in it! So, now I’m requesting a bunch of them - and the library has the audiobooks on order, so I may even get those!
Hmph. Serves me right, I guess, for being shallow.
78. Mary | June 21st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Hey, it’s me. Not Mary me (not to be confused with Marry me, but i am accepting applications) but me me. The Whack wore me out last night; the laughing and chocolate lasted well after I crashed. Luckily, there were some leftover brownies for breakfast. Also luckily, the house is large enough to scatter the bodies on the floor, so it didn’t look as bad as it could have at first glance. And as far as I know the neighbors did not call the police. Yet.
79. Mary | June 21st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Personally (this is Mary), I was hoping for a man in uniform.
Note to self: pour liberal amounts of tequila tonight, see if can induce someone to dance on the tabletop…
80. McB | June 21st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
sorry I hold my alcohol better than that.
81. BCB | June 21st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Thanks for all the input on laptops. Once I recover from today’s exhaustive supervisory [ahem] activity I’ll check out that website, G-G. Looks like good info.
My yard looks absolutely fantastic! Amazing what several man hours of hard sweaty work and the use of multiple gas-powered machine-things will do. Really, is was tiring just watching them. Cutting, blowing, edging, blowing, trimming, weeding, more blowing . . . the silence now is sublime. And they carted off all the debris. Just wish there were more actual grass in the parts that should be grassy. Ah well.
[Why yes, I am ignoring that rather annoying sound. Seems to be coming from the NW. Sounds like a large gaggle of some strange species laughing and talking all at once. Quite irritating. What’s that? Me, envious? Nonsense.]
82. Mary | June 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Hafta confess — I went down to the corner store to buy some ice, and coming back I could hear the Whack in my backyard from across the street and four houses away. It’s a good thing the natives are friendly.
BCB, can you send them hunks over here? I’d love to watch sweaty men work on my yard
83. Jenni | June 21st, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Well, I called CMS today to get a hold of SDCB to thank her for her well wishes while I wasin the hopsital and what did I get? A house ful of CB well wishers! It was one of the nicest surprises I have ever had. Call on CB and get 20!
Thanks everyone. While I’m still very tired, i’m feel so much better after talking with everyone.
Jenni
84. Christina | June 21st, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Glad you’re on the mend, JenT!
85. Louis | June 22nd, 2008 at 12:05 am
Jenni..
Mend quickly!
Another three digit day..
106 on the deck…
112 in the barn…
115 at the hitching post…
needless to say…no hitching today.
Sounds as if “the whack” up north is happily whacking away!
86. cbpen | June 22nd, 2008 at 3:28 am
We had lots of thundering herds today. They made me* very sleepy so I did a whole lotta nothing. Except read. And (wouldn’t you know it) the book I picked up is set in…the PNW. But I have a feeling The Whack is having a lot more fun than the people in the book…lots of angst. I had the hard nonfiction computer stuff Friday, the angst today so I will need a book with LOTS of humor next.
There was a “teenage” robin sitting on the back of the bench today. I think I got a good pic. I’ve gotten various stages of different families. Tinies in the nest, one about to leave the nest and now this guy. I was also taking pics of raindrops in between the storms. My artsy-fartsy shots, as my friend says.
Whack on, Whack A Do, Whack on….
87. CMS | June 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Good morning everyone. CC is a happy chirpy riser, K.L. growls until she has coffee yet somehow it all worked. Tanji is a wonderful dog, incredibly calm about the bodies littering her house and yard. Cary’s home is cute and her boys were so happy to meet CBs. It’s good but you are all missed so much. Believe me* when I say you’re here with us in spirit.. At some point or another we’ve discussed you all. In a good way.
Look away JenT, frog story Poor little OH has never heard one and made fun of my little wooden frog who ribbits when I rub him. She managed to make it all sound so carnal. Only she says Too Too Too instead of ribbit. That girl.
Theresa has whipped up some scrambled eggs. I’ve got some lovely warm rolls fresh from the oven. Join us.
88. Mary | June 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Huh? There’s food? Waaah
89. Mary | June 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Note for future reference:
One does not plan a CB meet. One experiences a meet.
And frankly, it’s much more fun that way. All the cats are pulling in different directions, but because they’re all so busy having laughing and talking, it doesn’t matter where we end up. It’s all good.
Except that I might need a fireman or two… we’re testing out the new grill, the aptly named “Smokey”.
90. glamour-geek | June 22nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
90s here yesterday and the day before, 70s today (and 60s in San Francisco). That’s the third heatwave we’ve had already this year (and in the last 2 months!) and we usually get them 3 days in the spring and 3 days in the fall. In case anyone was wondering if there was climate change.
All this bodes very unwell for California for the remainder of the year with regard to fire danger. We won’t get rain til October at earliest and if it continues to be so hot and dry, it will be even more dangerous.
It’s also been a lot windier than usual this year. Very odd. And I’m not talking a bit of wind, I’m talking, “Beau, promise you’ll chase after me and pull me down if I blow away, will you?” Luckily, he does indeed promise.
I had 3 phone screens between Thurs and Fri this past week and one will turn into an in-person on Tues or Weds this week (though not an ideal job description by any means and about as inconvenient a commute as possible), so all continues to progress. Just slowly and without any definable ending in sight. The Thursday phone screen sees to be a no, but from my side. Both the position and the salary seem a good bit more junior than I am prepared to take just now. I should hear from one of the ones a couple weeks ago as to whether I am still on their list and ditto from one of the phone screens this week by the end of the week. So perhaps by this time next week I will know slightly more. Or not. I just can’t tell anymore.
GO cbpen! It always happens when you’re not looking. Let us all know how the interview goes!!!
Glad the whack is having fun!
91. LtL | June 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Oh, CC, mortgages. Picture Bosch. My house payment is over 50% property taxes. But hey, we don’t have income tax! Pulleeze. In the beginning, I put an extra $280 or so toward the principle, but with the tax increases, I’m hard pressed to make the payment itself.
As for investments, we are stocking up on canned vegetables.
Was watching a show the other day about the little ice age–that event that wiped out the Vikings, according to this show, anyway. Scientists guess that a combination of a minimum of sunspots coupled with an over active volcano era put so much sulphur into the upper atmosphere that it served to shade the earth from the sun’s (reduced) radiation.
Not to underestimate the effect of greenhouse gases, I have to wonder whether there isn’t more at work than just SUVs. You know how I worry about the earth’s magnetic field, which has got to affect the Van Allen belts. There’s no downside to cleaning up our act (and also, no possibility of it, given China and India these days) but it strikes me as narrowminded not to take a look at other factors.
And, as I hear from those old enough to remember, this is nothing compared to the dust bowl. It’s also no hotter than it was when I was a child. We just didn’t mind it as much. Well, I was a child.
Lovely to read about so much harmony and laughter up in the PNW! Keep it up, and drink or sing a round for me!
92. McB | June 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Exhausted from laughing and talking with imaginary people all weekend. It occurs to me that imaginary people make great company because they are exactly what you need them to be. There will be photos and eventually stories once we recover. Whack a dos require decompression time. Cats. I’m going to do a blog about cats. Wait for it.
93. K.L. | June 23rd, 2008 at 12:07 am
The Seattle bound contingent of the Whack are safely home. CC is visiting her friend in Seattle, OH is upstairs playing with my DD10. DD10 has even cleaned off her bottom bunk so OH has a place to lay her head tonight. I am now catching up with the non Whack CBs, and contemplating where I am going to house my pony. Yes, the Whack bought me* a pony. Why? Because I asked for one. Yes, all you need to do is state your fondest wishes, and the Whack does its best to make them come true. They brought beautiful weather to Portland, and then we all got to practice cat herding in Powell’s. Truly, a good time was had by all.
The rest of the Whack will end up scattering to the four winds by tomorrow, and Mary will be back to peace and quiet, but the stories will be told, and pictures will be shared.
94. Mary | June 23rd, 2008 at 12:21 am
Stories? I’m too tired to recall most of them, but I remember one about a shameless hussy who flirted with men on the freeway. And CMS found a man in uniform to flirt with, shortly after she fell off the continent.
Also, McB has found a new occupation.
McBee’s Cottages:
http://www.mcbeecottages.com/mcbee_floorplan.asp
95. cbpen | June 23rd, 2008 at 1:11 am
Can’t wait for the pics and stories.
McBee’s cottages are very cute.
I want to know about the flirting. I live vicariously through the CBs you know.
96. cbpen | June 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 am
Did you see the story about the 5 foot alligator found in the Chicago River? Think Moot is working for the Chicago Mob??
97. BCB | June 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 am
Just for the record, I am not a morning person. First conversation of my day. At 7:55 AM:
Me: “Wow, when you said between 8 and 9, you weren’t kidding, were you?”
Scottish brogue contractor guy: “Well, what is that saying, love? The early bird catches the worm?”
Me: “I’m not particularly fond of worms.”
He doesn’t know me very well, because he laughed at that. And really, if it weren’t for the fact that probably I’d pay this guy just to talk to me, I wouldn’t have smiled at him.
And since no one seems to need me here, I guess I’ll go to work. Ridiculously early.
98. Christina | June 23rd, 2008 at 7:52 am
BCB–I always need you, but since I can’t afford to pay you a salary, I guess you’ll have to go to work. Sorry.
99. Jenni | June 23rd, 2008 at 7:59 am
So, I just turned in my second round of edits for Rekindled. So excited. I should have a release date for at least the e-book very soon. Also, The Wild Rose Press has picked up what used to be titled Right in Front of You, but we have retitled IN TWO WEEKS. I’m very excited. I didnt’ think anyone would want it since it’s already been published, but someone did, so that makes me very happy. We are going to make some changes, but that’s ok. The book will be better. Also, DARK WATER, the manuscript where everyone harrased me for having a Hero named Frank, well, they picked that one up too. I’m really excited.
Oh course, no doing the happy dance for me. I can still barely get out of bed. A couple of people told me that this surgery would be a piece of cake and that I’d be up and about in a couple of days. My doctor told me that they were full of it and that the first week would suck. I should listen to my doctor. He’s very smart. Anyway, it does suck, but I’m sure I will feel like my old self soon. Or at least I hope so. I mean, it sucks to have five droopy heads, you know?
And writing on meds? Yeah. That should be interesting. I might even create a new language with all the typos i can create on meds…..
100. glamour-geek | June 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Ahem: Mary, people who live in glass vacations should not throw stones!
Complaining about flirting when she was the one hanging out the car in Maui flirting with the big burly Hawaiian guy in the back of a pick up truck…
Glad everyone had a good time!
101. McB | June 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 am
Home again, home again, jiggety jigg. Flights were very unevenful. And I was thinking that I had been on 4 planes in less than a week and hadn’t encountered a single crying baby.I was missed but as I came back with books I am forgiven. At least Mom has. The cat might take longer.
102. K.L. | June 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 am
Orange Hands is currently exploring the Seattle waterfront. Really, you could spend great quantities of time there. I am happy to report that she did not bring the freeway flirt home with her. They did spend about 30 miles traveling side by side. CC and I told on her though, and that was hilarious. Scope called her from the Oregon Beach and told her to behave.
My DD10 wants my pony.
103. Louis | June 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Looking forward to pictures featuring the The Whack at Mary’s place. Any pixs of OH hanging out the window?
Celebrated my birthday last night…Kids and grandkids gathered at our favorite Mexican food place…lots of fun and a strolling minstrel to serenade us. One present that hit the spot was a delightfully pink flamingo garden creature….
Jenni/JenT…looks as if , in spite of setbacks…the world is coming up roses for you…Way to go!
104. Marcia in OK | June 23rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Jenni - much congratulations. Celebrate your successes. . . when you’re off the meds, and the recovery is past the “it sucks” stage.
Keep us updated on those release dates so we can pre-order.
Count me in the Non-morning person group. I’m only chatty in the early Am if it is still part of the night before. No serious work before 10:30 am. If i try any, I just have to re-work it after lunch.
105. K.L. | June 23rd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Happy Birthday Louis, and BTW, it looks like your porch may be next on the Whack visit list. then we are all off to Scotland…
JenT, I would be more than happy to read any and all writing done while you are medicated. I’m willing to read the other stuff too, but the medicated writing sounds especially interesting. So glad you are feeling a bit better, and that the books are generating good things.
No OH pics unfortunately, since we were all doing freeway speeds. I should have had CC get her camera out… sigh, all the best ideas happen too late.
106. BCB | June 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Happy B-Day, Louis!
Christina, LOL! I didn’t mean HERE, I meant no one needed me at my house. As to what you all over here need, well, I don’t think I’m qualified to give that.
Jen, I’ll do a happy dance for you until you feel more up to it yourself. So proud of you.
Yeah, can’t wait to hear PNW stories. Would it be hypocritical to say I’d like to see pics? Too bad. Give us pics! And who all exactly was there? Did Scope really travel all the way to OR?
107. K.L. | June 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Yes BCB, Scope surprised us all. I’ll try to get it all straight:
Mary
Cary
McB
CMS
Scope
Me
Wapak
GP
JenB
Dr. T
CC
Lou
OH
Pam
K.L.
Tanji was a very good hostess dog. She kept track of us, put up with us and generally gave us all sad eyes if we didn’t do things her way. A very polite dog. Cary’s two were very welcoming also, when we headed over to her house to spread the CB cheer.
108. BCB | June 23rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Wow. I didn’t realize there were so many of you. Sounds like a great group.
And Tanji is a wolf.
109. CMS | June 23rd, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Happy Birthday Louis Sounds like you had a lovely time
We’re home safe and sound although our luggage is still in Cinncinnati(I’m channeling Bob here people) As we barely made the plane ourselves, and only because the Delta chink-in attendant literally ran Scope’s wheelchair over with me* huffing and puffing behind, I suppose I shouldn’t complain. I had nothing to declare at the border.
Me should be getting home in about an hour. I wonder if she’ll check in at the B&G right away too.
110. CMS | June 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Okay that was check-in not chink. I’m tired and going to bed. Ky is already in his bed wondering how long I plan to continue messing with his schedule.
111. Tanji | June 24th, 2008 at 2:16 am
I’m glad you’ve made it safely back home.
Everyone understands about the many-planed trip you’ve had.
Did I mention that I’ve put up a more recent post?
In any case, thank you for coming, CMS! And thank you Scope!
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