Appraisal? Effective Life? WTH

We have made it though two rounds of underwriting for the house and all is well with our finances to move forward to closing and what happens?!?! The appraiser put in his report "life expectancy of home: 25 years?!?!? What the heck does that mean?

As I always try to do, I'm keeping on the sunny side and choosing to believe that this is a positive remark being interpreted poorly by the UW team or a mistake in wording, instead saying, "the house is in excellent shape and appears to be 25 years old." Which would be a positive considering its actually a tad bit older, not sure the tab bit but whatev?!? 

I'm so beyond ready to get settled.....condo life is good, and I'm beyond grateful to have a place to stay while in this transition, especially with the hubs by my side but June 20th has come and gone, which was our goal date. I am a bit to blame for my employer did not reply to verifying employment until the 11th hour, or should I blame them? Always so much easier to blame someone rather than accept true powerlessness. 

We are powerless over the appraisers wording! We have no other choice than to hurry up and wait..... Which is an oxi-moron in itself.

This has been a complete fiasco! I am surprised they have not asked for my womanly organs to get this shit done!

 

Please hear me when I say I'm grateful for a place to rest my head while in transition, but it really is starting to hey old! I feel like I need a vacation from the house loan process! Maybe they will give us a trip when we close for pain and suffering during this time. Doubtful but one can dream?

I'm really really feeling the need to lay by the pool, visit my Bama family and get away from the madness! Then maybe just maybe we can come back to closing date?!?!? I wonder what the odds are for the happening sometime soon? May have to play hookie from work tomorrow afternoon? JUST KIDDING! Kinda.... LOL!

My hubs really wants this house! I can't and don't want to bare the heart break that will come if the appraiser words are legit. Thinking of taking on a side job just to make it happen, but oh what to do?Even the Lil Bill seems to be stressed out over this madness and needless to say it is well past my bed time, as I sit her pumpkin style writing this entry. Arghhhh! Gods will be done not mine.... Repeat! Repeat!

I have been blogging more than I have ever blogged before... Mainly bc no one wants to hear about my high class problems. I can't help but wonder if we should move on to another home??? Then who knows how much longer it will take?!?! Hell no?!? Well unless we have too...

Stay turned....whoever you are that has time to read my meaningless ramble. LOL!

Peeves and Picnics

The hubs and I ventured out to take the sd and friend out into the great unknown  Southend Catholic church picnic. As I grow older I learn more each day, since no one reads this blog, I will share my thoughts from last night. Shhhh it's a secret!

Here is the top 10 things from this life's lesson (in no particular order.)

1) There really is "no need to argue, parents (or should I said parent) just don't understand." Thank GOD this is true!

2) "No" is a complete, absolute answer and subject conversation ender.

3) God spared me from being a mother due to the fact that I would commit murder if my child dressed like a Lil hoochie. *side note: Young ladies, TRUST ME! That guy you are attracting, dressing like a hooker on the stroll will not buy you diamonds and pearls and if he does, he won't be going to Jared, he'll be going to De Prez!

4) Leopard print does NOT look good on everyone.

5) Apparently there is a direct connection between gambling, the divine and the phrase "winner, winner, chicken dinner!" Who knew?!?

6) If I can't win, I'd rather not play....anything!

7) I am no longer skillful at subtly watching people.

8) Teenagers still hang at McDonalds and in parking lots, doing what "seems" to be absolutely nothing.

9) I don't ever want to experience a hang over again! I do not even want to imagine how some of those folks feel today. #grateful 😇

10) My name is Lisa and I'm addicted to gambling....but ONLY IF I win! 😫 Good thing I hardly ever win. Still love the ponies though.

That  pretty much sums up last evenings lesson. 

Oh what will this evening bring? Need to get positive about the festivities before me, or my next entry on lifes lesson may could include shoving sharp hot daggers in my eye, and that would definitely suck!

Geez just reading that makes me realize I'm being quite the pessimist today. Where is Mr. Rogers when you need him?

Putting on my happy face 😘

Mohawk Drive

Alright I have to be honest, when I first visited the house on Mohawk Drive, I wasn't really that crazy about the house itself. 

First of all the spindles in the foyer HAVE to go (eventually)! The laminate flooring has mysterious grown on me, although I am praying that Doug and I can agree on a nice rug to cover the majority of it, until we can afford real hardwood to replace it.

What has happened to me?  I have found myself to be quite the materials snob as I have aged. I am a tile, hardwood, and Berber carpet kinda gal. Who knew?

However the more visits I make to this get away from the city spot, the more I love it! Regardless of the spindles which still have to be replaced eventually and the laminate floor. I am super excited to move into this place and for Douglas and I, to make it ours! It won't happen over night, but it will happen and I'm certain of it! 

The house inspection came back fairly clean and our appraisal is next! Hoping to find that it appraises well beyond what we have offered for it. I will finally have a basement and Doug will eventually have his man cave!! Needless to say I'm exited! What a beautiful life we have!

That is all for now!

Moving Onward and Upward!

Needless to say moving from my humble home on Henrietta has been bittersweet, but despite all the stress, hustle, and bustle (that mostly my hubby did) it will all be worth it in the end. 

Praying for gods will with the home that will hopefully be soon ours! It's not our dream home at the moment but one things for sure, we will make it that way!

As our anniversary dates comes to quick close, it never ceases to amaze me that I love him more each and everyday, all of him! The good, the bad, the ugly and the amazing man that he truly is! So grateful we took the leap of faith and faced our fears several years ago. I told him, he would be mine and today he is and I am his! Husband and wife.... Hard to believe but grateful that it is real and true.

For all those that are scared to take a chance and tell that certain someone how they really feel, do it! Even if it means heart break the first few times, eventually it will be the best decision you have made to face the temporary pain for the love that is unconditional and waits around the corner! Pull a Nike and just do it!

Family Tradition

Most recently I have been blessed to spend some quality time with my Lawson family.

My Nan celebrated 94 years of wonderful living on Thursday and we kicked it off right in true Lawson fashion by picking and grinning for her and her fellow friends at Amber Oaks Assisted Living Home, topping it all off with cake. Being that the apple truly doesn't fall far from the tree, Nan made an executive decision that she would like for the celebration to continue with breakfast at Cracker Barrel on Saturday. Despite the fact that I really did not want to get up at the butt crack of dawn on a Saturday, my amazing husband gave me sweet kick in the ass that I needed to do it anyway. Thank God for him or I would have missed out on the wonderful event that will surely be added to my list of fond memories of my life.

I realized several things during Saturday morning breakfast listed in no particular order.

1) My family is amazing! Rather they agree or disagree they love you anyway.

2) My family is extremely conservative. This one surprised me quite a bit due to the fact that a large majority of my family member are farmers... Although I'm not sure where I made the connection that farmers would belong to one political party verses another?

3) Never mess with a Lawson mans breakfast. Always get it right the first time or you will surely hear about it.
Honey is considered a staple with breakfast.

4) Music is a family tradition that runs deep and plays a huge part in keeping our family ties tight. Apparently it's a tradition that goes way back to the 1700's and is one of the many ways that we trace our family lines.

5) B flat is not a key you want to sing in, EVER because it is as my cousin Shannon would so elegantly put it, "An extreme pain in the ass to play in for fiddle and mandolin players. Who will end up playing in the key of B anyway and at that point you will be off key, which will be your fault for singing in B flat in the first place." LOL!

6) Lawson's are traditionally responsible and thrifty with their money. How did I miss this one (thank God for Doug).

All of the information above left me realizing how blessed I truly am to have such grit, love and talent in my blood. Also the importance of participating in the family tradition of bringing music to the world. In addition to all of this, it has left me pondering my commitment to learning to truly play an instrument on a regular basis.

So for the time being I have my eye set on the Autoharp, which will require saving money to purchase it but also discipline to stick with it and not give up because I am not automatically as my ancestors. Only time will tell if I stick with this decision because it will be some time before I am able to actually purchase this instrument. Guitar is always an option considering I actually have one packed away in the back of my closet which very badly needs to be tuned. Hmmmm? More will be revealed, I just hope it is enough time to take advantage of learning and spending more time with my kin.
Very random blog but oh well! I'm not sure anyone actually reads this stuff anyway, but it sure helps me to appreciate it. :)

Valentines Day

So it's February 14th, Valentines Day 2011... SO WHAT?!?! I hardly consider this a holiday for the following reasons:
A:) I still had to wake up early for work
B:) I still had to go to work
C:) I was still expected to be productive at work
Now with this being said, I realize that I am one of the "fortunate" ones that has a beloved to call my "valentine," however I feel absolutely no different today than I do any other day of the week. Yes, I did receive a card from my love expressing his admiration but I have received these on other occasions as well that had absolutely nothing to do with a toddler with a weapon. My bf and I have no special plans for the evening... No candle light dinners, flowers that will wilt and die, chocolate that I do not need for my waistline... In fact we have no plans at all other than to do the same thing we do every other Monday evening..dinner and criminal minds :) In fact I find it more of a hassle bc every restrurant under the sun will be bombartered with "sweethearts," so the best dining we can hope to experience will probably be take out at KFC... Which does not bother me in any form or fashion.
I totally get it... It's a hallmark holiday, a time for those "sweethearts" to go out and blow money on shallow trinkets for their beloved so they can show the world how good of a partner they are... It boosts the economy and during economic times like these that is something we all need..so I say spend away brothers and sisters!
My opinion, not that it matters, today is nothing more than continued social pressure for all the die hard romantics out there that want their lives to be like the movies...Its everywhere!!! Once the lexus car commercials for christmas stop, (which might I add, I have yet to wake up and find a luxury car in my living room/drive way christmas morning...yet another unrealistic expectation of life) vday advertising begins. "Every kiss begins with Kay," "He went to jarod," "The Shane company, your friend in the diamond industry..." Blah blah blah! I mean really who in the right mind buys diamonds just bc it's the 14th of February?!? All of these things just set people up for heart ache, disappointment or extreme debt!
The gal that doesn't get an engagement ring, candy or flowers.. The guy who has the gf that is dissappointed bc he can't afford a ring, bracelet or necklace...or flowers, candy what have you? Or better yet.. The guy who does have the money to get such gifts (or is willing to go into debt to do so) but ends up having to "out do" himself every year bc his superficial gf expects such things...
Not to mention all the single people that are so beautifully reminded that they are in deed single and without a valentine... OMG the sky is falling!!! Talk about social pressure! My heart goes out to these folks...bc I have lost count of how many times I have allowed this day to bring my spirit and self esteem down. Just remembering my fourth grade year is enough to bring tears to my eyes... Spending the whole evening prior decorating a show box "my valentine box" with doileys, aluminum foil, and construction paper hearts.. Just hoping that Adam would drop a valentine in there to express his admiration for me...Did it happen...? Did Adam give me a valentine...NO... Broken heart syndrome... Defeated once again... The weight of my self worth lingered on this very thing...
So my response to this "holiday" is it's no different than any other day.
If we MUST celebrate....My suggestions are as follows:
All the singletons of the world celebrate SPA day! When I was in college me and my fellow singletons celebrating SPA DAY (Single persons appreciation day)... I choose that rather than single persons awareness day.. To me that sounds like a public service announcement. Many SPA days were had ordering pizza and watching foreign films or chick flicks that no guy in his right mind is going to sit through...Thats what girlfriends are for! Hence the expression "chick flick" :o) Go out and spend money on yourself!! Grab the gals/guys and get a pedicure, massage, hit up godiva chocolate, take yourself to dinner, order pizza and snatch up Eat, Pray, Love at the closest redbox..Spend the money on the person that you should love the most...Yourself! Celebrate your singleness!!!
As for the lovers in the world...If you must celebrate Valentines day... Do yourself and your partner a favor and ditch the stereotypical ideas of what valentines day celebration should be.. Don't waste your hard earned money on flowers that are going to die....food that will be eaten and long forgotten next week... Keep it simple and spend time with the one you love by doing nothing other than being together....
According to valentine tradition, small trinkets of appreciation are to be given on this day.. Hence a homemade card (or hallmark card if you wish) is sufficient....No need to take out a second mortgage to win the heart of your beloved...
But my personal opinion of this matter and call me old fashioned... Everyday should be a day of appreciation for your sweetheart AND above all ourselves.... If this were the case, the world and its people would be a lot better of a place.
Be well....

Family Court

11:10 am I have been sitting in the same cold chair for over an hour. Mix of emotions over come me hitting me in waves like crashing the rock shoreline. In my left ear chatters of custody battles, abuse and revenge. In the other tails of another romance gone bad and theories of deception and lies. "How can I hit him below the belt?," the women across the row says with a smile on her face. "This is nothing but a huge money pit. I've been here six times in the last month'" a husky young man with tattoos shattered across his arms. Skulls, daggers, snakes and naked women. Am I judgemental? Absolutely.
All the madness of love gone bad mixed with the jovial echoes of the innocent bystanders. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The courthouse has become their playground. Much like myself in my younger years, only the tone is a bit different for them. I hung on the coat tails of my fathers three piece suite and became a regular in the offices that filled the halls where my only motive was to get the mystery flavored dum dums, butterscotch candy and a validating smile that let me know I was successful in being one of the cuddliest visitors of the day. Those were not melancholy days for me and maybe for these children the truth is unknown that it is yet a very sad story line that describes their visit to the courthouse. I can only hope their ignorance in this current act of life maintains and is not as influential to them as my childhood was to me....good times.
How the hell did I get here? I only pray that I learn my lessons and when the marry go round comes back, I will be able to recognize the ugly pig that is ever so inviting with attractive colors of pink and gold...so exciting! Instead, next time choose a seat that does not need my validation to make it feel special or worth the ride. Something a little less exciting...comfortably boring if you will maybe?