*SIGH*

Too cool not to share.... Proof that math is sexy.

I've actually caught up! ( Clicky clicky )

House hunting really sucks. Although I must say that it's starting to take a turn for the better, in that there are a few more houses starting to come on the market and they are not all hideous. I found out that the one I want so much has 28 offers ranging from the asking price to almost 80K over asking. Jeebus. So that's currently bid #1, and #2 is a smaller, not remodeled old lady house. It is a cute little cottage, with a super stupid tiny kitchen and bathroom, two bedrooms and a rather nice yard. Did I mention the lemon tree? I seem to be obsessed with lemon trees - but what a nice bonus, don't you think? It doesn't have a garage, but then neither does #1. It does have a lot of potential. Room to expand and redo the kitchen and bath into a size that makes sense. Most definitely not my fave aspect. Saw another today that I liked. But. And isn't there always a "but"? The garage is converted, and it looks to be unpermitted, which means my loan won't go for it. There is something to be said for FHA and Homepath (Fannie Mae) loans, but willingness to deal with stuff I can fix in about 2 hours isn't part of it. If the heater is missing or not working, no deal. Unpermitted additions? No deal. They could care less if it has AC or not, but boy there had better be a heater. Not that we don't need them in LA, but damn. I got a notice today about a house I saw several months ago - one that was being really picky and not letting anyone see it, etc. etc. Guess they got a quick offer for a short sale and basically blew off everyone else that wanted to see it. Tada - the short sale fell through and now it's been foreclosed. I still want to see it - I just hope that the price is more reasonable than the last time it was offered. Sigh.

Once my roommates figure out when their permits have cleared and the remodel is going to start, I will decide what I am going to do with myself and the dogs. Probably couch surf at another friends for a couple of weeks. Or, take off on another road trip with the dogs. Go back to see the family for a couple of weeks. It's just the waiting that's killing me... Argghhhh. I hate waiting.

I can't believe I actually picked up a needle again.  Color me thrilled.  The really pathetic part about this whole thing is that I actually had to go buy more fabric and floss to do this as I have no idea in which box all my stash ended up.  *As if* I need any excuse to acquire more stash....

So, here are my floss tosses (x2 since I just couldn't make up my mind!)and the first part finish.

( Cut because I care... )

After four months, and three different loans, all I can say is that it sucks.  A lot.  I have either lost track of how many places I have lost or I've blocked it out.  Argh.  I drove by a place last Saturday that just charmed me all to pieces.  Turns out it was probably only on the MLS for about 10 minutes when I saw it.  The first showing was today.  In the ensuing week, probably 5 offers were put in, sight unseen.  OMG.  My realtor and I have talked about doing that - probably should have for this one.  And, it's a short sale so who knows how long it will take.  At any rate, they sent in the first offer just to get the ball rolling for the short sale.  Generally, from what I have been told and have read, 2 out of 5 short sales actually go thru.  This does not bode well...  I am hoping that my lack of any need to have a purchase by a certain date and finally having a mortgage broker who can deal with a freelancer will work in my favor.  The house is really cute.  I think if I don't get this one I might cry.  Sigh.  Not like I didn't get really bummed out over the last couple that I didn't get. 

I am finding this whole process to be very stressful.  I hadn't intended to get into this situation when I did, but circumstances kind of made it happen.  Whee.  My life is fun, really.  I am finding more and more that I probably just should have gotten an apartment that would take the dogs.  Reality being that it wasn't easy to find one that didn't cost more than a mortgage would and if I had, I'd probably have given up already.  I will forever be grateful to my friends for taking me and the dogs in - even if I am frustrated beyond belief by my lack of space and not having my kitchen tools available.  It's been fun in a lot of ways - they really are great people.  I thought being around their son would be hard, but most of the time he's okay to hang with.  Their dog loves mine.  My dogs aren't so sure about that, but they will sometimes hang out with her.  Very cute.

At any rate, I am trying to be positive and willing to just wait this one out.  I'm also not going to stop looking - just in case.  We have an appointment to see a condo on Monday.  It looks pretty nice in the photos, though I have seen some really great photos of what was kind of meh in reality.  We shall see.  I'd still rather have a house with a yard, but I may just have to get over it and buy something that I can afford and that I can keep the dogs in. 


Comet and Bixby, my reasons for wanting a yard....

Stiff upper lip and all that.  Crossing my fingers.  All of them.  I really like this house...

OK people, it's time to step up and get this ridiculous and discriminatory proposition repealed.  Gonna put my money where my mouth is and help get the signatures we need.  It's totally wrong.  It's past time for us to stand up and be heard.  Time to fight the good fight and all that.


Hopefully, I've done this right and you can click the photo to go to the page and read more about it!

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I am fascinated how four lines of text can make you feel such powerful emotion.  And then you take the power of those four lines and multiply it by all the people willing to stand up and tell their story, then put it on camera and to a great song.  Amazing. 

OMG I can't believe that I finally have finished block one... I decided that I liked the openness of the block like little_wren82.

Of course, I was just really sick of the black by the time I got to the center, so I swapped for the purple. I think I like it. Anyway, here is the overall piece and a closeup. These ought to work for that extreme closeup we all love so much...

If you get close enough, you can even see the raised portion that is the gold border done with the perle cotton. It's a total PITA but I think I like the way it looks so far. Hopefully, block 2 won't take me the several months of ignoring that it took to complete block 1. Ha ha.

( block one behind the cut )