Ask Me Help Desk - Virtual bar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synnen

Are you kidding, Start?

Houses are currently at a 10 year low here in the states. It's an absolute buyer's market--which is why people like my husband and I are finally looking at buying one.

I found one I liked (just doing research) for about $189k. 4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, 3 season porch, and a view of the lake. Oh, and a finished basement. Something like 3500 sq ft finished total.

That is a great deal, but where I live modular homes are going for 400,000 on 2 acres. It is so crazy makes me want to throw up. Dustin and I bought our 1st home in Alaska at $154,000 it was a duplex so we did it knowing the income from renting it would be helping us with the payment. I just know that we sold it a year later for $260,000... and four years later the lady sold it for over 500,00 dollars. I am only going off what I have been through. And the place we live in well, it sure is nice and the new home for our granparents that is nice too... add a few acres and you got yourself close to a million dollars if we all decided to sell, I think it is nuts... and not worth it!

EDIT:::::
I forgot to add... Good luck with the house hunting Synn! Let us know how it works out!

J where are you hiding??

Under my desk!

Ha in your dreams

Well, a girl NEEDS dreams, right?

Girls girls girls!

Girls hiding under desks... it's a boys dream...

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlybenswife

J where are you hiding???

I was hiding at the mall. Today was my only and final day to get all the Christmas shopping done.

$1,500 later, I think I'm done.

Oh my that's our job on Saturday I'm dreading it shudder

I procrastinated too long. Wanted to get the kids a trampoline... well had to drive to hell and back to find the last one in a 200 mile radius. I really hate waiting this long... the shelves get empty and I get nervous that the kiddos won't get what they want. Got the last Xbox 360 at one store. OMG, it was a nightmare... 10 hours of straight shopping.

YOU KNOW HOW I DESPISE SHOPPING!!

I feel sorry for you---but at the same time I'm laughing.

That's why nearly all of my Christmas shopping is done before Halloween every year :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

I procrastinated too long. Wanted to get the kids a trampoline.....well had to drive to hell and back to find the last one in a 200 mile radius. I really hate waiting this long....the shelves get empty and I get nervous that the kiddos won't get what they want. Got the last Xbox 360 at one store. OMG, it was a nightmare.....10 hours of straight shopping.

YOU KNOW HOW I DESPISE SHOPPING!!!

LOL millie has enough to open Saturday we will buy stocking fillers and a gift for me and him from madam but that's it we will hit the sales on boxing day for fun, sat is more food shopping we will be up at the break of dawn.

This year, I shopped via online catalog - called in my orders, and waited for the deliveries to my door.

I honestly admitt that I do not miss those xmas rush shopping days at all. It has become too commercialized. Heck they had xmas lights and all the trimmings right after Halloween here - with a little space for Thanksgiving stuff.

Even the little town 'Christmas Markets' in the old town-squares here in Germany are not the same - too many drunks, thieves and stress.

I even made a few gifts by hand this year - and the recipients better keep them for the rest of their lives, or I'll spook them next years to come... HA HA.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_3_204.gif I'm giving my spell-checker a rest for xmas too.

Chery I always do it online but the post here this year has been utterly crap so I just haven't bothered only person that will receive by mail is my mum everyone else can just wait tee hee.

I love the holiday season, but it is very stressful for me right now... a family of 4, well 6 but the two oldest have gone and roosted in their own roosts, and one income, it's very stressful as hubby only makes enough to survive on a monthly basis.

Next year though, will be the best!! We'll finally have 2 incomes again, and my salary will more than double his!!

So, the shopping will start early next year. :o

Awwww... you know I wasn't dissing you, J.

Between your family and your schooling and everything else--who in the world could blame you for not having time until now?

I just hate the xmas rush, so I do a lot of shopping right AFTER xmas, and then buy things when I see them throughout the year.

Of course, it helps that I don't have snoopy kids looking for their presents, too, and that most of the time I can just throw everything in a box in the closet without having to hide anything from anyone.

CBW, IMO -your are going to get the greatest gift soon - I'm downright jealous - I just know that baby is going to be beautiful!

Janine - I am so happy for you and that double income. I know how is feels when things get 'tight' and seem hopless sometimes. I sincerely hope you never, ever have to go through that again, love.

The holiday season is hectic for all, but when that special moment comes and the family is all safe and together - there is no other feeling compared to it. This is what I wish for all of you with all my heart.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_15_11.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_7_5.gifLove, warmth and comfort to all!

Morning ladies. How are things with all of you.
I just checked out my other stomping grounds and all is quiet.
Been gone for 4 or so days. Thought I would catch up.
How are the kids J?
How are you feeling CBW and Chery
Hey Syn long time no see!

Hehehehe I have to say I'm actually starting to feel excited about this little one I didn't get to feel like this with millie it was all so crazy.
Im fine Tus how are you doing hunny??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuscany

Morning ladies. How are things with all of you.
I just checked out my other stomping grounds and all is quiet.
Been gone for 4 or so days. Thought I would catch up.
How are the kids J?
How are you feeling CBW and Chery
Hey Syn long time no see!

'Tis the Season to be Jolly' dear, and I'm doing my darndest to contribute. How are you fairing? I wish I could be with most of you in person, but I and sending loads and loads of Virtual Hugs and hope they get there!

Doing well. There was a snow day yesterday so I was able to get a good deal of wrapping done.

Is Christmas really just around the corner?
CBW are you keeping your legs crossed?? I hear that your little man is heading out!

Not my little man Als ;) with any luck she has had him I still have 4 weeks to go :D and he is in no hurry he looked exceptionally comfortable yesterday on the scan hehehehe

In that case CBW, try not to play Jingle Bells - keep it low toned in the music department so that that babe will stay relaxed. Jaime went bonkers at a Doobie Brother's concert when I was 7 months along... After that I kept it mellow and carried her for 10 months.

Snow day? Did I hear SNOW DAY!!

It's freaking 56 here today. It just doesn't feel like Christmas. On the other hand, did not have to carry around a big heavy coat yesterday while shopping. So, I guess there are SOME benefits.

Um.

Yesterday was our warmest day in a MONTH.

We had a high of 29. Yes, that's still below freezing.

So... I'll TAKE your 56, woman! I'm already so sick of winter it's not even funny, and I have 3 months to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

Snow day? Did I hear SNOW DAY!!!!

It's freaking 56 here today. It just doesn't feel like Christmas. On the other hand, did not have to carry around a big heavy coat yesterday while shopping. So, I guess there are SOME benefits.

56!! I would kill for 56!!

I hate the cold down here though... it's bone chilling even at 40. It's so wet it gets into your bones and does not go away until mid-march.

I can handle the cold of the north, actually I miss it. But the cold down here is terrible. Heck, I used to run around Anchorage with little to cover me up in December. Here, in December, I have the fireplace on, 2 pairs of wooly socks, sweat pants, 2 sweatshirts, and a blanket.

It really is so much different here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

I hate the cold down here though....it's bone chilling even at 40. It's so wet it gets into your bones and does not go away until mid-march.

I can handle the cold of the north, actually I miss it. But the cold down here is terrible. Heck, I used to run around Anchorage with little to cover me up in December. Here, in December, I have the fireplace on, 2 pairs of wooly socks, sweat pants, 2 sweatshirts, and a blanket.

It really is so much different here.

I think your body adapts to where we are. When we are camping and it dips into the 50's (in the summer) I am freezing. But yesterday I was outside in a hoodie shoveling and I was fine

Maybe it's my age then, cause I've been here over 7 years and have not adapted. LOL

I think cold IS different depending on where you are.

Seattle at 40-something was WAAAAAY colder than Minneapolis at 0. The damp just seeps into you, and you're cold all the way to your bones.

Texas was a different kind of cold, too.

That doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to wake up someday soon to double digit temps, though :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

Maybe it's my age then, cause I've been here over 7 years and have not adapted. LOL

I think too that like heat, (humid and not humid) cold can change. Cold before snow is not as cold as cold with wind... do I make any sense today?

Oh, yes, but living all over this great country of ours, I usually adapt well. But the heat and cold here in the south are sooooo much different than in the great white north. Yuck, I can't stand it. Now, mind you, I love the people where I live, love the town I live in, but the climate can go to hell, well, actually it duplicates hell in the summer. LOL

I will have to agree with you J (except I have never been away from this place)... but our weather is pretty crappy... 29 one min. and 70 the next!

No ones weather is normal anymore lets face it we are killing the world and we only have ourselves to blame.

Im going to double post lol j, synn check your mail box ;)

Jingle bell,
Trees from hell,
Presents to take back,
Christmas lights,
Family fights,
And quotes of Christmas crap.

I hate the weather here... no offense to anyone with my little poem there...

Hehehehehe you feeling OK there hunn ;)

Double post fixed and a-okay!

Now, back to my financial ruin. Major disaster with the checkbook... gotta go figure it out.

Who me? Just fine and dandy... lol. Sick of the commercial christmas that starts earlier every year.

Here's a thought... I have to compare humanity to head lice... what happens when mother nature decides to nix/rid us? People in large groups are stupid...

OOOOOOO J what cha done :(

I have to admit Myth christmas was the one thing I hated about retail its got to be the most disturbing time of the year for any shop worker.

It's not what I have done, but what hubby did. Forgot to write some checks in the checkbook, now it's biting us in the arse. Thank God we can get our paychecks early to cover it. And thank God we have a good bank who covers our checks at no fee to us.

Personally, I loved Christmas, until today.