We are very fortunate. Very fortunate indeed. We were stocked for a couple days sans electricity, and had enough food, water and batteries to get us through. The lights, however didn't even flicker. When I prepare so well and nothing happens I always feel slightly let down. Not incredulous, as I've seen some on my Facebook feed, but it's just that I gotten that adrenaline rush and then there was nothing but waiting after. This letdown only lasts until I run across any media, though, because then I am faced with just how bad it could have been - and no amount of my measly power-outage-prep could have helped if we'd been faced with the flooding and damage that other places endured.
So, with that, I am grateful. Very grateful that my family is safe. And also thinking of all of those who fared so much worse.
Off to work...
Hurricane Sandy a.k.a. Frankenstorm. Biggest in 500 yrs, some say ?! Headed towards
NYC/NJ - all of Massachusetts is in the "red zone". State of Emergency
called for all of MA. Daycare cancelled. Work doesn't seem to be
worried - have to go in. Wish us luck!!
NYC/NJ - all of Massachusetts is in the "red zone". State of Emergency
called for all of MA. Daycare cancelled. Work doesn't seem to be
worried - have to go in. Wish us luck!!
Quick summary.
Car loan approved. Car found - now to test drive and, hopefully buy - by the end of the month!
Lobster BLT = delicious.
I've now been to the gym twice in two weeks *yippee*
My stamina and ability to actually work out are drastically reduced *boooo*
I am tired.
Good night.
Lobster BLT = delicious.
I've now been to the gym twice in two weeks *yippee*
My stamina and ability to actually work out are drastically reduced *boooo*
I am tired.
Good night.
Comcast, Verizon and other Evil Empires
I don't talk about work here, and I'm not going to start now except to say that I had to interact with these no good, very bad, evil, awful entities today. Why is it so hard for Comcast to give a simple list of various cable packages with corresponding prices? I work with people who are on a *very* limited budget. And when someone has less than $60/month flex money they cannot afford a cable plan that is $79.99/month that raises to $99.99 after six months and $107 after a year. They tell me that is the absolute smallest package they have that consists of anything over the very basic local channels. Now, I *know* that there are numerous other, much smaller, packages because I have other clients who have them. I just don't know which ones have what channels. That was the first conversation. And the second. In the third conversation the guy says that he's got a package, that yes, has the channel my client wants, plus a whole gamut of other channels, and it will be $39.99/month. Sounds good, right? Yeah, well, I'm smarter than that, so I ask, is this a standing price, or a promotion? Just as I thought. A promotional "deal" that expires in six months and then the price goes up to $65.99. And when I say that, if he remembers, the budget is limited and, no we can't be keeping track of when the prices will go through the roof, he says that is all there is to offer and because they are the only cable provider for the area, we'll just have to figure out a way to take their offer. Thanks. I'll take that into consideration. Click.
I was able to get a list, finally, from a coworker who has an in with Comcast. There is, in fact, the basic package - just the local channels - for $8.56. The next level up is expanded with about 15 more channels for $22.19. And then, yes, there is a package, with the requested channel, and a fair amount of other channels, for $39.99. Flat out. No tricks.
And then I had to call Verizon. And again. The empire rules all. Prices rise for this package or that package. Extra charges. The less expensive plan is no longer available. Only two available phones that do not require ultra-expensive plan. I will give it to them that, as far as I can tell, they are not trying to bamboozle me into something without the necessary information that's needed to make a decision.
By the end of the day I had a wicked headache. I went to buy a lottery ticket. It's 90 million tonight. If I win I will make my own cable and wireless companies. Both will have affordable plans that are clear cut and have options for everyone without having to sign away their firstborn child's soul to the devil. So wish me luck on that. We'll all be better off.
I was able to get a list, finally, from a coworker who has an in with Comcast. There is, in fact, the basic package - just the local channels - for $8.56. The next level up is expanded with about 15 more channels for $22.19. And then, yes, there is a package, with the requested channel, and a fair amount of other channels, for $39.99. Flat out. No tricks.
And then I had to call Verizon. And again. The empire rules all. Prices rise for this package or that package. Extra charges. The less expensive plan is no longer available. Only two available phones that do not require ultra-expensive plan. I will give it to them that, as far as I can tell, they are not trying to bamboozle me into something without the necessary information that's needed to make a decision.
More butterfly heaven.
After a long morning running errands - curses to the hour and a half wait at the RMV, catching up with an old friend, and lunch with the Wife, I picked up Mozart and we headed off to Magic Wings again. I figured it would be either hopping or dead with all the rain we got today and it was the latter. For a little while there was an art class from one of the colleges there, but otherwise just the random pair of people here and there. We had the run of the place. And, oh, how he loved it! I wish I could understand more of what he says 'cuz he was talking up a storm! I know that he can say butterfly - he said it leading up to the second time we went. But ever since then butterflies are "flowers". So again, he ran from place to place, yammering on, telling me all sorts of stories, I'm sure, and exclaiming, "Flower!" Every time a butterfly came close or crossed is gaze. And then, he would point to the butterfly stamp on his hand and exclaim again and again, ever so proudly, that he has one too!
I have been trying to get the photos from my phone for more displays of cuteness - really I should have done a voice recording, but didn't manage that one - but no luck so far. I may come back and edit some photos in...
I have been trying to get the photos from my phone for more displays of cuteness - really I should have done a voice recording, but didn't manage that one - but no luck so far. I may come back and edit some photos in...
What's for dinner?
No, really. What's for dinner? Cuz I haven't the foggiest. We are in the midst of a dishes stand-off, which makes the cooking aspect of the "I cook/you clean" deal rather difficult. And makes me less than inspired to even go in the kitchen and investigate what one could make. In another land this would be a take-out night. In our land it will likely be PB&J. Maybe carrot sticks on the side.
And I did so good yesterday! I had a plan of course. Had been thinking about it for a couple hours. Got home at 5:05 with the Boy. Turned on the oven to preheat. Went upstairs and I got my gym clothes on. Back downstairs and I put a chicken and potatoes in the oven to bake. Out the door by 5:30. Went to the gym and worked out for probably the 3rd time since Mozart was born. Work-out got cut short just a bit as he started crying and the teen in charge of babysitting panicked. Home by 6:30. Veggies on. Straightened up living room and dinner served by 7.
I felt accomplished. It was good.
Maybe I'll motivate, do a couple dishes, and make tuna melts. That's a step above PB&J, right?
What a catch!!
I had great hopes for this big, huge tag sale that happened this weekend. We've got some things that we'd like, but are stalling on getting as we don't really need them yet. The following made the list:
- Baby bathrobe. We have one, about a size 4, that Mozart is currently wearing. It is pink with multicolored polka dots. We role up the sleeves and as it is likely supposed to be a shorter robe, it is floor length on him.
- Shoes - brown and black. We have the cutest pair of blue shoes, that he wears with nearly everything, and seem to camouflage into matching nearly everything, but he's close to outgrowing them. Same for his sandals, which are scanty to wear anyway now. We do have a pair of sneakers for him, but it seems like they match about nothing he owns.
- Hat/mitten set. We've got several hats, all very cute, and one set, but I'd like to have an extra set around - or at least extra mittens as they tend to get wet/dirty.
- One (or two) more baby gate(s). He has not gotten curious about the 3rd Floor yet, and we are lucky. We've essentially stopped using it as there is no gate at the top of those stairs. I'd like to go up there again some day...
- A potty seat. I know this particular item would be better to buy new, but don't judge. Sometimes they come out at the end of potty training no worse for the wear. We actually gave away two (and threw away one that was worse for the wear) when we were clearing stuff out before Mozart was born. Kicking myself just a little now. We do have a potty for him, but as it's not the typical style, and he's new at this whole thing, he keeps on sitting on it crooked and then tipping the whole thing over, himself included.
- A toy phone. It kept Mozart busy throughout the search for other items and now resides in the car. On the way home today he was yammering up a storm with it.
- A nursing stool. I've wanted one of these since I discovered their existence. We are hardly nursing anymore, but I have to say. I've used it quite a lot while just sitting here - in fact, my feet rest upon it now.
- Another hat. Not that we needed another hat. But it was cute. Norwegian style. And wool. So it's warm.
- Cute outfit. It was only $3. I'm not positive it will fit, but it is super, super cute with it's French little bunnies, and if not for him for the next one :D
- 4 cars for $2. What can I say. I'm a sucker. He loves cars and I love him.
Feeling a bit disappointed that I did not get one thing I set out to get, I decided I'd hit up another tag sale I saw earlier. I hadn't had time to stop, but saw kid stuff galore! Alas, it was too late. But I hit the jackpot after all ~ where the sale was sat box FULL of action figures, random small toys, and CARS! I scooped them up and headed home to give Mozart a proper showing of them. As I was taking them out he exclaimed, "Oooh!" and "Truck!" and "Vrooom!" and "Train!" and "Bus!" And best of all he did this little happy dance, giggling, through a sea of cars while cradling them in his arms. So, so, adorable!
Shat upon.
Yep. That's me. Shat upon. Twice now. From the sky. At least this time it was, by stroke of luck, my hand and not my head. Or the groceries, which my hand hovered over as it happened. It appears the winged ones are eating their share of pumpkins and squash these days. And that is unfortunate because it just so happens to look nearly exactly like the soup that I made for dinner. A delicious soup, mind you, but considering the earlier events, you can see why the thought is less than appetizing right at the moment...
The soup calls for hubbard squash, which I just so happen to have from our CSA. It was a large squash and my butcher knife was no match for it. I felt like I needed an ax to properly get into it. After a fair amount of unfortunate language, I somehow managed to cut enough of one end off that I was able to pry it off to hollow out the seeds. I went back at it with the knife, but after half an hour I really hadn't gotten anywhere.
The solution, my friends, to getting your large hubbard squash into chunks small enough to lay out on a pan for roasting? Gravity. Perhaps with a little force. I put Mozart in the Pack'n'Play for protection, raised the vegetable high above my head and smashed it to the ground. It broke into three pieces. Mozart hooted, "Again!" And so we did. Until we had the entire thing in pieces that could be laid out on the cookie sheets.
Close to the closing?
Well, we finally signed the papers on the refi. BoA even messed that up. As I was leaving our lawyer's office, I get an email from him saying that the Closer at BoA had just contacted him to say he'd made a mistake and half of the papers would need to be signed again. Assuming the postal service works on time, I'll get the paperwork on Monday, the lawyer will get it back on Wednesday, and then we can be free to fix the roof, get a new car, and a new water heater... I will rest easy when everything is turned in and final! In the meantime it is supposed to drop to a balmy 24 degrees tonight. *Brrrrr* Hope that water heater (and thus the connected boiler) holds up!
I am still in denial that we may need to shut off our internet. I'd really like for there to be a way to keep it. It is, after all, our main form of entertainment. Since first considering it, I will say that I am reading a lot more. But still, I enjoy blogging - even if I don't get to it as often as I'd like - and I enjoy keeping up with people on Facebook, and the occasional episode of Bones or Castle... I also very much appreciate having the ability to look up random facts, find a location/store/item, get a specific recipe, and continue my search to better my income and career. While I admit to being irked and pissy about the former, I'm a bit concerned about the latter - I've just come to depend on it so much...
ENOUGH!
We are supposed to be cheerful here. It was a good day. In addition to the closing, I had another appointment with my Health Coach and really enjoyed it. Got bills paid. Got the flyers down for BatCat.* Had a lovely lunch with the Wife. Went to library and reserved a pass to Magic Wings for next Friday. Got an adorable hat from the secondhand store for Mozart. Picked up Mozart and took a walk with him.** Made a crazy-quick dinner of quesadillas and leftovers. And to then went Family Time at the Y for tumbling. Yes. A good day.
* BatCat ran off sometime last week. We're not sure when (bad cat mommies) because the last time we really and truly remember seeing her was when she caught a mouse on Sept. 28th (Friday). Neither of the cats have ever wanted to go outside, but apparently she got the urge - or Stubby dared her, and she took the opportunity when we either took stuff in from the Farm/Farmers Market (Saturday), unloaded groceries (Sunday), the door didn't close behind us (Monday), or aired out the kitchen to clear the smoke (Tuesday). Yeah. Bad cat mommies. So Thursday night I went to feed them, and oddly, BatCat's bowl was still full. Odd because it was, in and of itself, and I'd have thought that if BatCat was missing Stubby would have downed her share. Consultation with the Wife proved that we had no idea when we last saw her - she's just so much part of the house/routine... (yes, bad cat mommies) We did a thorough search of the house. The Wife ran around the neighborhood with a flashlight calling for her for a couple hours. She found an opossum and a fox or some such thing but no BatCat. She came home crying and berating herself for not noticing her enough to notice that she was gone. I'd had plans to do much cleaning and organizing on Friday, but instead I made a MISSING flyer, got it printed up, and postered the neighborhood. We got several calls of potential sightings, but had no luck - until late Sunday night. We were on our way back home from being out of cell range all day and had just gotten a message with another possible sighting - fairly close to our house. So as we are driving through our neighborhood, I kept my eyes peeled. And just as we pulled into our driveway, I saw something jump off our our porch and hide underneath!! I knew that it had to be her - her, or a really large squirrel! But we didn't think it was big enough to be a skunk, or slow enough to be an opossum. So we got the cat treats and coaxed her out! Yeah for BatCat!! She had a few burrs, but all in all she was doing alright. No injuries and not too traumatized. She did have some nasty poops for the next couple of days, but seems to be back to herself now. Happy indeed to have her back!
** Did you notice ~ not only did I walk around to get the flyers, but I also took a walk! Without foot pain!! By the time tumbling was over, it was back, but it's getting better, it really is!!
I am still in denial that we may need to shut off our internet. I'd really like for there to be a way to keep it. It is, after all, our main form of entertainment. Since first considering it, I will say that I am reading a lot more. But still, I enjoy blogging - even if I don't get to it as often as I'd like - and I enjoy keeping up with people on Facebook, and the occasional episode of Bones or Castle... I also very much appreciate having the ability to look up random facts, find a location/store/item, get a specific recipe, and continue my search to better my income and career. While I admit to being irked and pissy about the former, I'm a bit concerned about the latter - I've just come to depend on it so much...
ENOUGH!
We are supposed to be cheerful here. It was a good day. In addition to the closing, I had another appointment with my Health Coach and really enjoyed it. Got bills paid. Got the flyers down for BatCat.* Had a lovely lunch with the Wife. Went to library and reserved a pass to Magic Wings for next Friday. Got an adorable hat from the secondhand store for Mozart. Picked up Mozart and took a walk with him.** Made a crazy-quick dinner of quesadillas and leftovers. And to then went Family Time at the Y for tumbling. Yes. A good day.
* BatCat ran off sometime last week. We're not sure when (bad cat mommies) because the last time we really and truly remember seeing her was when she caught a mouse on Sept. 28th (Friday). Neither of the cats have ever wanted to go outside, but apparently she got the urge - or Stubby dared her, and she took the opportunity when we either took stuff in from the Farm/Farmers Market (Saturday), unloaded groceries (Sunday), the door didn't close behind us (Monday), or aired out the kitchen to clear the smoke (Tuesday). Yeah. Bad cat mommies. So Thursday night I went to feed them, and oddly, BatCat's bowl was still full. Odd because it was, in and of itself, and I'd have thought that if BatCat was missing Stubby would have downed her share. Consultation with the Wife proved that we had no idea when we last saw her - she's just so much part of the house/routine... (yes, bad cat mommies) We did a thorough search of the house. The Wife ran around the neighborhood with a flashlight calling for her for a couple hours. She found an opossum and a fox or some such thing but no BatCat. She came home crying and berating herself for not noticing her enough to notice that she was gone. I'd had plans to do much cleaning and organizing on Friday, but instead I made a MISSING flyer, got it printed up, and postered the neighborhood. We got several calls of potential sightings, but had no luck - until late Sunday night. We were on our way back home from being out of cell range all day and had just gotten a message with another possible sighting - fairly close to our house. So as we are driving through our neighborhood, I kept my eyes peeled. And just as we pulled into our driveway, I saw something jump off our our porch and hide underneath!! I knew that it had to be her - her, or a really large squirrel! But we didn't think it was big enough to be a skunk, or slow enough to be an opossum. So we got the cat treats and coaxed her out! Yeah for BatCat!! She had a few burrs, but all in all she was doing alright. No injuries and not too traumatized. She did have some nasty poops for the next couple of days, but seems to be back to herself now. Happy indeed to have her back!
** Did you notice ~ not only did I walk around to get the flyers, but I also took a walk! Without foot pain!! By the time tumbling was over, it was back, but it's getting better, it really is!!
The Neverending Refi
I've mentioned that we are in the process of refinancing our house. I may have mentioned that this has been a looooong process. To be exact, Bank of America (henceforth: BoA) said they could refinance - just our 1st loan on April 9th. They said it would take 6-8 weeks. You'll note that was six MONTHS ago. That is the short story. The epic version is follows:
We bought our house just before the housing market plummeted. We had the opportunity to go through the VA Home Loans program, but the interest rates were only a marginally better with them, and we wanted to buy the house together, having it in both of our names, not just mine. We talked to several banks and they all said it would be no problem to refinance after a couple years - just roll both the 80 and 20 (I think we got the last 80/20 home loan issued in the US) together for a better rate and we'll be golden, they said. So nearly two years in we began thinking about refinancing. We went to all the local banks, but by that time it seemed they were all gun-shy to refinance at all, and especially on a house that had lost value. So we waited and started approaching banks again two and a half years ago. Again, we went to one local bank and credit union after another without progress. Two years later, feeling like we needed professional help, we got a mortgage broker who worked with us for four months. We paid for an FHA assessment ($400) through the broker, and found out that we were no longer under water, but he still said we didn't qualify for any kind of refinance because our house was too close to being under water. Not actually under water, just close. And well, even with all the new programs that are supposed to help people in our situation refinance, there was just nothing that could help us refinance - we either made too much money, not enough money, our house was too close to being under water, but not actually underwater, and oh, we hadn't actually missed any payments.
So while still working with the broker, one fine mortgage-paying day, the teller - again - was aghast at how much interest we are paying (6.875 on the 20 and 9.125 on the 20). Yes, I tell her, I am aghast every time I think about it and we have been trying for over two years to refinance, but everyone has said it can't be done - including BoA. She shakes her head and set me up with an appointment with one of their people. I felt slightly like a traitor seeing as we had a broker, but at the same time, we weren't getting anywhere.
I go to the meeting without much hope as they'd already said there was nothing they could do months and months ago, but hey, maybe something had changed. While I've met the banker I sat down with many times, she doesn't handle mortgages and was just there to facilitate a call to Lenny (not his real name, but don't you think that's a good name for a salesman). After about 45 minutes on the phone, Lenny says we can refinance, but only the first loan as the 2nd doesn't qualify - or we don't qualify - I'm still not sure as Lenny seemed to be talking outta both sides of his mouth. Regardless, he could refi our first loan, saving us 2 percentage points, which would save us almost 200 off our mortgage. Awesome! But upfront, we'll have to put another $400 down for another assessment because, apparently anything but a BoA assessment is of no use. So we cough it up, again, and think ahead to June when we will finally have enough extra in our budget to get our sad and leaky roof done.
Alas, June comes and goes. We are anxious to get it done, but after so long waiting, what's another month. My car needs new brakes, and it is now clear it will not pass inspection come October for a host of other reasons, but knowing the refi will be going through soon we put off getting it fixed or even thinking about a new car. July comes and goes. We are becoming somewhat worried, but are assured that all is well, they just need to get subordination from the home improvement loan that we took out to fix the windows. We somehow roll together the entire years home owner's insurance to pay in advance, as required. August, yes, comes and goes. We are becoming less than patient now. It is unclear who is dragging their feet as it seems that BoA, our lawyer and the bank needing to subordinate the other loan are all taking their sweet time. We cough up another $130 for the subordination fee. By September we are talking with Lenny at least a couple times a week and each time he says we should be hearing about a closing date any day now. But we hear nothing. And our leaky roof begins leaking in earnest. We begin to worry each time it rains. Then the water heater let go of all it's water. Several times. Still works most of the time, but we're told that could stop working altogether at anytime. And that we will not have hot water or heat, as our boiler is tied into it, if it goes. By the end of September the Wife is angry, as am I, and I have a difficult time holding it together when talking to Lenny. And by now, Lenny is also having a difficult time saying this is all routine. He reports calling numerous people at BoA, and their supervisors, but we still hear nothing. Everything is on hold until the refi goes through as taking any kind of loan out will alter our credit/debt-to-income ratio, and put the refi in jeopardy: we cannot get our roof done, our car fixed, much less a new one, or a new water heater. On October 1st, this really hits home as winter is now upon us - after all by the end of October last year, odd as it was, we had three feet of snow and no power due to the inclement weather.
In frustration and anger, the Wife logged onto the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to submit a complaint. In the process she learns that, because I am a veteran, I qualify for a VA Home Loan refinance. Wait, what? I didn't know they did refi's as well! The VA won't lend to two people unless both are veterans or if they are married. And even though we are married, because it is a federal program, they don't consider us married. BUT, it turned out all the financing was in my name only, so we did some thinking and decided it might be worth it to take her off the title if we could do this thing - it could be several hundred more per month that we'd be saving! But before I could look into the specifics on the VA refi, I get notice from BoA that they'd like to close on Oct. 12!! WHOA! Just when I need to figure out what this new info means, they want to close?? I have a whirlwind of a day talking to our lawyer, who confirms that it is possible to take the Wife of the title, multiple VA locations, trying to get a Certificate of Eligibility, fill out numerous forms online and get a call back from another mortgage broker who specializes in VA Home Loans. He takes all the info, declines taking the Wife's, and says he'll get back to me within a day or so. Meanwhile I'm putting BoA on hold - sort of - the processor who we were supposed to schedule the final closing time with went on vacation without providing another person to talk to - until the 15th! Then I get a call back from the VA broker. I do not qualify. I don't make enough money, apparently, to make the payment for the refi. Never mind that the payments have been made, on time, every single month for over five years. As twisted as it is, they can't help us because reducing our payments by nearly half would somehow make it less likely that we would be able to pay them - huh?!!? But, of course, if they could count the Wife's income, we would qualify. So, sorry, until DOMA is repealed, there's no help for you.
So now we are going through BoA. I am so, so happy to have a closing date. Finally. But I am also bitter. Bitter that the whole system seems to be working against people who are somehow managing to barely scrape by. Bitter that not one person at any of the banks, or the broker, thought to ask if I was a veteran throughout this entire process - probably because I am a woman. Bitter that my marriage doesn't count when it should. Bitter at how long this has taken. I am trying to shake it off and just be grateful that we are able to do any bit of refinancing. It will save us some money. And after Friday we will be free to do these things that are in such dire need of doing. Though that austerity plan still looms... at least we'll be sure to have a roof over our heads!
We bought our house just before the housing market plummeted. We had the opportunity to go through the VA Home Loans program, but the interest rates were only a marginally better with them, and we wanted to buy the house together, having it in both of our names, not just mine. We talked to several banks and they all said it would be no problem to refinance after a couple years - just roll both the 80 and 20 (I think we got the last 80/20 home loan issued in the US) together for a better rate and we'll be golden, they said. So nearly two years in we began thinking about refinancing. We went to all the local banks, but by that time it seemed they were all gun-shy to refinance at all, and especially on a house that had lost value. So we waited and started approaching banks again two and a half years ago. Again, we went to one local bank and credit union after another without progress. Two years later, feeling like we needed professional help, we got a mortgage broker who worked with us for four months. We paid for an FHA assessment ($400) through the broker, and found out that we were no longer under water, but he still said we didn't qualify for any kind of refinance because our house was too close to being under water. Not actually under water, just close. And well, even with all the new programs that are supposed to help people in our situation refinance, there was just nothing that could help us refinance - we either made too much money, not enough money, our house was too close to being under water, but not actually underwater, and oh, we hadn't actually missed any payments.
So while still working with the broker, one fine mortgage-paying day, the teller - again - was aghast at how much interest we are paying (6.875 on the 20 and 9.125 on the 20). Yes, I tell her, I am aghast every time I think about it and we have been trying for over two years to refinance, but everyone has said it can't be done - including BoA. She shakes her head and set me up with an appointment with one of their people. I felt slightly like a traitor seeing as we had a broker, but at the same time, we weren't getting anywhere.
I go to the meeting without much hope as they'd already said there was nothing they could do months and months ago, but hey, maybe something had changed. While I've met the banker I sat down with many times, she doesn't handle mortgages and was just there to facilitate a call to Lenny (not his real name, but don't you think that's a good name for a salesman). After about 45 minutes on the phone, Lenny says we can refinance, but only the first loan as the 2nd doesn't qualify - or we don't qualify - I'm still not sure as Lenny seemed to be talking outta both sides of his mouth. Regardless, he could refi our first loan, saving us 2 percentage points, which would save us almost 200 off our mortgage. Awesome! But upfront, we'll have to put another $400 down for another assessment because, apparently anything but a BoA assessment is of no use. So we cough it up, again, and think ahead to June when we will finally have enough extra in our budget to get our sad and leaky roof done.
Alas, June comes and goes. We are anxious to get it done, but after so long waiting, what's another month. My car needs new brakes, and it is now clear it will not pass inspection come October for a host of other reasons, but knowing the refi will be going through soon we put off getting it fixed or even thinking about a new car. July comes and goes. We are becoming somewhat worried, but are assured that all is well, they just need to get subordination from the home improvement loan that we took out to fix the windows. We somehow roll together the entire years home owner's insurance to pay in advance, as required. August, yes, comes and goes. We are becoming less than patient now. It is unclear who is dragging their feet as it seems that BoA, our lawyer and the bank needing to subordinate the other loan are all taking their sweet time. We cough up another $130 for the subordination fee. By September we are talking with Lenny at least a couple times a week and each time he says we should be hearing about a closing date any day now. But we hear nothing. And our leaky roof begins leaking in earnest. We begin to worry each time it rains. Then the water heater let go of all it's water. Several times. Still works most of the time, but we're told that could stop working altogether at anytime. And that we will not have hot water or heat, as our boiler is tied into it, if it goes. By the end of September the Wife is angry, as am I, and I have a difficult time holding it together when talking to Lenny. And by now, Lenny is also having a difficult time saying this is all routine. He reports calling numerous people at BoA, and their supervisors, but we still hear nothing. Everything is on hold until the refi goes through as taking any kind of loan out will alter our credit/debt-to-income ratio, and put the refi in jeopardy: we cannot get our roof done, our car fixed, much less a new one, or a new water heater. On October 1st, this really hits home as winter is now upon us - after all by the end of October last year, odd as it was, we had three feet of snow and no power due to the inclement weather.
In frustration and anger, the Wife logged onto the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to submit a complaint. In the process she learns that, because I am a veteran, I qualify for a VA Home Loan refinance. Wait, what? I didn't know they did refi's as well! The VA won't lend to two people unless both are veterans or if they are married. And even though we are married, because it is a federal program, they don't consider us married. BUT, it turned out all the financing was in my name only, so we did some thinking and decided it might be worth it to take her off the title if we could do this thing - it could be several hundred more per month that we'd be saving! But before I could look into the specifics on the VA refi, I get notice from BoA that they'd like to close on Oct. 12!! WHOA! Just when I need to figure out what this new info means, they want to close?? I have a whirlwind of a day talking to our lawyer, who confirms that it is possible to take the Wife of the title, multiple VA locations, trying to get a Certificate of Eligibility, fill out numerous forms online and get a call back from another mortgage broker who specializes in VA Home Loans. He takes all the info, declines taking the Wife's, and says he'll get back to me within a day or so. Meanwhile I'm putting BoA on hold - sort of - the processor who we were supposed to schedule the final closing time with went on vacation without providing another person to talk to - until the 15th! Then I get a call back from the VA broker. I do not qualify. I don't make enough money, apparently, to make the payment for the refi. Never mind that the payments have been made, on time, every single month for over five years. As twisted as it is, they can't help us because reducing our payments by nearly half would somehow make it less likely that we would be able to pay them - huh?!!? But, of course, if they could count the Wife's income, we would qualify. So, sorry, until DOMA is repealed, there's no help for you.
So now we are going through BoA. I am so, so happy to have a closing date. Finally. But I am also bitter. Bitter that the whole system seems to be working against people who are somehow managing to barely scrape by. Bitter that not one person at any of the banks, or the broker, thought to ask if I was a veteran throughout this entire process - probably because I am a woman. Bitter that my marriage doesn't count when it should. Bitter at how long this has taken. I am trying to shake it off and just be grateful that we are able to do any bit of refinancing. It will save us some money. And after Friday we will be free to do these things that are in such dire need of doing. Though that austerity plan still looms... at least we'll be sure to have a roof over our heads!
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