Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Handsome's 9th Birthday Party
Oh well, what I can say, better late than never. This party happened in May and since I use this blog as a journal and print out the pages for the kids, it is important that I get this post up so here I go.
We had Handsome's birthday at the Castle Fun Center and it was a blast!
He invited all the boys from his Cub Scoot Troop and I invited three girls who I knew would be OK hanging with a bunch of boys because Goddess was going to be there and because I like their moms.
Handsome was very excited that all these boys came to his party and I love seeing all these kids together. Some of them I know since they were a year old, younger or in mom's belly.
The Castle Fun Center is a little expensive for our budget but we know that eventually the parties will be smaller. We worked out a payment plan and my sister in law helped with the rest.
You are escorted to a huge party room where they can have over 15 parties going at once. After that you can create a party based on the child. We choose to do Laser Tag and a Laser Maze.
You gather in the party room and the kids get drinks, pizza and cake.
Can you see how happy he is?
After they sing happy birthday, we gather our stuff and move onto the next part of the party.
The laser tag was AWESOME! The kids get vests and laser guns, they basically walk up to each other, point the laser and shoot each other. There was a lot of hiding and shouting, oh and that super noisy, siren that rings whenever someone shoots someone.
As the kids run around the parents find little places up above where we can watch the action. That is my girlfriend Clary up there smiling. It was so much fun although really hard to get photos in there.
My favorite part was watching the kids do the laser maze. They each get a chance to go in and they have to hit a button on the other side of the lasers by stepping over, crawling under or whatever they have to do to make it to the other side. The button makes the lasers disappear so they can get out. We could see from a window and a monitor above the entrance what they were doing. Handsome made great time! He was smart about it too. They wanted him to go first since it was his party but he insisted that two or three others go. This is a kid who has a dire need to be FIRST at everything so I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking, let someone else go first so I can watch their mistakes and do it better. His time was incredible and if there was a prize he would have won.
It was wonderful to hear them all cheering each other on and directing them to the button. Poor Goddess cried during her time because Handsome felt it was necessary to yell at her. She was doing great until she didn't hit the button and he screamed for her to hit the button. He is very impatient. She cried and I had to pick her up so she could bury her embarrassed face. Poor thing.
After that the Castle takes the kids aside, gives them cards to use in their game machines and sets us off while they go host another party. This was my least favorite part because you never get to see your guests. Some of them come over to say bye but you have all your stuff with you so it is rushed as you hand them a goody bag. Others can't find you so they leave without a goody bag but all in all it was a great time!
You gather in the party room and the kids get drinks, pizza and cake.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Miracle
The 411 by Maria:
Like most people, I LOVE holiday movies. They are cheesy, sappy, and heartfelt and that is what I need and expect in my holiday movies. Christmas Miracle didn't disappoint it had the right about of cheesiness and a beautiful holiday message.
Matt's parents are separated and heading toward a divorce. His father is trying to get to him when he ends up meeting a bunch of others who are also on a mission to get wherever they need to go for the holiday. Due to a downed tree these strangers end up counting on each other for survival during a winter storm by taking refugee in a church. Each person has their own story and fate has brought them together for a very good reason. They all need to learn something, remember something, or feel something. It is a sweet family movie about kindness, friendship, love and forgiveness and was thoroughly enjoyable.
Time Life For Kids Zoo 3D Is A Must For Animal Lovers- Video Review
The 411 by Maria:
I just had breakfast with my girlfriend and so wish I had my video camera on us as I showed her the book. She is heading out this weekend to pick it up for her nephew. She just kept saying, "wow...this is pretty cool!"
More quotes from her:
"It feels like the next page should be the backside of what I am looking at"
"The pages look like they are made of glass!"
"Wow, I feel like I should be able to see around them."
Completely in love with this book. Absolutely the best Time Life Kids book yet!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Rain Makes Me Miss You
Just got back from the bus stop after spending 15 minutes with the kids with nothing to do but talk. The morning is so rushed but we are usually 15 minutes early for everything. I hate being late!
There is something about those precious minutes with them running around even in the rain. They come over to hug me, tell me about things that are often times forgotten in the mad rush of our fleeting moments together like little windows of opportunity that open and are often shut because of a draft which in our case, the rush of life and our responsibilities.
Pick them up. Get them home, give them snack, homework for an hour or more, dinner, shower, and bed, or Brownies, Merchant Meeting (I am the secretary), community meeting, chores, etc. There is so much to do and very little time to do it but during these 15 minutes, we regroup and I get to really see them for the first time after the craziness of the morning. It is in those minutes, I long for the early years. 2003 - 2006 when it seemed crazy, chaotic, mad, and lonely because I only had time for them because they were both under 3 and eventually under 4. We didn't have full time school. We had each other. The day was spent with them. Enjoying everything about them. Just holding them all day or all morning and even than knowing how fast it was going to go because life is quick.
On these rainy mornings, I wish they were babies again and I could hold them and talk to them all day. Now the morning is spent rushing with dressing, breakfast, preparing lunches, snacks, backpacks, schedules for the day, what shoes do you need? Mommy said, move we have to go in 20 minutes. Get dressed. Brush your teeth, get a brush, move it, move it, move it! I know I don't have to leave 20 minutes early to make it to the bus stop but, in those last few minutes, it calms down and all we have to do is wait on the bus. It is during this time, that I look at them I realize how much I miss them and they are with me.
So, the moral of this story is, don't rush life. Rush so you will have more time with your life. In my case, I am most alive when I am with my kids. When do you feel most alive?
There is something about those precious minutes with them running around even in the rain. They come over to hug me, tell me about things that are often times forgotten in the mad rush of our fleeting moments together like little windows of opportunity that open and are often shut because of a draft which in our case, the rush of life and our responsibilities.
Pick them up. Get them home, give them snack, homework for an hour or more, dinner, shower, and bed, or Brownies, Merchant Meeting (I am the secretary), community meeting, chores, etc. There is so much to do and very little time to do it but during these 15 minutes, we regroup and I get to really see them for the first time after the craziness of the morning. It is in those minutes, I long for the early years. 2003 - 2006 when it seemed crazy, chaotic, mad, and lonely because I only had time for them because they were both under 3 and eventually under 4. We didn't have full time school. We had each other. The day was spent with them. Enjoying everything about them. Just holding them all day or all morning and even than knowing how fast it was going to go because life is quick.
On these rainy mornings, I wish they were babies again and I could hold them and talk to them all day. Now the morning is spent rushing with dressing, breakfast, preparing lunches, snacks, backpacks, schedules for the day, what shoes do you need? Mommy said, move we have to go in 20 minutes. Get dressed. Brush your teeth, get a brush, move it, move it, move it! I know I don't have to leave 20 minutes early to make it to the bus stop but, in those last few minutes, it calms down and all we have to do is wait on the bus. It is during this time, that I look at them I realize how much I miss them and they are with me.
So, the moral of this story is, don't rush life. Rush so you will have more time with your life. In my case, I am most alive when I am with my kids. When do you feel most alive?
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Pro Flowers Makes Me So Happy
It isn't often we get the opportunity to sample something from a place we order from and have it sent to ourselves. Well, this is true, but if you are a review blogger, the sun is aligned or the tide is in, you do get an opportunity and you are as happy as well...a field full of sunflowers.
At least this is what happened for me. Lucky me, I know.
Anywhooo...I was given an amount of $60.00 to spend on ProFlowers. The hardest part was selecting just one item. Oh...so many beautiful things. Like the most beautiful bouquets of Autumn flowers for birthdays or just to celebrate Fall!
Goddess and I poured over page after page of glorious bouquets, delicious looking sweet treats and decadent gift boxes for spa like relaxation. We thought about cookies, chocolate, apples, and than decided we would go with something that would last a little longer. We settled on an Azalea Bonsai.
Once we decided the rest was easy. We checked the date we wanted it shipped out and ordered. If you do a quick registration which we did, the next time you order, you sign in and your information such as your address, email and phone number is already entered into the form. Love anything that is going to save me time.
I am confident that whenever I order from ProFlower, my gift recipient will get exactly what I ordered. We were thoroughly surprised with the packaging. Secure and included everything we needed for our new plant.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Mom Funny! Nick Mom Party #NICKMOMPARTY
Friday night, a few of my mom friends and I got together for a Mom Funny House Party to talk about Nick Mom, drink and laugh. It was the perfect way to get ready for my super busy weekend.
We had a great time. A friend of mine needed to reschedule her already mom friendly Poker night so we figured lets combine the two and have an even better time.
As designated driver I shuttled one of my friends there and on the ride we talked about how we never really do girls night and how it is something we love. As moms we never ever do it. Our get together usually include our kids but the ladies we were getting with were party animals and we were thoroughly excited to hang with them and learn poker. Neither of us had ever played. Nick Mom and House Party sent me over some really awesome party products which I had dropped off earlier in the week so that the party would be ready before the guests showed up.
Included In My Party Pack:
• NickMom DVD with Exclusive Clips and Episodes
• Cosmo Cocktail Mix
• NickMom Drink Shaker
• Motherfunny Drink Coasters
• 'Would You Rather' Game
• Charades: Mom Edition
• Mom Libs
• NickMom Fridge Magnets
• Guest Name Tags
I had a blast and learned a lot about my friends! Besides the fact that they are crazy and fun is that all of them are really amazing woman and having a party with friends should be something I do more often!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Kids in Motion
Getting shots of kids in motion is super easy because well...they never stop moving. Here are a bunch of running, jumping, throwing shots from this month.
A friend hosted a scarecrow building playdate on Columbus Day. Seriously, what do you do on Columbus Day?
These are of Goddess and I on one of our excursions into the world on Football Sunday. It is quickly becoming a tradition of ours. Hopefully I don't lose her to football one day but for now..she is all mine.
It may seem odd but I took her to a cemetery the other day and she loved it. Weird? Maybe but I know a lot of people who enjoy walking through cemeteries and looking at the names and dates of others loved ones. This is something her father and I have done in the past and something I often do alone because I love the peace and quiet but truly do you think they mind the visitors? I bet they are more than happy that we talked, laughed and sometimes even read their names out loud.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Wakefield Twins of Sweet Valley High Are All Grown Up
The 411 by Maria:
I must admit, I have never read a Sweet Valley High book. Yes, they were wildly popular in the 80's and have over 150 books to their name but I was in college and anything with the words "high school" simply didn't appeal to me but after reading Sweet Valley Confidential I may just have to see where the sisters started. So we meet Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield who both are living very different lives at the moment and each dealing with the curves that life has handed them.
Since I have nothing to compare this to, I will say that it is a guilty pleasure and if you think YOUR life is bad, pay a visit to the Wakefield twins and rejoice in how normal your life is. While it isn't a great literary masterpiece it does entertain and keep you reading. I was interested in finding out if Jessica's boyfriend is the "aggressive" man he has been made out to be by one of his young interns.
There is so much going on here. Fake pregnancies, plagiarism, rape accusations, kid napping, cheating, adultery, Reality TV and more.
Give it a chance. You may just find yourself sitting up late into the night like me to finish the massive 416 page book. Come on, I don't have time for 416 pages but I made time!
Question: Did you read Sweet Valley High????
I must admit, I have never read a Sweet Valley High book. Yes, they were wildly popular in the 80's and have over 150 books to their name but I was in college and anything with the words "high school" simply didn't appeal to me but after reading Sweet Valley Confidential I may just have to see where the sisters started. So we meet Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield who both are living very different lives at the moment and each dealing with the curves that life has handed them.
Since I have nothing to compare this to, I will say that it is a guilty pleasure and if you think YOUR life is bad, pay a visit to the Wakefield twins and rejoice in how normal your life is. While it isn't a great literary masterpiece it does entertain and keep you reading. I was interested in finding out if Jessica's boyfriend is the "aggressive" man he has been made out to be by one of his young interns.
There is so much going on here. Fake pregnancies, plagiarism, rape accusations, kid napping, cheating, adultery, Reality TV and more.
Give it a chance. You may just find yourself sitting up late into the night like me to finish the massive 416 page book. Come on, I don't have time for 416 pages but I made time!
Question: Did you read Sweet Valley High????
Friday, October 05, 2012
Holiday Gift Idea: Martha & Friends 3 DVD Set
The 411:
What an awesome DVD set. We had never heard of Martha and Friends before this but we DO love Holiday movies.
In this DVD collection, you get Martha and her friends enjoying and working together to make a very special Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Martha is a 10 year old Martha Stewart who ha three really good friends she spends all her time with in a very special craft room that at first I assumed was a classroom. Each episode contains craft and recipe ideas that are easy and fun.
There are great lessons on teamwork and friendship in each movie but Goddess like the Halloween episode the best! She wants to be a vampire for the second year in a row so I was not surprised.
I was also impressed with the colorful cartoon and wish it was on TV as I think more kids would have access to it.
This set is a great gift idea for kids age 5-10, we loved it and have watched it two times together and Goddess has watched it three times alone so it has become a favorite over the past week!
What an awesome DVD set. We had never heard of Martha and Friends before this but we DO love Holiday movies.
In this DVD collection, you get Martha and her friends enjoying and working together to make a very special Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Martha is a 10 year old Martha Stewart who ha three really good friends she spends all her time with in a very special craft room that at first I assumed was a classroom. Each episode contains craft and recipe ideas that are easy and fun.
There are great lessons on teamwork and friendship in each movie but Goddess like the Halloween episode the best! She wants to be a vampire for the second year in a row so I was not surprised.
I was also impressed with the colorful cartoon and wish it was on TV as I think more kids would have access to it.
This set is a great gift idea for kids age 5-10, we loved it and have watched it two times together and Goddess has watched it three times alone so it has become a favorite over the past week!
Moonrise Kingdom Features All Star Cast - A Review
The 411 by Maria:
The movie starts off feeling very odd to me, I mean Ed Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murphy, Francis McDormand, and Harvey Keitel (to name a few) big name folks in a movie that seems very dated, slow and "stage" like. Ed Norton in a "cub scout leader" like uniform through the whole movie was just odd. BUT...once you get past that you see it is a yesteryear look into the 60's done in a beautifully nostalgic way when life was simpler. BUT...beside all of that, it is a beautifully done, well act movie by all players.
The story focuses on two tweens, one odd and an orphan and the other from a well to do home. Their love story is very sweet, and the actors both in their first film are incredibly talented. The girl, Suzy played by Kara Hayward reminded me of a young Abagail Breslin and the actor Sam, played by Jared Gilman was adorably odd and dorky with his slightly askew glasses and crooked smile.
The scenes are set up beautifully and while the movie is slow, quiet and sweet, the love story of these two children affect all around them mostly for the better.
I love the scenes of the two off on their own, making camp, fishing, taking inventory of their belongs and taking care of each other. Very sweet.
There are a few scenes that I was uncomfortable with as the two youths (I sound like Joe Pesci), were 12ish during the filming and spend a bit of time in their underwear. I mostly imagine 70 or so people on the set while these two walk and dance around in their skivvies and how wrong that is. Their kissing scenes are adorable too and not overly sexualized but I always wonder what sick fantasy the writer or director are living out.
All in all, this is a good movie with a great cast!
Hello We're The Fuzzwippers REVIEW
The 411 by Maria and Goddess:
This was a perfect book for Goddess to read for her "Reading Log" for school. Her confidence level is going up even though reading is still hard for her.
We laid down on the bed to read as we do every night and started reading Hello, We're The Fuzzwippers. Usually we do every other line because it is just easier for her and doesn't prolong my torture as we read for a long time and she has to sound out every word. She pretty much did the whole thing by herself except the half dozen words I had to help her with and every time she got to the word Fuzzwipper she laughed, "it is such a funny word."
The Fuzzwippers are adorable, cuddly little fluff balls that Goddess had to count on every page after reading. The story is adorable and reinforces one of the most important thing to me for my kids. You are loved, no matter what!
The illustrations were our favorite part! So adorable and we both wished that Fuzzwippers were real and that we each had one.
Goddess Walks On The Dark Side
Well not really but she loves these photos I manipulated last night except for the one where she was holding a pumpkin. "Mom what vampire walks around holding a pumpkin?"
Thursday, October 04, 2012
AND it Just Keeps Getting Better
We all have our stories to tell. Not a single of us can say that we haven't encountered drama in our lives of some kind. Some of us have the ability to move past the obstacles that are forever tossed in our path by life. Some need to sit on the sideline and nurse their soreness and lick their wounds before they can stand up again and still others are never ever to get up and simply take themselves out of this beautiful gift called life. Usually I fall into the category of moving past as confirmed by my dear friend Teresa today who said, "even with all you go through, you are always laughing, smiling and friendly. If you didn't tell me, I would have no idea things are as crazy as they are for you."
I guess that is true. Usually! Today, not so much. It was a difficult morning, I am fine now mostly because I am rational enough to know that every time I get kicked, I DO pick myself up. I cannot control the things happening right now, financially or medically. These things are completely out of my hands. What I can control is how long I allow myself to dwell on them and how I decide to handle myself!!! Really folks, that is all we can truly do. Handle ourselves. We can handle our words. We can handle how we react to things. Other than that, it is out of our hands most of the time.
The circumstances surrounding my life that are getting me down are financial and medical. My situation is not unlike many others out there. The poor are getting poorer and the middle class, well, they are the future poor! Life is hard and things seem to be getting harder every day.
Today, SUCKED! In plain english...it fucking sucked! Seriously. I think after today, I am allowed to curse on my blog.
An hour in the bank parking lot crying. A doctor's appointment to make sure I am not pregnant (my period is a month late! BTW I am not!!! And...more colorful envelopes of bills! Hooray!
My gynocologist took blood today after confirming my pregnancy test as negative to check for hormonal imbalance and a thyroid check which was due next month anyway. She also gave me Provera to "kick start" menstruation. Sonogram in future. Really pisses me off to now have medical issues on a completely different part of my body. 2010 - 2011 was intestine issues. 2011 - 2012 stomach issues and now this!
Prayer and good vibes needed for strength. Pray for me and I will pray for you.
How is your year going? I pray it is better than mine!
I guess that is true. Usually! Today, not so much. It was a difficult morning, I am fine now mostly because I am rational enough to know that every time I get kicked, I DO pick myself up. I cannot control the things happening right now, financially or medically. These things are completely out of my hands. What I can control is how long I allow myself to dwell on them and how I decide to handle myself!!! Really folks, that is all we can truly do. Handle ourselves. We can handle our words. We can handle how we react to things. Other than that, it is out of our hands most of the time.
The circumstances surrounding my life that are getting me down are financial and medical. My situation is not unlike many others out there. The poor are getting poorer and the middle class, well, they are the future poor! Life is hard and things seem to be getting harder every day.
Today, SUCKED! In plain english...it fucking sucked! Seriously. I think after today, I am allowed to curse on my blog.
An hour in the bank parking lot crying. A doctor's appointment to make sure I am not pregnant (my period is a month late! BTW I am not!!! And...more colorful envelopes of bills! Hooray!
My gynocologist took blood today after confirming my pregnancy test as negative to check for hormonal imbalance and a thyroid check which was due next month anyway. She also gave me Provera to "kick start" menstruation. Sonogram in future. Really pisses me off to now have medical issues on a completely different part of my body. 2010 - 2011 was intestine issues. 2011 - 2012 stomach issues and now this!
Prayer and good vibes needed for strength. Pray for me and I will pray for you.
How is your year going? I pray it is better than mine!
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
4 Wedding Planners - REVIEW
The 411 by Maria:
Ahhh...very sweet movie. Not too sappy which is what I expected with the title. The 4 Wedding Planners are Miriam, Lily, Twinny and Hoku a single mom and her three girls
My favorite part is the beginning where we see the story during the credits of how this eclectic family came to be showing how Miriam ended up with 3 daughters and 3 different fathers in a serious of funny little cartoon animations.
Lily is very independent and is pretty much the anti "marriage" daughter so when her boyfriend proposes she runs. She takes a plane and comes home to her wedding planning family after many years. They are not planning her wedding, they literally plan weddings for others.
Lily and her sisters are all very different. Twinny is pregnant "often" and the baby, Hoku just wants to be in love and is with Lily's former boyfriend.
The movie is fun, light and sweet. I love Illeana Doughlas as Miriam the mom who is running a wedding business with all her nervous faults and OCD issues.
Hawaii is beautiful, the actresses are beautiful the storyline is fun!
Saving Each Other - REVIEW
The 411 by Maria:
In starting this book I was familiar with the name Victoria Jackson the make up artist. I wanted a No Make Up Make Up Kit in the worst way. What I didn't know was anything about NMO Neuromyeltis Optica Spectrum Disease.
When Ali, Victoria's 14 year old daughter ended up with an eye pain that didn't go away, she took her to an eye doctor like any good parent would do. There was inflammation all along the nerve. After many tests and many doctors they received a diagnosis of NMO (please see the foundation for exact information on this very rare disease).
What I loved and got out of this book is that love conquers all. Victoria, the mother, wanted to do everything and did, she moved mountains to understand and research this disease that was so rare there wasn't much information about it. Victoria the business woman, organized a foundation so that no other family would be unaware of the resources for NMO.
Ali, trusts and realizes how much her parents love her and would do whatever they could to help her. Her trust was so much so that in the beginning she didn't even want to know what she had.
The book is well written and in each of their voices.
My heart broke so many times for the whole family as they dealt with the unknown but especially for Victoria who wrote that she would do anything to have had the disease hit her instead of her daughter as I imagine most moms would do.
The Jackson-Guthy family are very lucky to have each other and are proof that if a family sticks together they can fight anything.
In starting this book I was familiar with the name Victoria Jackson the make up artist. I wanted a No Make Up Make Up Kit in the worst way. What I didn't know was anything about NMO Neuromyeltis Optica Spectrum Disease.
When Ali, Victoria's 14 year old daughter ended up with an eye pain that didn't go away, she took her to an eye doctor like any good parent would do. There was inflammation all along the nerve. After many tests and many doctors they received a diagnosis of NMO (please see the foundation for exact information on this very rare disease).
What I loved and got out of this book is that love conquers all. Victoria, the mother, wanted to do everything and did, she moved mountains to understand and research this disease that was so rare there wasn't much information about it. Victoria the business woman, organized a foundation so that no other family would be unaware of the resources for NMO.
Ali, trusts and realizes how much her parents love her and would do whatever they could to help her. Her trust was so much so that in the beginning she didn't even want to know what she had.
The book is well written and in each of their voices.
My heart broke so many times for the whole family as they dealt with the unknown but especially for Victoria who wrote that she would do anything to have had the disease hit her instead of her daughter as I imagine most moms would do.
The Jackson-Guthy family are very lucky to have each other and are proof that if a family sticks together they can fight anything.
F
A Big F U
UGH the financial devastation is sometimes overpowering. Money woes are something that my friends and I talk about all the time. Many of us are suffering on all kinds of levels, medical, loss, mental, financial, etc but money or lack of it is always on the forefront of conversations these days.
So, what you one do?
Do we sit and tear ourselves up over things we have no control over? Do we simply lie down and forget it all? No, we pick ourselves up and do the best we can. It really is all you can do but sometimes...like yesterday...it was too much to..
Refinancing our mortgage was an offer from our bank for paying on time for over 14+ years and was part of the Obama Plan or the Harp Refinance Program or some other name I don't even know right now.
Anyway, we started the process in June and after numerous emails from our "loan person" Leslie, a lien was supposedly found on my house. The paper which had information about my supposed lien was in another person's name and at another person's address.
OK...this was something I could work with. Not my name, address or lien. I wrote back to the bank by email and stated the above. She responded with Fine. Thank you.
Another month passes and Teach asks if I have heard. I tell him they are working on it but decide to call anyway. No answer. I email and get an email back.
Ahhh....I respond back while dialing her number which she never answered. Not my lien. Not my name or address. Please tell me what I should be doing?!
She doesn't respond back to my 8 emails that day. Nor does she answer my 5 phone messages over the next day. Or to my 12 emails and 4 phone messages over the next week. The following week, she responds and says, like a friggin robot. Once you fulfill the lien we can proceed.
UHhhhhh...is she kidding me? I write back again that this not mine and I will not be fulfilling it. Please assist or give me someone who can.
Another week goes by and I request to speak to her manager telling her that this is obviously over her head and I want someone who can help me figure this out.
This is the email I receive:
We headed down to our local branch. Spoke to the branch who were appealed at the way we were treated. We spoke to a mortgage guy on the phone who patiently listened and understood our story and wanted to help. We started the process again. The lien, thanks to the Title Company wasn't an issue. They told me that it never should have been because they had straightened it out with Leslie back in flippin June. Right around the time she was responding with emails that I had to fulfill the lien before they could proceed. She is lucky that she wasn't at my local branch. I would have been jailed and a restraining order would have been filed by her against me.
Anywhoo....paperwork started again. The branch was eager to help us. We laid out $495.00 for process and paperwork. I laid out another $100 for a subordination form to be filed and yesterday...another email....
A lien! This time it is mine! It is from a lawyer which is where we go back to my post title.
A lien from a lawyer, who I have been paying monthly after he purchased my collection file from the hospital that took care of me in 2010.
OK...let me say that again in a way we can all understand.
I had a 2 week hospital stay in May 2010, than was sick for over 6 months with a toxic infection running through my whole system with no insurance.
Later in the year after incurring over $27,000 in medical bills I found myself having surgery to remove part of my intestine, close up a hole in my uterus and my bladder due to the toxic infection that put me in the hospital in the first place.
After that first visit to the hospital I made phone calls to the world to discuss ways to pay the doctors. I than wrote letters to the doctors and sent copies of all the other doctor bills so that they would see why I would only be able to pay $10.00 a month on a couple thousand dollar bill.
We didn't have insurance, for my surgery either so we knew we would be seeing more bills and oh well...add them on to the ones we have already.
NOW...back to the lawyer. I called his office when I received a summons for missing a month. Life is hard and I was still sick from all of the 2010 garbage so didn't pay my $10.00 (occasionally $15.00) a month. I called them pissed. Are you kidding me? I am paying this, I never ignore it. How dare you send a summons to my home. It was a month. Maybe a reminder!!!!
Nope, she, the secretary said that the client wants them to try and collect on the loan! I told them I am doing the best I can and that if I could pay more I try. I explained that I have a house, kids, bills, and over $22,000 in medical bills. She said, just keep paying but if you don't you will get another summons. I thought we were fine!
NOPE! Paul Marks, has put a lien on my home to collect the $5,000 that is owned to his client.
I called them...the secretary, uncaring and unforgiving told me in her righteous attitude that until the balance is paid the lien will remain.
What? Are you kidding? I am paying you! She said, because I was only paying $15.00 a month the lien would stay. What the Fuck?
Even though I knew that she wouldn't care, couldn't care, doesn't care, I said, "you are messing with our lives. We are trying to refinance so that we can pay more of our medical bills." Her response, "I don't know what to tell you Maria."
Again, knowing it wouldn;t make a difference I told her. "You are protecting your client, clients who bring in millions of dollars while my family can't keep their head above water and are days from the food pantry. I have been paying. I can't believe this."
She gave me her I don't know what to tell you line again and said good-bye.
This is what is wrong with this country. We have never lived above our means. We don't buy new clothes. We don't go on vacation. We don't go out to eat. We pay our bills and take care of our children. That is what we do. We owe this guy $5,000 and this is just one of the bills. There are many bigger which I try not to think about because it would make me sick. But, how many companies were bailed out and spent that money on extravagant salaries and more. How many companies are back in debt after the bail out. How many crocked people have been given a "get out of jail free card?" We are not asking for handouts from the bank or any of our creditors. We are asking for patience and to not send us subpoenas or put liens on our home when we are paying!
So now, I am trying to keep my shit together to deal with the overwhelming and overbearing feeling of doom and trying to move forward knowing I will be unable to get a mortgage. I am out $595.00 and there is a lien on my home.
So, a BIG F U to any company who doesn't see people as people anymore. A BIG FU to anyone who doesn't know that the person on the other end of the phone is hanging on my the skin of their teeth and what you say does affect them. A BIG FU to the larger companies who were bailed out and didn't do good things with their new found money. A BIG FU to doctors who come in to my hospital room for 3 minutes and have the nerve to charge 500.00 each time and after knowing that the hospital gave me 100% charity care put me in collection because I am not paying enough in their book. AND A BIG FU to Paul Marks and his office for their legal mumbo jumbo bullshit paperwork and threats. You will be lucky if you get $5.00 a week from me. Paying got me nowhere so why bother.
So, what you one do?
Do we sit and tear ourselves up over things we have no control over? Do we simply lie down and forget it all? No, we pick ourselves up and do the best we can. It really is all you can do but sometimes...like yesterday...it was too much to..
Refinancing our mortgage was an offer from our bank for paying on time for over 14+ years and was part of the Obama Plan or the Harp Refinance Program or some other name I don't even know right now.
Anyway, we started the process in June and after numerous emails from our "loan person" Leslie, a lien was supposedly found on my house. The paper which had information about my supposed lien was in another person's name and at another person's address.
OK...this was something I could work with. Not my name, address or lien. I wrote back to the bank by email and stated the above. She responded with Fine. Thank you.
Another month passes and Teach asks if I have heard. I tell him they are working on it but decide to call anyway. No answer. I email and get an email back.
Did you find out about the lien from the title company?
That would have to be paid before we could do anything.
Ahhh....I respond back while dialing her number which she never answered. Not my lien. Not my name or address. Please tell me what I should be doing?!
She doesn't respond back to my 8 emails that day. Nor does she answer my 5 phone messages over the next day. Or to my 12 emails and 4 phone messages over the next week. The following week, she responds and says, like a friggin robot. Once you fulfill the lien we can proceed.
UHhhhhh...is she kidding me? I write back again that this not mine and I will not be fulfilling it. Please assist or give me someone who can.
Another week goes by and I request to speak to her manager telling her that this is obviously over her head and I want someone who can help me figure this out.
This is the email I receive:
Unfortunately because that lien hasn’t been satisfied we had to
withdraw your application. Once you get it taken care of we can reapply
at the current rates at that time.
If I could have ripped her through my damn computer I would have. We are drowning in debt. This friggin nobody is messing with our lives. The loan was in her control and our financial, not salvation but possibly struggle would lessen and this chick has withdrawn my application.
UGHHHHHH...
There was so much going on in between all of this with the bank but it isn't worth mentioning all of it. Like the phone by Teach, the constant writing letters, emails and unanswered phone calls but we were now in August and stuck!
We headed down to our local branch. Spoke to the branch who were appealed at the way we were treated. We spoke to a mortgage guy on the phone who patiently listened and understood our story and wanted to help. We started the process again. The lien, thanks to the Title Company wasn't an issue. They told me that it never should have been because they had straightened it out with Leslie back in flippin June. Right around the time she was responding with emails that I had to fulfill the lien before they could proceed. She is lucky that she wasn't at my local branch. I would have been jailed and a restraining order would have been filed by her against me.
Anywhoo....paperwork started again. The branch was eager to help us. We laid out $495.00 for process and paperwork. I laid out another $100 for a subordination form to be filed and yesterday...another email....
A lien! This time it is mine! It is from a lawyer which is where we go back to my post title.
A lien from a lawyer, who I have been paying monthly after he purchased my collection file from the hospital that took care of me in 2010.
OK...let me say that again in a way we can all understand.
I had a 2 week hospital stay in May 2010, than was sick for over 6 months with a toxic infection running through my whole system with no insurance.
Later in the year after incurring over $27,000 in medical bills I found myself having surgery to remove part of my intestine, close up a hole in my uterus and my bladder due to the toxic infection that put me in the hospital in the first place.
After that first visit to the hospital I made phone calls to the world to discuss ways to pay the doctors. I than wrote letters to the doctors and sent copies of all the other doctor bills so that they would see why I would only be able to pay $10.00 a month on a couple thousand dollar bill.
We didn't have insurance, for my surgery either so we knew we would be seeing more bills and oh well...add them on to the ones we have already.
NOW...back to the lawyer. I called his office when I received a summons for missing a month. Life is hard and I was still sick from all of the 2010 garbage so didn't pay my $10.00 (occasionally $15.00) a month. I called them pissed. Are you kidding me? I am paying this, I never ignore it. How dare you send a summons to my home. It was a month. Maybe a reminder!!!!
Nope, she, the secretary said that the client wants them to try and collect on the loan! I told them I am doing the best I can and that if I could pay more I try. I explained that I have a house, kids, bills, and over $22,000 in medical bills. She said, just keep paying but if you don't you will get another summons. I thought we were fine!
NOPE! Paul Marks, has put a lien on my home to collect the $5,000 that is owned to his client.
I called them...the secretary, uncaring and unforgiving told me in her righteous attitude that until the balance is paid the lien will remain.
What? Are you kidding? I am paying you! She said, because I was only paying $15.00 a month the lien would stay. What the Fuck?
Even though I knew that she wouldn't care, couldn't care, doesn't care, I said, "you are messing with our lives. We are trying to refinance so that we can pay more of our medical bills." Her response, "I don't know what to tell you Maria."
Again, knowing it wouldn;t make a difference I told her. "You are protecting your client, clients who bring in millions of dollars while my family can't keep their head above water and are days from the food pantry. I have been paying. I can't believe this."
She gave me her I don't know what to tell you line again and said good-bye.
This is what is wrong with this country. We have never lived above our means. We don't buy new clothes. We don't go on vacation. We don't go out to eat. We pay our bills and take care of our children. That is what we do. We owe this guy $5,000 and this is just one of the bills. There are many bigger which I try not to think about because it would make me sick. But, how many companies were bailed out and spent that money on extravagant salaries and more. How many companies are back in debt after the bail out. How many crocked people have been given a "get out of jail free card?" We are not asking for handouts from the bank or any of our creditors. We are asking for patience and to not send us subpoenas or put liens on our home when we are paying!
So now, I am trying to keep my shit together to deal with the overwhelming and overbearing feeling of doom and trying to move forward knowing I will be unable to get a mortgage. I am out $595.00 and there is a lien on my home.
So, a BIG F U to any company who doesn't see people as people anymore. A BIG FU to anyone who doesn't know that the person on the other end of the phone is hanging on my the skin of their teeth and what you say does affect them. A BIG FU to the larger companies who were bailed out and didn't do good things with their new found money. A BIG FU to doctors who come in to my hospital room for 3 minutes and have the nerve to charge 500.00 each time and after knowing that the hospital gave me 100% charity care put me in collection because I am not paying enough in their book. AND A BIG FU to Paul Marks and his office for their legal mumbo jumbo bullshit paperwork and threats. You will be lucky if you get $5.00 a week from me. Paying got me nowhere so why bother.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)