snow day!

[vernacular_life]

we're expecting about 8 inches of snow here today (yeah, nothing for you Bostonians, but massivefreakout for DC/Baltimore.  I've got a  had a dr's appt that's a 5 minute walk from the office at 10:30, and think I'll head home after that with a pile of stuff to do tomorrow so I don't have to deal w/ Baltimore streets/public transportation.

randomness:

++How frickin' awesome was Lost last night??

++Hero is a much better film than I thought it would be...

++MUCH bigger tax return than anticipated + upcoming refinance will lower payments by 1/3 + finally paying off last non house/car debt + annual cost of living increase = FINALLY some breathing room in the personal financial area.   We're starting the refi process now & combining our 80/20 that we got for the house, so those payments will drop dramatically....now, just to see how long it takes to complete!

++Saw Sideways this past weekend -- amusing, but didn't live up to the hype for me.  If I'd seen it 6 months ago, would have adored it......interesting article in last weekend's NYT about how "no one" sees how the lead character is an alcholoic....they'll usually rebuff it with "oho...he's just really into wine!" 

Comments

[onelargecat.livejournal.com]

I loved Sideways, but then again, I hadn't really heard much hype (or any hype, really...I had no idea what the movie was about at all when I went to see it) so I had no expectations. I loved the photography in the movie especially.

[vernacular-life.livejournal.com]

Did you notice that the colors were really faded, or did I just watch an old print? The whole film seemed to have an aura of 'dustiness' about it....you know what I mean?

[onelargecat.livejournal.com]

Hmm...kind of muted tones...that's what I liked about it, partially. I don't remember specifics very much...I saw it a while ago and now I am waiting for it to come out on DVD so I can buy it. I don't buy many DVDs (I own 4, I think), so that tells you how much I liked it!

[djoyusone.livejournal.com]

Yay for tax RETURN! And I send good luck vibes with your refi. I've only done it once and it ranked high on the worst experiences of my life list.

[vernacular-life.livejournal.com]

I remember the woes or your refi & am thus kind of fearful myself! Refi fun starts tomorrow, with massive faxing back and forth. The assessment should be next week (??) but Judd's terrified that we won't have stuff 'done'. Ummmm...we ain't doing any more updates right now. He's worried about vaccuming and the yard that's torn up from the dog running through it.. weird boy!

[tinksdust.livejournal.com]

I keep wondering if and when we should look into refinancing. I don't know if I want to travel that path (of stress) though!

I remember when we got just a couple of inches of snow while we lived in MD. People were freaking out. Everything was closing. Andrew and I met for lunch and when he went back to the base there was a couple mile line of cars waiting to get out. Everyone was afraid to cross Solomon's bridge.

[onelargecat.livejournal.com]

Random...but we refinanced our mortage a couple years ago and I didn't find it stressful at all. In fact I couldn't believe how easily the whole thing went. I was on the phone a lot with the broker we were going through--I felt like she was my New Best Friend, but it was still extremely simple, and we saved SO MUCH MONEY.

[tinksdust.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll have to look into it. Since we've only been in the house for two years (next month) I haven't thought too much about it. Hey, if I actually like and look forward to doing taxes maybe this won't be so bad. ;)

[vernacular-life.livejournal.com]

We were advised to wait at least 1 year to build up a teeny bit of equity (its disheartening to see that we've barely paid ANY of the loan - mostly interest!!) Also, for us its a big deal to try and get the loans colsolidated - we got screwed when we actually got the mortgage, as or original lender "didn't lock in our rate" or something, then couldn't honor our rate or provide us with an 80/20 loan, so we didn't have a HUGE amount of time to shop around. The broker was the nicest guy, so at least it wasn't as hellacious as it could have been.....

[vernacular-life.livejournal.com]

I think part of it is that the road clearing is so horrible!! the couple of years my parents were in Albany, 10" of snow a day during the week wouldn't really affect anything at all! Plows were everywhere, and people knew not to slam on their brakes....

the local joke (more DC than MD) is "abandon your cars!!!" as for some unknown reason, if you start sliding around on the roads, something just clikcs in their heads to say "leave car in road. Walk for help!"

[steen70.livejournal.com]

I live in the Boston area now, but used to live in the DC area (Virginia), so I hear you on the snow thing. Strangely enough, Boston still seems to freak out completely whenever there's a hint of any kind of snow - grocery stores are mobbed, there's non-stop "news" coverage of it, schools get canceled at the drop of a hat, etc. Hel-LO, it's Massachusetts! We're equipped to deal with this stuff, so settle down!

[onelargecat.livejournal.com]

Oh. My. God. I hear you. I live in Boston too...and I just can't figure out why everyone freaks out so much for just a few inches of snow. People, this isn't Texas!

[steen70.livejournal.com]

It's crazy, isn't it? Now if you actually live in Boston proper, you have my utmost respect for dealing with the craziness of winter on-street parking. Oy. THAT stuff is out of control.

Mind if I Friend you? :)

[onelargecat.livejournal.com]

Go right ahead. :)

I do live in Boston proper and the street parking in the winter is the bane of my existance. You are lucky you're only adding me now...maybe you won't have to read too many rants about parking since hopefully most of the big snows are finished. (She says as another 4-8 inches is falling outside the window...)

[vernacular-life.livejournal.com]

You'd think that Bostton could handle a few inches!

Where'd you live in VA? I spent quite a few years in Falls Church & Arlington/Clarendon!

[steen70.livejournal.com]

My family lived in Alexandria and Springfield back when I was in elementary school. I loved living there.

[vernacular-life.livejournal.com]

you'd be amazed at how much its changed! I can't believe how developed that area is now...

[njlorelei.livejournal.com]

Lost was great this week!

We refinanced about 1 1/2 years ago and ours went quickly and smoothly. Much easier than when we actually got our original mortgage. The guy that came to do our assessment didn't really look at anything except the number and size of the rooms. He didn't check for dust or anything like that. He was in and out in less than 15 minutes I think. Plus the closing was in the evening one night in our own house. That was great!