OT: Free Rice

Isn't it strange - she dropped right down in my estimation when I listened to it as well. I warned you I had not listened to it when I sent it to you !

Nova Scotians are known (some) for saying aboot/about hohse/house oot/out but they will always make you welcome.

I shall keep my fingers crossed for him and send positive thoughts.

Can't you find anything better or more productive to do with your time than play computer games?

I just give money outright to the causes I support.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Sending lots of positive vibes southward!

Joan

I give too but this is an easy way to give a little more, for ten minutes. In point of fact, I do not play any computer games, not even the trivia ones I see others here enjoying.

I sat down with my coffee and decided to do Free Rice, having just come in from getting more wool to make more catnip mice for a benefit a friend and I are doing in February for a local animal shelter that refuses to euthanize animals. So I also donate my time and energy.

What is your problem ? I am not the moaner you accused me of being (many here can attest to that) - I am coming to the conclusion that YOU must be a thoroughly dislikable person, good for nothing but making assertions about people you don't know !

So stop being so mealy-mouthed and bitter you old bag !

Well, hurray for you! Are you suggesting that the rest of us are not charitable and only interested in having fun? How dare you.

What is your problem? Maybe you need to inject a little more fun in your life and less nonsensical and often misplaced criticism of everyone and everything that isn't the way you do it..

That's wonderful, if you can. I see it as a fantastic way that those who don't have much money can still contribute to a worthy cause. Doesn't the time spent also count toward supporting something?

Sheena's involved in many things and I really don't see the need for you to chastise her for the way she chooses to spend her time/efforts/ money. Other than what she tells us here, what do you actually know about her financial situation?

Joan, not rich with ready cash but I got it raised to level 45 and in the process got over 5000 grains of rice donated!

I know nothing about Sheena except that on several occasions she has gone out of her way to be deliberately nasty to me and several others who are not, apparently part of her approved circle; she seems to think this is funny. I just decided to pick her up on it once. I have no intention of getting into a flame war, so don't bother trying.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Yikes, ladies! We're getting grumpy here. FWIW, at times when I'm doing something else, I'll dabble on free rice, as it's good vocabulary practice and charitable. Not that it takes the place of everything else.

Ellice

Ditto!

All right - saint Olga Mary - or should I say "Bah, humbug"? Having a bad day, are we?

Pat

The pedestal makes the height for loading really nice. Our machines are upstairs on the bedroom level - so that's also nice. We bought from a family run appliance business that DH's family had used for many years, as had we - they met the price we found for the machine on sale, and did well in general - especially with the installation. We just got white, as they're in a laundry room - though it turned out it would've been the same cost for a color - which we didn't know.

We got gas, but the dryer is a combo and has an electric hook-up as well. The installation was a hoot - the dryer is so large I thought the rather slight guy was going to die on the stairs - especially as he wouldn't let DH help. Also, the idiot builder had put the wrong outlet in there - doing a

220 shape, rather than a high-amp universal outlet - which will take a standard or the slightly different configuration. Luckily, we had put an extra circuit in the garage, and were able to steal that face plate so that the wiring could be done properly. The installer had the correct socket. What a mess.

I think the energy star program is federal. We didn't get the incentive - started the next tax year, IIRC.

I don't even want to think about the housing costs here. It's still disgusting, even with prices being down about 20%. We're going to do the refi on our house soon - I need a job though. And even with the serious money we have in it, because the appraisal will be down over $200 K, we're still needing about $100 K less than what it should appraise for, but who knows. We would really like to be at 20% down, and originally were at about

30% - but now who knows. The best thing is that the new mortgage limits put us not in a jumbo situation. I understand the rest of the country thinks that over %500 K is a lot, but here it's still not much. And we really needed the limit to be raised from the prior $417 - now it's $720, but is going to permanently set at about $680 IIRC. I do actually fantasize about moving elsewhere - but getting DH to think about it is another thing.

Understand. Allergies are bad here in the mid-Atlantic, DC area as well. Lots of damp, lots of blooming things. But, it's all a trade off.

It's good news. DH has committed to go back on weight watchers with me after the new year. In the meantime, I've been on some kind of cooking and baking binge. Having actually made a chocolate bundt cake this week - we're still working on it - way rich! He's off skating now.

Ellice

LO - this house - we love the design - but so much was not done right. DH has reminded me that I must send some more correspondence to the builder. And then, I'm actually working on captioning all the photos, copying all our paperwork which is going to my DB, who is helping us with the lawyer thing as we're going to bring suit against the builder. Who did not finish repairing the original problems, etc. We're hoping they'll offer a good settlement to stay out of court, and avoid having our pictures in the local paper, etc - given they're just getting ready to open a new development not far from here. Then they will have paid for the things they broke or stole, ar never fixed and we can have it all taken care of..

I thought it was a rebate - but don't know.

The appraisal for the bank, mortgage company, and the assessment for property taxes are totally different - though they have some relative similarity in the going up or down thing. DC is not in the worst 4 or 5 areas WRT the downturn of housing prices, but it's still significant. Appraisals are usually based on comparable sales within an area, and time frame. Assessments aren't done as often, and usually are lower than appraisals which vary more frequently as comps should be taken within a month, but can be longer depending on the market. I took a bunch of appraisal classes when I thought I might swap careers - actually only need 1 more to sit the license exam, and redo the standards of practice course (it's annual). Then I could apprentice - may just do this.

I'm looking at what. We used to go to meetings. Haven't for some time this year. But, they started a weeknight meeting here in our little community - so that might work. At least I'll go - I think it helps.

Ditto! Ellice