How do I spell STRESS?

J-u-s-t-k-i-l-l-m-e-n-o-w

A-q-u-i-c-k-b-l-o-w-t-o-t-h-e-h-e-a-d-w-i-t-h-a-h-e-a-v-y-b-l-u-n-t-o-b-j-e-c-t

A-r-s-e-n-i-c-a-n-d-h-e-m-l-o-c-k-c-o-c-k-t-a-i-l

There are plenty of ways... of course living in TN the locals prefer to induce stress and it's wonderful side-effects by:

• pulling funding a week before a home closing
• having the second lending company claim they're having a "computer glitch" 2 days before the home closing thereby NOT providing any information to me or the title company
• second lending company say, "We need ANOTHER appraisal" before we'll lend to you, cause the one we already paid for apparently isn't good enough
• delaying the home closing by 4 days, thus screwing up the seller's move out schedule so he's still living there

And my personal favorite:

• canceling the homeowner's insurance BEFORE the closing but having the notice delivered to the house I don't yet own, so I don't receive the notice until $^&*!@#% Christmas Eve - when, by the way, the seller was kind enough to let us stop by to show the place off to the in-laws and thus provide us with the happy news of "You're SCREWED - AGAIN!" via sealed letter. No Mr. Insurance Agent, please don't call us with this type of news as we'd prefer to get it in a letter 8 days before the insurance expires.

Happy Holidays!

Now where the hell is my hemlock?

It was worth it!

Thursday night we had dinner at our wonderful friends' home. Pam, Andrew & Abby invited us over a fabulous home cooked meal of ham, potatoes, yams, casserole, dinner rolls, excellent red wine, and an assortment of desserts. It was all so delicious - well, I assume the desserts were, I was too full to try them!!! Me?! I don't know how that's even possible, but it happened.

We had so much fun we didn't leave until Friday! We made it back to the Estate a little after 4:00 am. Unfortunately I couldn't sleep so most of the day on Friday I was out of it. But, that's o.k., spending time with Pam & Andrew is always worth it!

Ugh

We did NOT close on the house. Our original lender bailed on us, the 2nd lender claimed to be experiencing a computer glitch and as such could not provide the title company with the necessary documents for us to close.

The broker we've been using, who up until this week has been very friendly and helpful, was completely useless. When I asked the broker what the new loan terms were he didn't have a clue. I'm not willing to sign a 30-year mortgage (hell, I don't even know if it is a 30-year mortgage?!) without knowing the total amount, interest rate, what our monthly payments will be, etc.

This whole process has been a major misfire and I've had it. As far as I'm concerned GAME OVER.

I'm fed up with the incompetence in TN, it's intrusive and has invaded almost every area of my life:

• Work - it's especially prevalent at work. In fact due to my wonderful employer that's how this whole darn mess with the house began!
• Driving - most people in TN struggle to stay in their own lane, and don't even ask them to make a right hand turn without coming to a full and complete stop. They just are not capable of such a thing, they may spill their beer - gasp!
• Banking - if you plan on opening up a bank account in TN and use a cashier's check to fund the new account, be prepared to have a hold put on the cashier's check for at least 5 days. That's right, they don't trust it - even if it's from another institution from just down the freakin' street.

I don't have the energy to list all the various examples. I'm just too disgusted about the whole dang thing.

Too many freakin' passwords!

I've got too many freakin' passwords and it's pissin' me off.

I was locked out of my work computer this morning because yesterday I received the official "time to change your password - AGAIN" message. So I did as directed and modified the stupid thing so I wouldn't forget it. However, there is a complex screen with 33 bazillion check boxes for various programs - some of which should be checked, some should not be, some are only checked on odd days, others on days when the moon is full, some boxes are checked when it's raining and more than 52 degrees Fahrenheit but less than 57 degrees ... I of course either checked one I wasn't supposed to or failed to uncheck a box. Who knows, hell who cares, all I know is that I had to call India to get the damn thing fixed because the computer was screaming "Denied! DENIED! No access for you foolish moron. That's right you're SOL, up the creek, fishing without a pole..."

This morning "Nikki" (a.k.a. Ms. India who selected an American name for idiots like me to be able to pronounce) got me all hooked up again, but it took over 30 minutes. Granted it was company time so no biggie but still annoying. Maybe next week when the same damn thing happens I'll get to speak to Rambo.

Anyway, just for work alone I have over 7 different passwords for various programs and network crap. In my personal life I can't even add up the number of passwords I have for everything from e-mail to Amazon.com to Travelocity to online banking, this blog, etc. etc..... the list is endless. And of course it never fails that each vendor/system has different password requirements so ONE master password just isn't possible. I realize having ONE master password pretty much defeats the purpose of having a password... but what good are all the dang passwords if I get locked out and can't access the junk I need?

Lancaster here we come...?

Our broker called yesterday to say that the lender who promised to finance our mortgage is bailing out and using my employer as the reason. I have no idea if the company I work for just screwed me over, did me a big favor, or if the lender (OptionOne) is just messed up. So, the broker dude is working hard to find a new lender since we close on the house in 7 days!!!!

If we are unable to secure new financing before the 16th of Dec. and if Erik is unable to secure gainful employment soon we may move to Lancaster.

However, if we can make a go of things here in Knoxhell that would be great as I could then finish my degree in 2006 at UT and not have to wait a year (or more) in CA to apply for in-state tuition.

I don't even have the energy to be upset about this. I'm not sure it's even worth getting upset. Whatever happens will happen. We'll make the most of it or we won't. I'll just put off worrying till later cause I don't want to waste time thinking about the "what ifs."

Part of me would LOVE to move back to CA. Part of me wants to stay here. Since I'm undecided I figure no sense investing any time thinking about either until I know which I must consider. Of course, I write this after having done nothing but think about it! Now I'm all thought out.

University of Tennessee

On July 3, 2005 I applied to UT as a transfer student. I forgot I applied, then the week before the deadline (late October) I called to follow-up since I never received anything as noted in the application instructions.

During the follow-up phone call I learned that UT needed my high school transcripts?! (Huh? Id' been out of high school over 14 years?! And, I don't recall the application instructions saying anything about high school transcripts for transfer students.) I contacted both the high schools I had attended and requested they forward my transcripts to UT.

I assumed that since I was down to the wire and with only a week's time to fulfill UT's requirements that I did not make the deadline and I would need to wait until the summer or fall session to re-apply. Fortunately I was wrong have been accepted for the Spring 2006 session.

Now I have to hope and pray that UT accepts most of my transfer credits. If they do I should only need to attend 1 full-time semester to graduate. However, as my buddy Pam is discovering, UT doesn't seem to approve of many courses/credits earned elsewhere.

I'm excited about finally finishing my B.S. but nervous about how it'll all work out. The timing is what it is... but with the new house, Erik losing his job, me finishing up the Paralegal Program and wanting to look for employment as a paralegal instead of continuing to be a phone-drone, and of course all the additional costs associated with each of these endeavors (as well as the holidays?!) I'm just a tad stressed.

At this point I don't see my being a full-time student as an option until the hubby has secured gainful employment that can support us. I don't mind going part-time to school and working part-time... I just hope I find the right balance to make the two happen. At least the move to the new house will put me closer to school and downtown.

Nickel Creek Dream Come True

Early on Thanksgiving before Pam and Andrew arrived I mentioned to the hubby that I secretly hoped they would bring Nickel Creek's new CD "Why Should the Fire Die?" I just wanted to check it out cause I thought I might like it.

The music Gods smiled upon me and before I knew it we were lip-smacking the turkey and listening to the smooth tunes of said band. Sure enough, I like the CD. Perhaps a brand spanking new CD will find its way into my stocking this year? I've been good... really. Just ask the cats.