tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26464767172625978172024-02-06T22:39:54.498-05:00Top (or bottom) of the World!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-82841115780019725072010-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:002010-01-01T00:01:01.259-05:00Happy New Year!! 2010!So how do we say the year now... do we just say "10" 0r do we have to say "2010"? This is perplexing to me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-4797439069839437512009-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:002009-12-05T08:00:01.431-05:00HA!<a href="http://www.coolholidaygraphics.com/christmas/funnypictures/funny5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 389px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.coolholidaygraphics.com/christmas/funnypictures/funny5.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-15072294799960597932009-12-01T05:00:00.000-05:002009-12-01T05:00:03.991-05:00Colt's Last Test before Surgery......is today. Please keep us in your thoughts. He is having a CT scan so he will be sedated and it won't be any fun for him at all :( <br /><br />I will update you when we get home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-85653440077339864322009-11-30T11:46:00.000-05:002009-11-30T11:46:00.258-05:00Gee - Thanks Doc!When I took Colt for his 15 month check up the doctor looked at his forehead (which he has a big one because he is a Lemcool after all) and she said "don't worry - this is normal" WTF! HA! Seriously - I didn't ask if his forehead was abnormal but she felt the need to notice it and point it out and then tell me it was fine. She is a trip!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-52163751755353516542009-11-27T12:34:00.002-05:002009-11-27T12:43:04.644-05:00Why I no longer buy pudding for my house.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i5nUrmtZQ6pIzds9XyeQEUYqIPoux4mnL1reBjTL_E-0wiEGzK5ZwRvpfjbi2BQNdSWw5nfYtfUMPiWwovj75WOqYawNK2teb6PLzRVWkF5jdgLWszRTzj7lxo0IX20GEmcwnVQ5VECf/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408840073241085682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i5nUrmtZQ6pIzds9XyeQEUYqIPoux4mnL1reBjTL_E-0wiEGzK5ZwRvpfjbi2BQNdSWw5nfYtfUMPiWwovj75WOqYawNK2teb6PLzRVWkF5jdgLWszRTzj7lxo0IX20GEmcwnVQ5VECf/s320/IMG_0132.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZjz2d1hfVke4nDhvYf417b-wLL1K-ly8u5hrW2iDZeajFBT6DOT3ei2EtU5pEeAETag4RDV3KylWzJILtGycxSZc3_oZrVkagVlrVeT5-gw4sj24EccqL9lCqDEbMSKMwkjj8vzj2Ak-/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408840067787753186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZjz2d1hfVke4nDhvYf417b-wLL1K-ly8u5hrW2iDZeajFBT6DOT3ei2EtU5pEeAETag4RDV3KylWzJILtGycxSZc3_oZrVkagVlrVeT5-gw4sj24EccqL9lCqDEbMSKMwkjj8vzj2Ak-/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Thanks for sending home the treat Grandma! NOT!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>*Please pay special attention to the pudding ON the wall and the big glob on his head!*</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-79072625399474142142009-11-27T11:27:00.004-05:002009-11-27T11:46:15.924-05:00ThankfulI am thankful that this blog is still here even though I have all but abandoned it :( I have been so busy lately that I haven't thought about the dear ole blog much. But I'mmmmmmmmmmm back! <br /><br />So how is everyone here you ask? <br /><br />Jamie is doing great - loves MOST parts of his new job. He worked all season with the local football team (his DREAM!) and they actually won a few games which was a change from the past few years. Whether Jamie had an impact or not...we will never know!<br /><br />I am busy working, working, working. I have a few challenging students in my room and some days I struggle to stay sane. Most of my class is wonderful though - I am already realizing how much I am going to miss them next year :( They are learning and growing so much and it's awesome to introduce them to a whole new world of reading.<br /><br />Hunter is doing EXCELLENT! He is doing math at a beginning 1st grade level and his reading is about 3rd semester Kindergarten --- I am amazed at how well he is doing. He is starting to sound things out and write phonetically and the transformation is amazing to watch. He is also growing like a weed!!! We bought him new shoes in August for school and 1 month later we had to buy him new shoes because he OUTGREW them in 30 days. ugh! It has been amusing though to watch him run like a newborn giraffe! lol He is finally getting used to those long legs. <br /><br />Dane is Dane. I am hoping his strong-willed sense of self will help him later in life because it sure isn't helping him now! He sometimes lives in his own world where he makes the rules and when we try to interfere WATCH OUT! I am sure it is a phase and HOPEFULLY he will be out of it soon - all kids have to test the waters and he is no exception to the rule. When he isn't being so bull-headed he is a very funny kid; very goofy sense of humor. He is also doing well in pre-school - shockingly they say he is shy and reserved there - HA! <br /><br />Colt is a pistol. He thinks he is one of the big kids and wants to do everything they do. He still doesn't talk much but he gets his point across with pointing, grunting, stomping, etc... He has a smile TO DIE FOR and a giggle that you can't help but smile at. He loves his brothers and is even hugging Hunter as I type this. (until Hunter bucked him off and made him cry! brat!) He has to have surgery in 9 days and my nerves are starting to get the best of me about it. But I know that everything will be fine.<br /><br />I still truly believe that moving to Kentucky was meant to be. I love our community, I love how close I am to my parents now (see them and interact more) and I love my job more than I thought possible. Jamie sometimes gets frustrated by how much I have to work BUTTTTT I have to remind him that I will have 3 months off in the summer, which somehow doesn't make him feel better since he will be working!!! lol I still get anxiety when I think about the house in Michigan as it has yet to be sold, but eh - it's just a house. I do ok with being away from friends and family until they come to visit -- then it makes me realize that I miss them more than I really admit. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE when they visit but it just makes me realize how much I miss them. The great thing about visits is that we spend true quality time together whereas we didn't always take the time to do that when we lived near each other.<br /><br />So that is what is new with us. I promise to try to do better with my postings :) *muah*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-15222780429661108712009-08-30T20:55:00.003-04:002009-08-30T20:59:38.208-04:00I'm not dead...but working full time is overwhelming to say the least. I LOVE my new job, but with that and Hunter's homework, Dane's homework, soccer, meetings, etc... I don't have time for much else!<br /><br />Dane did get into the preschool at the local elementary so he goes Mon-Fri all day - it's been an adjustment for him but he has done GREAT. He is adapting awesome! Hunter is loving school too. Baby Colt is loving getting all of grandma's attention :)<br /><br /><br />Not much else has changed. Did I tell you how much I LOVE my new job. Seriously. I didn't realize how much I TOTALLY missed teaching until I stepped back into that classroom! :) I have a great group of kids and they are busy - just think, 16 5-yr old boys and 7 5-yr old girls in one small room. Yep, busy. I can't believe we are already almost 1/2 way thru the first marking period already! CRAZY!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-18522594871750213492009-07-30T10:03:00.002-04:002009-07-30T10:18:39.535-04:001 monthWe have been in Kentucky for one month and it's amazing how much our lives have changed already - for the better. I just secured a full-time teaching position for the 2009-2010 school year - YIPPEE!! That could have never happened in Michigan, with the way the job market is up there, it was a lost cause! So I will be teaching All-Day Kindergarten which is what I wanted more than anything :) My emotions are very conflicting right now because I feel so ECSTATIC about getting the job but am having ANXIETY because of how much stuff I now need to do because school starts next Thursday! OH MY! I have 7 days to get my room together - get my lessons planned - get school clothes for me - get school clothes for the boys - etc - etc! Overwhelming to say the least!<br /><br />Jamie is adapting well to his new job - he seems to like it. He is doing a lot of homecare right now though and down here that equates to HOURS of driving a day - so that kind of stinks.<br />He just bought himself a new Sirius satellite radio to make the driving more bearable :)<br /><br />Hunter attended Kindercamp this week (Mon-Wed) and he seemed to enjoy it. He officially starts school next Friday. The kindergarten down here is all-day and I am thankful for that because he could use the extra learning time :) Where Dane will be going to preschool is still undecided. He may be going at the same school Hunter is at BUT only if he qualifies for speech. He already had a preliminary assessment and they think he needs the extra help because he is "backing all of his sounds" according to the speech teacher. If he does qualify he will also be in an all day program. If he doesn't qualify - then I will enroll him in a local, private preschool for 2 or 3 days a week :) That leads me to Baby Colt - I don't know what he is going to do without them two here all day! Oh wait, yes I do - RUN GRANDMA RAGGED! :) I am so blessed that my mom is able to watch Colt while we both work, it will be such a great experience for Colt and Grandma I think. Colt is getting big and bossy! He has a tribal scream that sends you running up the walls when he wants something! He also FINALLY cut 3 more teeth - that brings his total to 7. Well, actually he is "cutting" those teeth right now so we are having lots of drool and fussiness at night but we will make it thru. He can easily say "moooo" "quack quack" "da da" "ba ba" annnnnnnnnnnnnnd, if he is feeling generous, "mama" but he makes me work for that one :) I have a sneaking suspicion that his next word will be Grandma :) <br /><br />Overall, the fact that we have been here for 1 month is strange because in some ways it feels like we have been here a LOT longer and other ways like we just arrived. There have been moments of "did we do the right thing" but when I think back to what Michigan had to offer us I quickly come to the realization that this is definitely the best choice for us and our boys. The hardest part so far has been to be away from family, but I did make a weekend trip a few weeks ago and we will be going back to Michigan in 3 weeks for my family reunion. I will just have to take lots of road trips when I start to feel lost without them :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-13598232855408049702009-07-28T09:13:00.001-04:002009-07-28T09:15:18.821-04:00TV JudgesHave you ever noticed that ALL TV judges have a bailiff of a different race? Black judges have white bailiffs and white judges have black bailiffs. A lot of them also have the opposite sex too? I wonder why they do that?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-1707310861890625502009-07-28T09:06:00.003-04:002009-07-28T09:08:48.885-04:00Goooooooood Morning!Had a phone interview this morning at 7:30 for a teaching job, went pretty well (I think!) It is always hard to tell over the phone. She said I should hear something by early next week. Hunter is in the shower getting ready to go to Kindercamp - Day 2. Dane is laying in bed whining, "I am NOT going to get up!" so this should be fun. The baby is running around playing. HE woke up RIGHT before my phone interview started ~ YIKES ~ but fortunately he was really, really good during the interview.<br /><br />Gotta get Hunter to school. TTFN!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-78813122816668103662009-07-27T16:27:00.000-04:002009-07-27T16:28:54.289-04:00Sooooooooooo true!<a href="http://data.tumblr.com/tWa05UHzPgi588jtC0Fn4ePdo1_500.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 500px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://data.tumblr.com/tWa05UHzPgi588jtC0Fn4ePdo1_500.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-79293544141528087932009-07-26T23:50:00.002-04:002009-07-26T23:53:44.629-04:00FMLSeriously. I feel like sh*t. I can't breathe, my head is pounding, I can't decide if I want to puke or eat.... this sucks. AND to top it off, we had all the boys in bed by 9 BUUUUUUT by 10, Hunter was up screaming in one of his night terrors for ohhhhh, 20 minutes. Then I finally get him to sleep and Dane wakes up screaming which wakes up Colt. Seriously? So I take the baby to Jamie in our room, get Dane a bottle of water, just get settled back into my chair with my icepack and Dane starts screaming again b/c he can't get the lid back on the water. Ugh. <br /><br />So now - Hunter is sleeping in my recliner, Dane is sleeping on the couch and Colt is in our bed. Not one kid where they should be, but I guess i should be happy they are sleeping, eh?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-88867579116748362852009-07-26T11:34:00.003-04:002009-07-26T11:46:06.147-04:00It's just another manic.... Sunday!Not much going on here. I had a job interview on Thursday and did NOT get the job. BOO! But the principal was very nice when he called and I think that if another position opened I would be top choice :) For now I am going to sub and be happy about it! ;) Besides - subbing will be flexible and that works for me. I won't even know what to do with myself with Hunter and Dane gone ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL day long! (YAHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!) <br /><br />Hunter will go to Kindercamp next week Mon - Wed from 8:30-11:30. The schools do that so that they get acclimated to the school,teacher, kids before the actually school year starts. I think it's a great idea. Dane is super stoked about going to school this year. He is so mad though b/c kindergarten starts on the 7th and preschool doesn't start until the 17th and he doesn't think that is fair! So it looks like I will be dealing with a crotchety boy for a few weeks until he can go too. I just ordered Dane a Buzz Lightyear backpack and matching lunch box - he's so excited it's adorable.<br /><br />The baby is getting so vocal! He now can say: mama, dada, baba, "moooo", "quack quack" and of course AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! The last one is his favorite - he likes to scream! He is super mischevious though... lots of fun times ahead me thinks.<br /><br />OH - I have to tell you something SO freaking exciting that happened yesterday! Highlight of my week! Jamie took Hunter and Dane to see Harry Potter at the movies and the baby took a 3 1/2 hour nap. I HAD 3 1/2 HOURS OF QUIET BLISS! That may seem lame to some of you - but if you NEVER EVER get a break from your kids, you understand. I love my boys - but sometimes mama needs a break. So THANK YOU JAMIE! :) You are the best!<br /><br />Well - that is all for now - off to read this book called Water For Elephants for the local bookclub. It's actually a pretty good book!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-77101745440390307702009-07-21T14:49:00.003-04:002009-07-21T14:54:52.090-04:00Back Home & School ScreeningsWe got back home last night from Michigan - looooong drive! It was so totally worth it though to spend the weekend with family, we made a ton of memories this weekend which I will hold in my heart during the long months we can't see each other.<br /><br />When we got back into Kentucky last night we stayed at mom and dad's house because the baby was there and I was missing him REALLY bad! Anyway - he was already sleeping - but this morning he climbed up on me and laid his head on my chest for a long time just snuggling. It was so nice to hold him again. But then the cutest thing ever happened - Dane woke up and Colt was so overcome with emotion he kept hugging and kissing Dane over and over and over. Hugs and kisses are rare for Colt so for him to be so enthusiastic was so heart-warming. My boys really really love each other. Dane was just as excited to see him too. Hunter got the same treatment from Colt BUT not as drawn out as it was with Dane. <br /><br /><br />Today was school assessment day. I am trying to get Dane into the preschool at the school and it appears he may qualify based on his speech evaluation. He will do further evaluations the week of August 10th to see if he qualifies. They both did good overall though - my boys are getting so BIG!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-47378030581749289112009-07-19T11:20:00.003-04:002009-07-19T11:28:19.475-04:00MICHIGAN VISIT!!!I just typed a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG post about our visit and crap - but blogger deleted it.<br /><br /><br /><br />So here is the synopsis.<br /><br /><br /><br />1. We came to Michigan to surprise Missy for her birthday.<br /><br />2. We are going out for birthday dinner tonight.<br /><br />3. Nate's bday party was yesterday too - HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN!<br /><br />4. We are heading back to Kentucky tommorrow.<br /><br /><br /><br />:)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-13479748702317008272009-07-16T12:00:00.000-04:002009-07-16T12:00:02.188-04:00Our New Houseis small. It's VERY cute, but small. I didn't really realize how small it was until the first day I was home alone with all three boys. SMALL! It doesn't help that they feel the need to follow me room to room to room. Good thing Kentucky has good weather and they can spend LOTS of time playing outside! <br /><br />I will have to post some pictures of the house soon -- but I have yet to get my netbook up and running so you will all just have to wait :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-48592711575158694882009-07-15T16:31:00.002-04:002009-07-15T16:32:50.665-04:00HAPPY 1/2 BIRTHDAY CONNIE!:) Love ya lots!<br /><br />Now you are _ _ 1/2 <br /><br />There is no way I would reveal your age on the internetz... I am still skeered of you in a healthy mother/daughter way! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-81921303841822299472009-07-15T10:00:00.003-04:002009-07-15T10:10:54.962-04:00Back in the saddle...I have neglected my blog long enough. In fact, the only comments I have received since my last post are from some friendly anonymous posters:<br /><br /><em>I hope that you are not american because shopping at Wal Mart is the most unamerican thing you can do in this country. Ask Wal Mart why our economy is so bad considering that everything they bring over here is from China, Afghanistan or Taiwan. Way to go American.</em><br /><em></em><br />This was posted on my Meijer's Sucks/Black Friday post in 2007 where I casually mentioned going to Walmart for deals. GET OVER IT - Does it bring you pleasure to comment on 2 year old blogs that mention Walmart. Really? Someone needs a life.<br /><br />This other comment is a peach:<br /><br /><em>I just came across your blog and wow..hope you don't use that potty mouth around your kids.Everything we say around our children, believe me, is remembered and used by them..</em><br /><em></em><br />LMFAO - oops, I mean "That's funny!" This was posted on my Dane Wars Star Wars post where there is NOT ONE single bad word. Yes, overall, my blog does contain swear words. No one ASKED you to read it, and furthermore - last I checked my kids couldn't read so I think we are safe. I do appreciate your deep concern Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous - you are saving children of the world by your random blog comments. (oh, and just so you know - I have been used to use the occassional cuss word in front of my children - but only if I really mean it!) lol<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Anyway, on to important news. We moved. Far. We are now residents of a teeny, tiny town in Kentucky that currently holds the Guiness title for the World's Smallest Walmart. It has been a HUGE adjustment so far - but things are finally settling in. Jamie is working at the local Hospital doing outpatient and homecare and I am trying to secure a job teaching. If I can't secure a position this year - I am going to try to sub this school year to get my foot in the door. The boys like our new house and they really love our new street where they can ride their bikes up and down all day long. The goal is no training wheels by end of summer, we'll see how that goes.<br /><br />We are still trying to sell our house in Michigan. The bank has been sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (un)cooperative. So, we are kinda just twiddling our thumbs waiting for them to do something - anything. We have great offers on the table and buyers who want it --- but how long are they willing to wait, ya know?<br /><br />Well, that is all for now. I have a ton more stories about the boys and how rotten, er, great they are! :)<br /><br />Love ya all and miss you much!<br /><br />AmandaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-57761979408643470382009-03-25T09:03:00.003-04:002009-03-25T09:07:23.388-04:00Star Wars Dane WarsDane is addicted to Lego Star Wars for the Wii. A-DDIC-TED. I have started setting a timer for him because if I didn't - he would play all day long. I will admit for a 3 year old he had some mad skills - he is getting better and better and can navigate a lot of boards that he couldn't at first. <br /><br />It is a good game for the younger crowd - I think it was hard finding games that were appropriate for EC (early childhood) for the Wii, but now we have quite a few. The boys love Carnival Games, Circus Games, Wii Fit and Lego Star Wars. <br /><br />Don't tell them, but for Easter we are going to get them Lego Batman for the Wii. They have been asking for it - but really we are getting it because Jamie and I are getting bored of Star Wars (oh, did I forget to mention that we are slightly addicted to that game too! lol)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-44929966248579327372009-03-25T09:01:00.003-04:002009-03-25T09:03:20.083-04:00RUN, COLT, RUN!Ok, well he can't really run *yet* but he already has developed the "oh shit - I'm caught - let me get the hell out of dodge" crawl. It cracks me the hell up. Seriously - if he is doing something he's not supposed to be doing and I say "COLT! What are you doing?" He starts crawling away as fast as he can in the other direction and after he has cleared the offensible area he will turn to look at me. <br /><br />I don't know why I think it's sweet - It only gets worse from here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-79789288001535152792009-03-25T08:33:00.002-04:002009-03-25T08:39:59.205-04:00Hunter Can WORK It!So, I am writing this quick note before I forget what he did this morning. While we were waiting for the bus, Hunter and Dane were being mean to each other - typical bus stop morning. Well this morning, Hunter grabbed Dane around the neck for something (who ever really knows!) and so I gave his hand a little pinch. I am a firm believer in if you can dish it - then you can take it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Well, anywho- he FREAKED out over the pinch and just started mouthing off - bad. Fortunately for him and his future life - the bus was pulling up so I calmly said "Now, when you get home from school you can go straight to bed - think about that all day." He instantly got that "oh crap - I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry" face as he got out of the car. So he started across the road to the bus - got half way there, turned around and blew me like 5 kisses with the sweetest most innocent smile ever. HA! He NEVER blows me kisses - he was totally trying to butter me up!!!! lol Well, it worked - I was cracking up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-6217732426696478382009-02-28T09:27:00.000-05:002009-02-28T09:27:00.519-05:00Encouraging Article!<strong>NOT! </strong>Well, I guess it is encouraging for people who want to buy houses - but not so much for those of us who want to sell<strong>.</strong><br /><br />This article is so freaking depressing. I can NOT understand why people want out of the Flint area (no, really - I can't) The article does talk about other cities besides Flint too, but I don't really care as much about those :) <br /><br /><br />Radical cheap: $1,000 homes<br />Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer<br />Thursday January 8, 2009, 12:31 pm EST<br /><br />The real estate market is so awful that buyers are now scooping up homes for as little as $1,000.<br />There are 18 listings in Flint, Mich., for under $3,000, according to Realtor.com. There are 22 in Indianapolis, 46 in Cleveland and a whopping 709 in Detroit. All of these communities have been <a class="yltasis" href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AnExVUBW0WhpZIqMWwnmrAJIU80F/SIG=12c97kbch/**http%3A//money.cnn.com/2008/12/11/real_estate/foreclosures_sink/index.htm">hit hard by foreclosures</a>, and most of these homes are being sold by the lenders that repossessed them.<br /><br />"Foreclosures have turned banks into property management companies," said Heather Fernandez, a spokeswoman for Trulia.com, the real estate Web site. "And it's often cheaper for them to give these homes away rather than try to get market value for them."<br />In Detroit for instance, Century 21 Villa owner Randy Eissa has a three-bedroom, one-bath bungalow of about 1,000 square feet listed at just $500. It's a nice place with lots of light, but it needs a total rehabilitation inside, which Eissa estimates will cost between $15,000 and $20,000. But that's not bad, considering that the home last sold for $72,000 in late 2007, according to Zillow.com.<br /><br />With prices this low, lenders aren't looking to make any money on these deals. They just want to get these houses off their books, so they don't have to bear the cost of maintaining them and paying property taxes.<br /><br />In fact, the $500, $1,000 or $3,000 that a buyer forks over often goes straight to the real estate brokers as a commission. And often the lenders have to kick in extra cash to make it worthwhile for a realtor even take the listings, according to Eissa.<br /><br />"Usually these homes are bank repossessions that the lenders have already tried to sell on the market, perhaps then put up for auction without success and then re-listed," he said.<br /><br />Fixer uppers<br />These houses are almost always small fixer-uppers. Wiring, plumbing and heating systems have to be replaced, walls and ceilings sheet-rocked, plumbing and light fixtures installed and new kitchen cabinets and counters put in. Few come with working appliances.<br /><br />Often buyers are legally required to rehab these homes to bring them up to code. In Detroit, buyers are required to sign Affidavits of Compliance Responsibility, which obligates them to make repairs outlined in an inspection report. Only after that can a certificate of occupancy will be issued, which makes the house legal to live in.<br /><br />But even factoring in these costs, they're still bargains.<br /><br />And as the housing crisis drags on, there are more and more four-figure listings popping up, as lenders try to unload their repossessed properties.<br /><br />Cleveland is another city with many incredibly inexpensive homes. On Ardenall Avenue, in East Cleveland, McMullen Realty has a listing for a four-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath house for $1,900. It's been vandalized inside, but the outside is in good shape.<br /><br />It features a deep front porch with Doric columns, double dormer windows and a separate garage. It's an excellent opportunity, according to agent Tonya Stoudamire. The last time it sold was in March of 2008 when it went for $16,677, according to Zillow.<br /><br />"East Cleveland has a beautiful housing stock," she said. "These houses just need someone to come in and love them a little."<br /><br />Another property for sale in Birmingham Ala. is priced at $1,900. The one-bedroom, one bathroom home was built in 1923 and has major fire damage, according to its listing broker, Tom Murphy Realty. The listing states that "Rooms are hard to distinguish."<br /><br />But it's on a nice-sized lot, about 0.38 acre, close to downtown and transportation and has all utilities. Nearby, comparable homes in good condition sell for about $100,000, according to Zillow.<br /><br />Rehab money<br />Most of these $1,000 homes can be renovated relatively inexpensively, and buyers can actually get government help to finance these repairs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a special loan program for just such purchases.<br /><br />Its rehabilitation mortgage insurance, available through FHA-approved lenders, was designed to encourage banks to issue a single, long-term loan to buyers that covers both the acquisition and rehabilitation of a property, according to HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan.<br /><br />He adds that there may also be grant money available from the <a class="yltasis" href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AlpWLcqneGfmDgTvWT4_gZBIU80F/SIG=129k75v7o/**http%3A//money.cnn.com/2008/08/07/news/economy/housing_funds/index.htm">$4 billion Neighborhood Stabilization Program</a>, which was a part of the massive housing rescue bill passed by Congress in July, to assist buyers with grants for down payments.<br /><br />Buying homes like these is certainly a leap of faith; they're generally not in the best of neighborhoods and they're often surrounded by many other vacant and deteriorating homes. Still, some of these neighborhoods may turn around and provide residents with good, dirt-cheap housing.<br /><br />"It's a sad time," said Stoudamire. "But it's also a time of opportunity, especially for low and moderate income people."<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Radical-cheap-1000-cnnm-14005833.html">Article Link</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-27981203063450136352009-02-27T09:23:00.000-05:002009-02-27T09:23:00.510-05:00Some Fun SitesI have been meaning to share these sites with you for some time!<br /><br /><br />This is a site where you can play original Nintendo games! (I think you have to have cable internet though, my dsl wasn't too fond of these games)<br /><a href="http://www.nintendo8.com/">Nintendo games</a><br /><br /><br />This is a site with hilarious pictures! FAIL!<br /><a href="http://failblog.org/">FAIL!</a><br /><br /><br />This site has a lot of "uncommon goods" to purchase for friends and family. Hence the name.<br /><a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/">Uncommon Goods</a><br /><br /><br />This is one of my new favorite sites. You can take your pictures and make them look antique! Not sure what I can do with that, but I LOVE it!<br /><a href="http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds">Antique Pictures </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-46055959420475274792009-02-26T09:50:00.002-05:002009-02-26T09:58:21.528-05:00You NEED this!<a href="http://content.costco.ca/Images/Content/Product/838317c2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://content.costco.ca/Images/Content/Product/838317c2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Holy Shit - this forehead thermometer is the coolest invention! I have procrastinated buying one because they are more expensive and I am cheap. But since I have broken/ruined (with the help of some dwarfs I know) 3 cheapie thermometers in the past year, I thought "What the hell- I'm getting the one I want!" Granted, it was only $29.99 and I am acting like it was a forture, but still! <br /><br />I also used to have an ear thermometer. Whoever invented the ear thermometer is the debbil. Seriously. I could never EVER get an accurate read with my ear thermometer. I always had the thermometer at the wrong angle or it was too big for the baby's ear. It was a horrible experience. So then I moved on to the trusty ole regular thermometer, but even though have to be placed just right and I was always second guessing myself if the temp was accurate enough... blah blah blah. <br /><br />That is why it is so great the forehead thermometer is idiot proof! (Yes, I am calling myself an idiot. I must be an idiot to write an entire blog post about a thermometer) You just touch it to your forehead, move it across your forehead and VIOLA! you have your temp. Super easy and accurate.<br /><br />(As a side note, while looking for a picture for this post - I realized they also make "talking" forehead thermometers! I wish I had known that last week!!!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2646476717262597817.post-76756456798909740732009-02-26T09:17:00.000-05:002009-02-26T09:17:01.237-05:00The (ex) Flint Mayor is a crookPlain and simple. He is the sleaziest, wierdest, most pompous man! (Oh and ugly too!) EX- Mayor Don Williamson who refused salary while he was mayor is now requesting ALL of his backpay because he "deserves it." What a louse. <br /><br />Does he not realize that the main reason he got elected, re-elected and not recalled was BECAUSE he wasn't getting paid? Do you really think people thought he was a good mayor? The fact that he wants all that back pay is scandalous because he wouldn't have gotten elected in the first place if he hadn't said that. (of course that is my own personal opinion) <br /><br />Oh, and his "retirement" --- right! It's soooooo coincidental that he decided to retire the WEEK before his recall election. I understand getting out while the getting out is good, but still don't pretend like you wanted to retire, you should have just said it like it was "I was about to get the boot for being a jackass so I took my fate in my own hands" <br /><br />If the city of Flint gives him this supposed backpay it will be absolutely ridiculous. Don Williamson is a scam-artist and deserves NO money.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0