Thursday, April 27, 2006

It's all very confusing...

Holy Croly, am I busy! This is hell week for the show. We open tomorrow. Audience dress rehearsal tonight. I think an audience is what this show needs. It's been a rough week full of long days and late nights or rehearsing. But, the final product will be completely worth it all. Extra bonuses: Me with funky facial hair plus the hair-raising possibility an actual real, live horse might shit on me. Now THAT'S Entertainment! More info about the show and how you can see it at the end of this post...

In the meantime, the house buying is slightly on hold. I'll will try to explain this as best as my little head can. First off, the end result - We'll probably still get the house, but probably not until at least next week. That's a few probably's, so I'll explain more...

The loan program we are using is very new. It's a great program for us as we're locked into a great rate (below market) for the next six months. Its called an FHA Bond Loan and there's lots of stipulations and qualifications I won't bore you with. But, we fit them all just so nicely. When I say this is a new program, I mean we are the first one's in the state of Indiana to use it. At least, that's my understanding of it.

The underwriting process for a normal loan takes about three days. For this program, not only does the lender underwrite the loan, but the state also has to underwrite the loan. In essence, it's underwritten twice and every form has to be filled out and signed twice. In the end, the whole process takes about 11 days instead of the normal three.

With me so far? Ok.

This pushes back when we can close on the house. So, instead of closing on or by April 28th, it had to be push back about a week. The problem is, and we JUST found this out, the seller is in default on his loan. Which means, if he doesn't pay the interest he owes for May, the bank will foreclose on the house. He does not have that money. In other words, we could theoretically lose the house. There are options and we're pursuing what we think is the best one. It's the least evil of them all.

One of the options is to let the bank foreclose. We couldn't touch the house for 60-90 days and we'd have to start the process all over again. That means we could be outbid... again... Or, it could get put on the auction block and we could end up buying it for less. That's too many coulds and too many risks. Besides, where would be live after the apartment lease is up?

Another option is to pay the interest payment for him. I think this is a crap option 'cause it basically penalizes us for his mistakes. But, if we pay it, then we definitely get the house. Plus, the payment is 100% deductible on our taxes, so we'd get it back at least.

The thing that bothers me the most is the hoops we've had to jump through. We're being the good buyer - scrambling to get paperwork done, scrounging for the extra money, etc - and we're getting it up the ass. Part of me just wants to walk away, but this is a great house and an even better investment.

I don't know if I've explained it all well enough to understand, but my mortgage broker, Lisa Johnson of Pinnacle Mortgage Funding, explained all well and good for me. She and Jen the Processor rock hard. If you are considering a getting a loan, I highly recommend Lisa. Highly recommend - that's like the highest you can recommend someone or something. That means, she's good, she works hard for you, she's easy to relate to and she explains things so anyone can understand. Also, I have to send a shout out to Julie Baker of the Baker Team at Keller Williams. She's our realtor and she, too, rocks hard.

Anyway, all of that to say, we should still be getting the house, only a little later than we thought. At least, that's what I know right now. The winds of homebuying stink and frequently change directions.

Here's the info on Into The Woods, as promised:

Footlite Musicals presents
"Into the Woods"
Directed by R. Brian Noffke

April 28-30, May 5-7, 12-13
Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 P.M.
Sunday Matinees 2:30 P.M.
Note: This show closes on a Saturday due to Mothers Day (5/14)

Ticket Prices:Adults $15.00
Seniors (65+) $13.00
Students (13 College) $13.00
Children (Under 13) $10.00

For more info: http://www.footlite.org

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, this great musical will mark its return to the Footlite repertoire following a 1991 internationally honored production. The 1988 New York Drama Critics Circle Award winner for Best Musical, the musical takes a modern look at classic fairy tales featuring an ambivalent Cinderella, a blood-thirsty Little Red Ridinghood, a Prince Charming with a roving eye and a wicked witch who raps. When a baker and his wife learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, swindling, lying to and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later, with disastrous results, in Act Two. What begins a lively irreverent fantasy in the style of The Princess Bride becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Mass Communication

It’s funny how God talks and communicates with us. Or at least, the ways he speaks to us. I sat there at worship on Sunday and my pastor starts talking about how great last Sunday’s service felt. How he and most of the congregation could feel and see Jesus’ presence. You really had to be there to understand that. It felt really great and comforting.

Pastor Daron talked of how after that sermon, many of us were focused and energized on “carrying Jesus throughout our day.” But, then by Tuesday or so, life got in the way and we had to put Jesus down, like he was too heavy to carry. My ears perked up ‘cause it was like he was talking directly to me. That’s exactly how I was feeling last week, that life got in the way and I wasn’t “carrying Jesus.” That’s exactly what my last post was about. It was almost creepy to hear my pastor describing my week to a tea. But, that’s how God talks to us. I saw a sign that sums it up well: “Coincidence is God talking to you anonymously.” At least in this case, how true.

So, today, I’m back on my fasting schedule and expect to fast an extra day to make up for last week. I still haven’t gotten back on my daily prayer time. I don’t have an excuse for that really since I have been preaching you have to make time for God. Just life, but that’s not an excuse. There’s really no good reason why I can’t spend at least 20 minutes of my day talking to God. My commute is longer than that. And the great thing about prayer is you can pretty much do it anywhere.

Continuing to read Proverbs.

Proverbs 15:32 – “He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.”We talk about choosing the pain of discipline over the pain of regret and I really think it’s easier to say no to our temptations than to live with the pain of regretting our undisciplined actions. That does not mean it’s easy to say no. Far from it, but compared to the pain of regret, it’s easier to do.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Does every post need a good title?

Here’s my problem:  I’ve completely neglected my relationship with God this week.  And, not too surprising, it hasn’t been a good week.  Not a bad week, necessarily, but I’m not enjoying the good things like I should be.

Tuesday, I was planning of fasting.  Then, we took a friend out to lunch for his birthday. It would be kind of rude not to go, so I did with the intention to fast on Wednesday.  Of course, Wednesday something happened (the sad thing is I cannot remember what) and I didn’t fast, again intending to fast the next day.  Thursday, I forgot we had a staff lunch meeting, so I pushed it off for today.  And, now, my belly is full up on Qdoba. *sigh*

In the meantime, I was Crabby McCrabberton all day on Wednesday.  Not in a good mood.  Not sure why exactly - my levels were off kilter, I guess.  And, I’ve fallen into old habits I’ve been really good about breaking away from.  I’m disappointed in myself that it’s too easy to break down into old, bad habits.

Now, I remember… Need to revise a little.  Actually, Tuesday was the home appraisal and it was around lunchtime.  So, I grabbed lunched with the intention of fasting on Wednesday.  And, on Wednesday, we took a friend to lunch for his birthday.  That’s what I forgot.

Ok, so, the home inspection went rather well.  Nothing major needs fixing.  Some minor repairs that any buyer would reasonably want fixed before taking ownership.  That’s good news.  We sent our contingencies to the seller and are awaiting word on if he’s willing to fix them, give us money to fix them or balk.  I think the seller is in a bit of a corner because since we had the home inspection, if our deal doesn’t happen, he has new things to disclose to the buyer.  Hence, he’ll likely get less of an offer and still have to get the things fixed.  So, that’s good for us.

Rehearsal has been going well.  I was not “there” Wednesday, meaning I was not in it at all.  I couldn’t wait to just get away from the theatre.  Bad mood, foul attitude, Crabby McCrabbinstein.  Thursday was much better.

Got a new boss Thursday, too.  He was promoted from within.  So, the department doesn’t have to go through yet another major upheaval from a new Creative Services Director.  Usually, a new CSD changes the look and logo to put his stamp on the station.  This time we don’t have to do that.  Plus, if I’m interested, there’s a chance I could be promoted.  But, it’s way to early to think about that.

So, there are good things happening.  I just can’t seem to get completely out of the funk I’m in.  Maybe it’s because it’s Easter Weekend and I’m having troubles pursuing God.  Goodness, I almost feel like I’m turning my back on Christ for falling into old habits.  At least, I’m going longer stretches each time I break down.

All I can do is re-double my efforts in building my relationship with Christ.  Which, it’s probably a good thing that this is Easter weekend.  So, I can be reminded of the reasons Christ died on the cross and continue on my own journey.  I’m hoping this weekend will refill my spiritual health meter.  You know how like in video games you get, say, 100 hit points, and there’s a bottle that gives you five or ten hit points back.  Then, there’s the bottle that restores your hit points completely.  My spiritual hit points are probably around 88 (Zero being no faith and no interest in faith).  I could use some hit points, but I’m not in any danger of dying.  This weekend, hopefully, will be the equivalent of using the restore full health bottle when a restore five or ten hit points would have sufficed.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Big News: Buying a House

Holy Crap! We're buying a house... Unless, I just jinxed it by talking about it...

We decided to start looking for a house about three to four weeks ago. This is is all happening very, very quickly. Almost too quickly. But, if it's right, it's right. And, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. And, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be closed at the end of the month.

The wife met our realtor at the BMV (Indiana has a BUREAU of Motor Vehicles, not Department) of all places. They both were waiting... and waiting... and eventually struck up a conversation. My wife said something about looking for a house, and low and behold, the lady she was talking to was a realtor. Wifey felt really comfortable with the realtor lady, and she gave me her card to contact. And, I did. Within days, we were looking at houses, going over loan stuff with a great mortgage broker.

Eh... you don't care about all that, I bet. You wanna know about the house... OK. I don't have pictures to show you because the listing is no longer online, but eventually I will.

As for the house, it's 2 stories with a basement. Five bedrooms, two and a half baths. Yeah, five bedrooms for three people. One master, one for the kid, one will become a sewing room, one for *knock on wood* a future nursery (or something else until then), and one for storage/office space. 2642 sq/ft. Family, living, dining rooms, kitchen and half bath downstairs. (*Note: I'm at rehearsal and Claire - spelled C-L-U-R- is leaning on me. You're welcome.*) Wet bar, game room, bedroom and laundry room in the basement. Master and other bedrooms upstairs. I don't like the jack and jill double sinks in the upstairs bathrooms. Waste of space if you ask me. But for the price, I can deal (and remodel eventually). Oh, there's a hot tub, too.

And best of all, I can finally get my Siberian husky I've wanted for like ever. The last few days I have been trying to come up with names for a dog I don't have yet and I haven't settled on one. A few names stand out, but the final name will depend on the dog's personality. You can't name a pet until you see if the name fits it. That's how you end up with a scary, killer pet named "Fluffy."

You wanna talk about hope and faith though? Getting this house is all about hope and faith. The emotional rollercoaster we've been on since Saturday seeing the house for the first time... Well, we've been up and down and around and up and down again.

After we toured the house, our realtor put together a purchase agreement and we sent it to the seller's agent. On Sunday, during worship no less, our realtor called to say the seller had multiple offers and we needed to go with our strongest offer. We put in our best offer and on Monday found out we were outbid by someone else willing to pay closing costs. We were very disappointed, but we pressed on to find a house. These things work out for the best.

I prayed to God for the opportunity He was providing us in home buying and for the blessings. I knew that if God wanted us to have that house, or any house for that matter, then it would happen. The realtor sent us new listings to look at and see if we wanted to schedule a showing. There were a few, but nothing that screamed "home" like the house we lost out on. I told the realtor which one's we'd like to see and that you never know, the other deal could fall through and we still could get the house.

The very next day that happened. Now, we are getting this great house at a great deal. Thank God for this blessing. And, it all works out for the best. There's more I plan on saying about hope and faith, but this is long enough and I don't have all my thoughts focused...

In the meantime, I'm pretend I'm blogging from the hot tub...