Damage Control

Something really bad happened at work Friday. Let me start off by saying that if something SHOULD go wrong, it will for me. If I take a chance on something, I usually get the blunt end of things. That's what I've noticed in my 24 years so far.

Friday a guy I work with was sending me e-mails joking around since I wouldn't go to lunch with them. I kept replying back, saying things like he better watch himself, he was going to get kicked, etc. Well I had an email window open from a co-worker in Japan. My manager, account manager, and a few others (all internal) were copied in this email. I accidentally replied back to the email to Japan instead of my co-worker. Basically it said to watch himself, that he was going to be drop-kicked and to wear a helmet if he wants to leave work alive. Yep, that's bad. It went to the entirely wrong audience. Someone sitting beside me was copied on the email and an hour later asked "what in the WORLD did you send to Japan"? Then the panic set in. Tools, options, recall message. The bad thing is recalling a message does nothing. So I wrote an apology email, called my manager and explained the situation, and panicked. I thought about what would happen if I lost my job. Mainly I'm upset because I have what I think is a good reputation at work and I don't want some stupid email to ruin that.

Another thing I've learned in 24 years is that people remember the good you do, but people REALLY remember the ONE wrong thing you do. So it's hard to make up for it. My co-workers all thought it was hilarious, mainly for the irony of the fact that I'm wound so tight and the one time I do joke around it backfires on me. Others said it was awesome and I'd get more respect when people see I mess around every once in a while. Either way I'm a little worried and I hope nothing serious happens. I guess I will find out tomorrow.

Today I also lost my debit card. I mean, I know where I left it (at the ATM) and it's gone. So I called and got that cancelled. It's wonderful how Chase tries to get you to apply for a credit card while you call their lost card hotline. That's another reminder for me to leave Chase - horrible.

So that's about it. Be thinking about me, and my job. I really don't want to get in trouble...and I hope it all just goes away and nobody makes a huge fuss over it.

Potential Good News (60 Days Age Time)

I have some good news. It's good news so far, and in 60 days it could still be good or maybe not. The news is that my real estate agent showed me a really great house in Plymouth 2 Saturdays ago - the best house I've seen so far (I think I've looked at 15 or so). The house was priced well, and was a "short sale" which basically means the sellers are going to have to foreclose if they don't sell soon. The catch is they owe more on the house than what they can sell it for, so it goes something like this (in my own paraphrasing method).

Seller: OMG: I have to sell this house for (x) reason, and I can't sell it for what I owe on it...I might have to foreclose.

Bank: We can forgive the debt you owe if you can sell the house, because we don't want to foreclose - maybe - but you're going to have to prove it to us by filling out lots and lots of paperwork - but it's still better than us taking your house.

Seller: I will sell it for the best I can and tell you what I sold it for.

Bank: OK, then we will decide if we want you to sell it for that much and forgive (x) amount of debt.

So that's how it is. Basically Juanita (she's my realtor) threw out the idea of placing a REALLY lowball offer ($50,000 less than asking). She asked for 6% seller concessions too (another $10,000). She plays hardball, but she's justified while doing it - that's why I like her. So I talked to Mom and Dad, and decided to go ahead with the offer having the attitude of "I'll see what happens, I'm 90% sure they won't go for it". The day I signed the offer letter she presented it, and had an answer for me that night. The sellers countered, which I was sure they were going to do, but they countered NOWHERE near what I thought they would. I'll save the actual numbers for later (if it actually works) but feel free to ask me, because I don't care.

So I ran numbers, found out that a mortgage for this house (with taxes and insurance) would be about $350 more per month than my current apartment. I would have a garage, a yard, a piece of property, a nice house, 2 more bedrooms, a basement, and a Plymouth address. Worth it? For me it is. I'm tired of this renting garbage. I haven't had a "home" since I left for college and I'm ready for something more permanent.

At this point the seller accepted my acceptance of the counter offer and the paperwork is going to the bank. I've been told short sales take about 60 days to process (which puts me into July for an answer) then another 30 days to actually close and move in (which puts me into August). That fits in with my original plan and I would get the house for about $15,000 less than the average home price in Plymouth. Here's a picture of the house. It's cookie cutter yes, but the neighborhood is wonderful, the school district is probably one of the best in Metro Detroit, and Plymouth made the 37th best place to live in the U.S. this year.

So we shall see what happens. If it's meant to be it will happen. If not, then no. I'm not excited yet because a LOT can happen. I'm sure I'll give updates (but I have 2 months to wait - so that's not so exciting to post about).

Oh Wait, There's More

Do you know what it's like to get a paycheck and have EVERY bit of it GONE...GONE...dedicated to bills? This sucks.

Gas ALONE was $300 this month - and I drive a fuel efficient car! ARGH.

Hmm mmmmm the Civic fund did NOT grow...I'm a little, uh, short to say the least.

It's just money though.

But What About Taxes?

It's tax season now, I suppose. That means it's time to see commercials of the legendary Roni Lynn Deutch. For only $20, she can save you half a million dollars! That's right, half a million dollars. Because you, as as average American, have $500,000 in limbo that you can easily get back, with her help. Did you know that? Watch!

It's Been A While

I realized I haven't posted since Wednesday, that's a while. I have been pretty busy.

Thursday I cleaned my apartment since I realized I was staying here (I decided not to clean for 2 weeks while I didn't know if I was moving). Friday I went to Fenton to visit Erica. She cut my hair then we ate some dinner. Last night I went to an "Ugly Sweater" Christmas party a guy from work was hosting. In order to go, you had to wear one of those tacky - teacher like Christmas sweaters with candy canes, snowmen, or reindeer on it. I found a red one at the Salvation army that said "Noel" and had Comet, the reindeer on it. It was ugly. Katey came with me and it was pretty fun. The guy who hosted it was in a fraternity, so it was a lot of his fraternity brothers in a group, then people we work with, so we stayed with the people we work with. He had Guitar Hero out so we were playing that. I would really like to get that for my Wii eventually but it's so hard to find.

Church was really good today. The message was about how to talk to people that aren't Believers...about being a believer. It was very beneficial and helpful. After church I went to IKEA to get a few things (like a shower caddy). Then I went to Meijer to get some OJ and apples. Now I'm back home taking it easy, because it's cold outside and it's fun to be inside where it's warm. I think I'm going to play Super Paper Mario soon.

Today on the way home from church I saw a Ford Flex on the interstate, with manufacturer plates on it. Behind it was a Ford truck, and in front of it was a Lincoln, both with manufacturer plates. The Ford Flex will be sold in 2008 as a 2009 model. It was interesting because I'm designing the stabilizer link that will be used on this car/van/Scion thing. Here's a picture:

I'm proud of myself, because I've been really tight with my spending (i.e. a cheapskate) because I want my Honda Civic by June 2008 and I'm saving every bit I can. Then, I want a house.

Tomorrow people from Subaru our touring our building so I have been busy coordinating that this past week. I have my presenation ready and I will present tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Bills, Bills, Bills

Writing $700 worth of checks to pay my bills is always fun. Car insurance bills came the other day...

Hey Money Money, Make Money Money!

I opened up my paycheck today and found a $2500 mistake in my favor! Too bad I don't get to keep it.

401 what?

Terissa was on her way to the bathroom at 5:10 and stopped by to say hello, and we talked until 6:00 about 401K's and retirement. Appartantly she must be a millionaire already because she knows all about investing...mutual funds, IRA's, blah blah, more financial stuff, blah blah. I hate finances. I like saving money, and having it, but that's about it. I hate interest and how confusing it gets. I have to go ahead and start my 401K.

I did a bike ride today after work which wasn't such a good idea for two reasons:
1) traffic was really heavy
2) the sprinklers were on and spraying over the sidewalks

Appparantly July is the hottest month for Michigan but I think the hottest it got was 95 ONE day 2 weeks ago. It's been in the high 70's, low 80's for the most part. An absolutely perfect summer. I actually turn off my AC while I'm at work and my apartment doesn't get hot at all. So I guess it's all down hill from here with weather. I think as long as it's not wet with rain, I'll be ok. I don't like cold rain. I can handle ice, snow, and dry cold...just not the rainy cold. We shall see.

PS...you have to sleep on the hide-a-bed with Fuller. If he has something to drink, he's going to wet the bed. No, for real, did anyone know Tammy Faye Messner died this past weekend? I knew she was close to dying, but I was a little suprised. I hope Estelle Getty who played Sophia on Golden Girls holds out because I like her.

07/07/07

Beetlejuice is on TV!

Today I went out to two bike shops in Farmington Hills and Livonia to look at bicycles. I really want a nice bike like the Trek one my dad has. I found out that type of bike is called a "hybrid comfort". Comfort means it's a multi-speed bike used for riding on sidewalks and paved surfaces, and not so "mountain-y". The "hybrid" means it has skinnier tires like a road bike, but not quite. The idea is the skinnier tires keep it fast and a hybrid is not to be used off road. So I want a hybrid comfort bike. Prices range from $209 - $349. Giant is a brand of bike I think I'll get, they are the parent company of Trek. A bike shop in Livonia had a sale going on with some older 2006 models they hadn't sold. They had a 19" bike, a hybrid comfort, in blue for $209. I really liked that one and it was the last one they had.

I want a bike because this weather is amazing. I know it's not going to last, and it's short. I can tell because you see all these people out in convertibles and sports cars, with tans, and with their windows down and sunroofs open. They take advantage of this weather because starting in October it will be Arctic for 6 months. So, I want to get a bike to ride to work (since I'm only 4 miles away) and to go on bike rides around the area in the afternoons and weekends since there are so many bike paths. I think it's a good investment because a) it will be forced exercise and b) it will save gas. So, I want to get one soon.

I bought a camera last night online from circuitcity.com. I have wanted a new camera for a while and this one in particular. It's a Casio Exilim 7.2 MP. I want to take more pictures, and my older camera has horrible quality. So when I get my camera, I'm going to do a "photo tour" blog post on my apartment, work, neighborhood etc.

Tonight Katey's sister Erica invited me to a large church here called Northridge (I went there once already) with her and her friend Carmela. It was a lot of fun and afterwards we went to La Shish, a middle-eastern restaurant. Erica and Carmela were a lot of fun and I think we'll do more stuff with each other.

Now...the checkbook is still $0.20 off, I told you it'd bother me, didn't I?

Balance!

I absolutely cannot stand it when my checkbook won't balance. According to Chase online, I have $0.20 more in my account than what I show. I have $0.20 less than what they show. So, I went through my entire checkbook log TWICE and compared it to what they had entry by entry, and I've come to the conclusion that they have made a mistake, or their program did because I double, triple, and quadrouple checked my math.

I also cannot stand withstanding checks, which is why I only use a debit card other than paying bills, I like to pay those with checks. This is going to bother me now!!!