I developed a rule way, way back when: If I don't think I could explain it to my brother (who is intelligent but not extremely well educated and not particularly financially sophisticated), it's too complicated for me to be involved in. And I got sticker shock on how big a mortgage we could be approved for when we bought in 1992, near the bottom of that down market. Our real estate agent was also a buyer agent, so we knew her job was to act in our interest, not the seller's.

I'll also add that buying a home is incredibly complicated. The paperwork can be overwhelming.

I'm at work today -- the Feds don't close for Easter, though a lot of people are out today and it wouldn't surprise me too much if we got to leave a little early. On the other hand, Hubs had to go out of town on business yesterday with very little warning. Far enough not to come home at nights, close enough that he had to drive. Which means I had to do all the morning stuff by myself in time to catch the 6:45 bus. (Came close -- only missed by 30 seconds. But I caught the 7:15 and, thanks to light traffic, wasn't extremely late.)

Ever tried to give a pill by yourself to a squirming 16-pound cat with all his original claws?

Eep. Got some safety goggles, Fred?

My brother just emailed me that Lieberman has officially endorsed McCain. Can I just say fuck you to the voters of Connecticut?

t still bitter about Lamont

Unless things are different in Canada, an adjustable rate mortgage isn't the be-all and end-all of evil. I did some research before I bought my home and if you can handle the topsy turvy of it all, people with variable rate mortgages generally pay less for their mortgage than someone with a fixed rate, and historically, the general trend for interests rates is a downward one. I guess you have to be smart enough to only borrow what you can comfortably afford to payback.

So, I had a one of the worst days yesterday. But it was totally a nibbled to death by ducks day. I ignored every instinct I had, and everytime, I got screwed. The worst thing was not being able to get Leonard Cohen tickets. (Their system couldn't handle the traffic and I tried for hours to get onto the website or call on the phone.) It was topped off by my normally soul destroying 7 hour bus ride being an hour and a half late. Not only did I lose to the will to live, but I was thinking about taking a few more down with me. Then I find out today that they added two more shows and if I hadn't been on the bus ride from hell I would have been able to get tickets.

All hail Brenda!

Ugh. I have to work a full day today. And there's supposed to be almost nine inches of snow on the ground by the time I leave here this afternoon. And, if there isn't, my dad will be driving up tonight with my stepmom's Lazyboy she's unloading and I'm willingly taking, but my apartment is not as clean as it should be for a parental (or anyone else's) visit. I hope that they let us go home a few hours early, between the snow and the holiday weekend, so I can get some vacumning and sweeping done.

But Richardson endorsed Obama - that's good news!

(And given that we've spent the last few days watching Lieberman whisper into McCain's ear - it can hardly be a surprise.)

I have 71 criteria on which to grade these projects. How on earth am I going to make this come out right?

I did some research before I bought my home and if you can handle the topsy turvy of it all, people with variable rate mortgages generally pay less for their mortgage than someone with a fixed rate, and historically, the general trend for interests rates is a downward one.

That's a good point. In a market other than this one, a five or seven year reset is not necessarily something to be scared of. I don't know that I'll be in this place that long - probably not, in fact. But it relies on being able to sell or refi before that reset happens (or on interest rates trending well, but that's more of a plan b, I think). People assumed/were told/believed that there would be no problem doing that. In some, maybe a lot, of cases, that was a stupid assumption. But not crazy, by historical standards.

(And given that we've spent the last few days watching Lieberman whisper into McCain's ear - it can hardly be a surprise.)

Yeah, they're clearly BFF and have been for a while. But it still sticks in my craw.

I am awake and at work, although leaving early. It is snowing. People are being stupid on the internet. People are being stupid in my work inbox. If a tourist is stupid at me on the train this afternoon, I will choke a bitch.

not off work, but the boss is, so I was late. Later than I had hoped, but there were no waiting messages, so all is good.

Captain, I'm sensing a great deal of hostility coming from the shriftian.

Argh! 93 does not equal 100. Is "Bevel duodenum" more or less important than "End teeth are longer" and "Stomach meets small intestine"?