clerk advised to run my card as credit whenever possible over debit.

This is always sound advice. Debit PIN-based transactions are not covered by Visa or Mastercard's zero-fraud liability guarantee. There is the potential for your account to be wiped clean, and you have no recourse for recovery if you choose to purchase goods via debit and PIN.

Suzi, I would also ask around for mortgage broker recommendations. They have access to multiple funding sources, all of which may have different thresholds for co-signers and risk. It doesn't hurt to do the comparison shopping. Keep in mind though, you don't want them pulling your credit willy-nilly, unless you're ready to buy a house. Multiple credit pulls by different banks/lenders over a short period of time are usually treated as one hard pull because the scoring agencies realize you're shopping for a house. Spread out, they will count as multiple, and each one will drop your credit score.

shrift, FWIW, I'd try and spend time with friends. You've been under enough stress, and time with people who are good for you never hurts. Unless the rescheduling causes more stress for you, in which case ignore my advice.

Edit: Glad to hear it, -t! Sounds like a routine process and recovery for him.

Holy crap, it's March already. It's like entire months are just dropping into a black hole.

mr. flea said to me yesterday, "It's Feb. 23rd, right?" I was like, "No, March 1st. It's a good thing I pay the bills in this family."

It's now meteorological Spring! Daylight Saving Time starts in less than a week! Vernal Equinox in less than three weeks!

And today we're having some of the first snow of the year.

shrift, I second Maria's advice. I hope it all works out. Sending you much ~ma.

I don't know what I could do to help, shrift, but let me know if there's anything.

I have been on hold for 24 minutes waiting to talk to an agent. They're playing country music right now. I may need bail money.

Talking to a person! Don't know if this will go better than the country music, but it's progress.

On the organizing/productivity front, I cleaned out the fridges/freezers and then placed a Peapod order. I actually think doing twice a month Peapod orders (which has been a necessity because of the ice and snow) has actually worked out in favor of my budget instead of against it. Despite the delivery fees, I'm not at the market a couple times a week buying things I probably don't need.