Almost a Mogul

Nah not quite. I’ve been watching foreclosures in my little town for quite a while now. It’s a good time to invest in real estate. Well, a few weeks ago, I saw a Fannie Mae foreclosure at a great price and the interior photos were very surprising. So, I made an appointment with the realtor and went to see it. It was move in ready except for needing a back deck and minor repairs. When I asked about price flexibility, the agent told me it was going to auction.



Hmmm. I’ve bought some things at auction, including my car, but jeez, a whole house is a big deal. I registered for the auction, but choked when the live auction began. I made an opening bid, then froze. First time jitters I guess. What a cowardly fool I was. This house went for $34,000 in a neighborhood of $115000 to #125000 previously sold properties.


On the up side, I learned a lot, am still registered for home auctions & next time I’ll have more confidence in myself.


What I want to pass on is what I learned about the Fannie Mae Homepath program. They do not favor investors. Their purpose is to bring owner/occupiers into established neighborhoods. If you are an owner /occupier, you can put 3% down, no PMI, no appraisal costs. For the first 15 days of the listing, investors may not bid.


We all know people who need housing at reasonable cost and I just want to pass on info for this wonderful opportunity for buyers. If you know someone who could benefit from this program, just send them to the Fannie Mae Homepath website.

Me vs. Rental Car

My friend the Ho is having car problems, which makes me think about my own transportation issues. My weekend visit to New Jersey involved a rental car. Hey, I’ve been driving for over 50 years. I can handle anything, right? Then why did I turn on the windshield washers 17 times before I got out of center city Philadelphia? I’m the first to admit that my eye-hand coordination leaves something to be desired, but damn, just ask my passenger, the DD. I just couldn’t get the whole shifter on the console thing. She would also mention that getting used to the sensitivity of the brakes was another learning experience.



I hated that car. For one thing, it was too close to the ground. I’m a tall girl & I need a tall girl’s car. I drive a totally uncool minivan & I like it. It’s old, the headliner hangs down in front of my face, the engine light is always on, but it starts up every time. The day it doesn’t start up when I need it to is the day I drop that sucker like the junker it is.


One reason I’ll hold on to it until the last mile is that I absolutely cannot deal with automobile salesmen or women. That’s a process I don’t understand. I’m too straightforward to play the game. They piss me off & I piss them off. My current junker I bought on Ebay. Lots of research and a trip to North Carolina to pick it up & et voila, I had wheels I was happy with. No mess, no fuss.


I wish good luck to the Ho & I wish my minivan with only 80,000 miles on it lasts another 50,000 at least.

Happy As A Lark

That's how someone who saw me this past weekend at my high school reunion described how I appeared to them and it couln't have been more true. 

This was a weekend to treasure for many years to come and for many reasons.  My family members who could make it shared with me lots of hugs ,plenty of laughs, great conversation,  and most of all, love.

From left to right, top row:  son in law Ely, moi, son Nick, brother Stephen,  middle row:  daughters Danielle & Denise, sister in law Paddy, daughter in law Nicole and on the couch:  grandson Zach, nephew Conlan, grandchildren Logan, Alexandra, Evan & my surprise gift for the weekend, grandaughter Chelsea Rose who I was told, couldn't make it back to SJ from her first week at Montclair U.

I'm feeling pretty lucky, and when I look at this photo, yep, happy as a lark.

Note To Connie

At my high school class reunion last weekend, I was approached by a former classmate, Connie, telling me she had a bet with her sister that I had been Miss New Jersey. Her sister bet her an expensive dinner out that I was not. Sister wins, I was 3rd runner up. I felt I disappointed Connie, so I may as well disappoint a few more people.


Helen Garr, an upperclassman, majorette and Miss Atlantic County was my idol. I wanted to be just like her so I joined her sorority, became a majorette and wanted to win Miss Atlantic County. It was all about winning for me. The actual being……not so much. For about a week afterwards I was like Mel Brooks. “It’s great to be the queen.”


Once I realized I’d have to follow through with public appearances, the bloom was off the rose. I was still at Trenton State at the time, so I’d have to drive all the way back to South Jersey, probably missing some great weekend party, doll myself up & be some place I didn’t want to be. I’m essentially a lazy person. I’ll work hard when I have to but I never stand when I can sit and I never sit when I can lie down. Neither do I like being told what to do and where to be. But for a year they were the boss of me. Hated it. Parades were the exception. It’s really fun to be in a parade & I still tear up when I hear a marching band.


By the time the Miss New Jersey pageant rolled around, I knew I didn’t want to actually be the queen, but I did want to win the title and so I gave it my best effort. I felt pretty good about being 3rd runner up, even if I did despise the bitch who won. My actually winning could have been a tad problematic because unbeknownst to me I was a teensy weensy itsy bit pregnant.

PHS Class of 1960, Our 50th

My 50th high school class reunion was everything I hoped it would be. My only regret was not having enough time to spend with old friends. My classmates have grown with their life experiences into seasoned adults with stories to tell.  Reading their personal comments in our souvenir booklet made me want to talk with each of them and find out more.



We danced, we laughed and we used our two short nights together to reconnect and catch up as best as we could. There was a lot of love in that room. Even though our time together felt short, I’m sure I’m not the only one who couldn’t have partied one more day.


For me it was a five day whirlwind. Amtrak travel is relaxing, but it’s still travel and that took up two days. My DD was my travel companion, and when the granddaughter texted wanting to know what it was like, the DD said, “Go into your closet, put two chairs facing each other and close the door.” She exaggerated, we had a window. Confession: years ago on my first overnighter in a sleeper car, I did a pressed ham as we passed a crossing with a line of waiting cars. Don’t tell anyone though.


Doing the whole glam thing was also a tad stressful. It’s been ten years, our last reunion, since I’ve done the whole nine yards. Around here, I slap on a little makeup when the Ho & I go to lunch once a month. My hair hasn’t been out of a pony tail since last winter. In Florida, wearing hair down feels like wearing a hair hat. NG for heat in the high 90’s. While I was getting ready for Saturday night, the condo was filled with my children and grandchildren. They were shocked when I emerged as glam gran. I told them that just because I don’t do it, doesn’t mean I don’t remember how.


With any luck, I’ll be able to do it again. Ten years is a bit optimistic at our age, so I’m hoping for five and will be looking forward to it.

Puzzled and Saddened

Yes, I'm puzzled and saddened by a diatribe/resume published in our 50th high school class reunion souvenir booklet.  It was written by a former classmate who signs himself "...in all humility,"
His Name, PhD, DMH, MBA, BBA, CEO, PDJ, Inc., Vice President, Senior Class of 1960

He begins his diatribe by insulting the school, then continues on by insulting his former classmates as well. A few direct quotes:  "Many people can remember teachers berating non-conforming students through lackluster courses taught by authoritarians."  "If one part of the scenario was the teacher, the second part was our own indolence, laziness and hormonal imbalance."  I say, speak for yourself, pal.

He goes on in this vein for 6 printed pages.  Yes, 6. The latter half is devoted to his own accomplishments peppered with the names of every prominent person he has ever encountered as well as quotes from the likes of Gen. Eisenhower, Thomas Wolfe (whose name he misspelled)  and Kipling.  Is he assuming that this is the first time we've heard these?  I get the feeling he considers himself the only truly educated and enlightened person from our class.

He did not attend our reunion this past weekend because and I quote, "I believe my schedule won't accommodate the reunion date." He did however, hope we all had a wonderful time.  I remember him as a pretty nice guy.  Maybe a little bit of a pompous ass back then, but it now seems that he's a bitter, judgemental, namedropping pompous ass with a superiority complex. 

Jersey Girl Back In Florida

Just got back from an exceptional trip to my 50th high school class reunion plus a fabulous get together with my family.  I got in late this afternoon, so as soon as I detox, I'll be chronicling the highlights with a rant or two thrown in.  I'm pretty sure I'll be doing 3 installments.  My major regret is that my camera malfunctioned & I am photoless.  What a bummer.

Refusing Martyrdom

The Ho sent me this birthday card on the condition that when her birthday comes around again I will tell her she also looks fabulous.

No Lie.  We both look fabulous.

I've spent most of my adulthood perfecting the role of martyr.  No more.  I'm done.  The DH has a meeting he can't miss tomorrow night, so he doesn't want to join me in celebrating my birthday.

No problem.  I'll leave here after work, drive to Sam's club in PC, buy myself a pair of outrageously priced Maine lobster tails.  I have a 1 PM manicure appt, after which I'll stop at the El Governor Beach Bar in Mexico Beach for a cocktail before heading back to say so long to the DH.  It should be a slow night at the motel, so I can cook and savor my lobster without interruption. 

It's going to be a great day.  Lesson for the day:  you are the only person responsible for your own happiness. 

Welcome To The Neighborhood

My dear friends Ed & Bill moved from Hammonton, NJ to Atlanta, Ga and I took a quick run up there the other day.  Bill has accepted a very prestigious position at Emory University.  They're only 5 1/2 hours away so I'm thrilled that they're now in the neighborhood.  My ride to Atlanta was very pleasant until while passing the airport a 747 damn near took the roof off my car.  Until you've driven I 85/75 through Atlanta you've not experienced extreme driving.  I used to think the Schuykill Expressway outside of Philly was the kamakazi strip.  Close, but no cigar.  Not even a cigarillo.  

Their new home is on a lovely street with mature trees and landscaping.  The house itself in today's terminology is "mid century modern." The floorplan is ideal and there's a full basement with wet bar and full bath.  It would easily fit a pool table and full size shuffleboard table.  Oh dear, here I go making it my own.  Down girl.  Oh, and there's a 50 ft. magnolia in the front yard.  I should have taken pictures.  Next time.

I love Ed & Bill dearly, but I'm "in love" with Benny.  Benny is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the darlingest dog ever.  He's gorgeous, he's loving and I wanted to steal him. Look at that face!  My research tells me that this is not a dog to leave in a doggy hotel.  He wants to be with his family all the time, so I'm going to have to wait until we're living in an RV so when I get my own Benny he can go everywhere with us.