ok so far on here the votes are 2 for each house.

I asked DS which one he liked and he picked a totally different one LOL boys!

last night at Shabbat service the granddaughter of the instructor came up to me all excited and said "you're moving in next door!  I can play with Noah!"  and I had to let her know we weren't sure yet.

the house with the sunroom and raspberries is just outside the burb we live in now and I called the pd for that area and he said since jan there has been 3 burglaries, 1 disturbance, 2 auto thefts, and 1 harrassment on that block.  They don't patrol there because they are busy else where. 

And another lady last night said she too lives just outside our burb into a different city's pd area and her words were "good luck" getting a cop when ya need one.

but like I said the house close to people we know has duck tape and tin foil on pipes and wires in the basement, so not even sure what that's about and if it's safe or will it pass FHA requirements etc.

ok off to paint - yes it's Shabbat but I'm helping people out ...  my Rabbi would do the same ((my Rabbi is your Rabbi if'n u b a Believer!))

ok it's come down to 2 houses.

we like them both, each have their pluses and minuses -- doesn't everything?

the first house DH liked turns out to be 2 doors down from my Intro to Jewish Roots instructor and so that has really made me take a second/third look at the house.  The instructor and his wife introduced me to their neighbor and they all said it's a quiet area, except right after the high school lets out at 2:30 lots of teens driving but as soon as they clear out, alls quiet again.  My instructor has both the US and Israel flags on a flagpole out front and he says the only cop on the burb/town force that is Jewish stopped and asked why they fly the flag and since then their street gets patrolled often.  The people who bought it in 2006 got it as a hud house but it's not being sold currently as a hud house. it's listing for 89,900 and their record shows they paid 88,507 for it in march of 2006.  unfortunately I can't show any pics of the basement, as there are none, but that is the area that really needs work and the chimney has a crack in it ... so several things we aren't sure if they will pass inspection.

but here's some photos of the upstairs inside:

the house is currently empty so these must be older photos.

House #2:

is just outside our smaller burb/town and into the limits of the big metro city ... which stinks because I've never seen police cars with that city name in this area, just the burb/town patrols which means they can't help us even if they see we need help, they can just call our police and hope they get their before we're robbed blind or dead, whichever comes first, ya know.  The people selling it lived there 34 years, in fact the photo of the kitchen below was originally remodeled in 1995 according to the disclosure ((which the first house has no disclosures))  the second house has an unfinished basement as well and in 1990 and 2007 has had some wall-bracing / water lock systems done because the walls were caving in, as are many homes in this area .... in the 50's a lot of houses were built and just about every one has needed water/cable lock or mud jacking or do it yourself wall bracing since then do to pressure on the poored concrete walls from the ground outside and heavy rains.  The water locking done in 2007 does have a lifetime transferable warranty.  The house is listed for 82,000 because many people are scared off by the work that has been done in the basement. Oh and this house has raspberries growing in the back-yard and since it's summer and the photos below are fall photos you can't see all the pretty flowers, but they are in full bloom right now.  Hoping there are hardwood floors under that bright blue carpet ... DH says down the road we can take it out.

that sunroom has heat/air vents so can be used all year round -- I really like that.

but again ... we'd be in a new city only by 2 houses in which means whole different property tax rates and not sure about the police/fire response times because not even sure where the closest that city's departments are ... etc

this is such a huge decision and DH wants me to make one ASAP because he's tired of us having our realtor drive all over with gas prices as they are.   but this isn't like making a $150 purchase ... this could be a 20+ year purchase, ya know .... pressure, pressure.

ugh ... everytime I've checked my bank balance this week it's been off, $35 here, $45 there and now a recent $15 ...nothing shows up though as showing where these amounts have suddenly been spent but wouldn't ya know the bank has decided to give me not just one but two overdraft charges ... I've called them twice now on these mysterious amounts that keep me from balancing but again there's no trace as to where they went but that's not their problem, it's mine and I get to pay for the overusage.

OK I want a credit union - any recommendations?

6/30 will be the day ...I'm done with banks

they bite

something about the pre-auths and when it finally comes thru it's still a pre-auth also and then some other things come through, and if they could just wait until the end of the day before pressing the let's charge the innocent folk a charge button, then it would all clear the right way and the double, from the pre-auth would fall off ... but no, they are trigger, uh er button happy and like I said I got slapped with 2 button presses today .... arg ... as if I have that kind of money seeing as how there's also no trace to the $90 that's disappeared in the last week ... ugh...can I say it again?

UGH

 The Album Photo

The Band Name

Martin Óg Morrissey

The Title Track

a traitor to his friend

want your own band?  go here for details

thanks for the laugh

oh and see below for a big question --- really need to know to buy or not to buy?  ASAP because we may have found a home to make an offer on.   Really need to talk to DH but he's on the phone ....and I am not allowed to interupt.

anyone know anything about isawthelightministries.com or vine ministry international

they claim to know the bad stuff to happen in USA in 2008 and they have a map showing blue zones as being safer places to be http://www.propheticwatchmanvine.com/map.htm

looking at a house today --- should we even be buying a house?  waiting on a certain lady to answer that question.

•  I finished 1984 the book, plan to watch the DVD soon
• I finished Life on a MO Farm during the great depression--actual diary, only available here
•  ((thought it was going to be about some ozark farm and turned out to be 
• a farm not far from my apartment which I am sure now is not farmland but it was then))
• I'm reading The New Temple and the Second Coming
• interesting since it describes the items used and other tidbit history
• and I happen to be reading in my Bible this week about the First Temple being built
• next up The Journal of CJ Jackson
• We watched the animated Ten Commandments 6/9 in the PM -- recommend
• We're almost done with Week #10 of Term 3 of Year 1 over at AmbleSide
• We did not read An Island Story, Just So Stories, Viking Tales, nor the furch history book.
• but the rest of the books have been delightful.  even those greek aesop fables
• The church where I attend Intro to Jewish Roots is having a 10 week Karate session. 
• You pay for the kid and mom/dad are free. 
• So Noah and I went to Karate on twosday and I sure am sore. 
• It kicked my butt more than theFIRM workouts ever did...
• 9 more sessions to go and then we'll have to price session for Noah at least. 
• Who knows we might both be yellow belts by summer's end. 
• It's confusing though to learn moves on one side and then alternate...
• the block is especially confusing.  Hopefully we'll get it down soon.
• I searched the web today hoping someone else would be talking about what's going on
• but alas no-one seems to be thinking about our pres wanting to partner with europe
• the fact that italians had an anti-bush protest
• What about the tornadic activity last night?
• We've been approved to buy a house!!
• searching is not fun
• we're trying to stay at 85K or less
• Have I mentioned I'm enjoying the tv series FireFly?  Well I am
• I watched Northanger Abbey
• I guess you're suppose to read Austen, but I'm watching so get over it
• This one actually had a happy ending
• meaning the gal got the guy she wanted, no settling or what have ya
• written before Jane ended up being a spinster, perhaps?
• Have I mentioned how tired I am of reading things like --
• where have all the sundae evening furch services gone?
• hello, that's not the Sabbath
• today - home edu time and cleaning
• rainy out
• suppose to see oxen at a library event, but with the rain, it may be cancelled
• it's ok we got plenty of cleaning and good books to read
• Have a blessed 5th day of the week

I received the following via email ... I already knew this and hoping you do as well

Obama's Not Exactly's:

1.) Selma March Got Me Born - NOT EXACTLY, your parents felt safe enough to have you in 1961 - Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965. (Google'Obama Selma ' for his full March 4, 2007 speech and articles about its various untruths.)

2.) Father Was A Goat Herder - NOT EXACTLY, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.

3.) Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter - NOT EXACTLY, he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had.

4.) My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom - NOT EXACTLY, your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007, in Kenya . It is the first widespread violence in decades. The current government is pro-American but Odinga wants to overthrow it and establish Muslim Sharia law. Your half-brother, Abongo Oba ma, is Odinga's follower. You interrupted your New Hampshire campaigning to speak to Odinga on the phone. Check out the following link for verification of that....and for more.
Obama's cousin Odinga in Kenya ran for president and tried to get Sharia muslim law in place there. When Odinga lost the elections, his followers have burned Christians' homes and then burned men, women and children alive in a Christian church where they took shelter.. Obama SUPPORTED his cousin before the election process here started. Google Obama and Odinga and see what you get. No one wants to know the truth.

5.) My Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian - NOT EXACTLY, she does her daily Salat prayers at 5am according to her own interviews. Not to mention, Christianity wouldn't allow her to have been one of 14 wives to 1 man.

6.) My Name is African Swahili - NOT EXACTLY, your name is Arabic and 'Baraka' (from which Barack came) means 'blessed' in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama.
Barack Hussein Obama is not half black. If elected, he would be the first Arab-American President, not the first black President. Barack Hussein Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother's side and 43.75% Arabic and 6.25% African Negro from his father's side. While Barack Hussein Obama's father was from Kenya , his father's family was mainly Arabs.. Barack Hussein Obama's father was only 12.5% African Negro and 87.5% Arab (his father's birth certificate even states he's Arab, not African Negro). From....and for more....go to.....
http://www.arcadeathome.com/newsboy.phtml?Barack_Hussein_Obama_-_Arab-American,_only_6.25%25_African

7.) I Never Practiced Islam - NOT EXACTLY, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years, until your wife made you change, so you could run for office.

4-3-08 Article 'Obama was 'quite religious in islam'' http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=60559
8.) My School In Indonesia Was Christian - NOT EXACTLY, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check your own book).
February 28, 2008. Kristoff from the New York Times a year ago: Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer, reciting them with a first-rate accent. In a remark that seemed delightfully uncalculated (it'll give Alabama voters heart attacks), Mr. Obama described the call to prayer as 'one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.' This is just one example of what Pamela is talking about when she says 'Obama's narrative is being altered, enhanced and manipulated to whitewash troubling facts.'

9.) I Was Fluent In Indonesian - NOT EXACTLY, not one teacher says you could speak the language.

10.) Because I Lived In Indonesia , I Have More Foreign Experience - NOT EXACTLY, you were there from the ages of 6 to 10, and couldn't even speak the language. What did you learn, how to study the Koran and watch cartoons.

11.) I Am Stronger On Foreign Affairs - NOT EXACTLY, except for Africa (surprise) and the Middle East (bigger surprise), you have never been anywhere else on the planet and thus have NO experience with our closest allies

.
12.) I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion - NOT EXACTLY, you were quite content in high school to be Barry Obama, no mention of Kenya and no mention of struggle to identify - your classmates said you were just fine.

13.)An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office - NOT EXACTLY, Ebony has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.

14.) A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life - NOT EXACTLY, Life has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.

15.) I Won't Run On A National Ticket In '08 - NOT EXACTLY, here you are, despite saying, live on TV, that you would not have enough experience by then, and you are all about having experience first.

16.) Voting 'Present' is Common In Illinois Senate - NOT EXACTLY, they are common for YOU, but not many others have 130 NO VOTES.

17.) Oops, I Misvoted - NOT EXACTLY, only when caught by church groups and Democrats, did you beg to change your misvote.

18.) I Was A Professor Of Law - NOT EXACTLY, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.

19.) I Was A Constitutional Lawyer - NOT EXACTLY, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.

20.) Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill - NOT EXACTLY, you didn't write it, introduce it, change it, or create it.

21.) The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass - NOT EXACTLY, it took just 14 days from start to finish.

22.) I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill - NOT EXACTLY, your bill was rejected by your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation - mainly because of your Nuclear donor, Exelon, from which David Axelrod came.

23.) I Have Released My State Records - NOT EXACTLY, as of March, 2008, state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing all the special interests pork hidden within.

24.) I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess - NOT EXACTLY, you were part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens . You failed to mention anyone else but yourself, in your books.

25.) My Economics Bill Will Help America - NOT EXACTLY, your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0, and even YOU voted against your own bill.

26.) I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois - NOT EXACTLY, even your own supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part.

27.) I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year - NOT EXACTLY, they were not YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.

28.) No One on my campaign contacted Canada about NAFTA - NOT EXACTLY, the Candian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign had with them.

29.) I Am Tough On Terrorism - NOT EXACTLY, you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction off Israel .

30.) I Want All Votes To Count - NOT EXACTLY, you said let the delegates decide.

31.) I Want Americans To Decide - NOT EXACTLY, you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and only operate during small windows of time.

32.) I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate - NOT EXACTLY, you passed 26, most of which you didn't write yourself.

33.) I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics - NOT EXACTLY, you used tactics to eliminate Alice Palmer from running against you.

34.) I Don't Take PAC Money - NOT EXACTLY, you take loads of it.

35.) I don't Have Lobbysists - NOT EXACTLY, you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting.

36.) My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad - NOT EXACTLY, your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon.

37.) I Have Always Been Against Iraq - NOT EXACTLY, you weren't in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time.

38.) I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care - NOT EXACTLY, your plan leaves us all to pay for the 15,000,000 who don't have to buy it

.
39.) My uncle liberated Auschwitz concentration camp - NOT EXACTLY, your mother had no brothers and the Russan army did the liberating.

well. end of april and end of may DS and I both were sick with  upchuck/runs

turns out it was tomatoes not the flu

the first time from salsa and the second time, for me at least, from taco bell

the second time I had eaten taco supreme and withing 4 hours back up they came, and they taste the same coming back up as going down....yeah, I think taco bell is not for me anymore.  It's really bad too because I do like tacos

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/09/BAT7115G2I.DTL&type=health

You're 6:49 a.m.

You're the time of day right around sunrise, when the sky is still a pale bluish gray. The streets are empty, and the grass and leaves are a little bit sparkly with dew. You are the sound of a few chirpy birds outside the window. You are quiet, peaceful, and contemplative. If you move slowly, it's not because you're lazy ? it's because you know there's no reason to rush. You move like a relaxed cat, pausing for deep stretches that make your muscles feel alive. You are long sips of tea or coffee (out of a mug that's held with both hands) that slowly warm your insides just as the sun is brightening the sky.

16% of the people who took this quiz got the same evaluation.