chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Mar 29, 2010 13:37:05 GMT -5
Very sad news today, we've been fighting to save our house for quite some time and were told today that we lost it to the bank. Lots of issues around my father passing away and both the wife and I getting laid off at the same time. We've been back to work for quite some time now but that's not going to help, the bank decided to pull the plug. So, we've got to find boxes and begin packing right away. Hopefully we can find some place close by to rent until the storm passes us by.
I want to thank all of you for welcoming me to your community. I've had such a great time meating you all and learning from you. I promise to keep my bookmarks and come back when I can. Over the next two weeks I'll still be checking in while I still have service, but after that, I don't know what's going to happen.
Anyway, hugs and kisses to you all!!!
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Mar 29, 2010 17:32:29 GMT -5
Aw, Robin, hate to hear that. Hang in there,will be thinking of you.
snuffy
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Post by rockrookie on Mar 29, 2010 19:21:43 GMT -5
that's too bad ,Robin . i hope things get better real soon. you'll be welcomed back . when you get settled again . take care !! we will keep you in our prayers . --paul
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Mar 29, 2010 21:19:42 GMT -5
Hopefully it won't be too long. We're looking for the silver lining. We've wanted out of here for a long time, the neighborhood sucks, it's so friggin hoity toity and the neighbors are all a bunch of buttheads but two of them. We're in a development of only 42 houses and 28 of the families are in Nascar in one form or another, but all have very elevated senses of self-worth. We were fine before all the layoffs hit, but now, well, sad way to lose the house but we'll have a new beginning somewhere else. It will be close by for the girl's sake, to keep them in the same schools, but we'll rent until we get back on our feet.
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damammy
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2009
Posts: 697
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Post by damammy on Mar 30, 2010 19:56:26 GMT -5
Robin, I really hate to hear this, but who knows maybe God has something better in mind for you. Best Wishes Donna
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Mar 30, 2010 20:47:01 GMT -5
Thanks Donna. Yesterday I expected my wife to come home and blow my brains out. But instead, she said she was relieved. I just had to look at her and ask, "who are you and what have you done with my wife?". Well, being the more steady one, she explained it to me in simple terms that I could understand.
We've been suffering for about a year and a half. My father passed away, three months later she gets laid off, three months later I get laid off. About 8 months ago we started getting back on our feet but at about 30% less income over what we had before. I got laid off after 24 years with the same company and all they gave was 3 weeks severance. So, needless to say, we've been in this big house on the lake, 3600 sq ft, 1/2 acre with a boat dock, but living right at the edge of our means.
Now today, she showed me why she was relieved. We just looked at a three story three bedroom house, two car garage, about 6 houses from the water on the lake. It is 1 year old and never been lived in. It is renting for $1100/month. Now compare that to what we're in, 4 bedrooms, about 25 houses off the water but with a boat dock way down there, and my mortgage was $2800/month.
Continuing to show me her logic, she then did the math for me. Uh, Robin, that's like $1700/month LESS. That may not mean you're building equity in YOUR house, but it's putting cash back in your pocket. Doh.
This is why I love the woman. Salt of the earth, southern Indiana farmer's daughter, should have asked her about this 6 months ago and she probably would have said short sell the house and lets get out of here.
Now, I thought I'd better go tell my neighbors across the street and next door to us since we're now the deadbeat neighbors, and guess what? The guy across the street is working with Wells Fargo to try and reduce his mortgage payments, and the couple next door have given up on theirs and are moving about three blocks from the house I'm looking at. One adage here is oh so true, "Misery loves company"....
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Mar 30, 2010 21:54:30 GMT -5
I know where you're coming from & it sounds like the beginning of a better way for you guys. It can be a big burden wondering whether or not you will be able to make your next mortgage payment. Renting puts the burden & responsibility on the landlord & lightens your load. I wish you the best! Be sure to check in & let us know how you are doing! Donnie
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bobh
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 55
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Post by bobh on Mar 30, 2010 22:33:23 GMT -5
Sounds like you are thinking straight and will come out of this just fine and much wiser. The bank can't take away what really matters to you. All the best, Bob
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Post by drocknut on Mar 30, 2010 23:13:03 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about your situation, keep you chin up. I'll miss you for sure.
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revco
starting to spend too much on rocks
Another Victim Of The Rockcycle
Member since February 2010
Posts: 162
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Post by revco on Mar 30, 2010 23:50:04 GMT -5
Chomenut - I feel you. Two years ago, I transferred to a new town for a company, after five years of service. Less than four months after they moved me, I was unceremoniously let go. It was scary because I had few local contacts, moving again wasn't exactly a desirable option and I moved to the 9th most difficult town to find work in within the US. I was fortunate that God quickly restored me to my trade in another company, but I too took a hit. Fortunately, I'm just renting...but it's basically forced me to moving this spring/summer.
Being financially laden is a stressful place to be...and I am confident you two will find liberation in your situation! It never seems like it at the time, but the most difficult of times is where we grow the most!
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Mar 31, 2010 16:23:10 GMT -5
Robin, My feelings go out to you and the wife. I do believe, if we trust in God things will work out for the best. When one door is closed, God will open another door. I wish you the very best. Let us know how things go. God bless.
BLESSED
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leadhand
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 262
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Post by leadhand on Mar 31, 2010 17:27:32 GMT -5
May God continue to have his hand on you as you make the move. He has blessed you with a wise wife.
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Post by Toad on Mar 31, 2010 17:49:15 GMT -5
So sorry. But things will be looking up. I just recently lost my job after over 5 years. It sucks, but some other opportunity will come along - just like it has for your housing situation. Bets of luck, and we'll look forward to having you back on here regular.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Mar 31, 2010 21:32:39 GMT -5
My big hit really was when I was laid off after 24 years in the same industry doing about the same job. I've only had two jobs from 3 employers since I was 18. US Air Force, Ericsson and Parsons. Ericsson recruited me from the USAF after meeting some of their field guys in Saudi Arabia, so after 5 years I left the job I loved in the USAF, and found way more freedom working for a Swedish firm. Well, over the years it became Americanized, and while I love my country, big businesses here suck swamp water. I was loyal to them but that didn't matter, after 17 years they sold me to Parsons. Now I negotiated with Parsons on money and seniority and got to retain my hire date as 1985 even though I joined them in 2001, but they really wanted me. Then, what 7 years later, they lay me off with no notice and only three weeks severance.
I've NEVER been unemployed. I've NEVER looked for a job. I've NEVER had to update my resume. I ran my own business at 14 in Dallas, sold it off at 18 to go into the USAF, and have never looked back sense.
I can tell you, at 47 (I'm 48 now), being laid off and having to find a job with that kind of history is one of the scariest scenarios I could think of. I actually thought I'd sit at home and drink myself into a stupor, but I only drink like two glasses of wine or two beers and call it quits. Just don't have the hankering for alcohol any more.
The day they laid me off, Friday, March 28 (yes, just at a year ago), they called me at 10 am, my boss read a prepared letter that took two minutes, HR asked me to send them my computer and other company property, and I was done in less than 5 minutes. They announced that I was no longer with the company to all of my customer's at 3pm, and I got like a half dozen WTF emails and just told them, sorry, they no longer needed me.
The punch to the gut had not yet sunk in. It's 3pm. I've got 2 hours left of my employment with the company I went to for the rest of my career. I'd not left Ericsson, they left me, now Parsons was doing away with me for good. The emotions hadn't hit yet. At 4pm, I had two calls from customer's I'd worked with for over 10 years each. They both said they were going to lay low Parsons for being idiots. I figured that was just big talk and said my thank yous and goodbyes.
Waited for the wife to come home to tell her about it. She was stoic and didn't have much to say. I figured she was just thinking what a big loser she'd married. So I sat around all weekend, in my garage "lounge" smoking cigarettes, watching stupid movies and drinking Dr. Pepper. On Monday, I still got up at 6am, but then wondered why and went back to bed. At just after 9 am, my phone started ringing. It was friends I'd had in the industry for years, had seen at all the major events, Supercomm, WiFi Max, World Comm, all the big events around the country. By 3 pm I had three job offers. I was literally floored. I didn't know what to say or do. I called my wife and she said, "so, what'd you expect? You started in the Cellular Industry before it was an industry, everyone knows you, you think finding a job would be hard?". Just amazes me, she knew all along I'd land on my feet.
So, I eventually took 6 weeks off just to say I'd collected unemployment, something I'd never ever done. One of my best friends offered me a job right away as a consultant to Ericsson. He said that one of the guys that had called the day I got laid off was pissed at Parsons and wanted me on his team. So my new job was to manage Parsons for Ericsson. Now tell me, isn't life an interesting circle?
I'm working for Ericsson as a consultant, managing their vendor Parsons, who just laid me off. I've never had my rear end kissed as much in my life, and the Sr. Vp at Parsons, who had been a long time friend of mine, calls me all the time, just checking to see if I"m okay (oh, yes, and to kiss my butt!).
So thinking that G-d plays a part in all of this, and my wife, who might as well be the right arm of the Lord, stays positive and keeps saying this will be a relief, I can't but be hopeful and optimistic. I actually smiled today when one of my neighbors said she wanted to plan a party in our house the last week we are in it, and that we should just leave all the trash there. Well, I can't do that, the new owners are part of my problem so why leave them a mess, but at the same time I'm not leaving one stinking thing in the house for them!!!
I hope they have lots of light bulbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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Post by mc2 on Mar 31, 2010 22:55:22 GMT -5
Wow. God bless and good luck for ya'll. Pretty neat how things work out, isn't it? Kinda like there is some kind of Higher Power working on things, eh?
Mike
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Post by catmandewe on Mar 31, 2010 23:14:56 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.
Hope to see you back here soon. Tony
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Post by frane on Apr 1, 2010 15:14:14 GMT -5
It looks like there is a plan for you and what is really important, you will take with you. Your house is just that. A house. Your home is with your family and the love you share. I think you are on a road to recovery and great things in your future. This is just a way to get there. Fran
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Apr 2, 2010 22:00:10 GMT -5
Okay, more good news. God works in mysterious ways is an understatement. We were informed on Monday that we lost our house, today we had an offer accepted on the house I've wanted for years. Right on the water, huge deck out back, private dock! Half what I was paying for my mortgage here, smaller in size (what my wife's been asking for for the last two years), in a great neighborhood, neighbor's daughter same age as my older daughter, and has jet skis...lol. I have a private office and workspace downstairs off the walk-out finished basement with my own bathroom and refrigerator. Only problem will be getting any work done on a day like today when the sun's shining and I'm staring at the water...
Add to it, my wife asked me to check, one more time, with my ex-employer on my stock purchase plan so I did. They didn't even know who was managing it and kept sending me to the person that manages the retiree's funds. Well, they found it with the employee plan because of the way I negotiated my hiring, and it has to stay there until I retire. However, there was a bucket of money there that I was supposed to take, after tax money so zero tax implications, and I end up with just above $15k in my pocket!!!!
Like my wife said on Monday, "this is happening for a reason, and I am relieved to get out of this house".
Now my only stress is getting packed to move six miles away, and then getting my boat to that dock. It's on a tiny cove and my boat is bigger than anything around there, it's the same length, or maybe longer, than the dock...hahahaha...okay, so I'm smiling so much now my face hurts. The bank okay'd us taking our time to move out, we close on the new house on Wednesday assuming the bank allows my check to clear immediately, and start moving in a week from today. Wow. I'm sort of dazed still. I went from hating life to being very happy so fast my head is still spinning. I am truly blessed, and thanks to all of you for offering me your prayers and well-wishes!!!!!!
So, I might be gone for a week while we get the new service hooked up, so you won't miss my chattiness too much....lol....
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Post by drocknut on Apr 2, 2010 22:11:49 GMT -5
Wow Robin, that is definitely great news. So happy for you and your family.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Apr 2, 2010 22:17:32 GMT -5
Oh wait, forgot to mention this... I was sitting on the dock today, enjoying the sun on my head, just kind of wondering why I went from the crapper to the crown so fast. Not like me to question the Lord's judgment or or the tests he puts us through, but I had to wonder why this all happened. I feel like we were tested, and made the right choices and passed that test. Our reward is going to be the house I've wanted for years, much reduced expenses, some cash in my pocket, and both daughter's love the place. So I'm sitting there, stretched out, and noticed something sitting on the shore just under the lip of the dock. I stared at it and wondered what on earth that silly looking thing was, so got up and reached under and... Well, the picture shows it, I found a 1989 Silver (*** yes, not clad! ***) quarter laying there, head's up. Hmmm... I guess I should go buy a lottery ticket this weekend.... Here's some pics, pardon the chewed off thumbnail and the green water in the background....
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