Life Updates of a Larger Magnitude

Christmas rocks. I spent last week in PA with Brynna bear (and eventually Matt, who took the train down Christmas Eve) and the fam. After a day or 2 of adjusting to each other (lots of independent women, you KNOW there were a few *ahem* kinks.) we had a blast. First we went to my Aunt Barb's 70th in MD, which was a fantastic reunion of all the Fowlers. Her kids (my cousins) put together a book reminiscing about childhood stories. It was great, except that it made me cry within the first 2 pages. I wish Uncle Rich could have been there... I guess everyone wished that... but I like to think that he and Grandmom were there in spirit. I then spent the next few days at home chilling with the parents, their seminarians (they adopt 2 for Christmas every year while the Seminary closes for the holiday), and visiting Amy and Lisa and Julie. I also made lots of tasty rumballs to give away as gifts, but (silly me) didn't put them away soon enough and they all got eaten. Note about ...

I can not begin to tell you how vehemently opposed to this automaker bailout. So much so that I wrote my congressman and both Senators, although I doubt it matters. (But you can too! Contact Senate and House ) I don't have time to do a full-on tangent, but I basically think their business model sucks, the unions have too much ridiculous power, and their products are pretty crappy. They need to go bankrupt and restructure, and possibly even go away forever. New car makers will come in their place with more efficient structures. Potentially inferior products at first, but eventually they can and will be replaced.

This is why homeowning is not the American Dream. Unless the American Dream includes bankruptcy maybe... (And note, this story is due to some stupid/not-really-stupid life choices made by Matt and I. Mainly, moving from Va to Boston.) Bought house in VA in Sept 2005 for $200,000. Moved to Boston in Nov 2006 but rented house for 1 year, covered the mortgage costs. Tenants moved out in Nov 2007. House was empty for about 1 year. Multiply that by $1500 in mortgage payments every month = $18,000. Plus utilities during this time frame = ~$300. Plus stupid A/C:Heat unit breaks about 3 times = ~$700. New tenants move in, cover about half cost of mortgage payment. Maybe 5/6ths. A/C unit starts smoking again yesterday, fire company called, heat now disabled in house. Tenants move to hotel. Assume they'll be there for a week until we can get unit replaced ~$700. Install new A/C:Heat unit = $4600. So this year, owning a house will cost us (tallying/tallying/tallying) about $20,0...