The closing date on the new house is April 21, and that gives us only 4 weekends to move everything and get our two mom's settled in before our camping trip at the end of May. So, we're going to be scrambling like crazy to get it all done, so that our current landlord can get in to this house we're currently living in, to paint and clean and get it ready to sell. So, it's going to be a lot of craziness, and chaos, but in the end, I'm sure it will all be worth the effort.
The home inspection went very well. There are only a few minor things, (Radon is at 3% but the basement has been closed up for nearly 2 years, so that rate should lower as it is being opened and used on a regular basis...a rating of 4% is bad, so we're keeping a close eye on this). The fireplace needs some work, it hasn't been cleaned in quite some time, and needs some masonry work; other than that, they found some mold in the crawl space attic area that needs removal. Two hollow-core doors have to be replaced with solid doors, and some electric outlets need better grounding, but other than that, the place is great. No evidence of termites, bugs, or pests, the roof is fine, (a few shingles need securing), and the foundation is solid. The well water is also very good, so we can drink it without worrying about anything scary.
The home assessment is in progress also, so hopefully they will say it's a lower value than what the current home owners are selling it for, meaning they would have to (by law) lower the sale price to match the assessment price. We plan on asking them to fix the fireplace, and cut us some money off the sale price so that we can take care of the rest. We'll see if they go for that. We know they are desperate to sell the place, so odds are they will agree to it. Keep your fingers crossed, you never know what will happen at this stage.
In other news, my mom and I drove to Michigan last Monday to spend the week visiting my sister and the nephews, since they were off for spring break. However, my mom was very disappointed all week long in the visit. My sister has no clue just how upsetting it was for her to take a look down in their basement---since she left, they have insulated everything, added drywall, and made a huge separate bedroom for Joshua, added a pool table, and cedar paneling along one wall, with a bar in the works. This made my mom feel awful, because they didn't bother doing ANYTHING to make the basement better for HER while she was living there 8 years. The minute she's gone, they go to town to make it better for themselves. Nice, huh?
My sister and her whole family are the most self-absorbed, selfish people I have ever known.
I got to the hotel Monday evening, after a long ride, and told the clerk at the front desk that I was paying for HALF the week's amount, and my mom would pay the other half. But, apparently that clerk didn't understand English. I didn't know what the problem was when I went to the grocery store to buy some items and they said "my checking limit had been reached at this store," which confused the hell out of me. I told them I wasn't from Michigan, I didn't shop there, and I had plenty of money in the bank. They made me leave all my stuff there, and go across the street to the nearest ATM. The ATM also told me I had no money in my account! It seems that the stupid hotel clerk had put a HOLD on the entire amount, rather than HALF like I asked her to, and that left me with NO MONEY AVAILABLE. So I had to go BACK to the stupid hotel, get cash from my mom, then drive back to the grocery store to get the items.
I wish Michigan would join the 21st century. I really do. What a bunch of inbred rednecks. So what was I going to do without any money to spend the whole week I was there? (The clerk said it takes 10 days to return the money to my account). I gave her my mom's cash for half the amount, and she filed for a reimbursement to my account, but as of today, it hasn't happened yet. SIGH. So I had to use our joint checking account the whole time I was there. What a pain.
Tammy only took Tuesday off...one day out of the whole week, even after knowing for months that we would be there all week long....we went to lunch at Golden Corral, and as my mom made her way to the salad bar, these 4 bratty male teenagers were sitting nearby at a table--they had no food in front of them, no drinks, nothing, they were just loitering---and they were making nasty remarks about people as they passed by. This included my mom. They called her a "fat bitch" and a "hag." My mom sneered at them once, then commented, "Well being a hag is better than being a little PRICK." Then she walked over to their table, as they snickered, and said, "Have you ever been thrown out of a restaurant? Keep it up and I'll make sure you will." The only thing that made her feel better was when Josh asked her if she wanted him to go beat them up.
We did manage to go to many thrift stores while we were there, and we also visited my grandma's grave for awhile. But we didn't get to the lake this time around, (it rained the entire week except for Tuesday when it was sunny and warm). We didn't even go to Meijers this time! (Those two things are usually on the agenda every time I go home). We just ran out of time.
Then, the next day, Mason stayed overnight at our hotel with us to swim in the pool and spend time with my mom. However, he was being a total brat to the point where I told him I was taking his bratty ass back home. Tam and Steve stopped by to bring him some clothes, and told him to behave, or they would take him home. He behaved the rest of the night, but was angry that mom wouldn't allow him to have anymore sugar or caffeine. That kid is super-sensitive to caffeine and sugar---Tammy knows this, but loads him up on Coke whenever he eats, and gives him candy and other sugary snacks all day. Poor kid's gonna end up with Diabetes soon. She even had gestational diabetes while she was pregnant, so it should come as no surprise that he's predisposed to it. But whenever I mention it, she ignores me.
Mom and I had dinner at the hotel that night, because nobody (MY SISTER, that is), invited us over for dinner. In fact, she had decided to go to a party at one of her friend's house that night, so we just sat around bored. She gave me money to get us some dinner, and wanted a chef salad. It was nearly 9 p.m., so I had no idea where to get a chef salad at that point. Instead, I drove to the grocery store and bought a bag of salad, some chicken strips, bacon bits, cherry tomatoes, salad dressing, and some ramen noodle soup in a cup. Then I "cooked" her dinner!
The next day, we invited the two boys to spend the day with us, but they didn't want to because their cousin was visiting and stayed overnight, (someone they spend time with regularly). So we just took off without them, and 10 minutes later, they called to say "yes" they wanted to go with us. Too late!! We said, "Sorry fellas, you had your chance." But that was disappointing to mom too. She said, "We can go back to Pittsburgh early as far as I'm concerned." But, on Thursday my friend Annette was coming to visit me, and go out with Laurie and I somewhere.
Laurie and I had eaten lunch at G&L hotdogs (the BEST hot dogs in Michigan), but alas, Laurie has major stomach issues and it apparently did not sit well with her, so she pooped out of going anywhere with Annette and I. The real reason: she didn't have any extra money to go out with us, AND she had already promised to go bowling with her sister and all the kids that evening. So, Annette and I had some Arby's for dinner, then hung out with my mom at the hotel for awhile. Annette gave me my only birthday gift from anyone other than Pete...a nice white photo album with silver H on it, that had photos from the wedding that she and her family had taken. I thought that was very nice!! Pete loves it too!!
After Annette left, I went to the bowling alley to spend the evening with Laurie and Bonnie and their sister Sarah, and all 4 of Bonnie's girls, and all 3 of Laurie's kids. I helped pitch in and buy some food and soda, but just watched as the kids played the games. They had a blast, and everybody laughed and enjoyed themselves. I took lots of pictures too. Then, the next morning, mom and I packed up the minivan and took off for Pittsburgh.
Tammy had said the night before that she would stick around until about 11 a.m. to say goodbye to us before we left, but at 10 a.m. she called my mom to say she really had to go. Another disappointment. We drove over to say goodbye to the nephews, and then took off. To cheer her up, I drove to Grand Rapids to another thrift store, before we left Michigan. We had a nice lunch, took our time, and got home late in the evening.
I doubt we'll be going back anytime soon. My nephew Josh is supposed to graduate in June, BUT his grades aren't so good, so he may NOT get to graduate. Even if he does, we may just send my mom to his graduation party on a plane. I have no interest in going. I'll send a card with some money in it. That's all he cares about anyway. We busted our BUTTS to come up there, to spend the whole week with them, and they pretty much just snubbed us the whole time, so I really have no interest in repeating that scenario.
I said to my mom, "NOW do you understand WHY I only stay a few days once a year when I visit? That's all I can deal with. The dreariness and depression is just too much for me." She agreed and said she did finally understand.
Laurie gave me my Xmas gifts, though, first thing when I arrived. Why she can't mail them to me in December, I'll never know. She didn't, however, seem to remember my birthday at all. SIGH. But, she's having a lot of problems...again...it seems every time I turn around, she's got some other crisis going on. She's been off work for quite some time, on disability, for a back injury that happened while she was at work. But, that disability benefit has come to an end, and now they say she CAN go back to work, just at a lower level of activity. The hospital, however, doesn't have any lower level activity jobs to give her. So she no longer has that extra money coming in, they are living on Jeff's disability every month, and the 3 kids are drawing on his Social Security, and they get food stamps. That's it. Not only that, but her minivan died, the transmission is blown and they don't have the money to fix it.
Needless to say, I didn't bring up the $500 she owes us, from borrowing last year to come to my wedding. She brought it up though, and said she still planned to pay it back, but it would have to be somewhat delayed. I don't expect to see it ever get paid back, but she swears she will. So, we'll see. All in all, the whole week was depressing and disappointing for Mom and I. We were glad to get back to Pittsburgh.
Well, that's the news for now. The happy part is, we're going to have a nice big house soon, and we can spread out, get rid of the clutter, and feel less stressed out all the time. However, even THAT threw a big unexpected mess our way last week---Pete told Florence's financial power of attorney (his brother-in-law) that we have to borrow some of her money to buy the house, and he went ballistic, telling us NO, which led Pete to get angry and start an argument about it.
So lawyers were called, angry emails, and phone calls back and forth all week---made me a nervous wreck the whole time I was in Michigan ON TOP OF all the other crap going on---and finally, as we were leaving on Friday, the two men came to an agreement to have Pete sign a legally binding agreement to pay back the money we are borrowing. That's what he wanted, and that's what we're going to do. That's really the only thing the financial power of attorney can do, when fighting a medical power of attorney (Pete) who is trying to provide a better quality of life for an 89 year old woman with bipolar and Alzheimers. Legally, from what Pete knows about it, the medical power of attorney trumps the financial.
Anyway, I'm ready for a vacation...but the next couple of months will be anything BUT a relaxing stress-free time. Now it's time to pack pack pack, and get things organized. I have to do some research online for movers and get estimates. It's going to be a busy time. But we'll have a house warming party as soon as we can. Florence will be turning 90 in September, so we're planning a party for her too.
So that's the scoop. Have a great Easter, everyone, and once we're settled, come visit!!
Love, Rebecca
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