Oh What Fun

     We buy almost everything with a credit card. The credit cards are paid off at the end of the cycle by automatic debit from a bank account. Don't have to order or write very many checks and we get cash back on every purchase. Every morning I check our credit card activity. That way I have all purchases fresh in my mind. Of course there have been several times I have asked Sharon if she had made a purchase in a store only to find out it was me. (Did you know you can track someone through a town just by watching the credit card use pop up on your account? I am not suggesting you do that though because the person who has the card may not appreciate thinking you are keeping that close of tabs on them, I'm just saying. And it is really not smart to call that un-named person and ask "what did you just buy?" Probably really not smart if that un-named person now has a bigger paycheck than you do. I'm just saying.)

     If you can read the number on that credit card go ahead and use it. You might be prepared for a fraud charge if you do, though, because it has been shut down and flagged for fraud. One fine morning I saw that we had signed up for a couple of Amazon Prime accounts. Well, mistakes can happen when ordering on line, so I assumed one of us had bought something on Amazon and inadvertently signed up for a Prime account twice. No problem I would go on line and fix it. Well, low and behold, we did not have a Prime Account. I called the number on the back of the card and they shut that baby down right quick. "Your card has been compromised sir, and will no longer be accepted. If you have any automatic payments on that card you will need to change them to the new card we will overnight to you." Well, I forgot our insurance was an automatic payment on that card. Farm Bureau Insurance felt they should be paid to cover damages or liability on the houses. This whole insurance business is really a for-profit scam and not altruistic at all. I can't believe they are so self centered they want to get paid and charge a late fee if the credit card they normally charge is rejected. (they have offered to refund the late fee since I gave them the followup letter from Chase informing me my card was compromised and deactivated) 

     We had our first inspection this week under the new rental house inspection program. Our house passed. I have heard that about two thirds have been failing and needing a re-inspection. I am feeling good about passing and not having to pay the $75 fee twice, but just wait, we will get caught out on something we did not expect on the next house inspected.I have been stopping at Walmart everyday looking to buy a fire extinguisher and they haven't had the right size. There has to be a fire extinguisher in every house. I know some day I am going to walk into a house and find one with the gauge not in the green or just plain missing.That would not be a problem if I could always buy one locally. I have a feeling Landlords in Oskaloosa are finding they do not have fire extinguishers when they get inspected and have been keeping the shelves at Walmart bare. Today there were 4 of the type fire extinguishers we use on the shelf at Walmart.

     I know where two of them are now. Safely in my garage so I have one if I need it. Maybe the other Landlords are hoarding them also, oh no what if we all become hoarders. That might be possible. We have another garage where we store excess appliances, cabinets, wood, flooring and about everything else.

     It is about stacked full to the place we can add no more. Fact is it is getting difficult to find anything or if you know something is in there and where it is, you can't get to it. this morning I retrieved a bathroom vent fan way out of the back by climbing over a lot of "stuff". I am going to say we are not hoarders yet because we were planning on pulling several large items out of this garage beginning today. Either that or I am in denial about the hoarder thing.

     We were supposed to close on a house we are buying from FNMA. Only the deal did not close today. The bank that foreclosed on the house and forced a sheriff's sale, foreclosed on the wrong mortgage. They foreclosed on a second mortgage instead of the first mortgage. Same bank held both mortgages. Now FNMA has to get a release from the bank that originated the loan so FNMA has title to the property. 

     FNMA had a clause in the purchase agreement that if I was not ready to close on the 12th there would be a daily penalty until I closed the deal. Funny but there is no penalty when they can not perform and moved the closing back to Feb. 2. Seems I don't have the same rights as a government organization. I never would have thought that. Aren't we all equal under the law?  

     This was going to be my last laid back week but it looks like I have 3 more. Oh well I will try to struggle through, keep a stiff upper lip, and soldier on. (that's why I was digging a vent fan out of storage today, time to get a few jobs I have had on the back burner done.) Would have liked to start on this house tomorrow because when the weather warms up and outside jobs can be done its time to paint and shingle houses. Oh, that will bring back the good times.