BOOK RUN TO SCAPPOOSE

Scappoose, OR from Heron Pointe, WA - via US-30 E; 44 mins.

I woke up in a despairing mood this morning … so, I decided I’d go for a drive and shake the mood. It is hard for me to think I may never get to live in the country as I had hoped.

I am willing; Real Estate is not.

Once I made up my mind to go for a drive – I knew exactly where I would head the car 😉

Returning a book to the Scappoose Library today.

A few weeks ago, when I was getting my house ready to show for sale; I found a book I had brought home from the Scappoose Library in Oregon – I still have the Library Card from there: we were Home Educating Alyna at the time, and spending a great deal of time running her back and forth between the two States, so I got a library card when we stopped there on afternoon. I never got rid of the card.

Today I returned the book I picked up there, last Summer.

Along the drive, I did some thinking.

While it is true that I’ve given myself a full year’s time to secure a new home, I a new locale … I know myself: if the wait drags on for a full year, I’ll be chomping at the bit.

And while I’m tonging the bit, I’ll be getting cold feet. Waiting makes me second guess things; that’s why I like to move quick on major decisions.

I can work things around to fit a quick decision.

Second guessing throws a monkey wrench in the works, and stops me cold.

Second guesses were crowding me this morning.

House hunting, so far, is not going so well ...

Not only can I not find a suitable house, but if and when I do … I’ll lose all my Senior Discount Perks. I’ll need a small loan (which will double by the time everyone’s hands touch it and leave their fingerprints all over it); and the loan company will bundle the property taxes, home ownership insurance + whatever else they throw in there to hedge the loan company’s interests (they are basically at this point acting like loan sharks): I will have no say whatsoever in how the loan goes down. The Bank that finances the loan will make those decisions for their good, not necessarily mine; regardless of what they say, or how they spin it to make it appealing.

And that is why every house Bob and I ever bought, we paid cash for: no loans. And we were able to do that because Bob’s Dad deeded the house in Cathlamet to Bob as his inheritance when Bob’s parents moved to California decades ago. Years later, we sold the house – and the $$$$ gained from that house sale netted us four more homes, from 1996 to present.

I want to be wise in buying a new home.

If and when I purchase a new home, I'll lose perks I enjoy now.

I have never played fast and loose with Bob’s money. Even though Bob’s money now belongs to me to use as I wish; I balk at throwing it away carelessly – that just isn’t who I am. I’m not tight-fisted with money, but I am very frugal.

Getting a loan now, almost seems to me … to be a sacrilegious thing.

With a loan, I won’t in reality, own my new home outright: the Bank will own it – while making a tidy profit on that ownership by double billing me for the privilage of the loan.

I'll be paying on a new house until I'm 95 yo - and the Bank will own it all that time.

It’s undeniable/unapologetic loan sharking.

So, I woke up with second guessing on my mind, this morning.

It’s not so much that I’m pretty much spending the kid’s inheritance (even though they don’t want it, anyway; they’ve been clear on that) – it’s the thought of the double billing, as well as the Bank dictating my life in telling me what Home Insurance to use, and refusing to give me Senior Discount privileges on the property taxes.

That irks me: it’s my right, and it pisses me off it is denied me.

With a Mortgage Loan, I’ll have a locked in mortgage rate that won’t increase – only because it has already been increased: if I get a $50,000 loan – the Bank will increase that loan to $100,000+.

So, By the time my last mortgage payment is made at 95 yo (if I live that long), the Bank will have already bought my house for the exact price I paid for it … and will go on to sell it, since the kid’s don’t want it, for twice what I paid for it! So, if I buy a $250,000 home, and replace the roofing, the flooring, do a little personal preference remodeling, ect.; the Bank will be able to sell it for roughly $400-500,000, when my body dies.

On the other hand … Heron Pointe increases the Lot Rent (aka; fee for the privilage of living in their ‘community’) by $300/yr., with no end in sight – and that can be increased at any given time, on a whim.

It makes more sense to buy that to rent.

And the risks are about the same IMHO.

Houses are money pits any way you deal with them.

The longer this drags on, the louder the second guesses will get.

If wishes were riches ...

I have no use for land ... and the houses are worthless.

Hiring handymen is wildly expensive - I don’t have free help anymore.

My friends are praying, too 😊

But our prayer goals are very different.

My friends mean well ...

And, on days like today, I wonder which ones will win Elohim’s ear 😉

During the drive to Scappoose, a Bald headed Eagle flew over the Highlander's hood – so low, I could see the eyes, and feather vanes ... but not low enough to be in danger of being smacked with the windshield; thank God. And, I passed several Lemmon’s Trucking trucks; every time I see one, I look for Bob’s Truck number: so, far I have not seen it.

That may be a blessing; I honestly do not know how I would feel, or what I would do, if I ever did see it.

Lemmon's truck 48; Bob drove truck 51.

Book returned; I turned the car for St. Helens. It was past noon, and I was getting hungry.

St. Helens, Or from Scappoose, Or - 9 mins.

I stopped at Noi’s Thai Kitchen Restaurant. It is different that the Thai food we have locally, and that’s okay – I like switching restaurants once I a while 😉

I ate a few appetizers while waiting for my main meal … and took a picture to show to my friends of why I will not even consider dating: not even a ‘friends only’ date – what’s out there, does not appeal to me at all.

Mature men are hard to come by, for one thing.

I outgrew males with long hair (unruly or otherwise), a loooong time ago. And MPO is that {man buns} look stupid: on any male. Seeing a sloppy looking male, with his pants hanging off his ass turns me totally off … seeing that immature ridiculousness on a 60+ male just makes me roll my eyes. And what’s with the scraggly, unkept, hillbilly beards popping up everywhere? That just looks disgusting. A 70-year old male with a motorcycle as his only means of transportation does not thrill me; at 70, a male needing to prove he’s still ‘got it’ just isn’t strong enough to keep himself safe on a hog … much less, entice me to hop on one and speed off in a heated rush of late-life-adolescence.

These males (can’t call them men; they haven’t grown up yet) are still attached to their mother’s teats and apron strings.

I.a.m.n.o.t.i.n.t.e.r.e.s.t.e.d.

My friends can stop praying for a man for me – the man I would be interested in, simply does not exist in today’s America. I’m going to show them this picture, point to it – and say, “Please, don’t pray for a man. I don’t want this.”

Crab filled wontons at Noi's Thai Kitchen in St. Helens.

Total turn off; aging hipsters are not in any way appealing to me. Graying 'man buns' and asses hanging, out are not cool.

Thai BBQ Chicken; half a chicken (!) cooked in curry & coconut milk; mixed veggies & rice. There was enough for 4 meals.

My next stop was McCormick Park: to enjoy a shaded walk, and to walk off some of the calories I had just packed on 😉

It smelled like Fall this morning at home - it looked like Fall in McCormick Park with yellow falling leaves & blue dragonflies.

While I walked the trail, I started thinking of another option for house searches that I have been avoiding because being surrounded by water makes me nervous. But, maybe it’s time to consider it.

Trying another option.

Since the country home dream is beginning to fade, maybe I should take a cue from my beatnik mother, and go bohemian – I was raised bohemian, so falling back into that rhythm should be fairly easy.

David had mentioned it last time we had breakfast together; and his son Tavis seconded the thought: so, I gave Shay a jingle, and asked her to look into the thought.

Maybe it’s time to slay all the dragons in my life, now that my personal knight in shining armor rides his white charger beyond the blue 😉

That I even am considering this option is shocking to me; but I want out of Longview.

‘Away Beyond the Blue’ – Emmylou Harris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKY99siT8Qc

After Supper, I was settling in Bob’s recliner to watch some old black-n-white Monty Woolley (his movies are hilarious) movies on Youtube, when I glanced out the windows and saw this pretty pink and yellow sunset.

One thing I will miss for sure when I leave this house, is all the windows.

Tonight's sunset; pink and yellow flames.

Tonight's sunset surrounds the house.

I will miss all these surround-house-windows ...

HOUSE THAT SCREAMED DANGER

I was up early this morning, so I decided to have breakfast at Peper’s 49r Restaurant on my way through Castle Rock; I like their homemade Hash 😊

Another house hunting venture.

Peper's 49r Restaurant in Castle Rock, from Heron Pointe; via Delameter Road - 26 mins.

I ran into Carl and the boys (young men now, actually) at Peper’s; Matthews baby girl is due August 26^th – Grandpa Carl is hoping for the 15^th 😉

After leaving Peper’s, GPS wanted to direct me to Toutle to reach the house I was to meet Shay at … I decided on the Jackson Highway route. I wanted to make my appointment on time; and I can’t afford to be wasting gas right now – it’s escalating in price, and I’ll be doing a lot of running around to check houses out: I have to be very frugal now.

I arrived in Toledo earlier than anticipated, so I waited time out in a graveled roadside pullover; finishing a thick novel I had started a few days ago … and watching traffic pass by.

While I waited and watched passing traffic, I happened to notice a big house on a distant hill: and the hilltop being leveled to make room for more houses to be perched up there.

Waiting for Shay, just outside of Toledo ... I saw a house on a distant hill; and land being cleared for more.

Clearing in the clouds that reminded me of Bob's beautiful asian eyes - I had specifically asked him & Yeshua to help me in my new home search: today there was an 'eye in the sky' ;-)

I have specifically asked Bob & Yeshua to help me find a new home; to help me find the roads, and secure a new home that won’t cripple me financially: any house I find and agree to terms with, will need fixing – I am hoping the one I agree to will not end up costing me a fortune to bring up to date.

I did try to find something ‘workable’ in that house, but it truly was a disaster waiting to happen!

Every sloppy attempt at self-carpentry room in that house was a safety disaster, and a remodeling nightmare! I honestly do not know what the owners were thinking when they picked up a hammer and a bag of nails …

Plus, Shay could reach the ceiling with her fingertips and outstretched arm: not a big deal for me … I’m short … but she did have a point when she said, “Val a 6-foot man could not stand straight in this house.” I looked at her, like, ‘do you know something I don’t know? Currently there are no men in my life; and I have no plans to include one.’ Then she said, ‘If you decided at some point to sell any house you have – you have to figure in for tall men at some point.’ Point understood 😊

Safely exiting that house of dilapidated horrors, I laughed most of the way home thinking of that house that screamed {DANGER!} from the moment the front door was opened, and Shay was catapulted halfway into the livingroom/dining room when she tripped over the excessively high threshold made of at least 3”-thick wooden planks cut in a crescent at the door … so the door could easily swing open – but that 3” height was a real, and present, danger. And that sorry attempt at {remodeling} was not the only clear and present danger; the entire scabbed together house needs to be restructured from the porch boards to the house ceiling. Like I said … I don’t know what the heck the owners were thinking when they took hammer and nails in hand.

I sincerely hope Shay did not seriously tweak her back during that forward momentum entrance. I wanted to grab her, but I was worried my attempt to help steady her would only throw her further off balance and cause her to fall.

The self-appointed {carpenter} created a trip-hazard-boobytrap.

I was not laughing because that house almost killed Shay – I am laughing because you have to laugh at life’s unexpected/unguarded moments. If you don’t, you get sucked into the insanity of the moment.

Life is a trip (pardon the pun).

I was on roads I'd never been on before - so even though the house was a bust, it was still a 'gain' day.

Country backroad attraction; I love seeing people honoring and respecting Old Glory.

The demonrat covid mandates that led to job losses ongoing, have made building materials scarce & expensive.

Interest rates are really low ... but everything else connected to housing is really very, very high.

Houses, to me, are like men: they are a dime a dozen … but there’s that one special one that will steal your heart and make you go all in.

I had that special man, for 44 years.

I’m still waiting for that special house: I’ll know it when I see it, and there will be no doubt it will be worth the time and effort to merge my life with it.

For the remainder of the day, I’m going to kick my shoes off – throw my bra across the room – relax in Bob’s recliner with a beer to celebrate Shay narrowly escaping a serious fallout with that dangerous house … and start a new read.

New Read.

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.

‘It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere’ song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfqtO88ZlBQ

TERRY-TAYLOR-NORTHLAKE ~ 2021

I almost didn’t go to the Terry-Taylor-Northlake Garage Sale this year.

The last 3 years, it hasn’t been worth the effort or gas to get there; and this year was just as dismal.

This sale used to be the highlight of Longview Summers: it used to offer very good second-hand goods at reasonable prices – baby clothes, household items, books, furniture, and vehicles/boats.

The atmosphere was like a lively County Fair 😉

But, over the years, the Sale has lost its luster and appeal: sellers have a tired expression, are querulous (the men would rather be golfing or boating, rather than helping ‘the wife’), and the goods offered have been very shabby, ratty, and not at all worth any price tagged to them.

It’s kinda sad to see a good thing go bad.

I went in 2019 because I needed to go … to stave off the spate of missingness my solo lobo widowed life needed for healing purposes. I think I bought a couple novels to read.

There was no sale, of course, in 2020 – because the demonrats across America closed everything down under threat of arrest for those who dared to go out in public: I was game to try the overreaching tyrants … the resident on Terry-Taylor-Northlake, were not; they hid in their houses.

I bucked the political-minded midgets, and drove everywhere, anyway: I really didn’t miss the sales.

Today, the 2021 Sale didn’t sing a Siren’s Song to me, either – I laid in bed for a good hour, debating whether to go, or stay home.

Eventually, ‘knowing’ that Elephant Ears would be sold there, lured me up and out the door 😉

Once there, I could see immediately that nothing of value would be offered at any house along the circular route back to the Highlander; lawns, garages, and parking spaces were filled with junk. Literal junk. I ignored all of it, and hightailed myself to where I knew the Elephant Ear Wagon would be parked.

The streets and sidewalks were filled with milling about crowds, but they were small, sparse, crowds. And the line at the Elephant Ears Wagon was the shortest and quickest I’ve ever witnessed – or been part of; normally, the line stretches for about a mile … and the wait could take as long as an hour to finally snag your tasty treat.

The real reason I went ... & the busiest place in the whole Terry-Taylor shabang.

While standing in line, a woman walked past me to take her place in line … and I burst out laughing when I saw she had a tiny crown placed atop her head.

It just tickled my funny bone 😊

The crown caught my eye; and made me laugh out loud.

Then shortly, it was my turn to get my tasty treat … which I ate in the car, because it was starting to drizzle.

My tasty fried bread actually resembled an elephant ear!

I spied some terra cotta pots: so, I bought them – two sets, for $8.

They will fit my new home just fine 😊

I can't resist terra cotta pots; the smaller ones came with pretty, little, dainty crocheted jackets.

I spent a total of $12 the entire time I was at the Sale; Bob, if he was watching, probably fell off his cloud in shock 😉

But, besides the tasty treat and pot, nothing else really grabbed my attention.

On the way home, I topped the tank off because I am going house hunting again tomorrow. It will be an all-day affair, so I want to start the day with a full tank that will carry me through the day.

I noticed the gas price has been upped again.

Another 10-cent hike; the demonrats are intent on squeezing The People, & forcing their agenda - Summer & Winter.

That does not surprise me; gas gouging always follows inflation – and the demonats have their thumbprint all over inflation: any era, but especially this year following their job destructive political coups (Election, and covid).

The price gouging (gas, food, ‘infrastructure’ farce, ect.) will continue indefinitely – just as covid will continue indefinitely: the demonrats have seized power under the {emergency! Mandates} banner, and are intent on using that bully bat to force their Anti-America agendas at every level of our daily lives.

While waiting to gas up, I noticed the car in front of me had a sticker that made me smile.

I am a huge Bigfoot fan – that embarrasses my daughter. Too bad.

Made me smile ... and took the edge off the gas gouging.

She believes in the scientific hoaxes of gender reassignments, and race-baiting theories embraced by left wing nut jobs; and she doesn’t care that that politically motivated ridiculousness, embarrasses me.

The car ahead of me moved along, I paid for my gas, and headed the Highlander for my carport.

I got in the house just before the promised rain shower began.

It started raining in earnest as soon as I got inside the house.

We need the rain; I was glad to see it.

But I hope tomorrow is dry for my day long househunting venture.

DEMONRAT KABUKI MANUVERS

 

And the demonrat nonsense goes on, and on, and on.

It’s ridiculous – and has no actual real meaning.

I am refusing to engage in this farcical verbal kabuki.

I will continue to use the language I have been using since the day I could talk: if people don’t like it … they can kiss my big fat feminine ass.

Let the mental kabuki kick in.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/07/brandeis-language-police-have-suggestions-you/619347/

A SNAFU

2021 has been a continual 'happening' year; and it should be busy through the remainder of it.

I drove out to Ryderwood, again, this afternoon.

Deer are thick in the country ... one needs to be constantly diligent; Westside Hwy nearing Vader.

I arrived early, so I had some time to kill before the walk-through appointment.

Little Falls Cemetery; established 1881 - I had time to kill before the house viewing appointment.

Why not ... it's a good way to check out the local area.

I didn't see anything I liked - road ended about 5 minutes into it.

I like this promising sign. I prefer farm eggs over store eggs.

A little past noon, Shay and I did the walk through; and I liked what I saw.

As soon as I saw it on the internet a few days ago, I wanted it.

As soon as I walked through the front door, this afternoon, I immediately felt at home.

There will need to be some upgrades, but all in all, the house {fits} me 😉

I knew I would bid for it 😊

I'm buying a house!

I'm jazzed ... but the house will need Big Ticket upgrades.

I'm hoping the 'immediate' repairs get done before fall rains begin.

Taking this solo lobo forward step in my new life, is exciting; and pleasantly scary, at the same time.

It is also necessary; it is a growth step – it also a step out of the 31 months of hellish anguish associated with Heron Pointe.

The house inspection should take about a week’s time: then, all I have to do is crack the whip with the needed contractors, to get the jobs done before the Fall rains kick in.

Back in Longview, I took care of some business downtown, and decided to have a celebratory Supper.

The Ryderwood house inspection would soon be underway … and mu house, here at Heron Pointe, will be going up for sale, soon – possibly next week sometime.

Downtown business finished ... it's time for a pizza and beer celebratory Supper.

I stopped at Lowe's on the way home to grab some paint chips, and linoleum patches. I LIKE this part.

I shared my good news with my SIL, Merry, while I was in town.

I ate Supper at home … and shared my good news with friends.

And then … I got a phone call from Shay that I was hoping I wouldn’t get: there is another interest in the Ryderwood house ☹

I am engaged in a bidding war: I could lose the house if the other interested party ups the ante. I can afford to go a bit higher … but not sky high.

Shay is working tonight to get my pre-approval pushed through, so that can be signed tomorrow morning – and we can, hopefully stop the counter bid.

Darn it!

I can already see myself enjoying that house.

Please Father: let this be Your Will, to see me in that house, too.

whatever the outcome, I will bow to Your Will.

You are my God.

And I love You.

If possible, let me get the house – but if You close the door, I will nod to that decision.

I know You have my best interests planned.

**Update: I like things to flow smoothly.

Things work better for my life if there are no snafus to wade through; competitive complications turn me off.

I’m that way with anything – and everything: husband, cars, houses, ect. I saw Bob: I wanted Bob … 7 years later and unexpectantly, I had Bob. Bob spotted a car for me – I saw it, liked it too … we came home with a car. The last three houses were the same: we saw them, liked them, bought them.

NO COMPLICATIONS.

Everything gelled.

Everything {fit}.

Transactions went smoothly without hitches.

If it causes me to overthink it/messes with my peace of mind; or has to be won by a pricey tug-of-war tussle … I can walk away from it.

So, I’m letting the Ryderwood house go: like I said earlier, it needs a lot of work, and the price is already higher (MPO) than it should be for the overhaul it will need.

The seller is not willing to negotiate any further, which means ALL the concessions will be on MY END to buy the house, now that another party has engaged; and I am not willing to engage in a price war with that interested party.

I’m a very good poker player: keeping a losing hand in a losing game, is a fool’s errand.

I may be a lot of things … but, I am no fool.

I was excited – yes; and I will be excited again, when the right {fit} comes along. Without added baggage.