So my saga of banks screwing around with my money continues. This time it was my bank loosing my deposit! Yes for five days I had no money in the bank and no access. It took them five days to find out that the person who posts the days transaction missed the first digit of my account number and posted to another. How exciting for them. On deadline to make my house payment, my lameass mortgage company wanted to know why I was making my payment on the last available day. Another point of contention - it's none of their business, the payment was NOT late. Arrggghhh.

    Life was going so well before the economy tanked. I loved my bank, loved my mortgage company all was good. Then within a few months wham - life will never be the same. Bank bought out, mortgage company bought out. Now, I have to deal with THEIR problems, not which are mine.

     In the middle of all this, the oldest child has found his way back to the nest. - Now they are all living here and I have once again lost my office. Back in the den where I started, that's okay. He's home not only for financial reasons, sort of a reality rehab. Finding out friends who move in with no jobs or means to support themselves - are usually hard to get rid of.

    Life is moving along, ready for the ride!

 

happy writings, smile for the photo and don't forget to read!

t

I am so excited. The other day I was handed my contributor copy of Patchwork Path: Friendship Star

My story, Bonnie is my first paid publication. Very exciting.

 http://patchworkpathbooks.com/index.php/patchwork-path-books/2-patchwork-path-friendship-star

Whew! I am off to the races. A term I have not used in awhile. Now has a completely different meaning. Nano WriMo begins today. I am working on my second book. I thought it would be strange to write two books at once. Since they parallel each other. Book one, main character is Anella. Book two, Jessie,  is the grand-daughter to Anella, in book one she is not even born yet! Ha. I thought it would be difficult to do this, but after this mornings 2000 words to Jessie, I think this may strengthen the first book. Very cool.

I do not have a lot of interest in doing anything except writing right now. I have not heard any fabulous new news from my mortgage company. My bank has changed over, they are going to be a daily annoyance I can just feel it. But, I want to write.
 There are broken tree branches lying in the back yard from the crazy 50-60- mile an hour winds we started the week off with. It is Sunday, the branches are still there. Oh well, I can delegate for someone else to do that clean up - yeah right, hey it's a nice thought.

Two days ago we had to haul out the heavy coats, throw extra blankets on the beds and what killed me the most - had to turn the heaters on. It was so windy with temps ranging in the low 50's, the wind chill was making it impossible to warm up the house. Now today - we should be around 75, sunny warm, no wind?? Desert weather crazy as ever.

November is a loaded month with writing events in the Valley. Getting closer to the Las Vegas Writers Conference, so I go bi-weekly to work with the President and Conference Coordinator of our group on that stuff, meetings like crazy. Writing - writing, marketing stuff that I for some reason continue to put off. Talk about having to work out time management...
Since the time change in Nevada happened this morning. I did wake up at 5:30am - new time, which is good. I have been sleeping in, staying up late my sleep schedule is completely out of whack. I need to get back on track, then things won't seem so overwhelming.

hey time to go write some more!
happy writings, smile for the photo and don't forget to read!
t

     Nothing. My normal week of projects and work kept me busy, but ya know I feel like I have not accomplished much this week. I guess because I don't have anything spectacular to post. I have several newsletter news to add, oh by the way if you'd like to get your weekly edition of the Henderson Writers Group newsletter send me an email to teresawatts@cox.net and I'll get you on the list. You can get all the information of writing stuff.

Anella is progressing, this week I spent a lot of time on research. I am at that point of having a Point of View with a character I really do not like. I need to get rid of him... Ha! the joy of writing.

     I had an evening with my friends, hanging out having cocktails and chit chat. Everyone seems to be in an angry mood. Some that's okay they should be angry. I almost felt like I was 'attacked' for what I do and certain things in my life. That's what friendships are all about. The ability to tell someone how it is and get over it. It was a little hard, but I love my friends so I do know it was not completely personal.

     Still dealing with the mortgage issue. I have not had a chance to get back into my account. I figured it would be best to have my frame of mind in check so I don't completely loose it! They did post my payments, now I have the escrow account to deal with. I am not looking forward to this.

happy writings, smile for the photo and don't forget to read!

t

     Wow, reflecting back on the last couple of weeks. My daughter is now 18. Last child, technically I'm done. Right? That's what they say. I don't think you ever get done with parenting. It is a job that is in your blood always. But the "pick up your room, eat your vegetables, clean the table, take out the trash, do your homework, feed the dog and don't forget to brush your teeth" harboring is done. For the most part. Now they begin this life as an adult. Oh how they look forward to this day. "I'm 18, I can do whatever I want." ---Until, they need money. Or need something. As parents we chuckle at this one. My daughter came to me and asked if I had her money for the week. My line as the parent is now - "You're 18, I don't have to give you money anymore."  Wow did that piss her off.

The drama of this past week in my life, the discovery my mortgage company at random moved money to the wrong place on my account! A lesson from this poor financially strapped girl - watch what they are doing with your money.  I couldn't believe it - and too top it off, I have a feeling this is something that is going to cost me a lot of problems on a situation that was not my fault. No wonder the economy is so screwed up and banks are failing. I wonder what is really happening with the foreclosure melt down? I wonder if people are really looking at their statements? Are people failing to pay their mortgages, yes, but is the amount they owe really what the banks are claiming?

We were on the accelerated program, a portion was deducted weekly to cover the monthly nut. Well, needed to restructure and fix a few things I canceled it. I explained I would pay my mortgage once a month on line or mail the payment. The customer service rep understood and took care of it for me. Before we hung up, I confirmed. "The four deductions you have taken this month (Aug) will be applied to my September payment." --she was counting, adding up. --- "Yes, they will. We will send you a paper statement in the mail within 2-5 business days. If you make your payment online they will stop sending paper statements and send you a reminder through your email. Is there anything else I can help you with today?"  -- "Nope, as long as you put the funds taken towards my September payment and I will not have a payment due until Oct 1, all is good." -- "Yes, Mrs. Watts we will take care of that for you." -- "thank you, that's all I  have."  --- "thank you for choosing &*&^%&** for your mortgage needs, have a nice day."  Wa-- La we're done. Told the hub, taken care of, we don't have a payment due until 10-1 and we can take care of this, this and this.

Four days later I received an envelope in the mail from my mortgage company, tossed it into the date slot for it's process and went about my business. Never opened it. - I have never received anything from my mortgage company through the mail, I have always been on the accelerated deduction plan. It was what she said it was - my monthly statement. So, Oct 1 rolls around and I pull out the statement to go online to make my payment. Hmm, it won't let me in. Says I need to fill out this promise to pay?? What the hell is this, where did this come from... I look at the paper that was sent in the envelope. ... Payment due Sept 1.. ??? What Sept 1, what the hell is this. I rifle through the stack of mail I had just retrieved from the mailbox, there are several envelopes in this stack from my mortgage company. I open - This notice is to advise you if you do not pay $0,000 (A few thousand dollars) by such and such date we will begin foreclosure proceedings! Say what. WTF!!! Now it's about 9pm at night. I make an ill-fated attempt and call the mortgage company. Business hours notice - try tomorrow.

Determined to not let this stress  me out - I repeated a mantra to myself. "This is a mistake, it will be fine." Over and over I made this attempt to convince myself. The biggest stress I had over this, not that it was a mistake on the mortgage company and I knew in my bones I could fix this. It was telling my husband! Yep, That freaked me out the most. I could not tell him - he would blame me and this would be my fault. I convinced him to go off the accelerated plan and man did I have to do a sales pitch. I am the chief CFO in this house, it's my job to get things paid and taken care of. I was going to catch the heat for this. I kept my mouth shut. Don't spill it until you have all the facts. This I learned from him -- he doesn't advise his corp office of a situation until he has all the answers and reasons. Right, if he could do, so could I.

So the next day, I call the mortgage company, maintain my composure and began the conversation "I am really confused" the customer service rep after his 25 questions of who I am, looks at my account and it was almost as if he caught the mistake as he was attempting to advise me of "My mistake" -- "We received twenty three cents short to complete your payment, so we applied the funds to your principal... " I could hear it in his voice - he caught the mistake. Now for example - no my house payment is nowhere near this low of an amount. Example $$ - He then says, "your mortgage payment is 565.23 per month and we did not receive the .23."              I had my ammunition I replied back. "You received $566.00 you got an extra dollar to apply towards the .23 needed."  "Yes, I see that is a mistake, I'll move the money back where it belongs and we will get this taken care of."

Well they did apply it - I received a message in my email. Now I am waiting for them to update everything, so I can get back and look at my account. I still have that promise to pay screen - that will not let you get into anything! But since they are saying I paid the Sept, payment in October I am curious if they have a "late payment" thing on there...

I feel this is not over. But of course if they try and screw with me, you know I'll post it. And no, I still have not informed the hub of this.

happy writings, smile for the photo and don't forget to read.

t