Xandria

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Posts by Xandria

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  29

  Christopher Reeves Dies...

  by Country Girl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was just watching some television show and they were advertising a movie directed by christopher reeves about a young girl that was paralyzed, and overcame many obstacles.

  i thought that was just awesome that he had directed a movie.

  then i got a mail on cnn breaking news that he had died... how very very awful.... <sob>`superman' star christopher reeve dies .

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  Xandria

  Wow, how truly sad and shocking. He over came so much and did not allow his disablity to limit his work or world. RIP

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  19

  Where Would Americans Migrate Safely and Happily?

  by Doubtfully Yours in

  1. social
  2. current

  lots of people migrate to the united states.. is there a good country for an american to migrate?

  we've been toying with the idea of relocating outside of the u.s. for quite some time now.

  hubby and i both speak, read and write english and spanish very well, and have pretty good computer skills which would help with the job situation.. which countries would you all recommend?.

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  Xandria

  D8TA are you sure you aren't doing your Daffy Duck Impression ?

  I would live in Mexico and Spain for a while. Travel alot.. I don't think I could stay in just one spot. I know portugal is beautiful.

  I would visit many of my pen friends in France, Germany, England, Italy, Japan, Ireland, etc.

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  30

  You Know It's Trouble When Your 13 year old son says....

  by roybatty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "dad, you have to promise not to tell mom.

  my kids and i were sitting down at dinner time when my son (with a big grin on his face) said that.

  ok, ok, he got me and my 10 year old daughter (mom's little spy) to promise not to tell on him.

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  Xandria

  OMG LMAO!

  I can just imagine.. Elder nosy, "Sister ****** what have you been feeding your son? Please, do not feed him any more of that stuff, before meetings for the greater good of the hall. Thank you." Quickly sauntering off....

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  15

  restoring my plaster walls - any suggestions?

  by RevMalk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i first bought my home, i had planned on putting drywall over the lathe and plaster walls that exist now.. after thinking it over, i decided to restore the plaster to keep the home original.

  that and the fact that the cherry molding would have to be removed on the first floor and i really don't want to do that.. anyway, i have been scraping the paint and paper off the walls and the plaster is actually in really good shape aside from a few areas.. the worst thing is that in a few spots the plaster is not attached to the lathe any longer.

  the plaster is ok, but you can push it in and out from the lathe.. does anyone have any ideas on how i can fix that problem without ripping the plaster off?.

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  Xandria

  RevM:

  Right now, I deal in preservation for a cemetery. But through this I have learned alot about historic preservation. I will put a few links that may help you. You may also wish to speak with the local historic preservation or conservation groups in your area. They are a great resource. You are on the right track, to first find out how to handle it and do it right to begin with.

  http://www.epreservation.net/Products_&_Services/

  http://www.preservationdirectory.com/

  http://www.preservationweb.com/

  http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/briefs/brief23.htm Preserving plaster.

  http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/briefs/brief34.htm 2

  http://www.traditional-building.com/rte999.htm

  Hope these help.

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  3

  Carving Pumpkins and other cool things

  by Xandria in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  okay i posted some patterns, i found for pumpkin carving in pdf form on slippy's.

  if you like you may go there to "download them" to use.. here are the others i have found too.

  see attached.

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  Xandria

  Okay I posted some patterns, I found for Pumpkin Carving in PDF form on Slippy's. If you like you may go there to "download them" to use.

  Here are the others I have found too. See attached.

  Tips for choosing a pumpkin, etc. for 1st timers:

  Choosing a pumpkin

  Choose a pumpkin that is the same shape as the design you wish to carve. Decide if it should be tall and narrow, or more rounded. It should be as smooth as possible, and free of scratches, dents or gouges.

  Transferring your design

  Flour

  To make the dots you made by poking easier to see, try rubbing flour into them. The flour will fill the holes, making them white.

  "Sticker" method

  Some people have difficulty smoothing the flat paper pattern down on the round pumpkin. Try soaking the paper with water first. Very carefully position the wet paper on the face of the pumpkin. The water will allow the paper to conform to the contours of the pumpkin. Carefully fasten the paper using thumbtacks. You can also try adding a little flour to the water to make a "paste." Allow the paper to completely dry, before attempting to transfer the design. This method takes much longer, but it is much easier to transfer complicated designs.

  Carbon paper

  Another (and less environmentally friendly) way is to put carbon paper on the back of the pattern and trace over the lines with a dull pencil. If the lines are barely visible, go over with a water-based marker.

  Candles

  Try using small lamp oil-burning liquid candles. They tend to last longer than the traditional wax candles, and do not snuff themselves out.

  Displaying

  Try hanging your creations in plant hangers. This will make them easier to see, and help keep "trick-or-treaters" from catching their costumes on fire! This will also keep those troublesome little squirrels from attacking and destroying your hard work.

  Tool care

  Take care of your carving tools, just as you would any other precision instrument. Bending the blades will cause them to break. Be sure to clean your tools after use, and store them away for watermelon carving next Summer!
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  16

  Prince's new video-Babylon's destruction?

  by wordlywife in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you are interested, you can watch it from a link off msn's entertainment sction for free.

  very "end of this world" type of stuff, look like an old armegeddon publication.

  i'm disappointed in the purple one.

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  Xandria

  While the song/ music was good the visualizations just creeped me out a little. SP, I looked at it with out the lyrics playing. Looking at it from that stand point...and comparing it to the older WT's you see a theme.

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  17

  What to do in the hell-hole that is Las Vegas?

  by SixofNine in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so a friend is getting married in vegas on the 22nd, a guy who'e been a good friend for over 10 years now.

  he doesn't expect me to come, but i told him i would if i could find a way to reasonably.

  well, with a three day sale that has tickets for 79 bucks, i guess i can't argue that i can't find a way, lol.

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  Xandria

  Well you can go visit the

  Delmonico Steakhouse - Venetian (you have to book reservations) But you can have Emeril cook for you. Bam..

  www.key2lasvegas.com you can rent a party bus...

  Visit the , . more than $3 million worth of Elvis memorabilia

  Watch bartenders juggle flaming drinks: at the Voo Doo Lounge on top of the Rio Hotel. There is a Great view of the strip you..may have to pay $10 cover.

  Have a Star Trek experience at the Vegas Hilton (I had one w/ Tribbles...at that place).

  Visit the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort Built by missionaries in 1855~ 908 Las Vegas Blvd. North; see if Rutherford and the founding fathers here were cousins or something. Just in case you have the guilt?s you can say you had a religious experience.

  Visit the at the Venetian daily this is a real bargain $2 for adults and $1 for kids

  Do the Griswold thing and go see the "World's Largest Gold Nugget" at the Gold Nugget.

  Ride the world's highest roller coaster, High Roller at the Stratosphere ~ just be sure to buy the t-shirt and photo of you pooping yourself, as you hang over the edge.

  See the Bellagio Conservatory and Gardens 90,000 square feet of plants and flowers, under a glass dome.

  Most of all have fun. dfgvnmq

  werti

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  22

  How much should home owner's insurance cost in a mortgage?

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  on my "good faith" estimate that the mortgage company gave me several months ago they put $100 per month.

  i have been calling around and i'm hearing things like $3250 a year ($271 a month).. did the mortgage company twist the numbers to help reel me in?

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  Xandria

  Elsewhere:

  I am glad to hear you found something that fits you and your needs a bit better.

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  22

  How much should home owner's insurance cost in a mortgage?

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  on my "good faith" estimate that the mortgage company gave me several months ago they put $100 per month.

  i have been calling around and i'm hearing things like $3250 a year ($271 a month).. did the mortgage company twist the numbers to help reel me in?

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  Xandria

  Elsewhere:

  For a while, I worked with Wells Fargo in the Mortgage Department dealing with billing and collections on over due mortages. One of the things, we kept running into was a hike, in the bill. The mortgage company provided the homeowners insurance many times, they do not look for the best coverage at the lowest price. They tend to go very high, I believe it is a deal with the insurance company.

  Also for any reason, Wells Fargo recieved word that an homeowner, who had a loan with them did not have insurance or coverage was interupted. W/F would automatically place the coverage on and they the homeowner would be billed for coverage. Prices for this would vary due to the prices of the home. Insurance ranged from 500 to 5000.00 on top of the mortgage payment.

  People would call in flipping out, because thier payments went up and why because they had a fixed mortage rate.. blah blah blah. We had to explain to them that the insurance companies informed the lenders of the lack of coverage. An it is W/F's policy to protect thier investiment and they do not check for price, they just go for coverage. Once you place coverage with a company of your own choice and the policy of the insurance is recorded. Then the policy W/F placed will come off. But, until the customer placed that coverage, themselves~ they must pay amount added to their mortgage. Needless to say, they had coverage the very next week.

  http://www.homeowners-insurance-source.com/

  There isn't alot your mortage company will tell you. There are things a homeowner can do to protect him or herself when it comes to financial matters. Disablity insurance is a good thing to have too, just in case you have a short term or long term injury. The insurance is there to cover your mortage, etc. It is good to have this so you don't have the rug pulled from under you and you get back on your feet faster.

  TIP: You may get pitched on mortgage life insurance, which just pays off the lender in the event of your death. This is not always advisable, especially if the interest rate on the loan is low and you have survivors who may need the mortgage for tax reasons. Instead, increase your regular life insurance coverage so your survivors can invest any proceeds after your death to provide enough money to continue paying the loan and/or pay it off completely. W/F had an option for life insurance coverage, to pay off the home loan completely leaving the home paid in full for the whom ever recieved the home.

  Ask about discounts. You may get reduced rates on new homes or homes with a security system, deadbolt locks or smoke alarms. Try your car insurance carrier. You may get a discount for having both policies with them.

  Cut Your Insurance Costs

  • Insure the home, not the land
    The purchase price of a home includes both. For example, if a $120,000 house sits on a parcel worth $20,000, you should pay insurance on the value of the house, or $100,000.
  • Shop for the best deal
    Check with at least three insurers. Ask friends or colleagues for recommendations.
  • Increase your deductible
    Instead of paying the insurance company, start putting aside funds to pay for minor damage or the deductible in cases of major claims.

  Most buyers get a comprehensive homeowner's insurance policy, which provides coverage for fire damage, water damage (not by flooding, which is covered by federal flood insurance), personal possessions, personal liability, vandalism, theft, and loss of use of the house. If you are financing your home purchase, your lender will require you to buy at least basic hazard insurance.

  Basic Coverage

  The most comprehensive insurance policy is guaranteed replacement cost coverage, which will pay to rebuild your home even if the cost to rebuild exceeds your policy limit. This kind of coverage costs from about $400 to $1,000 a year or much more, depending on the area and the price of the home. Even if you can afford it, it's not available everywhere or for every property--older homes, for example, may not be eligible. Some big insurance companies have started to limit the amount they'll pay to 120 percent of the policy's face value.

  Straight replacement cost coverage, or cash value coverage, is a cheaper and more limited option--about 25 percent less per year than guaranteed replacement coverage. It will pay to rebuild your house if it's destroyed, but coverage is limited to the policy amount. Make certain you're insured for enough to rebuild.

  Special Coverage

  In addition to regular homeowner's insurance, you may require special coverage for hazards such as earthquakes or floods. California is targeted for earthquake coverage, but at least 16 other states are considered at risk for quakes: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Earthquake coverage can be costly ($2 to $15 per every $1,000 of coverage), but you should consider it if you live near a fault, your home is more than 50 years old and/or built on a slope, landfill or flood plain.

  If you live in flood-prone areas, you may need flood insurance too, because water damage from dams and waterways is not included in standard homeowner's policies. Flood insurance is available through the federal National Flood Insurance Program, and an average policy runs about $300 a year.

  Applying for Insurance

  Insurance representatives need certain information about you and the property before they can tell you if they'll write a policy and how much it will cost. You'll need to provide:

  Your Social Security number

  The age and location of the home that you want to buy

  The proximity of fire stations to the home

  The age and condition of plumbing and electrical systems

  The insurance company will also want to make sure that you're a good risk. If you previously filed claims, or you frequently pay bills late, you may be denied coverage.

  Shopping Around

  Start shopping for insurance as soon as you sign the purchase contract so you're not stuck if the insurance carrier you choose refuses to insure your home. Some insurance carriers, for example, won't insure homes that are built on slopes or have shake roofs or antiquated electrical systems. I cannot stress enough, that asking questions and getting 2nd and even 3rd opinions may save you money and heart ache in the long run.

  More Tips:

  Many experts recommend paying down principal whenever you can because you end up paying less interest. But you also lose part of your mortgage interest tax break. So to calculate your true savings, you need to factor the difference between your loan's interest rate and the rate at which you take your deduction.

  You may find that you are better off investing any extra funds you have somewhere else. For example, if you can expect to earn 10 percent per year on your investments and you are paying 7 percent on your mortgage, instead of paying down your loan, you might apply extra cash to additional investments and earn a positive spread of 3 percent.

  On the other hand, if you want to increase your equity in the house because you may need to tap it down the road (for a child's college tuition, for example), then prepaying principal will improve the conditions for doing so. Also, if you're currently paying for private mortgage insurance, prepaying principal will help you get more quickly to the point (20 percent equity) at which you can drop it. Whatever the case, keep your options open by looking for a loan that doesn't penalize you for paying ahead.

  Five Lending Terms You Should Know

  • APR
    Annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of the loan plus note rate and fees, expressed as a yearly rate. May be a half-percentage point higher than the loan rate.
  • Closing costs
    When they complete a real estate transaction, buyers pay the lender's fees and costs for home inspection, recording the deed, title insurance, attorney's services and state or local taxes. Sellers pay different closing costs.
  • Commitment
    A written statement from a lender that specifies the amount it's willing to loan you, at what rate and for how long.
  • PMI
    Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is required on all loans greater than 80 percent. You don't need it after you have 20 percent equity in your house.
  • Points
    Points are loan origination fees. Each point totals 1 percent of the loan amount. Points increase closing costs, but can reduce the interest rate.

  Hope that helps some.

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  36

  What cartoon character are you?

  by Big Tex in

  1. social
  2. humour

  i'm spongebob squarepants.

  everyone has a personality of a cartoon character.

  3) what type of movies do you prefer?

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  Xandria

  33 points...

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