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(no subject)

I won the longest putt at the company golf outing today! My first birdie, too. It was amazing. Definitely not going to replace my putter now, I don't care what Gary says.
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refinancing and bank graft

I am trying to refinance again-- my friend recommended a broker who charges nothing until the transaction is completed. The goal is to get rid of PMI and switch from a 30-year loan to a 15-year loan at 4.75% or better.

The first time around I went with Citibank/CitiMortgage. CitiMortgage offered me a really good rate, charged me $1000 for the application, then approved my application on the condition that an appraisal of the property would support the loan amount. I had no doubts that it would, considering Citibank gave me the original loan in the first place. So far, so good! But what do you know, the appraiser they hired valued the property so low that CitiMortgage said, sorry the appraised value does not support your requested loan amount. CitiMortgage then refused my application and kept the $1000. What a scam!
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minimalist workout

I've been researching ways to get (back) in shape with minimal time expenditure, and this four-exercise routine just may be the answer.

1. Barbell Squats - 3 sets of 10
Once you can complete all sets and reps, increase the weight 5lbs for the next workout.

2. Dips - 3 sets to failure.
Start with bodyweight; when you can do more than 10 reps per set, start tying weight to your waist. When you can do 20 reps or more over all three sets, add more weight.

3. Pull-Ups - 3 sets to failure.
Same instructions as with dips.

4. Weighted Sit-Ups - 3 sets of 12
Same instructions as with squats.

Perform this routine 3x a week for 6-8 weeks or until you stop making progress. (Beginners may be able to use this routine for months and months before progress slows.)


Source: http://www.triedandtruefitness.com…
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(no subject)

Victory! Elena's green card came today! So very exciting! And it's Friday, too, which we've been celebrating as our day since the wedding. Today is our 40th septimanaversary.
  • Current Mood
    excited excited
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(no subject)



I decided to start using this space again. I miss having a record.

This week's project is moving everything out of the office so we can remove the carpeting and prep the (sub)floor over the weekend. Turned out that the place where I bought flooring for the other rooms last year has closed all of its retail outlets and is now an internet retailer based in Washington, so we had to pay $222 for freight.

I canceled my drum lesson today because I did not practice at all this week and did not want to relive last week's experience of coming unprepared. I was also supposed to acquire a sound recorder of some sort which I haven't done either.

The Newsletter committee for our condo association had its first meeting today. I met four neighbours, which is twice the number of neighbours I have met since I moved in over two years ago.

Went for an evening stroll in the nearby park which we've been neglecting as uninteresting due to its proximity and really liked it.
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(no subject)

Like all works of art, literature has absolutely no responsibilities to anything whatsoever. Anyone who claims that art has a moral or ethical or social or fill-in-the-blank roll to play in society is either a time traveler from the dark ages or an idiot.

-- Chris Higgs in an interview with Sam Pink here.