Who Do I Speak To About This?

As many of you already know Kyle and I have been doing extensive apartment searching for the last 3-4 months. And I am happy to report that we have found a place, it looks great, and we can't wait to move into it.

This rant revolves around the apartment hunting process. For those of you who haven't have the joy of apartment hunting in the way that I had done, when you call an apartment complex there are two main types of people you will talk to. 1) The call center person 2) The "I actually work on the premises" person.

You ALWAYS want to talk to the 2nd type of person. Sometimes that is more difficult than you would think. This is because management wants you to call the giant warehouse stuffed with generally incompetent workers. They hire these people to take your calls and answer your questions, and in theory it's a great idea. The problem is that all these individuals are doing is reading off of the same apartment website that you, yourself can see online!

God forbid you ask a question about.. perhaps the parking situation or a specific detail about an apartment (like, do you have to pay for an accent wall or is it free). They never know, I doubt that the call center is even located in the same state as the apartment building you're inquiring about, let alone have they visited and spent some substantial time at the apartment building itself.

I find myself wondering what the point of these people are, they take down your information and say they're going to email you documents, perhaps half the time that happens. They ask if you want to schedule appointments to visit the apartment building, if you actually "schedule" something, when you show up at the building it is as if they had no idea you were coming.

These people are altogether useless. Who am I supposed to alert this to? The manager of the call center? I'm sure they don't care any more than the employees do. Do I write the president of the ridiculously HUGE management company and tell them I don't think they're employees are worth the minimum wage they are being paid? Perhaps the whole system will just crash and burn on its own.

Goals and Motivation

6 nights ago I started a new nighttime ritual. This came upon because in about a month I have a dentist appointment, most likely with DeeDee who is a very good dental hygienist. And if I don't floss... which I am embarrassed to admit that I normally don't, she gets on my case like you wouldn't believe. So for the last 6 nights I have flossed, brushed, and then mouth washed. I think the rule of mouth care is to floss first, but regardless of that, I would have to make flossing first. If I didn't, my chances of not completing my ritual would increase 10 fold. So I grudgingly floss, knowing that I must finish in order to brush my teeth, which of course I've always done. And just when my internal clock thinks I'm all finished for the night I have to reason with myself as to why I should use the mouthwash. The fact that this is a struggle for me boggles my mind, but it is. So I stand there for a moment reminding myself of the guilt I will feel if I do not do the mouthwashing step. But then half of me says, "big deal, skip it, it'll only turn your mouth blue anyway, and how healthy can that be?" So then the logical half tells me to look at the label for any color additive that may permanently stain my mouth blue, there is none, so I am forced to continue. After I get the mouthwash into my mouth I begin the next battle of keeping it in my mouth for as long as I can stand it. The way I do this is dancing. I do my mouthwash dance and shake my head to distract myself from the mouth burning. When I realize that dancing right before bed is going to wake me back up I stop and spit. And think to myself... another check on the mental calendar.

All in all, if it weren't for DeeDee I wouldn't do any of this. Sad but true.

My preference in banking...

I just checked my email and found this email from ING Direct. I have to say, I've always recommended them to anyone who's asked. Their website is user friendly, their company has a youthful feel and their customer service is awesome. As if to confirm that they are the company for me, they included the following quote in the email

Global financial markets ended 2007 with many challenges ahead. While ING DIRECT avoided the sub-prime mortgage problem, we understand that this housing crisis threatens the well-being of countless families and, in the end, it will be seen as a major failing of the mortgage industry and its regulators.

The fact that ING DIRECT was not adversely affected is a testament to our operating philosophy that, as Americans, we should only buy houses we can afford. That way we can keep them for years to come. We believe a mortgage is a contract that both parties should execute in good faith and expect to see through to its conclusion. We will not waiver from our sworn promise to provide you with great value, service and convenience.

I've seen mortgage brokers and real estate agents on television blatantly tell their customers to take out loans they can't afford for houses out of their price range. It's nice to see a company acknowledge that it's not the American dream to have a house that you can't afford just because it's bigger than the neighbors' house.

/salute

And the award goes to...

With the Oscars coming up and all I thought it would only be right to honor the real winner this season.

BUCK!

He has now gotten over 40,000 views on his Buck VS. Buck video! In case you weren't part of that 40,000 here's a link to the video Any gifts or letters of congratulations will be graciously accepted.

In other Buck news, he spent most of tonight licking my head clean... or dirty if you ask me. Either way I have a glossy sheen. Here's a link to a video from a few weeks ago of the same act to the nth degree.

Attention Passengers: This Is Your Sales Rep... er, I mean Pilot Speaking

I remember the good old days. When flying meant free sandwiches, sodas, and visiting the pilot in the cockpit.

But things are different now...

We still have sodas, and sometimes we even get a full can! But we don't have food, sometimes a pretzel crumb or small cookie, but no more free sandwiches. Now you can pay upwards of $7 for a shitty plate of cold mini-muffins or small sandwich.

And instead of the pilot announcing all the landmarks you're flying past, he's trying to convince you to sign up for their credit card that gives you.. one zillion free miles!! The in-flight movie, while it still sucks now gets a nice little logo in the bottom of it from time to time. And before the movie starts and after it ends you get commercials for other trips you can take with this airline and the credit cards that will get you there and a million billion miles!! Don't have headphones? Don't worry! $5 will get your a rented pair for 3-4 hours! Woo Hoo

I can only image what flying will be like 10 years from now. Perhaps literally mugging you at gunpoint and pawning off your luggage before you arrive at your destination, all while force-feeding you advertisements on your soda, food, napkin, seat, tv screen, headphones, window, floor.... everything.

Collaboration For All!

Despite only having 3 classes this semester, I have the most group projects I've ever had in the same amount of time. At least the most long-term group projects.

I am getting nervous about one of them. This is mostly because no one had taken any initiative to get the group together or talking. So last night after having a day-mare that we were going to do terribly because of all the apathetic group members I sent out a mass e-mail and an invitation to a Google Doc.

I haven't checked the doc yet, but I will right now and fill you in as to whether these slackers look like they may change their ways.

Wow! I am impressed, 2 out of 4 of them have responded. Perhaps this won't be horrible after all.

It is always strange when someone who would've otherwise be a leader has to step up and do so. I have a strong feeling I will be that person for this group. Hopefully I'll serve them well ::salutes::.

When I wrote them all last night I said I suggest they all get on Gmail (2 of them already had been) as it would make scheduling easier. The lack of ease in getting in touch with people makes me nervous. It boggles my mind when groups or teams aren't all on the same system of communication. I want a team that will be ON the app of choice and be checking up on it frequently. Pipe dream I suppose.

From Riches to Rags

I can't say I know too much about mortgages or buying a home, but I still wonder how people get themselves into foreclosure. I understand it when the breadwinner gets sick or dies or loses their job. But what about all these people who make a decent living and just signed up for a stupid mortgage.

A month or so ago I was getting my haircut and the hairdresser said that he signed for a ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) after his daughter (the mortgage broker) told him it was a great deal and interests rates would certainly not raise for a long time.

Sure the man should've known better than to assume interests rate would stay at an all time low for 20-30 years, but his trusted kin told him otherwise, so he is now on the verge of screwed.

Surely not everyone is being told by family members to get these crazy mortgages? I wouldn't trust a mortgage broker or almost any financial adviser with my life savings, they all have a motive, if you don't think that you're foolish.

When I see excel spreadsheets full of hundreds and hundreds of foreclosures (and that's just for one area of the country) I do feel bad for some of them; some were so close to paying off their mortgage and then they miss a few payments and BOOM it's all gone. But another part of me is wondering how people can be so shortsighted.

So from my limited knowledge I leave you with some basic tips when buying a home.
-Put down the largest down payment as possible (don't end up getting mortgage insurance)
-Get a FIXED RATE loan
-Buy a home that is 20% (at least) less than what your mortgage broker tells you you can afford