My Thoughts today....

Today I learned that a family member who has a rental property cannot find someone to rent the place. She also learned that thanks to the banks "dumping" properties in her area, and yes although it is soooo much easier to blame the people who left them behind, it is in my opinion primarily the banks fault here. Her home is now worth less than what she owes. Shall I mention here that she has owned the home over ten years. When she and her husband married they kept his home, rented it out and bought their home. When he died suddenly, she kept the rental hoping it would be some kind of income/retirement for her and her children, but that is not what is happening. It has now become a noose around her neck and why? Was it because she speculated? Was it because she lived beyond her means? No, it was neither.  You see banks have to "dump" homes to shed the "toxic loans" they made, from their books so they literally throw homes away for practically nothing. Most of them in such a poor state that it sits there, the grass becomes overgrown,  while the inside trashed and in disrepair. Which in turn, lowers the value of any other home in the area. So my fellow Americans you get to pay not once, not twice, but three times for this fiasco, that the banks and investors, (yeah those guys who all just got BONUSES), let people buy, and get in over their heads with. Are the "people" somewhat responsible, sure, a lot of them are. Many knew they could not afford the house they were buying, but then the real estate agent, mortgage broker, or bank told them house were going up, up, up! Did any of these morons learn about gravity in school? The market? Basic economics? anyone?, anyone at all? Were all of these people right out of high school or on drugs? Surely some of these agents, brokers, bankers had been around long enough, many even longer than me, to know what goes up, inevitably goes down. Chances are as fast as it went up, it will be twice as fast coming down. In my life I have bought three homes. I have seen high interest rates  of 9%  to 14%, even higher if you had poor credit, heck when we had a 7% interest rate we thought we were doing good. You had to have at the very least 10% down and good credit! You could not count your overtime, and in the case of our first two homes, they would not even count my salary! In 1987 when Ford’s was hurting they would not give a "projected" income for Steve, so the bank hesitated at first before finally giving us a loan, and we had 20% down for gosh sakes. I am not that old either, we are not talking 30 - 50 years ago, more like 10-20. When we bought our first home the realtor sat us down, went over what we could afford. It could only be 1/4 of Steven’s monthly gross income. That’s it. Boom! This is what we will show you, in that price range, unless of course you have the difference in cash to put down? No?  So sorry then, we wouldn't want to show you a home you could not afford or get approved for . So now of course the banks are looking to solve their dilemma once more at the taxpayers, and responsible American’s expense. How? Well sure "dumping" the properties looks good on their books, gets rid of the nasty "toxic debt" they created,  but now the neighbor over there next door, the one who pays his bills on time, and took care of his/her home has found out their home is now worth nothing. Why? Well according to the Realtors and BANKS, you have to base your worth on local comp’s, and that means all those "dumped" homes the ones the banks wiped off their books, has now "wiped" your home in with them. Of course those who need to get more for their home, unlike the often totally trashed empty house next to them to pay off their mortgage are S.O.L. To add insult to injury, the same Realtors that sold you that house now tell you, "well you have to compete with the foreclosures or let the bank have it!". Yeah, it’s great how they still manage to ask for 6% of that nothing too, isn't it? Talk about making money on both end. When I read in today's paper that the markets rose due to, let me quote the Detroit News accurately here, " Stocks rally on the good housing, banking news" I ask myself "What the heck are they talking about?" Yet tomorrow it will probably fall once it dawns on all of them,  and they realize that sure they dumped those homes, which in turn may cause others to have to walk away from theirs, because now they cannot get a decent price. Which means it will go back to the bank, who can afford to write it off by, you guessed it,  dumping. Cause heck, it’s not their money right? Thank God, truly, I thank him today for being born in the generation that can still do "basic" math. I can add, subtract and divide without the aid of a calculator. I can see the forest despite the trees, and I know when someone is blowing smoke up my ass.

Hey remember that saying from a while back "If your going to screw me at least introduce yourself" or was it "at least buy me dinner"? Looks like we’re not getting either.

More photos

Here they are again with another layer. I have deepened the shading, and softened the whole piece with some white.  I am still not completely satisfied, so for now I will put it aside and think about something else for a while.

Here is another painting. Very similar to the one I did for Ms. Vicky, but much smaller. I still have a lot to do here also.

So this was all I did besides laundry and changing out linens on the beds. I was supposed to do so much today, but nothing went as is was planned. I had a terrible headache (thanks to the darn weather), the bank called my daughter and postponed the closing , again! Which may have been a good thing, since I really wasn't up to celebrating.

W.I.P.

My work in Suzi Blu's class so far. Not much I know, but there are a lot of steps, and then drying time. I still have to add more, some distressing, some more "stuff" until it is where it needs to be. I am in no rush, but I cannot decide where to go next. It will come to me.  For a while I will just look at it and play with something else.

I like the faces, and the dress, but it is only the beginning I think.

Just Breathe

Ever feel like just walking away? Maybe just going to your room shutting the door and lock out the world, like forever. Lately that's how it has been for me. I am tired, dead to the bone, tired. Not the physical kind, that might be good, but the kind of tired that comes from trying not to let it all get to you. You stop looking forward to the day instead you think, if only I did not have to work, or clean, or cook, worry about my job, his job, her tuition. 

It gets like this at times. Not really depression, just a bone dead tired and a need to withdraw a bit. I am so tired of all the talk on the TV and radio. Stupid News feels the need to crush the last bit of hope from every aspect of people lives, every hour on the hour. I dare you to find a station anywhere that does not dwell on the negativity. Even if you lucky enough to get a "rumor" that someone saw a light at the end of the tunnel, they feel the immediate need to rush in and turn it off.

It is hard, hard to go to a family event without hearing about some poor person who has lost their job, home, or insurance. I am regularly flabbergasted at the response this is all having, instead of compassion and trying to help, companies are raising prices and finding ways to add charges to further bleed the dying. My friend in Tennessee told me that her sister had surgery. When she started getting billed she arranged to make payments. She received a statement saying that if the bill was not paid in full, within 90 days, she would have to pay 18% interest! Of course they never told her this before the surgery, but my god, that's higher than a lot of credit cards. She is off work recuperating with this hanging over her head. They aren't even taking her good credit into consideration.

Prices on barrels of gas have dropped due to less demand, yet the prices just went up .40 this weekend? The post office, cut back workers, is going to do away with Saturday deliveries and then raised it's price .02 per stamp!  All the cuts the Automotive workers have made and the price of a car is still high? You cut a workers pay in half, get deals from suppliers, shareholders, and still expect top dollar? How does this all work, the less you have the more they want?

I still have not heard what "sacrifices" all the top executives have made? We all know the banks are still getting their bonuses, Citibank is getting TARP funds and raising your interest rate? What the heck.

Instead of coming together people are tearing each other apart. They are so busy worrying that their neighbor may have something, and some even seem to relish in another person's  misfortune. Good Lord people, knock it off! 

I recently told my friend Vicky, that I felt that everyone was being pushed to the edge of a cliff, all shoved together trying not to fall, and all they needed was one more shove to send them off into the chasm. That while I cannot excuse the shootings, suicides, and crazy  behavior I can see how some might feel so desperate.  It isn't just me feeling it either, so many people I know have just locked in or backed off.  No one wants to talk, I can't blame them there hasn't been a whole lot of things to say that won't remind you of all the crap going on.

I will be okay but I need to step away, I need to cut back and do a little less for a bit.  Take a breath, and just hope for the best.

Mixed Media Background Class

Mixed Media Painting with artist Julie Prichard from Julie Prichard on Vimeo.

Julie is teaching a background workshop. She is having a giveaway for a membership. If you would like to learn how to work with paints, check out her class here:

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/julies-teaching-schedule.html

Raffle to Help Bella!

This dear baby was born premature. The family does not have enough insurance to help pay the mounting bills. Many talented and generous Artisans have come together to help raise money for this little angel. I have donated a print, and you can help by buying a raffle ticket. There are some fantastic prizes to be had. Won't you help, and pass this along after you buy a ticket?

Click on the title to take you to the raffle site!!!

The Winner Is.....

"Excuse me Madam, but it is time."

"Oh yes, right Sebastian, time to draw the name of a Winner for my giveaway. I believe they have a choice of one of my prints, or a handmade mouse, such as the one shown two posts below."

Yes Madam. shall we proceed?

"By all means Sebastian."

I have taken the liberty of writing each name on a slip of paper, according to the outline, once for a comment, twice for following, and thrice for posting on their site..

I have carefully folded and placed each name in the bowl.....

Ah hem, Mr. Hand (Steven) if you would do the honors......

Here it is, the WINNER........

"Of course we must Thank all that took part. They have been so kind to visit and leave such dear comments. You know Sebastian, I was thinking, perhaps we shall do this again. What do you think?"

"I think that is a most excellent idea Madam. When should we do this?"

"Oh, Sebastian I think we should leave some things for a surprise don't you?"

"To be sure Madam, to be sure."

"Well before I retire I am off to contact Tumbleweed Trails and let her know. Goodnight Sebastian."

"Goodnight Madam"