Money talks; it'll tell you a story

[rolanni]

So, yesterday was an exciting day, for values of exiting that include High Comedy and Sheer Terror.  Though it was Wednesday, Anything did not happen.  No, I'm wrong.  Anything did happen.  Just not the things I would have preferred to have happened.

Let's see. . .we didn't get an offer on the house yesterday.  I would've liked that.  At least, I think I would've liked that, but who knows, y'know?  It would certainly have Clarified Things.

We did go to the bank to get pre-qualified.  The bank's idea of how much we can afford is. . . whoa, really, and in what alternate universe?  This was to create problems, later in the day, but at the moment of pre-qualification, it was merely blackly amusing.  It is to our credit that Steve and I managed to both look at the figure proposed by the bank and not burst into wild gales of laughter.

After the bank, we viewed that house we had liked, with advertency and utilizing a fine-tooth comb, and regretfully came to the conclusion that, no, it would not do, after all.  We therefore move on to the next two on the short list.

When we came home, I made the mistake of actually looking at houses that the bank thinks we can afford.  And, then, I made a very bad mistake, indeed.

I looked down.

Anyone involved in the arts -- from circus art, to music, to painter, potter, writer -- will tell you that it is crucial to your mental well-being and to your art not to look down. Ever.  Usually, I'm good with not looking down, because, hey, fiction writer, here.  But, yesterday -- I looked.

And the reality of my life kind of all rushed up and hit me in the face: how I don't know how we're paying our bills now, except that we do -- it's, yanno, magic, near enough, and it never does to scrutinize magic too closely, either. . .and how I can't predict if I'm going to be able to pay my bills in future, and how the bank's happy assumption that we're going to continue to grow our earnings is simply. . .not the freelance reality, and, and. . .and!. . .And. . .

. . .let's just say that, had I actually been climbing a tree at  the time, I would have fallen, and Jimmy Bean would have had to run fetch Aunt Polly.

Who knew house hunting would be so VERY exciting?

I am today cleaning all of the old typescripts of the novels out of the file cabinets.  We have more file cabinets than any sane couple of writers needs.  Later this week, I intend to throw away the mountain of tearsheets from our days as reporters/reviewers/photographers.

Here's what the pile of novel typescripts looks like:

Typescripts to go

I will also, later this week, be setting up a Patreon account, for Mozart, mostly, so that his many fans and well-wishers may do as seems reasonable to them.  Watch this space for more information.

And I think that catches us up for the moment.

Here, have a picture of Sprite and Trooper, overlooking the birds at the feeder.  Sprite is taller than her dad, now.

Sprite and Trooper, birdwatching

Today's blog title comes to you courtesy of the late JJ Cale.  Here's your link.

Comments

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

dont toss the typescripts, sell them... add to the downpayment kitty.

Loan Officers as Fantasy Novelists

[aska-kettlingur.livejournal.com]

There are several houses on our street that used to belong to people who believed the bank officer's estimate of what they could afford. Hang onto reality. As far as selling the typescripts versus trashing them, although my first reaction is not to get rid of anything, I wonder if the cost in time and space that the typescripts will take while awaiting sale is worth the possible gain. Unless someone else is willing to take them away and arrange for the sale, you may need to be ruthless. Of course, you could offer them as a bonus to anyone who comes up and helps you clean, pack, and move.

[djonn]

As regards those novel typescripts:

I agree that they ought not be tossed out willy-nilly (and to be fair, you didn't say you were going to; that was the journalistic tearsheets). But I wonder if there isn't a third option beyond sale or disposal -- I believe there are at least a couple of universities collecting genre authors' literary papers, and (especially if there are multiple drafts of the same novel in among the present stacks) this is exactly the sort of thing I'd expect them to be interested in.

A potential advantage there: to the extent that the typescripts do have economic value, that might very well net you a tax deduction -- which could actually be more cost-effective than selling the typescripts.

[adriannem.livejournal.com]

I've had a very similar experience with house hunting and banks recently.... My condolences.

Manuscripts & Walking the High Wire

[ireneha.livejournal.com]

I know that I have some Manuscripts from Andre Norton. I don't read them, but I treasure them.
Try contacting someone like Lloyd Currey: www.lwcurrey.com

Back in the day, Lloyd would even drive to you if he felt the need. But it's been XX years, so I don't know.

As for "looking down". Never look down from the hig-wire. Never look back to see who is following you. Keep looking ahead. Life is "working without a net."

Strength is needed for making the leap-of-faith, and moving your stuff, and family to a new location. But we all (yeah - all of us) get to the point of life where stuff has to go out, changes have to be made, and we have to face that life goes on.

Of course you know that the four legged members of the family probably HATE change the most, but the 'thumbs' will also need to change.

Best of Luck, Happy house hunting. My hardest part was keeping the image of the house I wanted in my head, and rejecting all other houses (price, size, location, lot) until one popped up that was a good match.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

I first read that the opposite way of what you clarified later-- my initial impression was that the bank had underestimate what you could afford and therefore you were looking at really bad houses and when you looked down, aiee, dirt and bugs and trash.

Then I realized it was meant the other way and that the bank was giving you a blue skies estimate. >_>

Hope you find a nice new forever-home!

[muirecan.livejournal.com]

Here is a hug for that glance down. ::hugs::.

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

Good idea! *adds to the hugs*

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

Good idea! *adds to the hugs*

I had to narrow the window

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

that is over my desk because Ripley decided to try to strain herself into the gap that I had previously left (foolishly thinking it was small enough to discourage that). It is now at about 1.5 inches.

She gets her nose in and starts chirping like she's going, 'heeere, birdie birdie birdie..."

Yeah, we're kind of in the same pile regarding the house. We are going to look at a 'fixer upper' tomorrow that could be horrible or could be okay (drive-by indicates it needs a new roof and being painted). But we also have to sell the stack we live in.

Hugs.

[the wol (from livejournal.com)]

What a luxurious pair of Maine Coon tails do father and daughter have. Here's hoping someone makes an offer on your house and offers top dollar.