Let's hope for a better year
2009 ended for me and my Wife with a ton of problems in our household. Here's the short list, not trying to depress anyone:
Just found out my Wife's Dad is having surgery Monday morning for cancer in his lower intestine. He kept it from everyone not to ruin their holidays. My Wife will be flying out to Arizona within the next few weeks if all goes well.
My Brother-in-law is on a Liver transplant list in California. He's not (yet...) in dire need, but he does need a Liver.
Our much-loved Mutt Angel is starting to deteriorate and has a hard time walking and using the stairs. She's also having other "issues" besides what I swear is senility.... she's going on 16 and we're starting to pay more attention to her than ourselves knowing we can't prevent the inevitable. And it's killing us when she looks at us helpless.....
The local water service has been over charging me for water for the past 5 months on an EMPTY house I own. We checked the water meter last month and used 8 cubic feet and was charged for 3,800. Been in dispute for months....
And we just learned that my mortgage company screwed up my tax status when we re-financed that house 3 years ago and we suddenly have a $10,000+ tax nightmare that has necessitated the hiring of a Real Estate lawyer (I could have built a new stroker small block for THAT priviledge...) and I have to pay the city back-taxes and go sue the mortgage company and possibly the lawyer who handled the re-financing to get our money back.
And this means I can't re-finance the house to buy my sister out as she needs the money ASAP as she's graduating college and needs to start her business. Amy & me are going to move back into the house for a few years to try & protest our investment instead of selling right now. But with the water-use issue we dare not move in and start really using water.
And Amy's GTI was side-swiped in front of our co-op 2 weeks ago to the tune of $1,700 by some douche-bag hit & run. Got it back last Friday looking good, but I know our low-mileage baby has been violated.
At the same time we have much to be thankful for, but we ARE being tested right now. Let's hope 2010 works out better for everyone.