Well, I finally finished Assassin's Creed (yeah, yeah, I know. 3 years after everyone else). I'll give my impressions on that in the next blog entry (I'm a perfectionist...still need to get the flags). I will, however, make the comment that my two year old has been watching me through much of the play through. My wife was worried that he might be taking something negative away from the game, having watched all the killing and assassination and such. He refers to Assassin's Creed as the "he fall down" game. He likes to watch the character climb to the top of the buildings and then do the swan dive into the ground. He gets all excited as he watches me climb, occasionally looking back at me and saying knowingly 'he fall down'. This morning, I awoke to him taking swan dives onto my mattress, making the eagle cry sound as he falls face first into the mattress. Well, I guess that settles what he was thinking about while watching the game.
In other news, we were accepted for our mortgage loan. The next step is for the seller to fix the roof of the house, and then we will be moving in. I can't wait to have a backyard. Ive never had a backyard that wasnt attached to someone elses. It might be nice to sit out on the porch and know that I wont have anything interrupt my peaceful musings.
Lastly, I was accepted to grad school. I start in the fall. Yay!
Oh, I lied. Lastly: there is a lot of debate about who the Bucs pick in this years draft. We all know that the Bucs need an edge rusher, but just who will be available at that point, and who our scouts will like is a matter for huge debate. I must say though, my number one choice would be Justin Houston, and I would be rather upset if we got Adrian Clayborn.
Any of you guys have opinions on the draft?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Views of the House
So...house update.
The appraiser came and we offered less than the appraised value of the house, which is a good thing since the bank would have turned down the loan had we offered more. Step 35423/45654298 complete.
Also, the home inspectors came out, and gave their report. Structurally, the house is in great shape, with many of the fixtures and things being brand new. The foundation is perfect, and the house has recently been treated for termites with that stuff that lasts like 30 years. The air conditioning is in good shape, but old (will probably need replacing in 6-10 years), and the roof is terrible and needs replacing now.
Herein lies the problem. Ive told the seller that we need the roof fixed before the sale goes through, which will cost him an extra 6000 dollars according to his estimate. We've decided to pay half of that for him, and he will pay the other half (if he agrees). The guy brought down a shingle and showed me that the roof really is in shitty condition so I hope he agrees to that deal. If not, there isn't much more we can do since we are close to that appraised value at the moment.
At any rate, here are some pictures (sorry they are late, and they are stolen directly from jill's blog, so thanks for putting those up for me jill :) )
Also, as for video game and book reviews: I'm almost done with Assassin's Creed (yes, i know, i'm ridiculously late on that). I have a problem...I collect video games more than I play them. I guess I'm saving them for a time when I am super bored. I have another problem though, when I start something like a game or a book, I am compelled to complete it before moving on to the next game/book. Recently, I was super bored and started Assassin's Creed...hence the need for completion. I can tell where the complaints of repetitiveness came about early on in this games review cycle...many can I tell where the complaints came from. Ultimately though, I think Assassin's Creed was meant to be more of a story experience than most people played it as. At any rate. Full review coming soon.
Adieu
The appraiser came and we offered less than the appraised value of the house, which is a good thing since the bank would have turned down the loan had we offered more. Step 35423/45654298 complete.
Also, the home inspectors came out, and gave their report. Structurally, the house is in great shape, with many of the fixtures and things being brand new. The foundation is perfect, and the house has recently been treated for termites with that stuff that lasts like 30 years. The air conditioning is in good shape, but old (will probably need replacing in 6-10 years), and the roof is terrible and needs replacing now.
Herein lies the problem. Ive told the seller that we need the roof fixed before the sale goes through, which will cost him an extra 6000 dollars according to his estimate. We've decided to pay half of that for him, and he will pay the other half (if he agrees). The guy brought down a shingle and showed me that the roof really is in shitty condition so I hope he agrees to that deal. If not, there isn't much more we can do since we are close to that appraised value at the moment.
At any rate, here are some pictures (sorry they are late, and they are stolen directly from jill's blog, so thanks for putting those up for me jill :) )
Also, as for video game and book reviews: I'm almost done with Assassin's Creed (yes, i know, i'm ridiculously late on that). I have a problem...I collect video games more than I play them. I guess I'm saving them for a time when I am super bored. I have another problem though, when I start something like a game or a book, I am compelled to complete it before moving on to the next game/book. Recently, I was super bored and started Assassin's Creed...hence the need for completion. I can tell where the complaints of repetitiveness came about early on in this games review cycle...many can I tell where the complaints came from. Ultimately though, I think Assassin's Creed was meant to be more of a story experience than most people played it as. At any rate. Full review coming soon.
Adieu
Friday, February 18, 2011
Think we found a house
This house we are looking at is smaller than the one we are currently living in, but the area is a million times better. In addition, the house itself is in much nicer condition than where we are living now (all wood floors, brand new appliances, etc). The price was right and we made an offer. The seller accepted, and now we are going through the underwriting process.
This has been hectic as hell trying to get a house. I have no idea how people can do this as their job (the guy we are buying from bought the house cheaply and fixed it, putting in the appliances and fixing the floors and such). How he can go through this process on a weekly basis is beyond me.
Anyway, wish me luck with the underwriters, and Ill take pics of the inside sooner or later.
Adieu
This has been hectic as hell trying to get a house. I have no idea how people can do this as their job (the guy we are buying from bought the house cheaply and fixed it, putting in the appliances and fixing the floors and such). How he can go through this process on a weekly basis is beyond me.
Anyway, wish me luck with the underwriters, and Ill take pics of the inside sooner or later.
Adieu
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Buying a New House
I find myself in the market for a new home today. The stress is unbelievable. Driving from location to location with my agent, gathering money together for a down payment as well as proving to the bank that I am capable of paying the monthly payments, etc. This process takes a lot out of you.
That doesn't even include the process of finding a house where my children will be safe to grow up in, and the neighbors aren't complete lunatics. It seems like with all the foreclosures due to the poor economy, people are leaving their houses in terrible states of repair these days as well.
The house we finally settled on is slightly smaller than the one we are in now, but in much better condition and in an incredibly good neighborhood. Additionally, the new house has a yard and space for a dog (something we have been wanting for a long time).
I figure that, worst comes to worst, we can live in the house for 3 years to avoid capital gains taxes, and then sell it off for way more than we bought it for (assuming the economy rebounds in 3 years...hopefully it will).
That doesn't even include the process of finding a house where my children will be safe to grow up in, and the neighbors aren't complete lunatics. It seems like with all the foreclosures due to the poor economy, people are leaving their houses in terrible states of repair these days as well.
The house we finally settled on is slightly smaller than the one we are in now, but in much better condition and in an incredibly good neighborhood. Additionally, the new house has a yard and space for a dog (something we have been wanting for a long time).
I figure that, worst comes to worst, we can live in the house for 3 years to avoid capital gains taxes, and then sell it off for way more than we bought it for (assuming the economy rebounds in 3 years...hopefully it will).
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Welcome
First, from this title, it might be construed that I am a user of illegal substances. This is not that case. I've actually never touched any drugs in my life (though, I have been exposed to them, and around them. I think it's impossible to avoid exposure in this day and age). The closest I come to drug abuse is migraine medication that my neurologist prescribes.
Another misrepresentation of this blog's title might occur if one were to think that I take a cynical stance on issues of love. This is also not the case. Like anyone else in the world, I've been burned by love in the past, and felt the exhilarating oneness that can only come from a true partnership with one you love. Either way though, love will only be a side topic to this blogs main purpose (if it is mentioned at all).
The question that remains then is: what is the purpose of this blog?
Difficult to answer, would be the response to that question. A review of books that I read and video games that I play? A place for me to bitch about the injustices of the world? A place to compile collections of creepypasta (of which, I am a major fan)? I'm not sure. However, I do feel as though I need a place to put pen to paper (so to speak) and jot down my thoughts, if for no other reason than the catharsis one gets by putting their deepest, darkest secrets out for the world to see.
The only remaining question would be, just who is your host through this journey of the mind? My name is Cliff. I'm the father of 3 beautiful boys (one is 7, one almost 4, the other almost 2), and 3 girl (the eldest is 12...though I don't get to see her often, the others are 9 and 5). I'm currently mostly unemployed (though, I do have a residual income from past activities), and I have recently applied to graduate school. I'm probably not entirely sane, but then who is these days? I'm also not amoral, nor perverse in my morality. I'm sure you'll get to know me better as time goes on.
Adieu.
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