Cordelia's Mom, Still

Anticipation? Or Surprise? Which Do You Prefer?

Posted on August 1, 2015 by cordeliasmom2012

There is no schedule for August – I have simply been too busy (what with construction and financial issues – and, of course, playing with Cody!) to think up subjects for this month’s posts.

For awhile now, I’ve been considering discontinuing that monthly agenda and just posting whatever I want, whenever I want – much like most other bloggers. I know I’ve asked in the past whether you all like those schedules (and most have said they do like them – hooray!), but now I’d like to take an official poll.

Please take a moment or two to comment on the poll below. I’ll publish the results when the poll closes, in one week.

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com or notcordeliasmom@aol.com

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Image by Cordelia’s Mom

Posted in Pets, Previews, That's Life | Tagged agenda, blogging, Cody, poll, schedule, surprise | 19 Comments

Tip-Toeing Back Into the Financial World

Posted on July 30, 2015 by cordeliasmom2012

It was nearly a year ago that I wrote my post, “Arising From the Ashes of Credit Card Debt.”

Sure, within a couple of years of declaring bankruptcy, I was able to get a furniture loan and a car loan, but credit cards were unattainable. Not that I’m a fan of credit cards, mind you, but sometimes it helps to have one. What if there’s a major expense (like the washer breaks or the dog gets sick [from eating my brand new cell phone, but that’s a whole ‘nother story]) and there’s not enough money in the checking account to cover it?

Before my bankruptcy, I had nearly every credit card that was ever offered (gee, I wonder why I never saw bankruptcy in my future?). Years later, I could understand why companies I stiffed in bankruptcy would now be reluctant to grant me a new account. I did understand, I did.

So I went merrily on my way using only cash and a debit card and hoping nothing major would arise.

Recently, one of my co-workers refinanced with the same bank I use. The loan terms were incredible – low interest, and no closing costs or fees. I scoffed when my co-worker told me “no fees” – certainly, those would be rolled into the mortgage somehow. But I sat in on the loan closing, and guess what – NO CLOSING COSTS AND NO FEES!

After my colleague’s loan closing, I chatted with the loan officer. I had been struggling to pay one mortgage at 7% and a second one at 10% – plus two brand new construction loans at 9% and 10%, respectively – an interest rate under 4% would save me hundreds of dollars every month if I could roll all the balances into one loan.

But I didn’t have high hopes. Lenders definitely didn’t like me over the last few years.

The loan officer, like loan officers everywhere, was very confident and upbeat – yes, she could get that loan through! And quickly! How would I like to close in two weeks?

Yeah, right.

God bless the woman – she not only got my new mortgage through, and got me a few thousand dollars extra to use towards my ongoing construction costs, but she even managed to get me a brand new, “real” credit card through the same bank. This was funny as hell to me, because that same bank had rejected me for that exact same credit card just a month or two earlier.

So, here I am today – another card-carrying American citizen. I don’t know why having a major credit card makes me feel more worthy, but it does. When we had to stay in a motel for a night during the construction, it was so much easier to do so knowing I had some credit available.

For those who are concerned that I might slide back into the credit card jungle I recently crawled out of, let me just say that I am very careful using my new card. While I admit an urge to want to treat myself occasionally, I keep that under control so that I can pay the balance off each month.

Which is what I should have been doing years ago.

I learned my lesson the hard way. Let my readers learn from my mistakes: It takes a long, long time to come back from bankruptcy – best to avoid that in the first place, if you can. Enjoy the credit cards, but don’t go nuts with them.

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com or notcordeliasmom@aol.com

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Images by Cordelia’s Mom

Posted in That's Life | Tagged bankruptcy, credit, credit cards, finances, houses, mortgage, refinance | 27 Comments

As Close to a Beach Vacation As I’ll Ever Get

Posted on July 29, 2015 by cordeliasmom2012

In response to Marilyn Armstrong’s Serendipity Photo Prompt #16: Small Town Summer, I present the above photo which was taken by the famous Jamie (the same person who created my wonderful header – read the note at the very bottom of the page, people!).

I forget exactly where the photo was taken – somewhere in the Finger Lakes, I believe.

But it doesn’t matter where it was taken, does it? It’s an image that just makes the viewer long for a beach, a lake, and a nice cold drink.

Thanks for sharing, Jamie!

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com or notcordeliasmom@aol.com

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Image by Jamie

Posted in Photography, That's Life | Tagged beach, feet, Jamie, relaxing, summer, vacation | 17 Comments

That Ship Is Getting Closer … (Re-Blog)

Posted on July 27, 2015 by cordeliasmom2012

ShipMoney THAT SHIP STILL HASN’T COME IN, BUT GOD KNOWS I KEEP TRYING! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS RE-BLOG:

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“… Lou padded to the kitchen for some cold cranberry juice and a four-pack of SnackWell’s vanilla cookies.”

*gasp* ….. *I* eat SnackWell’s cookies and drink cranberry juice! Michael Palmer must have been writing (in code, of course), to ME!

It’s just a matter of time now before Michael Palmer’s publisher reaches out to invite me to join Mr. Palmer and all those other successful authors in compiling massive amounts of money!

I will sell the post-war suburban saltbox I live in, and buy that mansion with the thousand acres and the requisite staff to maintain it and keep it secure! I will pay off every penny of my kids’ debts so they can have a better life than me! I will buy SnackWell’s by the CASE instead of by the PACKAGE!

Oh, and I will finally buy the pony I’ve dreamed of since I was 4 years old.

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So nice to dream isn’t it?

It’s amazing how one minor reference to a common American commodity can create a bond with one’s readers. Of course, I’m not totally naïve – I realize that’s what advertising is all about.

But I still get a little excited every time I read a novel or see a movie and find some reference to something I do, buy, or use in my everyday life.

Maybe the store I go to has a WHOLE SHELF of various SnackWell’s cookies, but somehow I still think that I’m the only one eating them. Is my need to feel unique any different than what others feel?

We all have a need to feel special.

Some of us are able to satisfy that need through art, writing, music, etc. Some are special because of their chosen careers. Some are special only to their loved ones – but that, in my mind anyway, is the most important “special” of all.

However, I don’t think any one of us is truly unique.

In fact, even this post isn’t unique. I’m sure this topic has been covered hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

click image to enlarge

Heck, I realized how truly un-unique I am during that whole Kindles Singles experience.

But in my mind, my perspective – and my way of presenting it – IS unique, or at least very special. If I didn’t think that way, I would have quit writing already.

If nothing else, there is absolutely NO ONE else who is writing a blog entitled “Cordelia’s Mom, Still” nor the mirror blog, “Not Cordelia’s Mom.”

I am the only “Cordelia’s Mom” connected to those two blogs who has received those glowing reader comments and replies to my comments on other people’s posts (where some bloggers have even given me the nicknames CM and CookieCakes, making me feel extra special, thank you.)

For now, I am content with being special to my steadily growing readership.

For now, the mansion and pony can wait.

For now, I am happy just being me – a newly minted WRITER, steadily plugging along.

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As always, I love to hear from my readers. You may either comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at: cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com

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Images by: mr-football, and jaci Lopex dos Santos/jaciXIII, and Wendi Pilling/theclipartkid, respectively