Ok ... no more on houses
5.0 out of 5 stars Who would ever think geometry to be such fun! February 25, 2010By Aynetal3 - See all my reviews
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I went through this book last night when I finally settled down to having a couple of hours. There are ton of pictures - one each of the 165 quilts plus one each of the black and white corresponding designs, plus a whole bevy of other quilts - some in color. This is a book to study and treasure. The book also has a light plastic sheet that gives the general designs such as 9 patch, 64 squares and 8-pointed stars of 5 various categories. I couldn't have understood before reading the book how methodological these basic design tools are and how much I had under-appreciated or took fun with geometry.
Jinny only had one or two equations, but from overlaying the plastic sheet over the designs there were many, many "aha" moments when the design suddenly made sense! You can SEE IT! Jinny keeps the dialogue down to a minimum. She uses her words very carefully in a good teaching manner so that you can follow along her thinking. She diagrams her points by asking you to visualize A, B, C or further on - on the design block. She also explains working and drawing with a light to medium black marker to make the color elements of dark, medium or light fabrics. It's not as hard as it might seem and the symmetry just makes positive sense. I left feeling very intelligent, creative and ready to give her design ideas a go-around.
I'm looking forward to a 4 day weekend - I took a personal day to try and marry up Jinny's designs with EQ6 quilt design program - though Jinny explains carefully how to make paper folds and/or by using a ruler to make the design grids. I'm brimming with explorer excitement and fascination.
Jinny's work is a pleasure put to words and visual stimulation and the work is timeless though basic and to that which all quilters should place in their comprehensive mind's eye.
WooHOO! We wrote this this morning in our excitement over one of the Jinny Beyer books we’d gotten and read through last night. I was in a really really bad way yesterday and so when we had the creative idea to take the book, close the bedroom door and lay down next to the lamp – well, it was a very good idea. We not only were able to de-stress ourselves, we had a lot of clear and fluid thoughts that made us feel our life had relevancy again. I really do believe in the book and I’m learning to believe in the author.
Ok, we’re back again … It’s much later in the day. I will be leaving in about a half an hour. I will be going to see Dr. Marvin, and then we’ll be going home. I’ll be very ready for it. We did everything we needed to to have a four day weekend. Monday is Pulaski day and tomorrow Ann is taking her last personal day so we could have a four day weekend. I’ve still got … ok, maybe we said that already?
Did you know we had 20 or so days left – half vacation that needs to be used by end of June and then half we can carry over. Ok, maybe repeating self. Just kinda found our natural slump.
We’ve just been going through things with the mortgage people. I’ll set out here for the record the natural progression of things.
Hi Ann,
Do you know what Rich’s income is from Jewish Vocational Services? Is he a salaried employee with them?
Debbie Ward
JVS closed Rich's position in June of 2009 as a part of their downsizing. He was receiving compensation through November I believe.
Since he’s not employed there I won’t be able to use any income from that position. I’m guessing the income he is currently claiming is from his consultant business. Is that correct? I know he has employment listed with St. Rose Center but I did not see any W-2’s from that company so I’m assuming he’s including the income from St. Rose Center in with his consulting business. Is that correct?
Debbie Ward
Yes the current income is from the consulting business. I know his main three contracts as from St. Rose, Universal and New Hope. My understanding is that each of three businesses including St. Rose Center pay him weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. St. Rose gives him a check for consulting in the amount of $3000 bi-weekly. This is at least my understanding. I've never before inquired so much in Rich's financial concerns. He normally takes care of his business personally, and it’s been since October that he's been taking care of my business too, but our expenses come each from our own incomes - the money only meets up on rent, electric and cable. I think I've explained this before. Other companies pay him for direct services at the time they are working on Rich's contracts. My understanding is that Rich clears $7800 a month from these three consulting contracts and through working as an official for baseball, basketball, and football. Rich had told both Kim and I that I was in charge of finding the money.
I felt very bad when you asked because it hadn't dawned on me realistically that JVS not being part of his income might have a very big impact. He'd worked at JVS for over 30 years and since we're doing well enough without it it just didn't seem like a real loss. It feels like that now ... kind of a sinking feeling. I'm hoping that I haven't wasted your time in looking at our financial records. I don't know whether we'd be eligible for a loan without the set salary JVS offered. Until we hear from you I won't understand how good or bad our situation is. Please forgive me if we've abused your time. Kim had given me encouragement in that she said that if there was a way she and you would do your best for us. I appreciate that effort and your best advice.
Thanks,
Ann
Hi Ann,
The only income I can use in qualifying is Rich’s self employed income and although he makes a good amount from that he does write off his expenses so I’m only able to use $3,469.21 a month which is his reported income averaged over 2007 and 2008. That doesn’t cover the maintenance and other expenses he is responsible for paying per his divorce decree. I’m so sorry. I would love to see you get into a new home. I know you indicated that you had some credit issues so perhaps once your credit improves we can take another look at the numbers.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Again, I’m sorry I can’t help you at this time.
Debbie Ward
Dear Debbie,
Yikes - I didn't know it would look like that. Less than half of his income seems to be what is showing. I don't know if it will look different after doing his taxes, but I'm thinking we're going to need doing quite a bit before becoming mortgage ready. I had heard we might have problems due to him owning his own consulting business. I am going to forward this message also to Kim and Lisa - so that you all know how much I appreciated going through these kinds of hopes with the group of you. When I get to the point of thinking we could show enough wealth to pass, I will try running things through again. I've looked by now at many hundreds of homes, but none satisfied me like the two I found from you in either Bolingbrook or Montgomery. I have talked to Rich about the houses this last couple of days and we come in at a stalemate. Rich would like the one level where I would like the two levels. No teasing about finding a split level to satisfy the "average" of us. :)
Both Rich and I've now talked and we discussed our finances by this new light and we are talking about developing more a joint interest in his business .. there will be many more talks ahead, but in the meantime we've both agreed to start working on our incomes and saving so that we can get used to and pay for at minimum a $2200 mortgage ... Debbie - if you can shoot me one more number, could you state the income needed to qualify for a mortgage of $250,000. Or, if it's more feasible what kind of debt to income ratio we'd have to have. If we can each put some aside it will make us more comfortable with a higher cost of living and in the meantime build up our down payment both reasonably good ideas for future home buyers. I learned a lot from you. One thing I learned that was valuable was that Rich will only be paying maintenance for about 6 years - I had thought it was going to happen forever. Right now that seems an eternity to me, but in the process ... I remain assured everything we've done or will need to do is a building block toward building our dream and our future.
Thank you very much for your services and your kindness,
Ann M. Garvey
cc: Kim
cc: Lisa
Hi Ann,
As a general rule of thumb, your back end ratio which is the new house payment plus your exciting liabilities (which would include the maintenance being paid) should not be more than 45% of your income. Since Rich is self employed, the income we would use is what he is reporting as taxable income to the IRS, not the gross sales.
If you have any questions about this please let me know.
Thanks Debbie,
I guess we'll have to play it out over the years because from what I understand of the settlement was that she got 50%, which would mean he'd never qualify for a house. I don't think the legal portion is set in stone so that she has rights to go back to court for more money if she were to think he was making more. The wife chose to go on disability during the divorce process due to her stated high blood pressure. I guess this is just me being cranky. I'm still appreciative of all learned in the process of looking for a place that was mine. But, then this would be me just feeling sorry for myself ... probably best for me to be the e that just goes back to work.
Thanks for your efforts good luck in the future.
Our best,
Ann
Ann,
You had inquired about purchasing a home and help with financing of this about a week ago. That same day I left a voicemail for you but have not heard back. I thought I would touch base and see if we can still of assistance to you? Let me know if you are interested in speaking further.
Sincerely,
Stewart E. Hoyer
Thanks for the query Stewart. I had processed our financial paperwork though the mortgage people of the property that was being built and unfortunately we just found that we do not qualify. Rich is an independent consultant and it turned out his numbers were down too low due to income and because of a very high maintenance agreement with his ex. She gets 50% of his income, but the mortgage company said all debts should be fewer than 45%. He's going to be liable to her until he turns 65 so I guess we're going to be out of the market for a while unless he would earn substantially more ... which would mean she'd still want a higher maintenance agreement. Today it just feels like there is no room to win here.
Thanks for your time and attention on this case. Good luck in your work!
Ann M. Garvey
Rich,
I won't ever ask for another house. I don't think either of us really knew, but unless you were earning substantially more money - that your wife couldn't demand 50% of ... we could never buy a house. So this is the end.
Ann
posted by Ann Marie @ 2/25/2010 03:26:00 PM
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