May/June 2003

Refinancing.....finally! It is about time we joined the refinancing bandwagon with rates at a 45 year low. I put RAW on the task to find us a good deal on refinancing. The mortgage company that we are with now (U.S. Bank) said almost $5K in closing costs to refinance with them. Yeah right! Then there was an overnight package delivered on the door stop one day. It was from Wells Fargo claiming 4.85% (APR) for a 15 year with no closing costs. The only way I was going to refinance was that if we went with a 15 year as we were on 7 years of a 30 year and didn't want to start from zero. With that 15 year I wanted to pay the same as I was with my 30. I like to pay extra on the principal and wanted to continue to do so. At the time if I really wanted to keep shopping I could of found lower rates but who know how much closing costs. You can't beat zero and with 4.85% my new mortage is only $6 more than it was! The next day the rates went down further, then it went down again (to that 45 year low) the other day. I guess I could of waited a little longer to go lower because that wasn't the first offer we got from WF, a few weeks before the offer was for 5.25% for 15. Curves Ok, I get all the hints. First I move to the main building at work down the hall from the health club, which btw, I can't get use to seeing 50 year old men walking down the hall in a professional environment in their underwear. Ok, he was wearing work out clothes but it looked underwearie to me. Anyway, next they open a Curves health club five houses down the street. They opened while I was on vacation but was home one day during that week so I joined then. They had a great deal for the first 100 members. I have been going for a month now and had my first measure in. I am down 12"! Sounds like great results but I am not buying it because all my clothes are getting too tight, not loose like I would assume after losing 3" off my abdomen, 1 3/4" off my waist, an inch off each thight and almost 2" off each arm. Wouldn't you think that would be a clothes size smaller not larger? Also with tax refund money, instead of new computer stuff I bought a Trek Navigator 200 bike. I love my bike and try to get out and ride when I get a chance. I have less than 6 months to be considered a hot 40 year old. The diet isn't working anymore so maybe exercize will.   Babies The babies are coming! The babies are coming! Michael Allen Clapper (Mac) is actually here. He was born on June 4 on his big sister Emma's golden birthday. His original due date was on his cousin Phillip's 2nd birthday of June 21 but because of us girl's history of fast labor they were going to induce on the 6th. Baby Mac had other ideas and there were good signs that the 4th would be a better day so they went in and Cindy's water was broke. Three hours after that he was born but in typical Phillips girl fashion it was only the last 30 minutes that Cindy really felt it. The next baby, baby #4 for Pam is due in late August which I am sure will be pushed up for induction as well.     The Race ...the movie I have edited my first feature film, well all 2.5 minutes of it. It is 3mbs as either a Quicktime or Windows Media movie or if you have a really fast connection, download the 9mb version. It is worth the download so go check it out. 3.4Mb QT or 3.4Mb WMV,