Hola chicas.

Today, today, today, today. Rain. More loan applications. Took a loan application from some very good friends; I've refinanced their house before. I just wonder what this is going to accomplish for them.

They're so set on doing this, and at the same time I have a couple who I can take from a 30 to a 15 year loan, keeping their payment the same, and they're resisting. Cutting 11 years off their mortgage? And keeping everything status quo ante? Sounds like a deal to me!

It's just all bass-ackwards.

Plus, I got a contract in today that needs to close by Christmas? The title work and the appraisal won't be done by the closing date set in the contract. What are people thinking?

It's just all something.

Spent part of my first PJ-free day chatting online with this really sweet guy from Poznan, Poland. He's just fun to talk to. He and a girlfriend are planning on traveling to the US for six months to study. He said it was -10 there in Poznan; about 0 degrees to those of us from the land of arrogance. He's freezing, and thinks that living in the sub-tropics sounds great.

I'm resolving to make this apartment mine for at least a good long while yet - I'm here through December, 2003, and so I'm thinking it's time to make some things more workable. I'm going to have more shelves put in the laundry room, have the speaker wires run behind the walls, have the sheet rock repaired, and the living room, dining room and kitchen repainted. Found a guy today who came by; offered to do the work for $300. Uh - scary?

I'll figure out some way to have it done, anyway. I'd REALLY love to rip up the carpeting, and put down some sort of dog-proof floor covering. Which, if I'm going to stay here, I may consider. Carpeting is so conventional, but these two dogs track in dirt like they're farm tractors. Not to mention the inevitable random puking, etc., etc., etc.

Kurtis and David - the penultimate gay couple - have their house in beautiful shades of taupe and beige with gorgeous tile floors. I don't think their dogs evacuate. Their house is always clean like .. I don't know .. the maid is scared to death of Leona Helmsley. But THEY HAVE NO MAID! They do it all themselves.

How does this happen? They both work. They have a yard, two dogs .. but .. it's always Better Fags & Gardens over there.

Plus, they both work out and have a social life.

Makes me wonder if they're space aliens or something. Or if I'm just lazy (which, if you were to follow my dad's line of reasoning, I probably am) My sister thinks I'm addicted to the internet. Which probably has some validity, too.

BUT I HAVE SOMEONE WHO I PAY TO CLEAN MY HOUSE. Every week. He grooms the dogs, too.

And still it looks like wreckage to me in here. Of course, today was house cleaning day, and he had to cancel.

Headed to Richard's for dinner tonight - Rick (the partner) wants to ask me some questions about my brief stint at The Alexander Group - how they researched, how they presented, etc.

Haven't heard from James today - before Thanksgiving - we talked EVERY day. After Thanksgiving - nearly zippo. I'll have to hunt him down.

Plus, he's my exercise buddy - and I need to get back on the track with him.

Well, it's time to get some sleep.