So Sunday morning my husband tells me we have a flat tire on our Saturn so he goes out and puts some air in it. The Saturn has a built in air compressor and then waits to see if it's slow leak or something more.
It was something more. The tire was shot and we needed a new one but since we have a super sized Saturn places like Sam's club don't carry a tire that size in stock and most tire places are closed on Sundays. At least the tire places I could think of were closed.
We found that Firestone was open and we ended up buying a tire from them. We had to jack up the Saturn, get the old tire and rim off, take it to Firestone, get the new tire installed on our rim, go home and install the tire on the car...in the rain. It totally killed our day! I swear it took us about 3 hours to get everything all settled.
Spending $150 on a tire 10 days before Christmas was not exactly what I was planning on doing but gotta have a tire on the car. The guy who looked at the tire told us that the wear isn't right and we probably need another tire and that we should take the car to the dealer.
My husband confirmed when we got home that the other back tire should be replaced. Now we need to replace another $150 tire and possibly have a car repair bill too.
Congress I still need that bailout!
Later that night, I passed our neighbor on my way home from Wegmans. His car was being loaded on a flat bed because he had a flat tire. Since it was too busy of an intersection to stop at and I was already through when I saw his jeep, I pulled over and called his partner to make sure no one needed a ride home.
stupid cars!
Pmrk's Journal
My Podcast Link
12/15/2008 11:46 #47067
Cars - hate them!!!Category: cars
12/12/2008 10:08 #47041
House Assessment ChallengeI'm preparing my case to fight out recent house assessment.
I will be taking photos of the exterior of our house, it needs a paint job terribly. I will be taking using photos of our kitchen and bathroom that show they have not been updated, well the bathroom was updated in the 50's but it's crazy.
Our bathroom is pink and baby blue including a baby blue tub and sink.
I am also going to look at the sale data for the house next door as our houses are planned out the same way and roughly the same square footage.
I have an email into my neighbors who are also fighting the assessment on their home.
I will be taking photos of the exterior of our house, it needs a paint job terribly. I will be taking using photos of our kitchen and bathroom that show they have not been updated, well the bathroom was updated in the 50's but it's crazy.
Our bathroom is pink and baby blue including a baby blue tub and sink.
I am also going to look at the sale data for the house next door as our houses are planned out the same way and roughly the same square footage.
I have an email into my neighbors who are also fighting the assessment on their home.
metalpeter - 12/12/08 16:45
I wish you luck. I have no advise since I don't have a home. I do know others who have tried to fight like you are. In some cases the value of a house does go up, the value of a house isn't really what it is worth it is how much someone would pay for it. Cities and towns often raise the value of peoples houses because it means they have to pay more taxes, and this is true for most of the time. I wish you luck with your battle.
I wish you luck. I have no advise since I don't have a home. I do know others who have tried to fight like you are. In some cases the value of a house does go up, the value of a house isn't really what it is worth it is how much someone would pay for it. Cities and towns often raise the value of peoples houses because it means they have to pay more taxes, and this is true for most of the time. I wish you luck with your battle.
janelle - 12/12/08 12:18
I'm using photos of my house and my neighbors homes that need repair. My neighbors across the street have won several times in the past using that strategy but I also think they compare sales prices of recent sales to their assessment. It's hard for me to compare to recent sales because we were the last house sold on our street. Who knows how the city makes these decisions...go figure.
I'm also using the inspection report from less than two years ago documenting some of the repairs that are needed. I even have an estimate on replacing the 28 year old furnace from the inspector.
I'm using photos of my house and my neighbors homes that need repair. My neighbors across the street have won several times in the past using that strategy but I also think they compare sales prices of recent sales to their assessment. It's hard for me to compare to recent sales because we were the last house sold on our street. Who knows how the city makes these decisions...go figure.
I'm also using the inspection report from less than two years ago documenting some of the repairs that are needed. I even have an estimate on replacing the 28 year old furnace from the inspector.
pmrk - 12/12/08 12:08
it's not like the city it known for its make sense decisions. :-)
it's not like the city it known for its make sense decisions. :-)
matthew - 12/12/08 11:41
Well like I said, that was just her opinion. Its probably a safe bet to just bring as much information (pictures and data) as you can.
Well like I said, that was just her opinion. Its probably a safe bet to just bring as much information (pictures and data) as you can.
pmrk - 12/12/08 11:31
that is crazy that the photos didn't work since the city specifically asks for them on the forms you have to fill out! Guess we'll go with sale data and photos as backup.
that is crazy that the photos didn't work since the city specifically asks for them on the forms you have to fill out! Guess we'll go with sale data and photos as backup.
matthew - 12/12/08 11:23
I have a friend in my neighborhood who has fought the increase on two seperate occasions. The first time she brought in pictures of her homes "weak spots", ie: needed roof repair, old bathrooms, old plumbing, ect. It didn't work. The next time she fought it she skipped the pictures and just brought data and numbers comparing her property's assessed value to the others in her neighborhood, and what the current selling prices were. It worked. I don't know if this is the norm but, in her opinion, the city is more likely to side with you if you use facts and figures. I don't know if this helps your situation, but good luck either way!!
I have a friend in my neighborhood who has fought the increase on two seperate occasions. The first time she brought in pictures of her homes "weak spots", ie: needed roof repair, old bathrooms, old plumbing, ect. It didn't work. The next time she fought it she skipped the pictures and just brought data and numbers comparing her property's assessed value to the others in her neighborhood, and what the current selling prices were. It worked. I don't know if this is the norm but, in her opinion, the city is more likely to side with you if you use facts and figures. I don't know if this helps your situation, but good luck either way!!
12/12/2008 10:01 #47040
well what are you going to eat?ahhh the age old question my mother asks every time a holiday or family gathering of some sort is going to happen.
Why? Hubby and I are both vegetarians in a family of non-vegetarians and we apparently still confound and confuse them - we probably do that on many levels.
Neither one of us is a crazy strict veg nor are we veg for moral reasons. You can't control every food product you eat, esp. when you go out to eat so we try to take in stride when we discover that after the fact the soup was made with chicken stock but the serving staff didn't know that.
It shouldn't matter that we don't eat meat but it's always something my mom worries about. It's not like we're going to go hungry anywhere we go as generally all of the sides dishes, appetizers, drinks and desserts are meat free and available in such abundance that no normal person could consume all of the food at one of my family gatherings.
My favorite is when my mom offers to cook us something. I always tell her no since she usually picks something crazy and then doesn't execute it well at all. If I think it's such an issue, I can cook something for us. I'm the person who is the veggie and who has been preparing my own meals as well as the meals in my household for a long time. She means well, she is just trying to show she cares and is sensitive to things.
I lost track but I think I've considered myself a vegetarian for about 15 years or so maybe longer so my family shouldn't be too surprised anymore but I'm sure it will continue to be an issue until far into the future.
Why? Hubby and I are both vegetarians in a family of non-vegetarians and we apparently still confound and confuse them - we probably do that on many levels.
Neither one of us is a crazy strict veg nor are we veg for moral reasons. You can't control every food product you eat, esp. when you go out to eat so we try to take in stride when we discover that after the fact the soup was made with chicken stock but the serving staff didn't know that.
It shouldn't matter that we don't eat meat but it's always something my mom worries about. It's not like we're going to go hungry anywhere we go as generally all of the sides dishes, appetizers, drinks and desserts are meat free and available in such abundance that no normal person could consume all of the food at one of my family gatherings.
My favorite is when my mom offers to cook us something. I always tell her no since she usually picks something crazy and then doesn't execute it well at all. If I think it's such an issue, I can cook something for us. I'm the person who is the veggie and who has been preparing my own meals as well as the meals in my household for a long time. She means well, she is just trying to show she cares and is sensitive to things.
I lost track but I think I've considered myself a vegetarian for about 15 years or so maybe longer so my family shouldn't be too surprised anymore but I'm sure it will continue to be an issue until far into the future.
tinypliny - 12/15/08 21:56
Yea! Somehow people don't understand that a wealth of choices exist if you are a vegetarian. I am amused by just how concerned people get when I tell them that I am a vegetarian. Some people just assume that I don't eat dairy products either - which is just weird. Some others think fish is okay!
Yea! Somehow people don't understand that a wealth of choices exist if you are a vegetarian. I am amused by just how concerned people get when I tell them that I am a vegetarian. Some people just assume that I don't eat dairy products either - which is just weird. Some others think fish is okay!
12/03/2008 11:10 #46935
More lettersDear City of Buffalo Assessment and Taxation Office
We are one of the 7,065 property owners, that has received a higher assessment and we're puzzled as to how you came to the conclusion that our modest home in N. Buffalo is now worth $24,000 more than it was last year when you then said it was worth $19,000 more than in 2006.
I know Buffalo is different from other parts of the country when it comes to our strange little economy. I hardly can believe that our house has increased in value by so much in such a short time.
We might have been happy since this would have meant that we had a nice amount of home equity but surely you know that the credit market is pretty tight these days.
Last time I heard the doom gloom news, it was estimated that only 1 in 4 people who wanted to get a loan could. Stats can be misleading but I also read that in the US there are 5 major banking players and none of them a readily lending so I am inclined to believe we won't get a loan if we wanted one.
I feel like this is pretty thinly veiled tax increase in the works. Yes, I read and understood that nice statement that our taxes are based on many factors. Our memory isn't that short and I keep all our records and the last time you raised our assessment, the city raised our taxes so I'm a bit skeptical at this point.
How about you talk to the Mayor's Office and suggest revitalizing some of the more depressed areas of Buffalo and expanding our tax base so we don't need to concentrate so much of the tax burden.
As a tax payer, I would welcome intergovernmental communications that could lead to some positive progress and increased efficiency.
We'll be sending in our grievance letter shortly or my husband may show up on the ultra convenient grievance day of December 31, 2008.
Thanks in advance!
We are one of the 7,065 property owners, that has received a higher assessment and we're puzzled as to how you came to the conclusion that our modest home in N. Buffalo is now worth $24,000 more than it was last year when you then said it was worth $19,000 more than in 2006.
I know Buffalo is different from other parts of the country when it comes to our strange little economy. I hardly can believe that our house has increased in value by so much in such a short time.
We might have been happy since this would have meant that we had a nice amount of home equity but surely you know that the credit market is pretty tight these days.
Last time I heard the doom gloom news, it was estimated that only 1 in 4 people who wanted to get a loan could. Stats can be misleading but I also read that in the US there are 5 major banking players and none of them a readily lending so I am inclined to believe we won't get a loan if we wanted one.
I feel like this is pretty thinly veiled tax increase in the works. Yes, I read and understood that nice statement that our taxes are based on many factors. Our memory isn't that short and I keep all our records and the last time you raised our assessment, the city raised our taxes so I'm a bit skeptical at this point.
How about you talk to the Mayor's Office and suggest revitalizing some of the more depressed areas of Buffalo and expanding our tax base so we don't need to concentrate so much of the tax burden.
As a tax payer, I would welcome intergovernmental communications that could lead to some positive progress and increased efficiency.
We'll be sending in our grievance letter shortly or my husband may show up on the ultra convenient grievance day of December 31, 2008.
Thanks in advance!
janelle - 12/03/08 15:52
Ha! Jenks just pointed this post out to me after I made my post with a similar grievance.
Would you mind e-mailing me and letting me know what type of documentation you are putting together to challenge your assessment?
Thanks!
Ha! Jenks just pointed this post out to me after I made my post with a similar grievance.
Would you mind e-mailing me and letting me know what type of documentation you are putting together to challenge your assessment?
Thanks!
11/21/2008 16:48 #46787
Dear CongressDear Congress
May I have a bailout? I don't need nearly as much as you have been giving out and I won't fly in to ask for money on a private jet or even in coach; if you need my request in writing I will send it via USPS and pay for the stamp out of my own pocket.
Once you give me the money, I will not hoard it or throw lavish parties or take a spa vacation.
I have a spending plan all set too.
We can work out the exact details since it is smarter to pay off high interest credit cards first but it would go something like this:
Pay off mortgage.
Pay off car.
Pay off student loans.
Pay off credit cards - we only have 2.
Pay back my mom.
I promise I will stimulate our local and national economy and save for the future too. I have a plan for that as well; once again it's simple but I can see it working out really well for everyone.
We're going to save more than we spend but we'll spend as we know the importance of consumer spending and we'll continue to support local charities.
We'll buy some new stuff from local stores and bigger national chains - but not from Wal-Mart. Hope that is not a deal breaker but I'm just not a fan.
We'll go visit some friends and family in other parts of the country and buy some stuff where they live too, I doubt we'll stay in hotels for every visit since we want to stay with our friends and family but we'll go out for dinner at least once per trip.
We'll pay my husbands school tuition and not take out any student loans and in a couple years he will re-enter the workforce as a teacher. He already has plans to teach in a high demand area such as the inner city.
We'll be sure to set aside money for his children to attend college or trade school so they'll be able to get good paying jobs and add to the tax revenue.
Just ask the IRS for our address, they have it as we have been loyal tax payers for a while now.
Thanks in advance!
May I have a bailout? I don't need nearly as much as you have been giving out and I won't fly in to ask for money on a private jet or even in coach; if you need my request in writing I will send it via USPS and pay for the stamp out of my own pocket.
Once you give me the money, I will not hoard it or throw lavish parties or take a spa vacation.
I have a spending plan all set too.
We can work out the exact details since it is smarter to pay off high interest credit cards first but it would go something like this:
Pay off mortgage.
Pay off car.
Pay off student loans.
Pay off credit cards - we only have 2.
Pay back my mom.
I promise I will stimulate our local and national economy and save for the future too. I have a plan for that as well; once again it's simple but I can see it working out really well for everyone.
We're going to save more than we spend but we'll spend as we know the importance of consumer spending and we'll continue to support local charities.
We'll buy some new stuff from local stores and bigger national chains - but not from Wal-Mart. Hope that is not a deal breaker but I'm just not a fan.
We'll go visit some friends and family in other parts of the country and buy some stuff where they live too, I doubt we'll stay in hotels for every visit since we want to stay with our friends and family but we'll go out for dinner at least once per trip.
We'll pay my husbands school tuition and not take out any student loans and in a couple years he will re-enter the workforce as a teacher. He already has plans to teach in a high demand area such as the inner city.
We'll be sure to set aside money for his children to attend college or trade school so they'll be able to get good paying jobs and add to the tax revenue.
Just ask the IRS for our address, they have it as we have been loyal tax payers for a while now.
Thanks in advance!
pmrk - 11/21/08 23:20
(e:imk2) glad you liked enough to use it. I may just send it off to my Representatives and Hillary. I agree on the not too frivolous of restaurants part, it was a good revision.
(e:gardenmamma) I agree that those of who have to pay bills would spend the money wisely. I think if our government had single parent households in charge of budgets we'd have a balanced and frugal budget.
(e:imk2) glad you liked enough to use it. I may just send it off to my Representatives and Hillary. I agree on the not too frivolous of restaurants part, it was a good revision.
(e:gardenmamma) I agree that those of who have to pay bills would spend the money wisely. I think if our government had single parent households in charge of budgets we'd have a balanced and frugal budget.
imk2 - 11/21/08 22:56
i got this reply so far
Thank you for your e-mail. It is very important to me to know the issues that are of concern to you. A growing number of my constituents are now choosing to communicate with me via e-mail. I hope you will understand that, because of the volume and range of e-mails I receive, it can take some time to send a response that specifically addresses the subject raised in your message. I do, however, want to let you know immediately that your message has been received. Hearing from you and others through e-mail helps me to quickly learn the views and interests of New Yorkers and others, which is very helpful to me in my work in the United States Senate. I hope you will continue to monitor my work through my website at :::link::: and I welcome hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
i got this reply so far
Thank you for your e-mail. It is very important to me to know the issues that are of concern to you. A growing number of my constituents are now choosing to communicate with me via e-mail. I hope you will understand that, because of the volume and range of e-mails I receive, it can take some time to send a response that specifically addresses the subject raised in your message. I do, however, want to let you know immediately that your message has been received. Hearing from you and others through e-mail helps me to quickly learn the views and interests of New Yorkers and others, which is very helpful to me in my work in the United States Senate. I hope you will continue to monitor my work through my website at :::link::: and I welcome hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
imk2 - 11/21/08 19:44
Hey I took yours and tweaked it a bit (I hope you don't mind my plagarism) and actually sent it my Repressentative and to Hillary Clinton.
The begining is pretty much yours, the end is where I added stuff. I kept the Walmart bit b/c I am not much of a fan as well.
Dear Senator Clinton,
May I have a bailout? I don't need nearly as much as you have been giving out and I won't fly in to ask for money on a private jet or even in coach; if you need my request in writing I will send it via USPS and pay for the stamp out of my own pocket.
Once you give me the money, I will not hoard it or throw lavish parties or take a spa vacation.
I have a spending plan all set too.
We can work out the exact details since it is smarter to pay off high interest credit cards first but it would go something like this:
Pay off mortgage.
Pay off car.
Pay off student loans.
Pay off credit cards - we only have 2.
Pay back my mom.
I promise I will stimulate our local and national economy and save for the future too. I have a plan for that as well; once again it's simple but I can see it working out really well for everyone.
We're going to save more than we spend but we'll spend as we know the importance of consumer spending and we'll continue to support local charities.
We'll buy some new stuff from local stores and bigger national chains - but not from Wal-Mart. Hope that is not a deal breaker but I'm just not a fan.
We'll go visit some friends and family in other parts of the country and buy some stuff where they live as well, and eat dinner in restaurants. (not too fancy, no need being so frivolous in a time of need)
We'll pay my staggering school loans and current school tuition and will finally be able to not take out future student loans that I can't afford to pay. My education will be used to better society.
We'll be sure to set aside money for my daughter to attend college so she'll be able to get a good paying job and add to the tax revenue.
Just ask the IRS, I have been a loyal tax payer since the age of 14!
I promise I don't require billions, and I'll never use your money to take my friends on some swanky retreat. Let their Senators worry about them.
I look forward to striking a deal that won't embarrass you or make you look as if you've been duped.
P.S. To make the PR for this deal even better you should also know that:
1. I was a teen mom
2. Baby daddy was murdered (back in '93 when gang violence was all the rage)
3. Daughter of an immigrant (legal of course!)
4. Father died of lung cancer (not sure if this one helps, but surely it can't hurt)
5. Put my self through college (without stripping or escorting!)
6. I am a liberal (I would never expect you to be so generous to some hillbilly republican who doesn't know a good government program even if it hits him in the face)
7. I cure cancer for a living (come on, it can't get any better than this?)
You can refer to me as "Yvonne the Second Generation, Single, Teen, Working to Cure Cancer, Mother"
Hey I took yours and tweaked it a bit (I hope you don't mind my plagarism) and actually sent it my Repressentative and to Hillary Clinton.
The begining is pretty much yours, the end is where I added stuff. I kept the Walmart bit b/c I am not much of a fan as well.
Dear Senator Clinton,
May I have a bailout? I don't need nearly as much as you have been giving out and I won't fly in to ask for money on a private jet or even in coach; if you need my request in writing I will send it via USPS and pay for the stamp out of my own pocket.
Once you give me the money, I will not hoard it or throw lavish parties or take a spa vacation.
I have a spending plan all set too.
We can work out the exact details since it is smarter to pay off high interest credit cards first but it would go something like this:
Pay off mortgage.
Pay off car.
Pay off student loans.
Pay off credit cards - we only have 2.
Pay back my mom.
I promise I will stimulate our local and national economy and save for the future too. I have a plan for that as well; once again it's simple but I can see it working out really well for everyone.
We're going to save more than we spend but we'll spend as we know the importance of consumer spending and we'll continue to support local charities.
We'll buy some new stuff from local stores and bigger national chains - but not from Wal-Mart. Hope that is not a deal breaker but I'm just not a fan.
We'll go visit some friends and family in other parts of the country and buy some stuff where they live as well, and eat dinner in restaurants. (not too fancy, no need being so frivolous in a time of need)
We'll pay my staggering school loans and current school tuition and will finally be able to not take out future student loans that I can't afford to pay. My education will be used to better society.
We'll be sure to set aside money for my daughter to attend college so she'll be able to get a good paying job and add to the tax revenue.
Just ask the IRS, I have been a loyal tax payer since the age of 14!
I promise I don't require billions, and I'll never use your money to take my friends on some swanky retreat. Let their Senators worry about them.
I look forward to striking a deal that won't embarrass you or make you look as if you've been duped.
P.S. To make the PR for this deal even better you should also know that:
1. I was a teen mom
2. Baby daddy was murdered (back in '93 when gang violence was all the rage)
3. Daughter of an immigrant (legal of course!)
4. Father died of lung cancer (not sure if this one helps, but surely it can't hurt)
5. Put my self through college (without stripping or escorting!)
6. I am a liberal (I would never expect you to be so generous to some hillbilly republican who doesn't know a good government program even if it hits him in the face)
7. I cure cancer for a living (come on, it can't get any better than this?)
You can refer to me as "Yvonne the Second Generation, Single, Teen, Working to Cure Cancer, Mother"
gardenmama - 11/21/08 16:57
I would like to sign up for this bailout also. No doubt we'd all do a better job with the funds than the banks, brokers, auto industry...
I would like to sign up for this bailout also. No doubt we'd all do a better job with the funds than the banks, brokers, auto industry...
Sucks indeed. Sorry