Finding a Home
The loan process through VAMC is super easy (and I’m not just saying that because they give me this forum in which to blog). I got a phone call from Nate as I mentioned earlier. He took all my information and the NEXT DAY called to let me know that I had been approved. Not only was I was approved, but I was approved for more than I asked for. So, if I WANTED a bigger home, I could get one. But I don’t, so I won’t. It definitely helps to go to the bargaining table with an already approved loan backing you up. If you’re a veteran, you can’t beat the VAMC team (do I get a finder’s fee guys?).
Anyway, it turns out that the easiest part of the process is going to be the VAMC piece. For the life of us, we can’t find a good enough home for the CJ clan. Every time we find one, we research it to death, make numerous inquiries, ask more more pictures, then contact the realtor to make an offer only to find out that the house was taken that day or hour!! Frustrating? You bet. But, we won’t be hindered!! We will prevail. A home WILL BE OURS!! And you’re all invited to the house warming party (pending background and credit checks). I’m not mentioning where I’m going though some of my close friends and family reading this already know. Once I get there, I’m sure CNN or Fox News will pick up the story and make you all aware.
We’re not asking for much. We just want four bedrooms, at least two baths (with three women in the house, I’d sure like four bathrooms too!), with about 1800+ square footage for about $10. That’s all I have in my pocket and I don’t want VAMC to think I’m greedy by using every dollar that they approved me for. Seriously, I just want a home that will fit within my BAH rate, which is about $1007 for the area I’m going to. Sheesh, I couldn’t get a shack here in the DC area for that monthly price. By comparison, my BAH here is over $1800 per month. And believe me, the base housing I live in is NOT worth $1800 per month that I pay. The housing people are great though! They always have warm cookies ready for me when I go in to see them.
A PCS move in the Army brings about many stresses. I need to set up pre-inspections, packing dates, moving dates, cleaning dates, final inspection dates, outprocessing dates, transportation dates, etc. Outprocessing consists of going to every podunk organization on the base that I’ve never used and have them swear or affirm that I don’t owe them money before I leave. And it never works out. It never fails that you go to one place only to be told you have to go another BEFORE going there. Then those people have crazy hours like the first Tuesday of every odd month during the regular football season, but only when the Ravens are playing and ahead by at least 10 points. No matter how much you try to G2 (plan) the whole thing, it never seems to work out. The easiest place I’ve ever had to deal with was Fort Stewart, where all the outprocessing is done in one building. It’s awesome. The whole Army needs to adopt this model. At Fort Irwin, even though it’s a small post, you have to criss-cross your way around post until you’re dizzy and pass out at the steps of the place you were looking for.
Then, there’s the move itself – taking three kids across country in a cramped vehicle towing the most awesome motorcycle in the world (a 2003 Suzuki Hayabusa) behind you. I asked the lady at transportation if I can count them as household goods and just ship them with the food, but she told me no. And she wouldn’t let me ship without the food either! So, they’re going with us and I’ll have to keep a tally of how many times I have to pull over and give the evil eye before they all laugh at me for thinking I’m a big, bad daddy. I think this trip, I’ll just strap them into the car-top carrier. So, does anyone have any good tricks or games that can keep kids occupied and happy for hours on a roadtrip? List them in the comments section.
CJ
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pmIt’s called a purse strap…i’m sure you remember it well cj……..ask your mom.
emily
MissBirdlegs in AL
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:52 pmThe car-top carrier sounds like a good idea to me, although there might be objections from the peanut gallery.
Traveling with my daddy, we all sang every song we ever heard, then started over again. We had some nice harmony with all four of us (my parents & my sis and me) singing. With my ex (ol’ tin-ear), that didn’t go over so well, but if it was just me and the kids, we did the singing thing and were perfectly content.
Donna
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:02 pmThat’s funny, Emily!
CJ,
I’m so glad that you got the loan for your house. I’m sure with time and persistence that you guys will find the right house.
You’re so funny, CJ! I like your personality. My husband is like that, he can find humor in any situation in life and it makes it so much better. I’m too serious about things.
I hope some of the others can give you suggestions about games for the kids to play while in transit. I’m a grandmother but I’m out of touch with the game world Ha! OOPS, I just gave away my age! Anyway, I wish you, Emily and the kids happy traveling to your new residence once you find it!!
Chrisntx
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:25 pmCongrats on the pre-approval.
As far as games, and I am going back a ways.. — I spy. Finding License plates from as many states as possible. Oh and singing is always fun, you can start with 100 bottles of beer, uh root beer that is for the kids.
Tracy
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:32 pmGet a DVD player. I’m serious. We got a DVD player with 2 screens (for the back of each front seat) for our 9 hour trip to Missouri for a family reunion last summer. It saved the day. Between that and the Gameboys they were happy most of the way!
If the girls like to color or draw (my boys do NOT, but I’ve heard girls like that kind of thing LOL) get coloring books, paper, and an assortment of writing/drawing/coloring utensils.
LL
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:44 pmDUDE!!
First of all, I’m sorry about all the homes falling through. I’ve told you why before, I believe. That area is growing.
Secondly, go to the dollar store. They have so many “travel games” and things like balloon animal kits (WITH PUMP) and stuff like that. $5 will get you a lot. haha And since that is what I send my Soldiers and Marines, those things have been kid tested, mother approved. *grin*
Miriam
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:12 pmWhen we were crisscrossing the Continental United States summers growing up, we played almost every game I’ve ever heard of. I spy, counting license plates (not from the state you’re currently in), etc.
If there were enough cows around, we would count as many cows as we could find and then “burry” them when we saw a cemetery. When traveling in Wisconsin we could never find cemeteries fast enough to keep up with the cows! (Sound a little desperate? That was my aunt’s game.)
Then there was the one where you say the rhyme “Silence in the courthouse, the monkey wants to speak.” Then the person who is “it” tries to make the others smile or show their teeth (all without touching them of course.
) Well, at least it was generally a quieter game.
When we were older, we could manage to keep Uno cards steady for a few hands or not loose the tiny magnetic Scrabble pieces. Personally, I swear by 30 laps around the car (especially for boys).
Sharon M
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:46 pmCongratulations CJ! I’m sure you’ll find the perfect home. Games, hm.. how many red cars, blue cars, etc. Personally, I love the dvd idea. Hit Wally world and pick up movies, cheap! If you have enough time, Ebay would be a great place for all that stuff.
Anyway, congratulations and let us know where to send the house warming gifts!!
Sharon M
Anthony
August 24th, 2007 at 7:53 amCongratulations on getting the loan approved. House hunting is torture, no two ways about it. Good luck and I hope you find a place you all enjoy.
As for the trip – I suggest DVD’s and electronic games – WITH headphones. The child protective services people would probably frown on strapping them to the roof.
SK
August 24th, 2007 at 8:15 am“they all laugh at me for thinking I’m a big, bad daddy.”
hahhahahahahahha
Sorry CJ. That was hilarious! Congrats on getting your loan, and good luck finding the perfect house. You’ll find it, it’s just a frustrating process.
joyjoyfromnj
August 26th, 2007 at 7:15 pmThe alphabetic mnemonic game is good (you get extra points of you can say “mnemonic”): “I’m going on a vacation and in my suitcase I’m packing . . . .” The first person has to say something that starts with “A”, second person has to say the “A” item, then a “B” item; third says “A,B” then C and so on. A little harder is to pick a category, such as animals or foods, for the alphabetic items. The HARDEST (for memory-impaired elders like me) is just to have the list random, not alphabetizing. If you go the electronic route, I think there are places you can rent DVD players. But the most important rule–stop every 2 hours, even if daddy doesn’t have to go to the bathroom. You SHOULD know this rule already but just a reminder.