It's Ash Wednesday...

"Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return."

Emotional Roller Coaster Ride...

One of the main reasons why I haven't been posting much lately is because my wife & I have been in the process of buying our first home.

These last few weeks have been very emotional. Four months of hard work to try and get a particular house via a short sale. Closing was supposed to have been Feb 10. Instead, we battled a resistant seller and a very unprofessional selling agent on the other side of the table. So, instead of receiving the keys, the property has been pulled off the market and will be foreclosed upon.

And everyone loses.

We, obviously, lose the house.

Our agent (who is great!) and her agency lose the commission after so much hard work.

The selling agent & agency lose their commission (though our hearts certainly do NOT bleed about that).

Our bank loses by not being able (though very willing) to offer a mortgage to honest hardworking people who pay their bills responsibly and on time.

The seller's bank loses because they take a bath on the property in having to do the foreclosure.

And the seller and his daughter lose by being stubborn and selfish, having been delinquent for going on seven months straight (and a history of delinquency the entire four years they've had the property), and now allowing themselves to be foreclosed upon, and going into bankruptcy.

All because they wouldn't let the appraisal and inspection to be done (after many attempts).

Frustrating, exhausting, saddening, numbing.

But we hold our heads up high knowing that we did everything we could.

So, now we start all over again. We're already looking at new properties.

Wish us luck. I'll keep you posted.

:-)

Vent

Repair Man Jack at RedState has a post about Rick Santorum. I posted a comment in his post. Below is what I wrote:

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I lived in PA from birth until I was 31. I know Rick Santorum well. My last vote as a Pennsylvanian was for Rick in ’94 for Senate. Too much has been made about his backing Arlen Specter over Toomey. Rick sacrificed his political career on principle because he knew how important the US Supreme Court is in turning around the liberal/progressive tide.

Arlen was the high ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He helped shepherd in Thomas (during that vicious battle) and also Scalia.

Without Specter on that committee there is NO WAY we would have eventually gotten Roberts and Alito. In the end, Specter is now gone, and Toomey is now a PA Senator.

Now, I have not been thrilled with the line-up of candidates (those who threw their hat in the ring, and this who didn’t). Of all the candidates that DID officially run, only two have impressed me with their credentials and track record: Rick Perry and Rick Santorum. Newt is a distant third due to his Contract With America and his leading the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress after over 40 years.

Two people I will NEVER vote for with a supposed “R” next to their names: Ron Paul (an absolute crank) and Romney (too many adjectives to count that describe my disdain for him, his policies, his track record, his personality, etc.).

My state’s primary is in June. Things may very well be settled by then. I will vote for one of the three people I mentioned above, choosing at that time depending on what the lay of the primary landscape is at that time.

I have towed the line patiently and diligently for a looooong time. I voted for Bush Sr. in ’92 even though he went back on his word re: taxes. I swallowed Dole in ’96 when he placated the conservatives by picking Kemp as his running mate. I voted for Bush W. when he placated conservatives by picking Cheney as HIS running mate in 2000. And I held the line and re-elected Bush W. in ’04 even though he and the Republican congress started going off the reservation. I held my nose and voted for McCain when HE placated conservatives by picking Palin.

That’s it. I’m done. No more.

I vote my conscience. In the primary as well as in the main.

If Romney is the nominee, he could pick the re-incarnation of Reagan as his running mate.

I

DON’T

CARE

Third Party Candidate, Write-in candidate, or a non-vote for president. That will be my choice come November.

I was part of the masses that cried foul when others voted for Perot in ’92 and ’96. “Don’t throw away your vote,” I screamed. “We must vote for [insert candidate's name here] to stop [insert opposing candidates name here],” I yelled in 2000, 2004, 2008. But enough is enough. I will no longer follow the Republican Establishment anymore. I vote my conscience, and let the chips fall where they may.

I’m done.

There is no home for true (social, fiscal, national security, common sense, constitutional) conservatives anymore.

=================

UPDATE: Captain Ed of HotAir also chimes in on Santorum.