The Florida honeymoon is over and we're about ready to toss in the towel and move. Today the tax assessor came by trying to find reasons to increase our taxes. Just before he got there we found out our well may need major repairs.
We also found out our house insurance will be double what we were quoted since we are in a county that is coastal even though a hurricaine has never hit this county in recorded history and our elevation is inland at 95 feet and is raised up high enough not to flood.
We found out the insurance companies are now allowed to charge everyone in coastal counties more money to make up for all the ones who have had damages in any other county. I guess their profits aren't high enough. We also found out that the wind mitigation film we put on our windows was denied as that law changed too right before we had it installed, even though we were told our insurance would be lower if we installed it.
Earlier in the week my car leaked gasoline all over the parking lot while I was picking up supplies. Thank goodness someone in the parking lot noticed all the gasoline and told an employee who waited for me out in the parking lot. The fire department came and said if I had started the car I could have been burned to death. Come to find out the manufacturer only recalled 300,000 cars since it would cost them too much to recall all of them?
I was wondering why I was getting such poor fuel mileage, thinking it was because of the ethanol Florida puts in the fuel instead of doing smog inspections in this state. Apparently the ethanol does reduce fuel mileage and if a vehicle is carburetted, it can ruin the engine. Lots of boat owners are suffering damages because of the fuel.
I'm always looking for a bed of roses. Am I a dreamer? Perhaps so, but perhaps not. I have my bed of roses, I'm alive and I get to make a bed of roses in clay. I love every minute of it, even though, when I went back to get a better photo I broke the foot rail off.
and blogger ate my comment-
ReplyDeleteI hope this all becomes resloved soon!
Yikes, Florida is barring its teeth. Insurance there has always been disgusting. The price for warm winters is steep.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely wonderful that the gas leak was spotted. That was a terrifying close call. That good samaritan saved your life.
Glad you're home safe and sound, especially since you have that super-expensive homeowner's insurance to give you that added security...HA! Don't even get me started about the insurance.
ReplyDeleteAs winter sets in you'll be grateful a place like Florida exists. We lived there for a few years while my husband finished college. Loved it!
Well, look at it this way, Jeb Bush could still be your governor:)
ReplyDeleteGuess there is a trade off for paradise, too bad. Cute bed of roses though!
Ditto on Tracey's comment...LOL! I love your Bed of Roses. Too cute!
ReplyDeleteYour "Bed of Roses" is AWESOME!! What a cute and cleaver idea.
ReplyDeleteI can certainly sympathize with the home insurance price shock.
At my house, our income keeps going down and our expenses keep going up. Not a good thing.
We'll just have to keep our hands in the clay and be thankful for today.
It sounds like you've had a phenomenal run of bad luck. Here's hoping you've reached bottom and there's no where to go but up. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteLinda, This month is an astronomically
ReplyDeletestrange one.. all those challenges you are facing hopefuly will pass soon.You found a great place to live, do not give up yet. Take care, Joan T
PS Love the bed of roses.
Omg Linda, thank God that someone noticed the gas leaking out of your car! That is so scary and I'm so glad that you weren't hurt. That's too bad about the tax increases and insurance. It seems like this is becoming a disturbing trend. Love the bed of roses!
ReplyDeleteA bed of roses with the foot rail broken off. I think that makes a very interesting statement. I'd keep it broken and call it "Life."
ReplyDeleteYour bed of roses is AWESOME. That says a lot about your character, Linda. When life gives you thorny roses, you make a sculpture! (Doesn't quite have the same ring as "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," but it certainly is the same meaning in your case.)
ReplyDeleteYour bed of roses is AWESOME. That says a lot about your character, Linda. When life gives you thorny roses, you make a sculpture! (Doesn't quite have the same ring as "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," but it certainly is the same meaning in your case.)
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith, thanks, yeah blogger eats some of my comments too. I just love it when I have responded to a whole slew (sp) of comments and all my responses are eaten. I have been copying them lately so that way I have them in case they are lost and can paste them in again.
ReplyDeleteHi Patti, thanks, yeah I am really lucky about the leaking gas, guess I can't or shouldn't complain that's what I was thinking.
Hi Kari, thanks, I'm definitely looking for good news in the months to come.
Hi Tracey, thanks, yeah I guess there are always tradeoffs.
Hi Turquoisemoon, thanks so much.
Hi Cindy, thanks, yeah I hate to even think about how the income decreases and expenses are decreasing. I had more money when I was putting myself through college in the 1970s.
Hi Mary, thanks, yes bad luck except the gas tank I guess, even though that cost me too - will have to try to get the manufacturer to try to cover it, fat chance of that happening.
Hi Joan, thanks, I hope your prediction is correct. Has been strange.
Hi Marguerite, thanks, yes a very disturbing trend for too many things.
Hi Teresa, thanks, right when I broke the rail I said the same thing to myself, oh well that's life, whenever I hear that line I think of that song by Frank Sinatra too. I do have it drying in the cabinet.
Hi Patricia, thanks, what can we do, seems like lots of things we have no control over, laws, politicians, rising costs - all I can do is make art, well maybe look for a part time job.
LInda - how scary to have your car leak gasoline like that - whew! I'm glad you are okay.
ReplyDeleteThe last year we lived in Florida our homeowners insurance doubled and I've heard from friends theirs has continued to rise. Something has to be done - state-wide to lower those costs!!
I sure hope yall can find a way to stay where you are -- I would hate to think that you need to move again. Hopefully your well repairs won't be too costly.
Good Lord, this sounds dreadful. What Joan says is right this is a very odd month/year astrologically. But for you it is still all about the Creative Revolution of Pluto opposing your Uranus until Sept 2011 you got to go with the flow. Sudden incidents like the ones you have written about have their origins in the past and the forces behind them have been at work for many years. They are in the blue print and you had to survive them! Which you did, and will. Get to mid November when Saturn trines your Sun and you will be fine. Does this help? Probably not, I do fee for you. I think the worst is behind you now. Take care. Kitty
ReplyDeleteNot fee (although it is in the post)I mean FEEL !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Judy, thanks, yes I am lucky to have survived. Perhaps I am just a wanderer at heart. We're thinking something with bare minimum needs and a huge studio, there I go dreaming again. Costs of everything are going up, try to conserve and it hits somewhere else. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteHi Kitty, thanks, I am hoping you are right, things seem to be piling up on the negative side around here and Gary and I are getting a bit tired of it all. Hope I can last till November. Thanks again.