Posted by JK/TX on 12/29/07 3:46pm
Msg #228164

Lighter side of the job..... for amusement

What are some of your funniest or most amusing signings.

These are 2 of many that have stuck with me:

Told the borrower “Sign your name exactly as it appears”. Well, he started signing w/great difficultly, I’m watching and thinking “Hmmm, is something wrong with him?” “Does he lack hand coordination?”. No, he was trying to sign as I instructed …… in the exact font and size of the typed name showing below his signature line ! Now that's a borrower that follows instructions !!!

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A married couple had looked at a house and the wife fell in love w/it. After applying for the loan, her husband told her they did not qualify when in fact “he” did.

I found this out during closing at the title co. He signed all docs then had a friend go to the car to get his wife (to sign the NPS docs). She thought she was waiting on him to take care of some quick business. Well, she walked into the closing room w/a completely puzzled look and her husband said “You know that house you wanted so bad? Well, we are moving in this weekend’ She started crying (no smile) and beating him w/her fist on his back and in the head! It scared the he[[ out of me, I thought I might be next! I pushed my chair away from the table and started to dart from the room, then realized … she was expressing her happiness!?! I'd hate to see that woman when she is mad!

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Reply by Lee/AR on 12/29/07 4:26pm
Msg #228170

When they are using middle initials & pages must be initialed I say "Initial here--using all 3 of your initials." Can't tell ya' how many times I get 3 initials written 3 times...only twice if I'm quick.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/29/07 4:43pm
Msg #228171

Crab Boat - Redux

Conducted a very tense signing on a crab boat a few years ago in Newport. The harbor seals seemed to be barking their laughs at the old lady landlubber putting on a show for them. There is *no* graceful way to board a crab boat; no gangplank - just a rickety box to teeter on whilst flinging a leg over the side, trying not to fall into the drink. (So thankful for knit skirt.) Of course, Mrs. borrower hopped right onto the deck, likewise Mr., and the seafaring hands. See? It’s simple! And, the more they tried to help, the more awkward things became. Leg-flinging is not easy when you're giggling like a fool. Those sides are a lot taller than they appear from afar.

Can you see the video? - "Lincoln City notary demonstrates every conceivable way *not* to board a crab boat - laugh at will." The danged seals sure did.

I am one lucky girl living here...the Coastal Flier...what a great commute, even in the storms.

Reply by Kate/CA on 12/29/07 8:20pm
Msg #228187

Re: Crab Boat - Redux

I can just imagine. My aunt use to be the captain of a fishing boat there in Newport, OR. She took me crabbing in the bay there, once. Couldn't believe how fast those little crabs would fill up thos cages. Had lots of fun. Beauiful area.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/29/07 8:27pm
Msg #228188

Ever get the chance to visit? Fresh crab, yum yum. n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/29/07 8:58pm
Msg #228189

Re: Crab Boat - Redux

In Texas, when you "go crabbin' " it is an adventure.

The lonely crab hunter gears up by first stocking an ice chest with cold beer on ice. Leave in shade in the yard. Next, the hunter prepares by purchasing twine, a dip net and chicken necks and bringing along an empty ice chest. (No drinking and driving, of course!)

You tie the chicken necks to the string and drop it into the water cuts and inlets near the gulf. Crabs come out of nowhere. You dip them up with your net and drop them into the ice chest. Fill up the ice chest like that one by one until you have a "mess" of 'em. Take them, your sober self, and your sunburn, back home.

Start a large pot boiling with crab boil. Preferably out in the yard. Drop in the crabs and cook. Walk over to the shady spot and open a beer, drink it.

Cover table with several layers of newspaper...preferably out in the yard in the shade where the beer is frosty cold in the ice chest. Reach into the icy cold beer supply and fetch another beer, open it and drink it.

Drain crab pot of water. Dump crabs in the middle of table.

Issue cocktail sauce, Tabasco Sauce, a couple of rolls of paper towels, several sleeves of crackers, small hammers, pliers, and other implements to crack the shells (if you aren't stocked with all the right stuff like Red Lobster is). If no small screwdrivers are handy for digging, throw the nut crackers and pecan meat pickers on the table too.

Crack the shells, dig out the meat. dine heartily, and drink another cold beer.

Reply by Rachel/ORWA on 12/29/07 9:15pm
Msg #228191

Susan...

That is funny. In my former life as an auditor, one of my clients was a seafood company that had an office right over the water. The smell is interesting, to say the least, but mainly what I came away with is the ability to imitate the seal's (or is it actually a sea lion... can't remember) bark. I've actually gotten them to answer back, to the amusement of tourists and embarrasment of my husband (who's a good ol' boy from the sticks... what's he got to be embarrased about, anyway?!).

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/30/07 2:50am
Msg #228198

"Aarouhh, aarouh, Aarouhh!" Clap clap. (translation:

"Dinner's at Brenda's...yeee haw..."

Damn, I wanna be sitting cross-legged, up to my elbows in lemon butter and cocktail sauce, cracking and picking out the succulent meat, tossing empty crabshells into a basket, groovin to the music, next to the fire, under that big Texas sky.

Don't know about you, but I've got ~my~ dreams planned for tonight...she said, drooling.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/30/07 7:38am
Msg #228200

Re: "Aarouhh, aarouh, Aarouhh!" Clap clap. (translation:

Isn't it funny how different parts of the country think about something like eating crab?

The art of crabbin' in Texas is like the art of quilting. You can do it alone or it can be a social affair that lasts all day...from purchasing the twine and necks to cooking and eating.

By the way Susan, in a Texas crab eating, you'd pick up a layer of newspaper to gather up the crab litter and take it to the trash. Then you'd go back to a clean place and start over. It's like a food orgy. It takes a lot of our small crabs to make a "mess" of crab. (Notice I left the "s" off of crab.) We don't have the Rock/King-sized in our crab boils because I guess of maybe species available and because dangling the necks is dangling into shallow water.

When you drive the coastal roads you'll see old rusty trucks pulled over to small bodies of water with little ones playing with string and batting at each other with dip nets. That's how you know who to follow home that night.

Crab traps are the sissy's way out. A real crab hunter will take the four to six hours required to seek crab spots, drop, dip and if necessary, move to another little spot. The ideal place is where the kids can play dry and safely away from water and road...while the adults yell for them to stay out of the road LOL...at least the babies won't drown...or get eaten by crabs.

All my experiences have been in the height of summer, with any kind of meaty bone a crab can latch onto. A strip of bacon will work in a pinch, but you have to be quick with the dip net.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/30/07 10:49am
Msg #228210

"...but you have to be quick with the dip net..." Sounds

like the basis for a good song - and your description of the whole day, a wonderful video.

Yes, very different here, but I bet the meat is just as sweet...thanks for the picture of the Texas Art of Crabbin'.

Food orgy - yumm yumm!

Reply by EastTxNotary on 12/31/07 8:32am
Msg #228269

Re: "Aarouhh, aarouh, Aarouhh!" Clap clap. (translation:

Wow, Brenda, does that bring back some memories! My dad took us on "crabbin" trips in Texas City when I was a kid...haven't been since. I just remember the sweet meat and him constantly telling us "you don't eat this part"!

I'll have to tell you the story of teaching my north Texas SO the fine art of eating crawfish sometime. It seems he managed to get nearly 30 years old before he had this experience.

Reply by Ruby on 12/29/07 4:56pm
Msg #228172

Started a signing and asked Mr Borrower to sign my journal and I said right thumbprint here.
He looked at me and said is it alright to use my left. I said yes Why. I looked and he had no right arm. I laughed nervously and he really laughed. That will really teach me to pay attention.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/29/07 5:28pm
Msg #228173

Don't we love the lessons it took laughter to learn? n/m

Reply by JK/TX on 12/29/07 5:51pm
Msg #228175

Re: Don't we love the lessons it took laughter to learn?

LOL to all these situations and feeling your pain !

A few years ago, we received a contract from a church, as the seller. We sent them notification that we needed their articles showing who had authority to sign on behalf of the church and in what capacity, etc.... They sent us a handwritten "notice" that God was the director of the church and made all their decisions....

Well, hmmmm. Talk about a mailout ! Who ya gonna call!?

That was a bit of a communication error? But still, gave us a smile! Such is life... :O}