Posted by 101livescan on 7/4/08 9:57am
Msg #254141

People Magazine Story on Barbara Harvey

Now that Barbara is on her way to moving into a home in San Luis Obispo, CA, People magazine did a story on the plight of homelessness in Santa Barbara. Good story coverage. Did any one see her on Fox 11 News, she was interviewed last week. HAPPY FOURTH EVERYONE. Lots of smoke in Santa Barbara...Huge fire in the foothills of Goleta. Lots of people evacuated to schools.

Reply by Calnotary on 7/4/08 10:05am
Msg #254142

Cheryl please leave Barbara's case to rest.

I m sorry she is homeless, but there are a lot of LO and NSA that are working at 8/hr right now because they did not save their money when we were doing 5 or 6 signings a day. I am still making my monthly payments out of the money I saved 2 1/2 years ago. I will sale that honda crv and rent an apt. in Santa Maria or SLO.

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/4/08 11:33am
Msg #254147

Thank you!

I could never figure out why we were supposed to feel so sorry for her when the same thing was happening to the rest of us. Just because it got picked up by the media doesn't make her situation any more special than the rest of us, we all got kicked in the butt financially.

I see it is not being very different than the "poor" people whose loans adjusted and they couldn't afford the payments. She should have planned better, nobody forced her to be self employed in an unstable industry.

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/4/08 1:31pm
Msg #254158

My Concern about her publicity is this...

It creates an awareness that there IS such a job like being a notary signer. Brings more folks' minds to the idea of being a signer.

(Naturally, this would not be a problem to notary instructors.)

I am glad for her plight's ending.

I do have empathy for her situation.

I am glad for the help Cheryl has provided.

However, from the currently suffering due-to-low-work-volume signer's view point I am not glad for the continuing publicity that Barbara was a notary signer.

Reply by 101livescan on 7/4/08 4:18pm
Msg #254178

Re: My Concern about her publicity is this...

Remember freedom of speech? If you don't like reading about Barbara Harvey or to be reminded of the plight of many in the loan business, you are free NOT to spend your time reading them. There are a great many issues I pass over that I don't feel like reading and you all can do the same....There are a great many posters out there who see the negativity in many things, and I simply make it a practice to "gloss over". When I begin to see posts berating other members on this board, for me it's instinctive to move out of the path of a bullet(s)!

No worries, my point has been made. We are taking this issue to the Governor in CA and to the White House. It is HUGE, the middle class, college educated professional becoming homeless could happen to any of us. Renters are only 30-60 days from living in their cars with their animals, trustors can default on their mortgage, not pay for 6-8 months before their property is either sold at auction or it reverts to the beneficiary, and then entire families are homeless. All it takes is loss of income, illness, divorce, a DUI, death of a relative.

Thank you, Marlene, for trying to "explain" who I am, and you're right, I'm a cheer leader, and it takes a lot of focus and dedication to see the silver lining in the dark clouds, especially in this climate. Honestly, it doesn't bother me a bit you folks don't like the reality. I won't mind in the least if you all GLOSS over my posts, or would you rather spend the time responding in the negative. Just let it go, and read things that do please you when reading them.

I'm as free to post on this board as any one is by being a member. Generally, I love this board and find most contributions very helpful, but I just love it when people love to jump your butt and those who repeat the beat(ing). I don't mind that you don't like my posts. IGNORE ME, it's perfectly fine with me. Ah, but then you might be missing some very important information that could help you.

Thank you, humbly yours, from Nipomo, CA.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/4/08 4:26pm
Msg #254180

At the least, Cheryl, if you wish to continue to update

take it to the Leisure Forum...this is really where this belongs....along with updates about the fires, floods, etc..MHO

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/4/08 4:33pm
Msg #254183

Meant to say "At the very least..." sorry.. n/m

Reply by SueW/Tn on 7/4/08 6:49pm
Msg #254203

Re: My Concern about her publicity is this...

Huh? "it is HUGE, the middle class, college educated professional becoming homeless could happen to any of us", surely you're kidding. You want to involve the Governor of California and the White House?

For as long as I can remember my Father, a middle class non-professional blue collar worker in the building industry was but a pay check away from serious problems. If it rained, we were in trouble. If the winds blew, trouble...missed work, no paycheck. What do you want the Governor to do? Assign someone to every professional to be sure they save for a rainy day? Personally I became the victim of an industrial accident totally not my fault BUT I was unable to return to work for a year. Company fired me (that's legal btw), I lived off my savings and when it was all over was a heartbeat away from "sleeping in my car". It happens, CAN happen to any of us. Thankfully I had savings, I had been frugal with my money but Barbara's story isn't new to anyone here on this forum. What is kinda weird is how you think college educated professionals are now up to their elbows in trouble because of this meltdown. One needs to live within their actual limits and not within what they "want" those limits to be. Sorry on this one, I'm agreeing with my fellow SA's...enough is enough.

Reply by Becca_FL on 7/4/08 1:33pm
Msg #254159

Re: Thank you!

I'm so glad someone finally said something. God knows if it had been me to say it first, I would be called mean, rude, ruthless or who knows. The fact is that there are MANY people that were involved in the RE industry that are now displaced. I personally know one EO, two brokers and three NSAs in Florida that are facing foreclosure. Enough about Barbara already.

Reply by Maureen_nh on 7/4/08 2:07pm
Msg #254167

Re: Cheryl please leave Barbara's case to rest.

You've got to excuse Cheryl, she is one of these darned, look on the bright side, glass is half full people. What's worse, she goes out and gives of herself-her time and her worldly goods.
Makes you want to kick that hard working little butt, doesn't it?

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/4/08 3:48pm
Msg #254174

Not really, Maureen. I think that each of the people

who have posted in this thread are busy "do gooders" of the same persuasion as Cheryl. They don't just continually post about it.

I KNOW for a fact what Becca does to raise money for children at Christmas AND other causes.

I KNOW for a fact what CaliNotary has MOST GENEROUSLY done for another notary on this board in the way of cold, hard cash.

I'm clear on what my small personal contributions have been to needy, unrelated, good kids/students who have had needs.

I have read enough of Calnotary's posts to "think" I know what is in his heart about charitable causes.

Reply by Maureen_nh on 7/4/08 8:17pm
Msg #254208

Re: Not really, Maureen. I think that each of the people

Brenda, I was not saying that any of the people you mentioned do not have hearts of gold and were not willing to share their good fortune if able.
At times we all become enthisiastic about our own areas of interest and don't realize that others don't share our fascination with a subject.
I think we probably all know people that we have learned not to ask about their heath or their wonderful children, grandchildren ect. If we do get "caught" we usually just grin and bear it and politely try to change the subject.
Then again there are people that make sure that you realize that your diabetis is because of your sweet tooth and you have no one to blame but yourself or some such.
Well one good thing, while we were making hay I prepaid my funeral and bought a stone.
At least if I starve to death, I've got some place to go with no taxes or mortgage.
The oil bill this coming winter is another thing. But that is my fault for living in the frigid north.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/4/08 8:47pm
Msg #254211

Re: Not really, Maureen. I think that each of the people

"The oil bill this coming winter is another thing. But that is my fault for living in the frigid north"

But if you lived in the south you would have air conditioning bills

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/4/08 10:10pm
Msg #254215

Re: Not really, Maureen. I think that each of the people

"But if you lived in the south you would have air conditioning bills"

Believe me...after living in CT all my life and moving here to FL - my electricity bill here is NOTHING compared to what I paid for oil and electricity combined in CT...in fact I'd say it's maybe 50%....and we keep it chilly in the house..

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/4/08 10:18pm
Msg #254216

Re: Not really, Maureen. I think that each of the people

Linda
Do you have FPL? (commonly known as Florida Plunder and Loot)
I would love to get our bill under $200 a month, but it keeps inching up to the $300 mark - and now FPL have got the Utility commission to allow them to increase the charges again, with another increase next year.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/5/08 9:13am
Msg #254225

Since we went so far off topic here, sent you a p/m n/m

Reply by MelissaCT on 7/5/08 6:46pm
Msg #254248

Re: Not really, Maureen. I think that each of the people

2 full tanks of oil in Jan, 2 in Feb and 2 in March, not to mention 1 in Oct, 1 in Nov & 1 in Dec. We're heating 6 months out of the year. Switched last year to a ventless gas & saved a bundle. Mind you, the house was built in 1900, is over 2000 s.f. and we keep the t-stat at 65F. My dad, on the other hand, lives by himself in a raised ranch, is insulated to the hilt and goes through 1 tank of oil a year, if that! His house was originally insulated for electric heat, with vapor barrier, etc. Mine was not.
Add in the lovely A/C electric bills for the summer & we've got it coming and going. Of course, we don't get the heat of Arizona -- yet.

Not complaining, just shedding some light on the lovely northeast.

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/4/08 9:19pm
Msg #254213

Re: Not really, Maureen. I think that each of the people

**Well one good thing, while we were making hay I prepaid my funeral and bought a stone.**

I need to do that...seriously, I do.

It's one of the kindest things you can do for your loved ones.

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/4/08 11:41pm
Msg #254217

Re: Not really, Maureen. I think that each of the people

"I have read enough of Calnotary's posts to "think" I know what is in his heart about charitable causes."

I believe the children are our future.