Thursday October 23

The Arrowhead House

Yesterday we started off early for a very long day - down the back way to Farson to go to Rock Springs (100 miles each way). We had to go to the Wells Fargo Bank there. The purpose was to get what they call a Medallion Stamp Signature Guarantee on some forms related to getting funds moved from our broker to the bank, similar but more strict than getting signatures notarized...... Because the Pinedale bank hadn't gotten their stamp yet after the change to Wells Fargo. We have been having some surprises and lots of learning experiences with this house buying. We thought the financing would be very easy since we have the money, but getting it to where it can be taken out and used is not easy, and we've had a lot of frustrations with this process.

When we got to the bank we asked for Donna who could do the signature guarantee. Almost right away, after showing her our files, she said this was all over her head and called to ask if Nema could come downstairs and help us. Yes..... Here was a wonderful angel lady who had the knowledge to make the whole thing work for us. We had to get the broker on the phone again, and by speaker phone discovered that the first man who told us last week we could use the trust as collateral for the bank loan was wrong - sending us on a long and winding track.

So Nema went through our accounts and over the speaker phone - one after another with three different brokers - said "won't selling this be possible and make the funds accessible," and can't this be moved over to this account", etc. etc. but far more complicated than this. How fortunate can this have been - that she was there exactly at the time we needed her. We were on the phone nearly an hour and a half. But at the end of that time Nema straightened out and made sense of the complicated finances. I think she was way more aware and knew more than the brokers we were talking to. It ends up that we don't need to take out any loan with the bank. In fact, Nema said that we were better off doing it "this" way than taking the loan, regarding the interest and fees. So we left Donna and Nema with many thanks for their time and efforts on our behalf, and no signature guarantee that we went in for was needed.

We went over to Applebee's for lunch and Debbie had to continue on the phone with the brokers for probably another hour before all the transactions were completed, links changed, and arranging for the money to become available. What an ordeal. Debbie's cell phone battery went low and we moved to the car where we plugged mine in and continued for maybe 30 minutes more. I couldn't believe one man had so much information. Debbie was a wonderful help and got all the notes taken. She said she sure had a lesson. Debbie is helping us a whole lot, I’m glad she’s here. Charm said she is the alpha angel.

Next we went to Home Depot and bought a washer and dryer and a side by side fridge/freezer. We also got a few lamps there. Then across the street to John Paras furniture and bought living room, dining room and some beds. I was really pooping out but knew it was best to keep going while were were there and get it over with. Joe had sat in the car but when we got things chosen he came in and we agreed on which to get. He tried the mattresses and the recliners in the sofa, where he sat until we finished up. By the time we finished there it was 6 p.m. We had wanted to look at the Lazy Boy recliners for Joe at Rushmore but they were closed. We went to the Chinese Buffet (very good) for dinner and then started home in the dark. We didn't get home until 9.

The closing date on the house is the 30th. The furniture will be delivered on the 7th and that is also the day Beverly and Curtis arrive. So now we are beginning to pack a few things into boxes. Not much will go from here. We've left a stack of paintings unpacked that will be hung in the new house.

The phone had been out of order since Sunday and they got it fixed while we were gone to Rock Springs yesterday. Thursday we took it easy. Joe went to town for his haircut and had lunch in there. Debbie called Nema and thanked her for helping us yesterday and asked a few more questions. Tonight she made a nice dinner for us.