1) It was Deepavali yesterday, a public holiday in Singapore. 2) Stocks end lower as financials give up early gains Wall Street has ended a highly volatile session with a big last-minute loss as the market's...exceeds the consensus forecast of 6.5%. Still, economists expect the trend of subsiding inflation seen in the months of July and August to continue, even if less quickly than initially expected

1) Stocks decline on unemployment, factory reports The Labor Department reported Thursday that initial claims for unemployment benefits rose by 1,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 497,000, above expectations...September from 177.5 in the previous three-month period. This is the first decline in the index since the first quarter of 2004, as concerns over global financial turmoil caused home sales to slump

1) Battered Lehman to announce 'key' initiatives The nation's 4th-largest securities firm, whose shares fell nearly 50% on Tuesday to a decade low, is said to be ironing out a deal to sell or spin-off...March, stood at 92.2 in July 2007. Many in the real estate industry are hopeful that these standards will be relaxed with Fannie and Freddie under government control, but the outlook remains uncertain

Financial and Economic News and Comments US & Canada US existing home sales increased a more-than-expected 3.1% m/m in July to a 5 million annual rate, the highest since February, from...of single-family homes declined to 10.6 from June's 11.0. Overall, the figures indicate the US housing slump is far from over and home prices are likely to drop further in the next quarters.

 The house we're not buying: The house we are buying: They're in the same subdivision, literally a few blocks from each other.  This one is less pretty, less polished, more dated inside, and...planned to end up in cookie cutter suburbia, but who will commence herb-growing and potion-making as soon as possible upon move-in, and will invite belly dancers over in costume as often as possible

 And so it goes...life is interesting. Monday we spent the entire day at our respective offices, pretending to work but really staring at the phone waiting for it to ring so someone would tell us if...smell, which was driving us all crazy, was because of the scent going into the little pipes holding the wires and venting out all over the place.  Believe it or not, a quick, easy, fairly cheap fix. 

 It never ends. Tonight, after a deep prayer that I'd get a night of good and uninterrupted sleep...I came out of the bathroom to realize that I smelled that acrid electrical-fire smell all over...I have a giant "kick me" sign posted to my karmic butt. 'Yeah, i'm already down, but go ahead, kick me again.  Feels pretty good, actually.  no, really, go ahead.  kick me." Sigh. This sucks. --J

 Tonight when I came home from work, my husband was standing in the yard looking up at the sky. I looked up too; there were literally dozens of dragonflies in the air, layer upon layer of them, zipping...as they are, and I should get out of the way and let the Universe do its thing. Must go wipe a little girl's bum and give her a shower. (Thank God for no more diapers...) peace (or trying to be) Jem

  Located on the island of Palm Beach, this 6-bedroom, 12-bath mansion, built by architect John Volk is expected to sell for $30 million. Built in 1950 this spectacular mansion sits on well over an acre...not as expensive as the Trump Estate sale - $95Million or the Kimmel house sale-$81.5 million, the Munders’ home is never the less continuing the recent trend in high priced home sales in Palm Beach.

Was it two months of nightly prayers to St. Joseph, patron of homes, families, real estate, and dying souls (odd amalgamation)? Or the good house vibes of a particularly fabulous atheist? Our take no...make sure there are no surprises, settle on a closing date, and find a house we can close on in that amount of time.   St. Joe, pray for us.  St. Jan, keep with the sending of the vibes... peace, J