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Edith bluth

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Posts posted by Edith bluth

    S03: Week 6: August 8, 2021-August 15, 2021

    in Love Island (US)

    20 minutes ago, Crashcourse said:

    I liked Will and Kyra, but she's the one who just continues to make a big fuss about what happened in Casa Amore with Will and Flo because she keeps being duped by the witches' coven whose sole purpose is to break them up.  I understand Will being frustrated with constantly trying to explain himself.  There comes a time when there's nothing more you can say to someone who is so easily swayed by listening to someone else, instead of seeing and hearing for yourself.  I like Will but Kyra is getting on my nerves with her whining and crying, and I think she was too immature to even be chosen to be on this show.  

    I really got unpleasant vibes from her dad and I suspect he is part of the reason she is less able to stand on her own. He really struck me as the lead in the house and maybe a bit overly restrictive and strict. I think that's why Kyra is so easily manipulated by the other girls, because she hasn't had an opportunity to form her own opinions. 

    • Love 2

    S23.E01: Season Premiere

    in Past Seasons

    · Edited by Edith bluth

    2 minutes ago, Dewey Decimate said:

    Frenchie's #BLM on his truck in the intro pic, holding the door open for Xavier, picking Derek F because he's like his best friend - is he trying too hard, or genuinely working to be anti-racist? I'm really hoping it's the latter, because I like him so far!

    Cameroooooon!

    Like the pop-up DRs, actually wish they left them small in the corner the whole time. I don't need the full screen close-up unless it's an epic breakdown/freak out.

    Love that the oddball team won the first comp, and glad they didn't risk it for two weeks.

    Please, Xavier, make lots of allies so you can survive the rest of your team!

    I will regret this sentiment soon enough, but actually think this season looks promising. 🤞

    FWIW on his cast profile he says he's a proud member of the NAACP, so I'm really hopeful it's not all an act. Especially after last season. 😕

    • Useful 3
    • Love 8
    • Popular Post
    • Popular Post

    Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

    in Counting On

    52 minutes ago, Future Cat Lady said:

    True. Also, why would the other members of the group hand Josh's ass to him? They all would be pedophiles/sex offenders and may have the same attitudes he has. 

    However, if he does get evaluated for the trial by a therapist for the prosecution, I would like to hear her/his testimony.

    I attended college in a prison town. I took a human sexuality class, and my professor's wife worked at the local prisons. Apparently there was a big divide between the sexual offenders who molested others and who molested within the family. Basically the family ones were like "at least we kept it in the family and didn't hurt others" and the other ones were like "who would mess with family, at least we hurt others." It blew my mind that even the bottom of the barrel people were trying to find ways to justify their actions so they were better than others. So I could absolutely see other sexual offenders looking down on Josh. 

    • Useful 18
    • Love 11

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    On 12/6/2017 at 2:27 AM, aguabella said:

    Personally, I wouldn't call Jo a "designer", true or otherwise.  Yes, she plays one on Tv, lol!  (No offense to Chip/Jo.)  If the show participants don't care for the farmhouse look, I suggest they refrain from submitting their FixUpp application!  Easy, peasy.

    Everyone remember the mcm home she did for a friend?  She appeared very uncomfortable, to me anyway, and reverted to farmhouse by the time she reached the bedrooms, complete with a barn door in the master

    I have a hard time believing that a cable show, airing 13-16 episodes per year, can move markets.  The Silos do benefit retail so together with the show, it's probably helped.  Isn't Waco the cheaper alternative to Austin / Dallas and TX has been experiencing above-avg growth, compared to the overall U.S.?

    One thing about renovation shows - ratings increase when the higher $$$ value homes / renovations air.  A show may start with that concept but they always diverge, in my understanding.  (Blank on examples now but will edit later, if possible, lol.)

    Ever read the comments about Magnolia Market at the Silos?  TX visitors indicate they drive for hours, hoping to find unique items and a terrific shopping experience only to find imported junk, marked up 3-4X its craft store prices, long lines, few bathrooms, etc.  Then, they say, "You're stuck in Waco, Texas"!  Somehow, I doubt Chip/Jo would have run out of dumps to reno in Waco, if they continued!

    $125,000 renovation budget in TX?  Agree, they better morph into Mcmansions, hahaha ...

    I've lived in the Waco area for 13 years now, and my husband has been here for 17 years. Waco was dirt cheap for many, many of those years. Prices would increase from year to year, but it was a slow, steady pace and it was easy to find affordable housing in a safe area.  The last few years - right about the time Magnolia started airing - the prices here started to move up quickly. Finding anything under $200K in the suburbs is tough now - and what you do find are smaller 1500 SF houses or ones that need lots of updating. For reference, the home we bought in 2005 was right at 105k. We sold in 2011 for right at 135K, and that was with a new roof, new AC, new hot water heater, and new floors. It still took a while to sell. It eventually went into foreclosure and the owners didn't take care of it, though it wasn't completely destroyed - and sold last year for near 180k. Had it been taken care of better, it would have been much closer to $200K. My friends who were looking 2 years ago ended up finding a home under 200K - and they promptly had to rip out all of the dog urine carpet. I don't think they would have gotten the house, except that the smell probably turned people off. (To be fair, it took a few months to finally go away even after the carpet was gone, but it's a lovely house now). We bought our current home for about $170K 6 years ago. The one next door to us just sold for $300K. We have a bigger lot, a separate garage/workshop, and more updates, so I think we could reasonably get at least as much and very likely more than that if we were to list. We have friends that took a year of looking to find something close to their budget of 150K that was decent. My aunt and uncle sold the house that they had owned for 40 years to a flipper. I don't know the selling price, but it was well under 200K. The flipper went in and made minor updates such as new flooring and wall paint, listed it for 250K, and sold it quickly. My husband and I wish we'd bought it and done it ourselves, but were nervous about taking it on. 

    Other people may have different anecdotes, but I definitely see an impact here and I've had many friends and family affected by it. Yes, we are cheaper than Austin or Houston or Dallas - but those markets are insane and have been for years. I'm from Houston originally and my mom and sister still live there, so I'm aware of the pricing there. Waco used to be an affordable place to raise a family - and now I think we are pushing it in terms of affordability. Salaries haven't risen to meet the increased housing costs, and I don't really expect them to by much as many of our jobs are more blue collar - Baylor and the local school districts are probably some of the biggest employers, with SpaceX (and now Magnolia) trailing them. 

    It's still a good place to live, and I'm excited at some of the changes that the increased tourism has brought to Waco - we have way more things to go do now and more cultural festivals. But I hate going anywhere downtown near the silos at anytime of day. It's just insane. I went with a friend once and it is indeed overpriced crap.  

    • Love 7

    Fixer Upper in the Media

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    http://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/gaineses-new-vacation-rental-already-booked-through-year-s-end/article_fff6177e-ba1a-5837-91e3-54d0e63ae2eb.html

     

    Their new vacation rental just opened recently and it's already booked up through the end of the year. $995 per night, with a 3 night minimum on weekends. Can only book for Monday/Tuesday, Wednesday/Thursday, or Friday/Saturday/Sunday.

     

    It's a lovely house. Wish the article had more pics.

    • Love 1

    Fixer Upper in the Media

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    2 hours ago, BckpckFullaNinjas said:

    From the Waco Ttib article - thanks, @mcwick!

    "Kelly Downs said that neighbors have complained about increased taxes in the neighborhood stemming from the presence of a “Fixer Upper” home. The hit show has renovated about 60 homes in the McLennan County area, but there is no direct correlation to higher taxes in neighborhoods where a “Fixer Upper” home is located, Chief Appraiser Andrew J. Hahn said.

    “We have a different neighborhood code for those than other homes in the neighborhood, because they are actually selling for more than regular homes,” he said. “We don’t use them as comparable for other homes that are renovated by other homeowners.” "

    I knew it!

    I talked earlier about folks who did a lot of urban renewal in St. Louis. Part of a successful regeneration program is getting along with the neighbors into whose neighborhood you are entering as a neighbor.  That's all I'll say. 

    I would argue that Magnolia has impacted the overall market here though. They have brought a lot of attention to Waco and people seem to be moving here primarily because of Magnolia. So do I think they directly affect property values? Not much. But indirectly? Yes. Prices in Waco have steadily increased since we have lived here - but they have shot up significantly the past few years with the increase in demand. I know it's been that way all across Texas, but the bigger cities have lots of jobs and other draws. Waco? Not so much - our biggest employer is Baylor and then there is a lot of blue-collar work at the local plants - but in terms of tons of white-collar jobs, there isn't an abundance of them like in other cities. So I can't say for 100% certain that the increased demand in Waco is because of Magnolia, but I'm not sure what else would be drawing people here so much in the last few years - and it seems to be more middle class to upper middle class people. I think a lot of people saw how affordable Waco was on the show and found that appealing. Our market isn't as crazy as Austin or Dallas or Houston, but it's also not too far behind them, which kind of blows my mind as someone who has been asked incredulously for years "You live in Waco?" *said in disgust* "And you like it?" *said in disbelief.*

    • Love 2

    Fixer Upper in the Media

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    7 hours ago, BckpckFullaNinjas said:

    That's scary as heck. When I was a kid, a driver somehow flew a car over two houses' front yards and landed on the front steps going up from the street to the third yard -- all of this going uphill. Landed with enough force to break 3 of 4 large concrete  decorative balls right off the stairway.  I remember it clearly because we were living in the third house!

    Anyhow the Waco incident is also interesting for those of us who've wondered about the 'hoods the FU houses are in. And what happened to the original tag line about taking "the worst houses in the best neighborhoods" as their projects? Evidently, that part of the mission statement got tweaked!

    Finally, I don't get the idea that a house remodeling would increase property taxes by that much. The square footage didn't increase. The changes to the exterior were merely cosmetic in addition to structural repairs. It's not like they added on a second floor! 

    Sounds to me like there are some green-eyed monsters in an already dicey neighborhood.  

    And @saylubee, agreed -- it's pretty disingenuous to claim the buyers didn't know the neighborhood before they bought. My dad always told me, "don't buy in *any* neighborhood until you've spent time there at night - especially a weekend night."  Let's see: college town, concentration of bars... yeah, that'd be a clue. Well anyway -- very glad the humans were unhurt!!!

     

    I agree that the buyers should have done their due diligence about the neighborhood before they bought. But I'd like to point out that this neighborhood is nowhere near Baylor and the bar scene. Actually, the areas near the colleges and the bars are much better neighborhoods. Waco isn't like the typical college town - the areas that are "bad" are "bad" because of generational poverty - not Baylor. The neighborhood they live in is definitely transitional - I imagine in 5 more years it will be more where they thought it was when they bought it, but for now it's still a pretty dicey area. I wouldn't want to live there. And they street that dead ends into their yard is a major street - so I'm actually surprised it hasn't happened more often. I've often gone down that street not realizing it didn't actually connect to the other side of the street. 

    I have noticed on the most recent seasons they have gotten away from the worse neighborhoods and are sticking more to Woodway and other wealthier areas. Most of the cool older homes in Waco are in transitional neighborhoods. It seems like they are mostly doing ranch style homes now - which is more boring (IMO). I miss them doing homes with more character.

    And the Fixer Upper effect has drastically impacted property values in Waco. Prices have jumped here in the past few years - good luck buying much under $200,000 in a good neighborhood anymore. A few years ago you could buy a really nice place for $150,00 pretty easily. Most of the stuff that's a good price/location goes under contract quickly. Where I live in Lorena, houses go under contract the same day. My realtor actually called me and asked if we wanted to sell the house (we bought 6 years ago) because one of her realtor friends had someone looking in Lorena and couldn't find anything. A lot of the commercial property located anywhere near the silos has also jumped significantly in taxes. I've noticed many of my new neighbors are from California. There is a house near me that was listed at $300,000- my husband and I laughed because we figured they would maybe get $250,000 for it - we thought it was way overpriced. Well, it's under contract already within a few weeks. I'm hoping it doesn't bring up our taxes too much. We've discussed selling because we have tons of equity, but we wouldn't be able to find anything else here.

    So the Fixer Upper effect really cuts both ways. I'm mostly excited for what it's done for Waco, though. A lot of people still associate Waco with the Branch Dravidians (they were located several miles outside of town), the multiple Baylor crises such as the basketball player murder and the sexual assaults (that's Baylor's issue, not Waco's!) and the Twin Peaks incident (which could have happened anywhere). I've lived here 13 years and love Waco. It's well situated for driving to the other big cities in Texas and we have plenty of amenities here. The schools are good and in the past few years we are starting to get tons of cool cultural events (like a film festival!) and we have an awesome distillery and brewery here - there's just tons of growth, which is exciting because Waco has really stagnated since the tornado destroyed downtown. There's lots of ups and downs with Magnolia, but I feel like - for the most part - they've been great for Waco. 

    • Love 8

    Fixer Upper in the Media

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    Latest information on the lawsuit from the local paper. For those who don't want to read, Chip's tweet over the weekend that he didn't know about the lawsuit until it was filed is apparently inaccurate, as it was brought to his attention last July. Apparently the statue of limitations was about to run out, which prompted the filing (and presumably the end of negotiations that had been occurring). 

    http://www.wacotrib.com/news/city_of_waco/lawyer-disputes-chip-gaines-social-media-post/article_15e04e4f-0f29-55b6-8e01-7563e7d00b77.html

    • Love 2

    S01.E03: We Can Kill People

    in Santa Clarita Diet [V]

    On 2/4/2017 at 10:24 AM, janie jones said:

    I like Abby other than that chunk of hair on the right side of her head that's longer than the rest.  It's all I can look at.

    Yes, this is driving me absolutely insane. I don't understand if that's part of the style or what, but it really, really irks me.

    • Love 2

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    On 8/17/2016 at 1:59 PM, iMonrey said:

    I just saw this one too. But I missed the first ten minutes so I didn't understand what the deal was with the couple. I gathered they were going to run the B&B for Chip and Joanna but did they have to be talked into buying the carriage house to do it? Where were they living before? I also didn't understand what was going on with the two silos - it's part of their new furniture warehouse or something? Silos?

    That's certainly one the main reasons given whenever a home buyer expresses a desire for open concept: "I can keep an eye on the kids while I'm fixing dinner." Now, just imagine if you will: when I was growing up, while my mother was fixing dinner, I was in a completely different room, where she couldn't see me at all. It's a wonder I survived into adulthood!

    Especially in the bathroom! In the carriage house episode they had an enormous master bath with a separate tub and a huge shower and a big old window through which the house next door was clearly visible. So you've got an audience watching you whenever you're in the bathroom.

    I actually live near the Wards. I had no idea they were on the show - so I was surprised when I saw them. They didn't buy the Carriage House - they just run it. They still have their house here in Lorena and half-live in both places (we are only 15 minutes from the B&B). They only bought their house about 6 or 7 years ago and I'm pretty sure it's their last home.

    • Love 2
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